DOBSON MONTESSORI SCHOOL NEWS
October 26-30
WHAT IS MONTESSORI?
Children show sensitive periods for learning different subjects. Just as a child doesn’t learn to walk because the parent decides Thursday is the day to start, older children master reading, math, and other academics on their own timeline as the brain develops readiness. The Montessori classroom is child centered, not teacher centered, allowing children to move at their own pace. As the child shows readiness for the next step, lessons e presented. Likewise, a child that may need more time to master material, is given reinforcement in the needed skills. Everyone is successful in their own time.
KINDERGARTEN
We are going to Mother Nature’s Farm on Monday for a fun, fall field trip. Students will pick a pumpkin to keep, enjoy the spider web crawl, straw bale maze, human hamster wheels, visit farm animals, go on a hayride, try out the pedal carts, bull roping arena, corn pit, playhouses, tube slide, and tire mountain. Everyone needs
to bring a water bottle and sack lunch. Parents are welcome to join us (admission $12). In the classroom this week, our practical life skills continue to develop with some Halloween theme projects. Using garlic cloves, we will make vampire fangs. Students will play a “Spider Rescue” game using tweezers. We will master pouring and liquid transfer in a witch’s potion pouring station. On Friday, everyone will enjoy our annual Halloween Carnival!
PRIMARY
On Monday, we will celebrate fall with a special field trip to Mother Nature’s Farm. Students will pick a pumpkin to keep, enjoy the spider web crawl, straw bale maze, human hamster wheels, visit farm animals, go on a hayride, try out the pedal carts, bull roping arena, corn pit, playhouses, tube slide, and tire mountain. Everyone needs to bring a water bottle and sack lunch. Parents are welcome to join us (admission $12). Our “Caldecott Books” unit wraps up as we read Fables and discuss the life lessons taught in each clever story. After reading Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, students will complete a creative writing exercise based on appreciation of loved ones. To prepare for our Halloween Carnival, students will make treats…witches’ hands popcorn gloves and Oreo Witches’ hats. On Friday, everyone will attend the carnival.
INTERMEDIATE
On Monday, students will be the teacher and present their physics demonstration to the class. Please have your student practice theirs at home to make sure they are confident in explaining it and conducting it for their peers. Each year, our intermediate class hosts a Halloween carnival for the other school students and their families. Everyone gets to be in charge of a carnival booth and hand out prizes to the contestants. This week, we will construct our games and booths and practice running the activities. Parents are welcome to attend the carnival and join in the fun.
UPPER DIVISION
Our “Botany” students will present their plant journals and seed collections to their peers on Monday. We will conclude our unit about plants by learning about the parts of a flower and some medicinal uses of plants. We will make tea to enjoy from peppermint leaves. Each year, our students convert their classrooms into a spooky haunted house for the Halloween Carnival. We need cardboard boxes to recycle as window covers to darken the room and sheets to hang from the ceiling to create a maze. Sheets will be returned on Friday “unharmed”. The haunted house is a fun opportunity for our students to host the younger students as they role play the characters. Parents are encouraged to enter if they dare!
HIGH SCHOOL
Everyone is enrolled in a 3-credit humanities college course about Healthy Living. We are tracking our steps with pedometers provided by the school and learning about being more physically active and limiting social media time to improve mental health. In Filmmaking, students are working on writing screenplays in proper form. They will film, direct, and edit an original 2-4 minute film this week and share the final cuts at our class premiere on Tuesday. Everyone will work together to create a haunted house from our classrooms for the Halloween carnival this week. We need cardboard and sheets to make it all happen. Students will write their own “script” of the adventure that awaits inside. Parents are encouraged to come for a tour.
FALL PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
Upper Division and High School conferences ae scheduled for this week. There are a few slots open on Monday if you forgot to sign up. Conferences for the other classes follow so make sure you have selected a convenient time for your conference.
STAR WARS FAMILY EVENT!
Everyone had a great time watching “A New Hope” together last Friday. If you weren’t able to attend but would like to join us for the rest of the series, see Trevor for tickets.
HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL
On Friday, everyone is invited to wear their costume and enjoy the Halloween Carnival from 9:15-11:00. There will be booths with games and activities where you can win prizes, Halloween themed refreshments, and a very spooky haunted house! The event is free and parents are invited to join their students for the fun.
There will also be a jack-o-lantern contest on the patio. Bring your decorated or carved pumpkin and win a certificate. Make sure to stop by the patio during the carnival to see all the creative entries. Pumpkins will be sent home at the end of the day so you can use them at your own trick or treat event.
Students should have a change of clothes for the afternoon movie/activity. See the attached sign-up form to select the one that is most appropriate for your student.