The Montessori Garden School

Watch our website change and grow- look back here often for sample menus, learning themes, an interesting article to share, and just FYI's. That part of the site is for enrolled and perspective parents.

What's Cooking this week? (January 26th)

In celebration of the Chinese New Year- this Friday we'll be cooking lots of yummy things with the children. On the list of items to make are Coconut Soup with beansprouts and bamboo shoots, fried brown rice, egg drop soup and a vegetable stir fry.

Friday Afternoon-

Just in case I forget, I suppose,  I'm  reminded daily: This is a Children's Program. In Montessori Education- we "follow the child". Here's an example of that from today.

We started out the mornng with a story about a boy who was celebrating Chinese New Year with his family. It used vocabulary words to introduce the children to the culture wrapped around this celebration. We had red envelopes with gold script to show how some children get "lucky money" in such envelopes during Chinese New Year. We talked about how dragons are used to chase away any scary things.

We had all kinds of yummy ingredients for our lunch and we even took a quick trip to the store for the freshest ingredients needed. By mid- morning, the class began to sound like a TB Ward...Only a handful of the children helped- the rest were subtly offered something else to do while the "healthy ones" cooked, the others were offered water sips and reminded to cover their coughs. Only a few felt well enough to eat.....There's always next time.

March 13th, 2009 Personal thoughts

I like to end each week with a significant moment. Not always possible with all there is to do with running a small school. I try very hard to live in the moment with each child and that is probably my saving grace some days....

We have a child who started here last Spring Her foster parents enrolled her and we had a fun filled summer together. Then after living in many foster homes since she was born- she was reunited with her birth Mother.

To say the least- she had good and bad days. Birth Mom is great and understood the extremes in emotions. Patience and love surrounded this child.

This Spring as we approach her being here just one year, I am amazed by this child. She loves being here and loves her friends, but getting along with everyone  every single day is a challenge to the best of us.

What a tribute to the human spirit I have seen these past weeks.

This child is taking the lessons I've given her over the past few months and is working daily on them. Being a witness to her tirelessly pulling out activities I realized today- she is almost reading! She is right on the edge to blending those sounds and taking off. Oh, what a wonder to see, but especially because of where she has been.

Back in my days working with at- risk children, thoughts come to me about the children who do rise above it all. those who shake it off and stand up tall.

What a beautiful thing to be witness to- this child.

This is why I do what I do.  To spend my days with these amazing children.

We had a busy and lots-of-sick-kids Febraury. Whew!!!

During all the coughs and such a package arrived in the mail. We opened it at circle one day (it was addressed to the children and I actually already had a clue to what it was).

Back in November and December the families and the school worked on putting together a "soldier box". You see, each year we do a service project and this year Alicen and I both have family over in Iraq. Thinking of a local project and something the children and families could get into- we asked the children their ideas and put in ours, then had a vote. The Soldier Box was it.

So over Thanksgiving the famiies wrote letter of gratitude to the soldiers. Then depending on their last name, they had a list of desired items to bring to make the men and women, "Mommy's and Daddy's", more comfortable and hopefully bring a smile to their faces.

After the children painted pictures and everything was placed into a large box, it was shipped out. It was heavy!

What we received back:

1. A picture of a flag of the United States being flown with two soldiers standing underneath it.
2. A plaque from the Department of Defense daying that flag was flown in honor of the children at The Montessori Garden School in Port Angeles, Washington.
3. The actual flag in a glass triangular case.
4. A disposable camera.
5. A teddy bear with a hello from Iraq shirt on.

The pictures on the camera were developed and quickly brought back to school. (Thank you Andy)

The pictures were of individual soldeirs holding the painted pictures the children had sent over and their facial expressions. It was great.

The children were enthusiastic and full of questions-which was evident on their faces. Smiles were contagious.

Some of the older children and the 4 year olds started thinking of what we could do to thank them for all the things they'd sent back to us.

I'll write more about what we decide.

Teacher Deb

June 2, 2009

End of school year Family Social/ Graduation/ BBQ

Date: June 13th

Time: 11:00 am

Agenda and Schedule: Children will have a short program- sit back at enjoy. Afterwards- sharing favorite dishes and Andy's grilling.

We'll post pictures here.