Lyonsgate Parent Update March 6, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
March Break starts next week. Lyonsgate will be closed March 13-24. We have a couple of notes for both before and after March Break:
- The Elementary Open Classroom is today, Monday, March 6, from 3:15-4:15. This is an opportunity for family members to visit the classroom and see samples of their child’s work.
- Casa Graduation Photos: Casa students in their third year and who are finishing the Casa program in June will have graduation photos taken on Friday, March 31.
See updates below from your children’s Montessori levels.
Hello Toddler Families,
This week, we have had the great pleasure of having some snow and ice stay on the ground, which has opened up many opportunities for fun and maximum effort. We noticed many children were eager to get outside and explore with their hands and, of course, the shovels, which gave us the idea to move all of our snow from one end of the yard to the other, and that meant many children were engaged in some serious gross motor development! We also made little paths by breaking up the ice and clearing it away so friends could easily navigate themselves around the yard, which led to watching how water flows and how ice and snow melt. Many children discovered that they do not like the sensation of how the cold snow feels on their hands and became more insistent on wearing their mittens outside (and keeping them on). This weekend, try and take advantage of the coming snow and allow your children to get outside and experience how much fun winter can be by letting them help you shovel, build a snow fort, taking a sleigh ride, or simply just reveling in the beauty of it all.
Mme Craigie.
Peer learning can take many forms. These forms may include observation and imitation, peer tutoring, and collaborative learning. These types of learning are inherently a part of a Montessori environment. Here, children are free to work together and often do, especially as they become older and more socially inclined.
Research (and personal experience) shows that children often learn from observing and then imitating others. The hands-on nature of Montessori work enables learning by observing and then taking steps to repeat what they have seen and heard. All children in a Casa environment, whether they are two, three, four, five, or six, are aware of what their classmates are doing and constantly adapting their behaviour and interaction as they observe each other.
Situations in which children learn from their peers are beneficial to both the tutor and the child being tutored. Children who actively teach others gain a better understanding of the topic or activity, as well as become more engaged and interested. Teaching always involves learning; learning allows a child many opportunities to teach. This is a great strength of our mixed age classrooms.
Children participating in collaborative learning engage in higher levels of reasoning, gain knowledge of different perspectives, and of course also enjoy the pleasure of working in a partnership or team. While these interactions are not without bumps along the way, they always result in plenty of cognitive, social, and frequently, physical development.
The teaching and learning that we observe and share in are non-stop!
Ms. Robinson.
This week’s update is from our wonderful physical education teacher, Damien Bouquin! We look forward to seeing everyone after school today at our Open Classroom event. Please join us anytime between 3:15-4:15 to explore samples of the children’s work this term.
The Importance of Movement
We need to take care of our bodies as this is the only place we will ever live in.
In our Physical Education classes, emphasis is put on developing gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, balance, cardiovascular endurance, teamwork, persistence, as well as good sportsmanship in a positive and enjoyable environment.
Creating foundational physical movement skills for future and/or current sport activity is a component of our classes. Students have been introduced to Track and Field, in which they were able to practice gross motor skills and build resilience, interest, effort, and stamina. Over the course of the sessions, times were recorded and students were impressed with themselves as they witnessed the progress they made. Within Physical Education classes, I work on transmitting and fostering a genuine interest in physical activity. I provide students the tools they need to build critical skills such as hand-eye coordination, foot-eye coordination, spatial awareness, as well as control of the body.
Creating a safe and positive environment is the number one priority. It is important that all students feel comfortable while exercising. I work at the level of each child, creating exercises to grow their independent skills alongside their peers. Our physical education lessons are not built to be competitive. Instead, the main goal is to develop skills and healthy habits. Nevertheless, it can sometimes happen that games include opposition. I ensure all students congratulate each other at any opportunity, to support the development of self-confidence and good sportsmanship.
On campus, students are able to access a variety of physical education materials such as skipping ropes, basketballs, exercise dice, and soccer balls. Giving the opportunity to practice exercising on a daily basis and throughout the day is critical, as it allows students to make responsible choices and helps them regulate their energy when necessary. During the winter, most of our physical education sessions are happening indoors, whether that may be held at Karate Dojo, Indoor Rock Climbing, Cricket (at Soccer World), or Dancing at McMaster.
“Movement, or physical activity, is thus an essential factor in intellectual growth, which depends upon the impressions received from outside. Through movement we come in contact with external reality, and it is through these contacts that we eventually acquire even abstract ideas.”
~ Maria Montessori – The Secret of Childhood
“Children develop their brains as well as their bodies through movement, and in the process of concentration, self-discipline, and perseverance with an active interest, the foundations of character are laid. To give our children a fine start in life we must see that their surroundings satisfy their need for activity and development, remembering at the same time that our own part is not that of instructor and interferer but of helper and friend.”
~ Maria Montessori – Maria Montessori Speaks to Parents
“The child seeks for independence by means of work; an independence of body and mind.”
~ Maria Montessori – The Absorbent Mind
M Bouquin.
Lyonsgate Update Week of Feb. 20-24, 2023
Good Morning Lyonsgate Community,
Elementary families:
- A reminder that your Parent education session was moved to this Thursday, March 2, from 3:30-4:15. You will learn about the different aspects of our Arts program and how art is used as a medium for exploration of all subjects. Please RSVP to elementary@lyonsgate.ca
- Also, see the Elementary section for info about the Open Classroom event next Monday, March 6.
[Sorry, no Toddler photos this week]
This week in our toddler community we experienced a very chopped up week with family day and a snow day. It was difficult to get into the flow and it seemed as though the children were a bit discombobulated. Young children really rely on a predictable routine.It makes them feel safe and secure to know what is happening next. Of course life is always tossing us unexpected disruptions and it is good to find a way to cope with changes as they come. Small children benefit from being kept in the loop. We had some conversations with the toddlers today about how strange it was to be away one day and back the next. Then we spoke about our daily routine, about what was coming up next in the course of our day and how we would be going home for the weekend at the end of the day.
Changes in routine can be challenging. We can make things easier on young children by being prepared. We can prepare them before hand for alteration in their routine by explaining what will happen and also by being prepared ourselves.
If you are thinking about introducing a new routine of toilet learning to your toddler you can prepare the environment in the bathroom by having a small container with extra clothes to change into when their clothes become wet or soiled and a few books to look at for when they are sitting on the potty or toilet waiting for something to happen.
Here are a few tips for toilet learning the Montessori way to help guide those who might be beginning to introduce this as part of their routine at home.
Toilet Learning — The Montessori Way
1. Prepare the environment — get organized, set the bathroom up for maximum independence. Have lots of extra underwear, clothes, clothes that allow for independence, a small basket in the bathroom with clothing, a potty, a stool to be used for getting dressed or for climbing up to the toilet, a hamper to place soiled clothing, a small basket of books to look at while waiting for something exciting to happen.
2. Dress for Success — No tight clothing, nothing with complicated closures like buttons or snaps, elastic waistbands are best, something that they can manage to put on and take off easily without assistance.
3. Invite your child to use the potty, (Toilet learning becomes the choice of the child after 24 months). Once you have had some success invite them to wear underwear throughout the day. Diapering during nap and at night for sleep. Sleep is sacred! Once you notice a dry diaper after nap or night you will know that they have gained control during sleep.
4. Create a routine — observe and take note of when your child is dry, what times of day they tend to have bowel movements etc., remember that establishing new routines can be challenging but it is temporary. Every 30 to 40 minutes invite your child to sit on the potty, we can assist them if their clothes are wet or soiled, get cleaned up and wash their hands. There are many independence skills being gained all at once!
5. Focus on the Senses — Toddlers are sensorial learners. “I see that you are wet, let us get you into some dry clothes.” Do not leave them in wet or soiled clothing — we want to establish the desired state is clean and dry.
6. No rewards or punishment — The acquisition of a new skill has its own personal rewards — let them own it. You are not potty training — your child is doing the work of toilet learning.
7. Keep it upbeat and positive — no pressure, no stress — Involve the child — resist the urge to jump in and finish the job, competency with dressing takes time and practice. Assist when needed In Montessori we say things like, “You did it!” and “Look at you!” Allowing them to take credit for the experience.
8. Don’t get discouraged. It will soon be a distant, hopefully fond memory. Interruptions in a child’s routine or health can cause disruptions but once things stabilize you can get back to the collaborating with your child on these independence skills.
Have a delightful week!
Ms. Gervais.
Hello again!
We have completed one full cycle of Casa Weekly Updates. If you have been following along, you have now heard from each member of our Casa team, on both sides of the hallway (Casa North and South).
Creating a united voice from our Casa team has been an important part of collaborating, overlapping, and mirroring both Casa programmes here at Lyonsgate. Our students have started to connect more frequently with one another this term, whether it’s writing letters to one another & delivering them via shared mailbox, or assisting our Toddlers during transition times.
This same spirit of collaboration aligns itself fully with the Montessori approach to cosmic education. We are always striving to foster the development of “the universal child” — meaning, Montessori aims to create children of their world, who not only recognize their role in their immediate community (their family, their classroom), but their greater surroundings (their school community, their city, their country) and their planet, as a whole.
This is why our Practical Life materials reflect things in the home or things that are purposeful and valuable in today’s society, to provide students with “keys to the world” around them; why our Culture area includes both physical and political geography (exposure to continents, countries, capitals); why we give exposure to art, music, instruments, books, poems, songs, photographs, animals, botany from all around the world.
We are challenging our students to look beyond their immediate surroundings and to connect with any & all human beings as a united force. Perhaps modelling these opportunities for collaboration — amongst our Casa staff or our students in both Casa classroom (and Toddler, too) — can act as a gentle reminder to engage, think, care about what’s across the hallway, around the corner, in the next town or city over, or world’s away…
Ms. O’Sullivan.
In preparation for their introductory cricket lesson, the class learned about the history of cricket. The children were eager to discover the rules or “laws” of cricket, and enjoyed learning about the roles of various members of a cricket team. They were thrilled to watch a few highlights from professional cricket matches, and to discover the names of professional cricket teams in Canada. Most children agreed that while a five day test match was too much cricket, Twenty20 matches, lasting about 3 hours, would be a lot of fun to watch. Last week at their first cricket lesson, they learned to cup and bat. We look forward to another cricket lesson before the March break!
Parent Education
We would like to welcome you to join us this coming Thursday, March 2, from 3:30-4:15 p.m. for a Parent Education session. We are excited to talk about the different aspects of our Arts program and demonstrate how art is used as a medium for exploration of all subjects.
Open Classroom
The children are eager to welcome their families to our Open Classroom event on Monday, March 6, between 3:15-4:15. This is an opportunity for family members to visit the classroom and see samples of their child’s work.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Warmly,
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Update Week of Feb. 13-17, 2023
We hope everyone had a very enjoyable Family Day long weekend.
Elementary Parent Education is this Thursday, Feb. 23, from 3:30-4:15. Please see the Elementary section for details.
Elementary Summer Camp: please also see the Elementary section for details about summer camp weeks for elementary students, including those joining the Elementary program in September.
We would like to start off by thanking everyone who was able to make it to the Parent Education on Thursday. After a couple years of Covid protocols it is still a treat to welcome everyone into the classroom.
We had a great week enjoying the unseasonably warm weather and even had the excitement of watching an excavator in action in a neighboring yard during recess time. The newest members of our community are settling in nicely and our classroom has never been livelier. We hope that you have a wonderful long weekend, and a relaxing Family Day.
Mr. Davis.
Good Morning Casa Families,
Music is an essential part of life and it plays a vital role in child development. It is a fun and engaging way to learn language, express emotions, develop creativity, improve cognitive abilities, and appreciate different cultures.
The first year I worked at Lyonsgate, we weren’t allowed to sing in the classrooms due to COVID precautions. We would use a small stereo to listen to music occasionally, but it wasn’t the same. Children have an inherent love of music and are driven to learn and create. My favorite tool during transitions is to sing to the waiting children or invite them to lead a song together. We have such diverse tastes in our classroom. Most of our students love a silly song to make them laugh (“The Goldfish” by The Laurie Berkner Band), many want to hear songs that their parents listen to (“Karma Chameleon” by Culture Club), some request educational songs (“Preparing for Winter” by Sara Jordan), a select few have become quite fixated on the song “Northwest Passage” by Stan Rogers.
They’re also fascinated by songs in other languages, whether Madame is singing to them in French (“Dans Mon Sac”) or we’re exploring languages from other countries (“Hello to All the Children of the World” by Wee Sing). It always impresses me how they identify the feelings or message of a song without understanding the words.
At recess, we’ve been listening to the song “Marble Machine” by Wintergaten, which has no words at all. The children will dance and move their bodies in time with the music or share the message they think the melody is telling.
Whether learning a new song, sharing a favorite, or creating something of their own, music is an important part of every day in our classrooms.
I hope you’ve had a lovely family day weekend and look forward to the coming week,
Ms. Dewey.
In a Montessori classroom, groups of children are often working on different topics within a subject area. Last week, the Elementary students explored several distinct but related topics in geography. Some are learning about the Work of Water, exploring how glaciers and rivers shape our land. Some are continuing their exploration of the Composition of the Earth, particularly how the layers of the atmosphere help to keep the Earth warm. The children studying the Work of Air performed an experiment to explore how land and sea breezes are created. As the children gain knowledge of a subject in different areas, they are often eager to share what they have learned with their classmates, giving them the opportunity to both learn from one another and to practice communicating what they know to others. This leads to some amazing conversations in the Elementary classroom!
Parent Education
We would like to welcome you to join us this coming Thursday, February 23, from 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. for a Parent Education session. We are excited to talk about the different aspects of our Arts program and demonstrate how art is used as a medium for exploration of all subjects.
Please note that all elementary students will be dismissed from the HAAA park on Charlton Ave. Students whose parents are attending the event are welcome to join the aftercare program and remain at the park until 4:30 p.m. When you arrive at the HAAA for pick-up please remember to sign out with the supervising staff.
Please email elementary@lyonsgate.ca to let us know if you are planning to attend the parent education session, and whether your child will be staying for childcare during the event. Thank you!
Summer Camp!
We are thrilled to announce that registration for our Montessori Summer Camp is now available! This July, Marissa and Michelle will be hosting two weeks of camp open to current and in-coming Elementary students.
We invite campers to join their friends for daily yoga, science, active games, and water play during both camp sessions. Each week of camp has a distinct theme with different activities for campers attending both sessions.
Please click here to register for summer camp!
Week 1: July 10- 14 Art Explorers: Draw, Sculpt, Shoot!
Work with a variety of mediums over the week to create a short video, as well as enjoying nature science, outdoor games, and visits to the HAAA splash pad!
Week 2: July 17 – 21 Around the World: Exploring the Seven Continents
Learn about the natural science and human history of each continent with experiments and stories, as well as enjoying art projects, outdoor games, and visits to the HAAA splash pad!
Essential Information
• Drop-off 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 am. / Pick-up 3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
• Program runs from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• $325 per week, payment due upon registration by e-transfer or check made out to: Lyonsgate Montessori School Inc.
• Bring your own nut-free lunch and snacks, as well as a refillable water bottle
• Footwear with a closed toe is recommended! Swimwear, a towel, and a change of clothes should be brought to camp daily by children choosing to get wet.
We look forward to summer adventures together!
Lyonsgate Update Week of Feb. 6-10, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Community,
Your children’s Casa and Toddler Montessori guides will host Parent Education events on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Primary campus. (Elementary Parent Education is Feb. 23).
For both Parent Education Sessions we ask that parents please enter and exit through the grey door (where we do drop off and pick up on rainy days).
Students are welcome to stay on the playground during the Parent Education sessions. Please avoid the urge to pop your head in and say “Hi” when you arrive. Thank you.
- Toddler: 3:00-3:30. “Understanding Toddler Behaviour: How to be a Gentle Leader and Create More Peace in the Land.”
- Casa: 3:45-4:30. “Practical Life and Math — How Are They Connected?”
Reminder: Friday, Feb. 17, is a PD day and Monday, Feb. 20, is the Family Day holiday. Lyonsgate is closed both days.
Please see below for updates from the last week at Lyonsgate.
Greetings Toddler Families,
At times, life with young children can be very challenging. During the toddler years things can get a bit messy. It is a time of rapid brain development, rapid growth, and self-discovery. You are living in a construction site. It takes enormous effort and cooperation to balance the adult world with the world of the small human under construction. Our role as the gentle leader is to bring order in the chaos and to trust in the process.
Please join us for our Parent Education session on Thursday, February 16th, from 3:00-3:30 p.m.: “Understanding Toddler Behaviour: How to be a Gentle Leader and Create More Peace in the Land.”
“Let us leave the life free to develop within the limits of the good, and let us observe this inner life developing. This is the whole of our mission.” Maria Montessori.
Hello Casa Families,
When I first became a mother-to-be, I read What to Expect When Expecting, by Heidi Murkoff. I read this book needing guidance about what was happening, never realizing that, in those trimesters of pregnancy, knowing what was occurring still gave me no control over what was actually happening.
As the years have passed and my children have entered the 4th Plane of Development (18-24yrs), I realized I should have reached out for understanding instead of control. We can only reach that moment of meeting the child where they are when we release them from where we want them to be. It is only then when we can form the basis of a relationship and trust, through taking the time to understand their needs instead of our own wants and desires. I wished my children all great intelligence and happiness, but it was only made possible through understanding that “Hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence” (Dr. Montessori’s Absorbent Mind, pg. 27) — understanding that they must do for themselves, and that it was never in my control how they relate or engage as they grow.
This means I could set the table, but I couldn’t make them eat; I could feed their quest for all things, but the actual doing was their own. Like the womb and the home, I was the housekeeper, but they made this world their home through all four stages of development. Maria Montessori was very wise when she called these periods the “Constructive Rhythm of Life.” Life is just a song our bodies dance to, that no one can hear; a song our bodies know the move to, but if you are lucky, you can dance alongside that person for a short period. This is how I view motherhood, and a belief I take into our classroom each day.
I thank you for blessing me with the opportunity to dance to the rhythm of your child’s life as they pass through this first plane of development (0-6yrs). I encourage all of you to step back and witness their bodies in motion as they put their boots on, eat with a spoon, clean up after themselves — always remembering back to when they couldn’t do any of this. It really wasn’t long ago. Blink again and they will blow your mind with all their achievements. The days are long, but the years pass ever so quickly…
Ms. Canessa (on behalf of the Casa teams).
Last week, we continued our work in biology by defining the characteristics of different classes of organisms. Some students explored the characteristics of different classes of vertebrates, and others deepened their knowledge of the body systems of mammals. As part of our investigation of the work of the digestive system, students experienced the action of enzymes in their mouth by trying to detect the change in taste as the starch in a cracker was broken down into sugar. Other students prepared models of the digestive system and created a stop-motion video. We are looking forward to a variety of body system presentations this week from our fourth-year students!
Wishing you all a wonderful week,
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Update Week of Jan. 30-Feb 3, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Community,
Please see below for updates from the last week at Lyonsgate.
Toddler and Casa families: please note that there is a Parent Education event coming up on Thursday, Feb. 16. Time and topic details will come separately.
Hello Toddler Community,
Finally, Winter is here! Thank you for responding to the seasonal temperatures by sending your children with appropriate winter gear. Sending waterproof mittens with thumbs enable the children to use the shovels and other winter outdoor tools. Sending two pairs of mittens is a good idea too, in case they become wet or soiled during the first recess. (We always have extras as back up). Please label your items. We do our best to keep everything organized but toddlers are terrible sources of information and many items look very similar.
On the PA day, we put out a few new activities which sparked interest and made for a pleasant week of focused investigation. Toddlers are very observant. They always are keen to notice anything new in the classroom. The newest items tend to be very popular so it becomes an excellent opportunity for them to use their patience while they wait for the item of interest to become available. In a Montessori classroom there are only one of each activity. This is intentional. This makes the material unique and special. They must respect others while they are working with something and then when they get the opportunity to use the materials they can spend as long as they wish with it. Respect for materials, and respect for each other, is a built in feature of a Montessori classroom.
Ms. Gervais.
Dr. Montessori observed that children have a thirst for language and communication. The sensitive period for the development of language is from birth to 6 years.
It’s much easier for children to learn a second and third language at this time.
At Lyonsgate, French immersion allows the children to connect words to actions, helping them learn the meaning of new words, phrases, or expressions “en français.”
The use of the 3 key steps of naming, recognition, and recall helps teachers follow children’s progress.
First: Teacher says the word/object and then the child repeats.
Second: Teacher will have multiple objects and the child will identify the object when asked “Òu est…?”
Third: Teacher will ask the child “Qu’est-ce que c’est?”
It’s a great activity to try at home too!
Sincerely,
Your Casa teachers.
The class is continuing explorations in biology following the story of the Great River, which represents the bloodstream connecting different systems within a great nation: the human body. The story appeals to the imagination, asking students to consider their own body as a place where many cells and organs live and perform specific jobs for the benefit of the whole body. Through this story, the children are introduced to key body systems such as the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, and the immune system. The brain represents the executive branch of the body, making all decisions and coordinating the work of the different systems. Younger students will consider how these systems work in different types of animals, as older students break into small groups to research a particular system. Our eldest students continue to study the endocrine system, the important role of hormone production in regulating the body.
We look forward to sharing more about our work in the classroom with you during our upcoming Parent Education event after school on Thursday, February 23.
Wishing you a great week ahead,
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Update Week of Jan. 23-27, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Please see below for updates from the past week at Lyonsgate Montessori School.
It looks like winter has finally arrived at Lyonsgate! At last, the children were able to use the snow shovels that they have been eagerly eyeing in the shed the past few months. Although it was an extra short week with back-to-back snow and PD days, we managed to have a lot of fun, work hard, make art, dance, and bake a delicious cinnamon and raisin loaf. Fingers crossed that there will be enough snow over the weekend to keep the winter fun going, but not enough to keep us from spending the time together. Stay warm!
Mr. Davis.
Bonjour tout le monde,
Since our return from the holidays, Casa students have been busy working in French with different animals, animal books, and learning about the cold weather. They enjoy studying the frog lifecycle. If you hear them talking about frogs, or making frog sounds, they have learned this in French lessons.
They are also doing a lot of work in French with counting and numbers.
Amusez-vous bien sur la neige,
Mme Murati.
Our focus on Geography this term is the formation of our Earth. Mixed-age groups will follow a particular strand of investigation over several lessons, and have the opportunity to share their learning with friends. While one group may be studying how water shapes our land and cultures, another may be learning about air currents, and another about geology.
Some students began exploring the layers of the Earth last week. Younger students were thrilled to explore the layers of the Earth, make a model in plasticine, and dissect it when they were finished. Older students delved deeper into the characteristics of the crust and barysphere, while students investigating erosion by rivers were excited to use the river model for a demonstration of sedimentation and the creation of sedimentary rock.
As always, reading and literature circles are a big part of the students’ work. Right before the end of a very short week, the class was delighted to gather together as the snow fell outside to sample a delicious fruit punch made by students in connection to the novel, Because of Winn-Dixie. We hope everyone enjoyed the extra days home from school to have fun in the snow!
Looking forward to a wintry week ahead,
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Update Week of Jan. 16-20, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
With the start of the winter term we’re happy to announce the addition of Ms. Rebecca Bye to the staff at the Lyonsgate Primary campus. Ms. Bye will be filling the support role at Lyonsgate, so all of your Casa and Toddler children will get to know her as she supports all of the classrooms, covers recess and other outdoor periods, and lends her helping hands where needed. Ms. Bye will be in the role while Ms. Duhig is on maternity leave to welcome the third child into their lovely family. Ms. Duhig will begin her leave on Friday, Jan. 27, and we know that you will join us in wishing her, her husband, and her two children (and Lyonsgate students) all the best as their family grows.
Please read below for updates from the past week.
[Sorry, no toddler photos this week]
Greetings Wonderful Toddler Families,
This week in our community, we are observing toddlers working on their interpersonal skills. Sometimes with education our focus can be weighted very heavily on academics or other aspects of child development that are more concrete and easier to see and talk about, but there is a lot of work that happens inside an individual as they learn to translate the many messages that they receive about themselves from the world. The way in which we are spoken to, listened to, touched and received speaks volumes about our value as a human being, who we are, what special gifts we have been given, and our self worth.
Toddlers are naturally self-centred but they are capable of empathy and respect for one another. Small children are capable of experiencing and understanding many complex emotions.
I had a conversation with a very verbal toddler this morning:
“Good morning, how are you? I am noticing your sad eyes this morning. Are you feeling a little bit sad?” He nodded his head, yes. “I was feeling sort of sad this morning too,” I said.
“Do you have cars at your house?”
“You mean little toy cars?”
“Yeah. Do you not like it when someone takes the car out of your hand?”
“Yes, I think I would not like it if someone took something from me that I was holding in my hand.”
This conversation made me think about empathy. In order to try to imagine how another person feels we have to be able to experience and understand our own feelings. Building a vocabulary and an environment where all emotions are acceptable and talked about is a good first step to understanding each other.
It sounds very sophisticated but many of our practices in the toddler environment help to build an awareness of other people. We are constantly saying, “Watch out for friends,” when children appear to walk right into each other. We show them small ways to reset some of the activities for the next person by replacing the wet hand mit with a clean dry one, or even just putting things back on the shelf. Of course, they are encouraged to do these things many times before it becomes a habit, but once they are doing these things we know that they are growing and maturing because they have begun to think and care for other people as well as themselves.
Ms. Gervais.
Greetings from Casa,
The importance of community has been an essential component of Montessori environments since its earliest days. Dr. Montessori called her early childhood classrooms Children’s Houses where children belonged, felt comfortable, and as a place where they were (and are) responsible for taking care of themselves, each other, and the space itself. The children have freedom within limits which contributes to the creation and preservation of community in two ways.
First, it empowers children to make many of their own decisions, to work at their own skill level, and to personally conquer challenges. The classrooms include a range of materials covering a wide spectrum set at different skill levels. This means that every child can participate and contribute to their classroom in their own way. Everyone can be accommodated; the group is inclusive and gradually becomes more and more integrated.
Second, sociability is encouraged, children explore, experiment, and create with other children of different ages. They learn to respect the work of others, and to communicate their observations with each other. Children are actively encouraged to collaborate and contribute to class life, and every individual is important to the community.
This extends beyond each individual classroom. It is always such a pleasure to see and hear children from both Casa classes greet each other, the toddlers down the hall, and all the adults they interact with, cheerfully. Our school community is thriving!
See you at the gate,
The Casa team.
Children love stories, the magic of a well-paced delivery, dramatic pauses, character dialogue, and the anticipation and excitement shared through the teller’s voice. Story-telling is an important mode of learning in the elementary classroom, using a connection between humans to share real stories of our experiences as well as fantastical stories of invention. Last week, the students were invited to hear the true story of Martin Luther King Jr., in honor of his achievements in promoting peace and celebrating the anniversary of his birth. This story appeals to the elementary child’s search for real examples of heroes in their culture, people who inspire them in new directions or help them realize their own values. People who were once children, just like them, and went on to do something extraordinary.
In contrast, they also heard a legend from ancient China, the story of a great race that determined the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. This story, following The Legend of the Nian, invites students to consider the myths and legends that offer explanations for cultural traditions during the celebration of Lunar New Year. In hearing these types of tales from a variety of cultures, the students discover that all humans, regardless of when or where they live, create stories to explain their world, their choices, and their values.
Academic work in other subjects continued this week with new work in grammar, essay-writing, math operations, and finding the square root of large numbers using the golden beads material!
Wishing you all a peaceful and prosperous Year of the Rabbit,
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Update Week of Jan. 9-13, 2023
Happy New Year and welcome back Toddler families.
I hope that everyone had a wonderful break with time to rest and time to connect with family. Naturally, this break from routine brings with it a time of readjustment but I am pleased to report that our returning toddlers have been able to slip back into the rhythm of the daily routine without much difficulty.
It is remarkable to see how much everyone has grown in just two short weeks! Many of our toddlers are noticeably taller and more verbal. Language acquisition is one of the main sensitive periods from 0-3 years. You can support your child’s language development by reading to them, singing to them, and simply talking to them about things that interest them. Simple direct language always works best: “Look at the dog!” (instead of doggie). Direct and accurate language offers the best example and the best possible chance for the child to be understood when they choose to speak.
Here are a few wonderful winter books for toddlers:
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats — a classic
- Winter by Gerda Muller (This is a picture book. You can create your own story; simply describe the pictures or inspire a conversation about the wintery scene).
- Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost with illustrations by Vivian Mineker — it is never too early to begin to build an appreciation for the lyrical language of poetry.
If you have any favourite winter books please let us know. We are always looking for new books to add to our collection.
We are welcoming two new students to the Toddler community over the next few weeks which will make our classroom complete. Thank you to all of the returning toddlers who have helped to make our first new student feel comfortable this week.
Ms. Gervais.
Welcome to 2023!
The first term is undoubtedly our longest term of the year. The students move through fall into winter, September through December, sleeveless tops & shorts to mittens & hats. They are back to a full-day routine, learning new social queues & building new relationships.
The first term is about observation — how am I meant to exist in this space? How do others exist in this space? What are the expectations in this space? It can be a fatiguing process for the child, as they are constantly watching, listening, comparing, challenging, and ultimately figuring out their role in the classroom community overall.
The second term, however, the students have their footing & get to settle back into something that is familiar to them. They feel comfortable with their classmates and materials; they trust that they are in a safe space. They understand that the classroom allows freedom within limits, and that exploration is always encouraged.
All of this understanding means that the second term becomes about blossoming — they move away from “how do I exist at school?” into “who am I at school & what value do I offer?” They are no longer asking “what can I work with?” but rather “what comes next? How can I take this to the next level?”
The second term is one filled with confidence, laughter, and many great discoveries.
We can’t wait to see what this special term brings!
Best,
Ms. O’Sullivan (for both Casa teams).
Happy New Year! It’s always wonderful to see the children return from break refreshed, re-energized, and eager to dive back into their work. We began the second term setting academic and personal goals, thinking about the steps necessary to achieve them, and establishing a timeline for completion. While some students were thrilled to learn more about long division or square roots this week, others found a cozy place in the classroom to settle in with a new novel for reading or literature circles. On Friday, the whole class enjoyed traveling to McMaster University for a physical education class in hip hop dance. They learned to break, bounce, monster walk, and thoroughly enjoyed moving to the music!
As the weather has turned colder, we added warm soup to our rotation of community lunches. The students were enthusiastic about the tomato and white bean soup prepared by two of our students last week, with many coming back for a second or even third serving!
We look forward to another exciting week ahead.
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Classroom Updates Week of Dec. 12-16, 2022
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This is the last week of school before the winter holiday. Thursday, Dec. 22 is the last day of school and we return on Monday, January 9, 2023. Please remember to submit registration forms for the 2023.2024 school year by Tuesday, Dec. 20 (see the Dec. 5 email “Registration for 2023.2024 School Year at Lyonsgate Montessori” for the form link).
The image at the top, and in the gallery below, are Ms. Covics’ seasonal snack creations for the students. Wow!
Thank you! for all of your donations to our toy drive and to the Elementary students’ Shoebox Project initiative:
See below for some seasonal updates from your children’s Montessori classrooms.
As the holiday preparations are taking place, don’t forget to include your toddler in all of the wonders of the season. This is a wonderful time to work together as a family to create something tasty and memorable. Try baking something with your little one. It is a wonderful sensory experience. It builds language, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, math skills, and confidence. The finished product might be imperfect, but it will be perfectly imperfect and your toddler will be so proud of their accomplishment.
Tips for Baking with Toddlers:
1) Include them! Toddlers desperately want to be part of the giant science experiment happening in the kitchen.
2) Prepare the environment and prepare yourself. Toddlers are process-focused but adults tend to be more product-focused.
3) Choose a recipe that is familiar or simple and decide ahead of time which parts of the process your toddler will participate in.
4) A stool or learning tower to bring them up to counter height, and child sized utensils, are helpful.
5) Pre-measure all of the ingredients.
6) Be mindful not to take over and finish the job in a hurry.
7) If the idea of baking with your child is stressful, you could offer them a lump of dough to roll out and sprinkle with sugar.
Including your toddler in any sort of food preparation is a great way to form lasting memories and help them gain valuable life skills. Enjoy each other and celebrate the present moment!
Ms. Gervais, Mme Craigie, and Mr. Davis.
Bonjour!
We have been busy with many French preparations for the holiday season. The students are working with photographs of winter animals and are matching them to their habitats:
L’ours dans la grotte
Le loup dans la montagne
L’écureuil dans le nid
Le pingouin dans le iceberg
Le lapin dans le terrier
Le narvol dans l’eau glacée
Each student has coloured in their own “souris verte” to use when singing. We are excited to share our Winter Concert video with you (via Seesaw).
Vocabulary is getting stronger! Everyone is very interested in French books right now. Some of our favourites are:
“La souris qui rugit”
“Les écureuils qui se querellent”
“Archie, le paresseux hyperactif”
“Tellement sauvage”
“Le loup, le canard et la souris”
“L’autobus” (they love the little girl & all the animals on the bus!)
Wishing you and your family a restful, joyful holiday! Bonnes fêtes!
Best,
Mme. Murati
Hello! Bonjour!
Here we are on our last days before the winter break! It has been wonderful observing the children enjoying the festive activities and singing some new songs.
On behalf of your Casa South teachers, we would like to wish you all an amazing, relaxing, and healthy holiday! We look forward to seeing you in the new year!
Warm regards,
Ms Robinson, Ms Dewey and Mme Perazzo.
What a wonderful first term it has been! We are thrilled to have been able to re-integrate the pandemic cohorts and return to an authentic Montessori elementary environment, where our students can collaborate and build friendships with a variety of peers. The classroom has been abuzz with anticipation of the winter break and the opportunity to enjoy festivities with family and friends. Over the last week, the students rose to the challenge of meeting their deadlines, whether to complete their academic work for the term or to finalize their charitable donations for the Shoebox Project.
Everyone was excited to put their popsicle stick bridges through testing for smoothness of the surface, the amount of load they could bear, and to identify weak points in their structures. Many of our budding engineers experienced the thrill of success, with some bridges supporting a load of more than 15 kg! Others observed problems with their deck or trusses and were inspired to return to the drawing board to revise their plans. A lot of fun was had through our exploration of forces!
Thanks to the generosity of our Lyonsgate families, as well as local businesses, the children were able to create twenty gift boxes for unhoused women in Hamilton to brighten their holiday season! They had a great time soliciting donations, categorizing the goods, working in teams to pack each gift box, write a special note of greeting, and wrap the presents. Their discussions included recognition and appreciation for all that they have, and they demonstrated pride in their ability to contribute to those members of our community who have been less fortunate. We thank you all for supporting them in this important work.
This week, students will be filming some special performances to be shared with you via SeeSaw as we begin our winter break. We will also be baking and decorating gingerbread people, and celebrating the end of term with a class party on Thursday, December 22. The party will include board games, crafting, and the option to watch a short film, and the students will have a special community lunch that day with pizza being delivered after outdoor time! Students do not need to bring lunch on the last day of school, but should still bring their water bottle.
Thank you for sharing your children with us over these past four months. It is a pleasure to spend our days learning and working together, and we are excited for all the wonderful adventures awaiting us in the new year.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful winter break!
Warmly,
Marissa, Michelle, Anne, Damien, Caitlin, and Kim.
Lyonsgate Classroom Updates Week of Dec. 5-9, 2022
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Please see below for updates from your children’s Montessori classrooms.
Hello Toddler Parents,
As the holiday approaches and the excitement mounts we can often see behavioural changes in our toddlers. Interruptions in routine, illness, big changes like a new sibling arriving, or small temporary changes such as a relative coming to visit for a day can be difficult for toddlers. Please keep in mind that toddlers can better handle changes big or small when they are kept in the loop. Let them know as best you can about changes on the horizon and involve them in getting ready for the event. It might make them feel more secure and accepting about what is happening and they will feel included as an important member of the family.
If we are encounter behaviours such as hitting, biting, or pushing in the classroom, we handle them swiftly and directly. We say things like, “I will not let you do that.” “I cannot let you hurt your friend.” Small children often do not have the words or the emotional maturity to express or manage their feelings. It is okay to have feelings but it is not okay to hurt people. The language we use in these instances is direct and respectful. “I can’t let you do that,” rather than “We don’t hit people.” The latter is too vague. “We” could refer to anyone. It is not necessary to become emotionally escalated along with your toddler. They are feeling out of control and they are counting on us to help them feel safe and secure. We can validate their feelings by noticing them, “I can see that you are very upset right now.” Then we can help them return to a state of calm once the feelings subside. It is helpful to discover that feelings don’t last forever. As caregivers, we can help them weather these storms and gain awareness of what is socially acceptable.
Ms. Gervais.
The Power of “Why”
As I sit here thinking of a topic to write about, I’m recalling an observation between two first year girls, both sitting beside each other. One kept moving further away from the other, so naturally the other kept asking why? This was the only word the girl kept repeating to her peer…
It leads me to think about the power this word has on the brains of these young children — and on us, as adults.
Every school year, I am amazed by the power of “why.” The children in our class use it to discover ideas, questions, universal truths, and to better grasp social cues. Many of the children use “why” to engage with peers and adults when they are learning conversational skills (during their preliminary stage in our programme). “Why” is never just a why — what they are really saying is, “I want to get to know you better, and I want you to stay awhile.” They are searching out knowledge of new words, vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, and safety within their new community.
As a parent, this word used to lead me to pull out my hair in despair; as a Montessorian, I understand it to be an invitation into a relationship, and challenges me, for a moment, to see the wonders of the world through the eyes of a child. I can learn their deepest fears and reasons for the behaviors they present. When “why” is asked by a child, it is my responsibility to figure out why in return — I need the answer to build that precious relationship and to meet the needs of all the children in my care. Maria Montessori, being of a scientific mind, understood these multiple levels of knowledge this word holds — that there is what the child presents (or asks) and what is truly meant.
Next time you become overwhelmed by the word “why,” I challenge you to ask yourself why?
Best,
Ms. Canessa.
Greetings from Casa South,
When visiting a Montessori Casa environment, you are likely to see a large ellipse taped or drawn on the floor and you may wonder why it is there. It does have a specific purpose involving movement.
This material invites children to walk steadily on the line as a means of refining their balance and learn to control their movements. When a child is adept at controlling their body movements, they are better able to walk carefully around the workspaces of others and less likely to knock into tables, chairs, shelves, and other people, moving around the room with more grace.
Because it is an ellipse rather than a circle, it requires greater concentration and control when maintaining balance at the narrower ends. Also, the shape mimics the orbit of the earth around the sun. We introduce several ways to walk on the line beginning with a natural gait, then heel to toe, holding onto an object, or balancing something on their head. We can also use music or instruments for rhythmic walking.
It’s a wonderful material that is used daily by the children and adults in a classroom!
See you at the gate,
Ms. Robinson, Mme. Perazzo and Ms. Dewey.
Hello Elementary Families,
I’m taking the pen this week to update you on our French program. It’s been a joy to work with your children this year.
The youngest students are now familiar with my French accent and my teaching style. I speak French most of the time during our lessons of course, but also outside of formal class time to familiarize their ears to Francophone sounds. I often use gestures to support my speech and facilitate our conversations. The oldest students take a lot of pride in showing their fluency to the youngest ones, helping them when they don’t understand or have a hard time formulating an answer. All students also have the opportunity to practice their skills and enrich their vocabulary when working with Damien in the kitchen and around the classroom.
The lower elementary students have been working on building up their vocabulary to understand simple interactions we have together (e.g. Comment ça va? Où es ton chapeau? Tes chaussures bleues sont jolies. Va chercher la gomme.). We’ve also been working on the date and describing the weather, as well as introducing ourselves and expressing our likes and dislikes.
The oldest kids are now challenged to converse with me solely in French during their lessons and we keep using gestures as a support. We are starting to get into grammar work, reviewing some concepts about nouns and verbs that are common in English and French and introducing French conjugation to their speech. We have more written work as well as more reading.
All the students have been very engaged with all the card games introduced regularly in the classroom like “Les Poissons,” “Le Jeu des Familles des Formes, ” “Le Jeu de 7 Familles de L’hiver,” and “Qui est-ce?” It is a fun way for them to practice their French outside of their lessons. We also have board games to help the older students practice verbs and pronouns.
Finally, every other week, students in second year and up meet for a play practice. For now, we are familiarizing ourselves with the content of a play and the meaning of the words before starting rehearsals. We hope to send you a video of their work for the end of the school year.
Anne Prat Kalonji, French instructor.
