May and June have come so soon, now it’s time to write our last tune. What have we learned throughout the year?

We have made time each day to:

Create…

Move…

Discuss…

Read…

Garden…

Taste…

Build…

Discover…

But the most important thing is to appreciate what the outdoor environment has to offer… EVERYTHING!!

A special thanks to our volunteers: Ms. Barbara, Ms. Marianne, and Ms. Melissa for spending time reading to our children. We are so lucky to have dedicated parents and grandparents who take an interest in assisting and educating our children. 

Now that our children’s work in the greenhouse is complete, all plants will be up for adoption because they will not survive the summer heat in our greenhouse. Please stop by and help yourself to a plant. We will welcome the plants back for a new year in the fall!

Children who have been in environments that celebrate discovery and wonder become adults who do the same. It is said that education is not the filling of a bucket, but rather the lighting of a fire. It is our job to keep that fire burning and to keep the flame alive.

As we go through life remember Montessori classmates are forever, and learning is endless!

Enjoy your summer and make many memories!

Love,

Ms. Val and Ms. Marian

Can it be that what we see is that April has finally taken hold in our garden? The trees have budded and the flowers have bloomed. Spring is in the air!

The outdoor classroom has new tenants to keep a watchful eye on our fruits and vegetables. Who may they be pray tell? The ladybugs have checked in, escorted by two egg cases of praying mantises. Happily, one of the egg cases has hatched! If you look closely in the third picture below, you can see a new baby that one of the children found hiding under a leaf. Each egg casing contains 50-200 praying mantises, so help is on the way.

Ladybugs love to eat aphids, mealybugs, spidermites, thrips, and other soft-bodied insects that are harmful to our plants and vegetables. We have released 1,500 ladybugs to patrol our greenhouse. The ladybugs and praying mantises are officially on guard duty. This is done organically without the use of chemicals…nature’s true circle of life.

The children are as busy as bees this April, and we will continue to let our imaginations run wild with curiosity and spontaneity.

Remember, learning is endless!

Love,

Ms. Val & Ms. Marian

March’s magic reminds us all that spring is in the air! Our children have been busy planting and transplanting with such care. Take a look in our greenhouse and check out what is there!

We make time every day for our outdoor art projects. The children embrace painting and coloring outside. Their creativity comes alive, and they become independent dreamers and thinkers on the easel. Painting allows their thoughts to come alive on paper.

We have created our outdoor classroom so that all the children feel welcome. It is important for them to feel included and comfortable with each other. One way to encourage their communication skills is to incorporate stories into the outdoor classroom. We read stories to the children, and they love to read to each other. Some of the children even invent their own stories. 

The outdoor classroom provides children with the time and materials they need to deepen their explorations within the environment. We make time each day to move, sing, discuss, observe, read, and play. This is our foundation. Community projects bring out the best in the children when they are involved in working together.

We wish all of our families a very happy and lucky St. Patrick’s Day, and a wonderful spring break!

Love,

Ms. Val and Ms. Marian

It seems February tugs at our hearts. Why is that so? I think we know! Our minds tend to wander to spring. Could it be that spring is in the air? February is here, so don’t despair! Our hearts and minds will allow us to get there.

Our garden is growing, our trees are budding, and the birds are singing. With this in mind, take the time and make the effort to point out and pay attention to the minor details and miniscule wonders within a child’s world.

Time, patience, and awareness are what broaden exploration of the five senses, which will give our children a life-long understanding and appreciation of sights, smells, textures, tastes, and sounds available to us when we see the value in pausing to observe them. 

“All knowledge begins in observation.” –Robert and Michelle Root Bernstein,           Sparks of Genius. 

Making more time to observe means increasing the number of opportunities we provide for our children.

Please remember, Learning is endless!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all our families.

Love,

Ms. Val and Ms. Marian

With January here, we have a New Year. Fresh and clean describe pristine, and that’s how we go from here in the new year. January brings a chill in the air, and that’s the reason we bundle up with care.

The outdoor classroom never sleeps. The children are Mother Nature’s greatest eyes and ears, noticing everything. A watchful eye is always needed this time of year.

October’s seeds have come to bear, encouraged by the children’s tender loving care. Carrots, beets, turnips, and more…. Pretty soon, we will be planting some more!

Learning that our seeds have finally grown teaches the children to find them a new home, so planting and transplanting from old to new gives the children something great to do.

The environment plays a very important role in development. The outdoors can speak to a child about being valued, welcomed and respected. Children will become creative and in touch with beauty and a sense of belonging when they spend time outside.

Happy New Year!

Remember, learning is endless!

Love, Ms. Val & Ms. Marian