Giving Thanks 2014

November marks the start of the holiday season, and at school and Mrs Carolyn's the focus begins on how the kids can give back. Also there are A TON of turkeys in our house, we have paper ones, laminated ones, painted ones, ones with feathers, ones that make noise... turkeys are everywhere folks. It's fantastic.

Michael and Penny have been very busy this month participating in a number of things to help them give back and give thanks. We took a trip to Mariano's to purchase food for Michael's room at Montessori. Each year the class put together a a basket for a family in need. It was interesting to see what the kids picked and why they picked the food they did.Its important to me that they learn the value of giving back in conjunction with being an active participant. Penny helped me fill the bag of food and Michael brought it into the class.

At school Michael also put spent sometime thinking about what he was thankful for. and documenting it....way to go Darth.

The children took a trip to the Arlington Heights historical society  where they participated in the story of thanksgiving using Orff Technic of music.Carl Orff (1895-1982) was a German composer and educator who developed a unique approach to music education. Orff defined the ideal music for children as "never alone, but connected with movement, dance, and speech—not to be listened to, meaningful only in active participation." Orff said, "Experience first, then intellectualize." Based on this ideal, the Orff approach builds understanding of concepts and skills through connecting students with the music by experiencing it on all levels. These levels include speech/chants, movement, singing, drama, and by playing pitched and un - pitched instruments. 

Lastly, they prepared a feast for each class. Michael contributed pumpkin pie this year. All the children passed, poured and ate together.

We also took a trip to Bloomington for turkey number 1! It was great to see everyone!

The kids have such a great time with their Aunts and Uncles. Thanks to Uncle Steve for letting us stay. Its always a pleasure with this group, they are the most kind, caring people I know.

Pumpkin Farms and Costumes 2014

We went with the family to Stades, my sister posted a great video on this of the kids going on the mini farm Ferris wheel. A very cool addition to the farm this year. 

Road the train all be herself! 

Big slide with Dad, A Stades tradition! 

We ended it all with tick o treating and a great Halloween party put on by Grandma and Grandpa Rowan. It was super special this year as we now have a fifth little one to add to the mix, little Kate! She has been trooper though the fall winds of Stades and the craziness of her cousins and sisters! I cant wait to see her next year toddling along with the others.

TRICK O TREAT ITS FREEZING OUT HERE! 

This pic says it all. FUN 

Penny couldn't get enough of "rella"

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

A Piece of History and A Few from the Present

Montessori school played a big part on my sister and I development. I have been sharing my blogs with Aunt Kathy whose children also went to Montessori. In fact they went to the very school that Michael ( and Penny soon to be) go. Here is Jim on the line in 1975....when the school was at 1212 Sigwalt in Arlington Heights.

Over the past several weeks the children have been doing amazing things. They have harvested the herb garden, gone to the pumpkin patch, created scary decor for Halloween, partied at the middle school, and welcomed in a few new faces to Room 2. All the while they continue working diligently on their practical life, geography, geometry, and most importantly their brain work. Michael has discovered the pink tower and brown stair and speaks about them frequently to us. I'm so glad to see him opening his eyes to new work in the classroom.

Lastly this week I had the pleasure if being the reading mom to the kids in the class. I thought was going to just read a book to them, how could i be so naive! THIS IS MONTESSORI ! You were expected to sit individually with the children offer them a choice of books and then list the book, child and progress on the notebook provided!! I was anxious at first, but had a FABULOUS time with the children. It also allowed me to get to know these amazing kids that are in Michael's class.

October is for pumpkin eating dinosaurs and giraffes, of course.

I was able to head out with the Montessori group to Goberts pumpkin farm this year. I was super excited to spend the day with Michael and his class. Michael was excited to have me there, as well he even asked to sit next to me on the bus. Believe me I'm soaking this all up before the day comes that mom is uncool and embarrassing, Right now I'm the bees knees and I'm pretty fine with that!

We began the morning with siting on the line  and reading a few stories while we waited fro the bus. Then we got in our assigned groups, ( I have to tell you I was a little nervous having to be in charge of my group!) We got into our teams and lined up to get on the bus. The bus ride was HYSTERICAL, I had too much fun laughing with these silly kids. It also was a little trip down memory lane for me, I hadn't been on school bus in loooong time!

We arrived at the patch and started with a movie about the farm, after the move we went on hay ride. The kids then got to see the pumpkin eating dinosaur! RAWR! ( the boys watched him a few times) We were then free to go and see the animals that the farm had. I have never heard of  a Giraffe on a farm.... but they had one! After that we went to the through the corn maze and the kids got to pick an ear of corn, a small pumpkin, and a gourd. It was a day well spent with my boy and his class.

On the bus! 

Time for a short move! They were so well behaved! 

Show time! 

Pumpkin eating DINOSAUR! 

The boys loved it! 

Hay ride! 

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Feeding the giraffe carrots 

Colin and Michael being brave! He has one long tongue! 

The corn became a rocket ship. 

NSMS 2014 2015 class! 

Fall comes to Montessori

The classroom is prepared for October and each area has a little touch of fall. Michael has been so excited to get this year started, which for us, has been great. Last year had a bit of a rough start. He is proud to call himself a 
pre - k friend. He has done a phenomenal job helping the new friends get acquainted to Montessori. I keep hearing Barbara Streisand in my head signing I'm five, I'm five I'm a big girl now I'm five!  Your not five yet Michael don't want to grow up too fast! Sit back and enjoy it! 

Michael has also starting playing soccer, while its only the beginning I'm glad to see that he is showing interest in a team sport. They aren't playing games yet ( I mean they are only four) he is enjoying it and continues to ask me to practice kicking the ball with him in the living room, for now that's an ok place! 

I'm looking forward to chaperoning a field trip in early October and volunteering to read to the kids a couple times throughout the year. (more posts to come on those adventures in the future!) 

One note, thanks to my job for being so flexible so that I can participate in more than just work and home life.  Thanks to my family for supporting us to get to Arlington Heights so we can have these great experiences with the kids and not have to be in the car all the time! Being close is SO FANTASTIC! 

In practical life the children can decorate a pumpkin, wash a pumpkin or even
create a witch's brew.  There are also small medium and large pumpkins around the classroom so the children can learn sizing. 

South America is the new continent add to the shelf.  In addition the children can explore about community helpers and dream about careers. What did you want to be??? 

The life cycle of a pumpkin and parts of a tree are just two of the works in Science. Along with the Human Skeleton which is always a favorite. Composer of the month  is Sergei Prokofiev

Along with the new year the school was effected by the storm that came through. Lighting struck  the tree right outside the school. The power went out but all the kids did a great job getting to a safe place.