Class Picnic

Our class picnic is June 7th from 6-7.  I hope all families can come and share the joys of the end of the year.  Everyone keep your fingers crossed for sunshine.

World Map Exploration

Today our extended day group decided to play with all of our world maps.  The children paired up and explored  our world on a larger scale.  We had a conversation about why we don't have a map for Antarctica and how our world is both very large, but small enough that we need to think globally in our actions.  This was a fun way to spend the beginning of our extended day.

Heaven and Language Cards

Language cards are great for expanding vocabulary for children and provides opportunities to write and read as they advance in the language area.

Sean Washing a Chalkboard

Here is Sean who just joined our classroom playing with one of the beginning practical life lessons, chalkboard washing.  We are very happy to have Sean in our classroom.

Color Tablets

Jack is playing with the color tablets.  This material is fun from ages 3-6.  When this is first presented it is a matching game.  As children begin exploring the environment more, they can play games matching the colors with materials in the classroom.  When children in the classroom begin reading, this is a great material to play a label game.

Kinderqueen

I hope that all of you have seen that Kinderqueen will be performing a free concert on June 4th.  Please come out and enjoy the music.  I will be there with dancing shoes on.

Hudson and Trinomail Cube

Hudson is exploring the trinomial cube.  This is a fun sensorial lesson that children use to explore math concepts in the Montessori elementary.

Unit Division Bead Board

After children in the classroom have explored division with the golden beads and stamp game, the unit division bead board is nearing the end of our math series in the primary.

Snack

Thank you to all families who provided the children with such wonderful
snacks during the year.  The children love to invite their friends to snack and have often very funny conversations.  Snack is also a great time for children in the classroom to experience new foods.

Welcome Sean E.

I would like to welcome Sean Elliott.  Sean is the younger sibling of Kyleigh and started in our classroom Wednesday.  He had a wonderful first day and we look forward to him sharing the rest of the year with us.

Knobless Cylinders

Here is Sydney exploring the knobless cylinders.  These are so much fun. So many ways to build and create patterns.

Working Together

Many lessons in the classroom are given and explored as individual lessons.  It is the purpose to help that child develop the nature of working with the material independently to gain mastery of skill.  It is however, as the children get older in the environment that some lessons give way to partner work or sharing.  Emmie, who just started the moveable alphabet is now able to work with others to explore language.

Enjoying the Sun

 The sun is finally showing its face in Portland (although not everyday) and  the children are really starting to enjoy the outdoor space connected to our classroom.  Many of you have received the letter explaining the plans to expand our outdoor environment.  I am looking forward to providing more opportunities for the children to explore that space.

Language in the Final Year

This is a great example of some of the work our classroom is doing right now.  Two students wrote the words for a song we sing in the classroom and then used the language symbols to identify nouns, adjectives, prepositions, etc.  This is only possible after they have worked through our sentence analysis work.

Friday School Optional Conferences

Hi Parents,
There is now a sign up for our optional conferences.  These are only if you have anything specific you would like to touch base with me regarding your child.  Please also note that classes will be closed that day and there are limited daycare spots available.

Join West Hills on Facebook

West Hills has just added our school to Facebook.  Look us up and add us as a friend.

Happy Mothers Day

I would like to wish all of you a very happy mothers day.  The children made a gift for the holiday that I hope you will all enjoy.