YOUNG INFANTS:

Dear Parents, 

Our babies are really developing skills and personalities. Some say words and others babble, but all are expressing themselves. Morahs are encouraging speech by answering their vocalizations (serve and return). We encourage them to say each other’s names or otherwise identify each child in the room. For example, “Where is Shua?”

They also love songs and have their favorites in English and Hebrew. The babies are starting to do hand motions for “Wheels on the Bus,” one of their favorites. The whole group starts moving to the beat during “Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe!” 

Since the New Year for Trees, Tu B’Shvat, falls on February 13, we are singing “Tu B’Shvat Higia” in class. We also sing Shabbat songs every Friday, including “Bim Bam” (everybody’s favorite), “Shalom Aleichem” and “L’cha Dodi.”

Babies love our squirrel proof bird feeder right outside our classroom window. Winter is a great time to observe birds. They are looking for mates to start nesting, so their feathers are new and bright. Some birds are only here in the winter. We have seen dark-eyed juncos and white-throated sparrows picking up seeds that fall below the feeder. Chickadees, house finches, cardinals and goldfinches eat directly from the feeder. Looking out the window, we also see rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks.

Please expect your children to go outside any day the temperature is above freezing. If it’s cold, we’ll only be out for a short time. Fresh air is very good for children (and adults!). Each day make sure your child has a warm coat, hat and socks (warm slippers for stroller rides, too).

Be sure to check out Seesaw for adorable pictures of your children.

Warmly,
Morahs Marla, Leslie, and Sarah 


OLDER INFANTS:

Dear Parents, 

Did you ever think your child’s favorite classroom activity would be sweeping up crumbs? Or putting away toys or items that are misplaced? From birth to age 5, Dr. Montessori tells us children are in the sensitive period for order. During this developmental stage children are especially interested in order and routine. One of the ways we foster this in a Montessori classroom is through Practical Life work. The last few weeks in our Daled classroom, we focused on Care of Self, with nose blowing and handwashing lessons. This week we are focusing on Care of the Environment. Three components to consider are: materials, environment, and real work. 

Materials 

Last week we noticed much attention to spills and crumbs. While painting, a blob of paint fell to the floor. During snack time, crumbs are everywhere! In order to properly address cleaning up, we have added some child-sized tools: a crumb catcher (metal, palm-sized hand brush and pan) and an upright stand that houses 4 different cleaning tools: stick broom, hand broom & dust pan, mop, and fluffy hand duster. 

Environment 

Next, we have made the materials available to the children in their natural environment. We allow the children to choose and explore the cleaning materials just as they would the puzzles and language works. We model using a broom around them, involving it in our daily routine. We respect their natural curiosity and don't interrupt them when they are working with a practical life material -- even if that means just holding it, or exploring it on the shelf. With that exploration done, it frees them to actually work with the material when the desire comes. They already know where the broom is, what it feels like, how it moves, and suddenly they are ready to make sweeping a reality. 

Real Work

Last, we make this real! Our young friends sweep the floor when they feel like sweeping the floor, when they see us doing it, or their friends. THIS IS REAL WORK. Resist the urge, to buy this broom and then dump a bunch of pom-poms on the floor for your baby/toddler. Toddlers don't need that fake experience. They may attempt to sweep for a moment, then either walk away or throw the fake mess everywhere. No! Make it real. Make it meaningful. Give them the opportunity to contribute, to practice when there is a real mess or when they feel like it.

Welcome to Enzo, who has moved into the Older Infants classroom this week. We are excited to have him as a member of our community!

Have a great week! 

Morahs Kathy, Pallavi, Rachael