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.
