DOBSON MONTESSORI SCHOOL NEWS
September 7-11
WHAT IS MONTESSORI?
A section of Montessori curriculum known as “Practical Life” focuses on helping children become independent through real life experiences. With a kindergarten student, it might be learning to spread peanut butter on a cracker with a knife. Older children might master sewing buttons on clothing or planting seeds in the garden. Our high school and junior high students run the hot lunch program by planning menus, serving meals, cleaning up, and using Excel spreadsheets to manage the profits. They then plan their own end of year study trip by booking tickets, making dinner reservations, and booking a hotel. “Never do for the child what the child can do for himself” is a tenent of Montessori education. When adults are too helpful, the child is robbed of opportunities to develop self-confidence.
KINDERGARTEN
As we are “Off to School”, students will learn how they are unique. We will make All About Me posters to learn more about our classmates and create a mini-me paper doll using multi-media art materials. Everyone will enjoy creating a family house craft. Everyone has a different kind of family and that makes us unique. We will develop public speaking abilities and communication skills through a show and tell activity using a “three important things” prompt. In class, students are also engaged in daily reading and math activities. The most important thing parents can do to support kindergarten students in school success is to make time each day to read together. As your child’s abilities improve, they can read a word or two to you and progress to sounding out sentences and soon whole pages. Reading is the foundation of all learning. Don’t forget to attend the Cool Pool Party this Thursday!
PRIMARY
Our “Rainforest” focus looks at more plants and animals of these environments. We will welcome a real bromeliad to our classroom and then make models of these fascinating plants. Did you know they have little cups to catch the rainfall? Poison Arrow Frogs often visit for a drink. Chameleons can change color to blend with their surroundings as a form of self-defense. We will make chameleons using watercolor paints and salt resist. Many species of snakes make their homes in the rainforests. Everyone will enjoy creating their own paper python using torn tissue paper to create their patterned scales. Our students have each adopted a plush monkey that frolics from the vines on our classroom ceiling. We are bringing them home for adventures together which students will write about on a special homework sheet. Did your monkey get into some mischief? Our students made over $100 last week selling banana fudge to help save the Howler Monkeys of Belize. Everyone is now working in individualized reading and math groups. Please make sure to check the homework calendar each evening and always allow time to read together every night! Hope to see everyone at the Cool Pool Party on Thursday evening.
INTERMEDIATE
The “Animal Kingdom” unit delves into reptiles this week. We will learn interesting facts about snakes…how they eat, how they move without legs, how cold-blooded animals keep warm…before painting our own wooden slithery snakes with acrylic paints. On Wednesday, we will welcome a new classroom pet, a bearded dragon. Students will learn how to care for it and nominate names. Students will also study crocodiles and alligators; how are they the same and different. We will see “Rango”, a funny movie about a quirky Chameleon that showcases actual abilities of this species. There is a project check on Thursday of our student made books. Each student should have completed 3-4 pages. In reading groups, students are reading and discussing novels. Moving from learning to read, to reading to learn, we focus on comprehension, literary elements, inferred meaning, and critical thinking skills. Our math students are working at individualized levels designed to be challenging but not overwhelming.
UPPER DIVISION
For “Archaeology”, students will investigate ways scientists date artifacts. We will try our abilities to read tree rings in dendrochronology. Carbon dating and stratigraphy will be discussed. Should artifacts be removed from sites and studied? We will hold a debate about stewardship of sites. Which side are you on? Students will enjoy some hands-on activities practiced by early tribes. Can you throw an atl-atl? Could you have made your own bow and arrow if you lived 1000 years ago? Students have been researching a specific topic of archaeology. The body of the paper should be typed and submitted for a project check on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Our students are working in individualized groups for math mastery. In reading, we explore a wide range of classic and contemporary literature each year that is chosen to inspire depth of thought, exposure to varied literary styles, and has layered meaning. Students are encouraged to look beyond the words to delve into the meaning by reading between the lines. We are currently reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey.
HIGH SCHOOL
US History continues as we look at the original 13 colonies this week and conflicting ideas about what the new nation should be. We will read the Declaration of Independence and learn what led up to the American Revolution. Why did the founders what three branches of government? For Film Making, students are creating a 30-60 second film. They will be an actor, director, and writer. We will premiere films on Friday of this week. Everyone has two parts to memorize for the upcoming Shakespeare competition in Utah. Lines must be memorized by Friday. We will begin blocking rehearsals this week. In class, we are reading Hamlet…maybe the best play ever written. Students are also working in Chemistry and math.
COOL POOL PARTY FOR K-3RD GRADE
K-3rd grade families
Cool Pool Party
Thursday, September 10
5:30-7:30
La Casita Recreation Center
2719 S. Reyes, Mesa, 85202
Bring a potluck dish to share and wear your swimsuit. There is a huge pool, a splash pad, and a playground. What a great way to get to know other school families and enjoy time with our children! We are expecting YOU!
FAMILY CAMPING TRIP FOR 4TH-12TH GRADE
We are going camping on September 17-18! Two days of being a kid again! We will visit Tonto Natural Bridge and camp at Sharp Creek on the Mogollon Rim. The Upper Division and High School students will cook all your meals and there will be lots of nature games, a campfire, stories under the stars, and lots more fun. Return your sign-up form by Thursday, September 10 so we can make sure to have ample supplies for everyone. We want every student to have the opportunity to attend, so if parents can come, we will try to have your student “adopted” by another family.