A Weekend at Zion

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Recently our lower elementary students, along with their parents and teachers, enjoyed a wonderful weekend sojourn at Zion National Park. We camped, hiked, built campfires, and enjoyed peaceful, quiet times admiring the beauty of nature.

Says Madison: “My favorite thing about Zion was the second year hike. We saw two frogs, a stink bug and a deer. When we walked a little farther, we saw the same deer again.  We skipped rocks, saw the Big Dipper and Orion’s belt. Cassidy found an owl!”

 

For some great pics and more stories, check out the E4 and E2 classroom blogs!

[button url=”http://elementary2.fmsparents.com/” target=”_blank” size=”small” style=”coolblue” ]E2 Blog[/button]

[button url=”http://elementary4.fmsparents.com/” target=”_blank” size=”small” style=”coolblue” ]E4 Blog[/button]

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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In honor of Earth Day (Monday, April 22), all of the FMS classrooms have been learning about ways they can take care of our planet and live in more sustainable ways as part of their units on ecology.

E5 students have committed to reduce their energy usage by taking shorter showers, recycling and unplugging electronics when not in use. They are also learning about the “Story of Stuff” and about how the mass consumption and throwing away of all of this “stuff” is hurting the environment.

They decided to do an “alternative birthday gift registry” as a way to reduce and reuse. Sometimes, new isn’t always better!


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Next week, students are going to Whole Foods to learn about how our food gets to the grocery store and the logistics behind this process. They will also learn how to cut down on wasting food and food packaging containers.

E5 is requesting donations of old t-shirts as part of an “upcycling” project.

For more on what each of the classrooms are doing to learn about the earth and ways to protect it, check out the classroom blogs!

 

 

Ms. Val and Her Garden

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“Children belong to nature, especially when they are young. Without the influence of nature the child misses an important basic instinct that is naturally a part of them. Keeping this in mind, we need to give our students as much exposure to their outdoor environment as possible.” — Ms. Val, FMS Outdoor Classroom Specialist

[button url=”https://foothillsmontessori.com/valerie-decrescenzo/” target=”_blank” size=”small” style=”cherry” ]Meet Ms. Val[/button]

Into the Rainforest

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This month, primary and lower elementary students have been exploring South American geography and culture and learning all about the amazing biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest.

Many had the chance to meet two capybaras (the largest rodent in the world, indigenous to South America) and a grey parrot named Buckley. Students sampled delicious tropical fruits such as papaya, pineapple, mango and coconut. We danced the tango and played native instruments such as the zampona, jira, jicara and maracas. Many parents and students shared items from their journeys through these beautiful countries, and we thank you for your participation!

 

Students are also learning about the importance of “reduce, reuse, recycle” and how vital the rainforest and indeed all of nature is to our collective well being. P2 sewed reusable napkins so they wouldn’t have to throw away so many paper napkins and paper towels! We are enjoying learning about all the amazing plants, animals and ecosystems of South America and what we can do to preserve them for future generations.

Right now, primary and kindergarten students are enjoying a rainforest assembly to complement their studies of South America. We can’t wait to hear all about it!

Click the links below for more pictures!

[button url=”http://primary1.fmsparents.com/” target=”_blank” size=”small” style=”cherry” ]Primary 1[/button]

[button url=”http://primary2.fmsparents.com/” target=”_blank” size=”small” style=”cherry” ]Primary 2[/button]

[button url=”http://primary3.fmsparents.com/” target=”_blank” size=”small” style=”cherry” ]Primary 3[/button]

[button url=”http://primary4.fmsparents.com/” target=”_blank” size=”small” style=”cherry” ]Primary 4[/button]

 

 

Field Trips and Fun

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Many students have been out and about on field trips recently, learning in a sensorial, hands-on way.

Primary and Kindergarten students went to the Natural History Museum, where they learned about dinosaurs, sharks, wild animals, fossils and more. They also recently visited the Estes McDoniel Marine Lab, where they explored the many creatures of our amazing oceans.

Elementary recently visited the Nevada History Museum and Springs Preserve. They have now built their own model wagon trains which are now on “a journey.”

Our middle schoolers are now in California at Pali Adventures, which is sure to be a truly unforgettable experience. We will have to wait until Ms. Erica and the rest return to hear all about it!

For more news and a TON of great pics, check out your child’s classroom blog!

We Love Our Teachers

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This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, a chance to pay tribute to our wonderful teachers and staff.

This year at Foothills Montessori School, we have focused on providing our teachers with the knowledge and platforms they need to reach their full potential. We have attended conferences, seminars, in-services and workshops; hosted nationally recognized guest speakers, thought-provoking webinars, documentaries and book clubs; held regular Teacher Liason and Group Level Head Meetings; and put forth various initiatives designed to make Foothills Montessori the ideal place for your children to learn, grow and enjoy their childhood.

In our school-wide staff meetings we have begun giving out Gyroscope Awards to recognize outstanding staff members. The Gyroscope represents how our staff members do some gravity-defying ‘spinning’ around our core principle, which is to “follow the child” and create the best learning environment for each one.

We also have spotlighted two outstanding staff members on our school website, Erica Sherlock and April Dane. We invite you to read more about them as well as all of our scintillating staff on their new staff pages (administration, primary, lower elementary, upper elementary, and middle school/specialists).

On behalf of these teachers, we would like to thank you, all of our caring and committed parents, as well as our dedicated PTO, for showing us you care in so many ways — for volunteering your time in classrooms, at events, and on field trips;  for organizing luncheons and breakfasts; for  bringing treats and surprises; for recognizing teachers regularly on the PTO Loop — the list goes on and on. We really could not do it without your support and encouragement.

We take pride in the people who make this school so special. Thank you for all that you do!

Planting Flowers, Painting Rocks

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Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. — Albert Einstein

Spring is here! Okay, officially spring doesn’t start until March 20, but spring weather has come early to our outdoor classroom. Our beautiful trees are blossoming, and the students have been busy planting flowers, tomatoes, eggplants and all kinds of peppers!

Nature has also inspired artistic ventures such as our rock painting project. Our garden sure is coming to life — just in time for two new additions, CottonCandy and Cadbury. We are getting two new rabbits soon, and we hope they enjoy their new home!

Click below to see more pics!

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Dear President Obama…

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Last week, the students in P3 wrote letters to the President. All were then laminated and sent straight to the White House. Obviously the President is a very busy man, but we hope he is able to sit down and read these notes — he just may get some inspiration!

Here are a few:

“I am happy I go to a good school.”  — Bella

“[I would like you] to get money for people that don’t have anything” — John David

“Thank you for keeping our country safe.” — Jack L.

“I want everyone to have a house.” —  Love, Jackson

“I wish that poor people could have a job.” — Miriam

“[I would like you] to help old people get up. To help old people learn to walk” –  Lidiya

Parents, click here to see more pics and news from P3’s blog:

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How to Build a Better Brain

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Beginning in the 1940s, numerous studies have linked intelligence quotient and childhood environment. More stimulating, engaging environments have been proven to increase the number of synapses and neurons in the brain; increase dendrite complexity; increase synapse activity and increase cortex volume. The effect is especially pronounced during childhood, when the brain is still developing, but it can continue into adulthood. For example, stimulating environments have been shown to assist in the recovery of those with Alzheimer’s disease and other symptoms of age-related cognitive decline.

Charles Darwin, in 1874, was one of the first to hypothesize on how environment shaped brain size. In 1947, a psychologist named Donald Hebb found that rats raised as pets performed better on problem solving tests than rats raised in cages. A follow-up study by Mark Rosenzweig in 1960 found that rats in an “enriched environment”, a cage with all sorts of ladders, wheels, tunnels, and other toys, developed increased cerebral cortex volume. You can read more about the studies here and here.

Maria Montessori, who was four years old at the time Darwin was speculating about the effect of environment on the brain size of wild rabbits, ultimately came to similar conclusions. “The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences … To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely … Only through freedom and environmental experience is it practically possible for human development to occur … The child should live in an environment of beauty.”

Montessori classrooms are designed to be inviting, welcoming, and above all, stimulating. The materials are created to incite curiosity and fascination. Everything is colorful, tactile, and at the child’s eye level. The mood is safe, serene and home-like. The child is able to engage in self-directed learning, encouraging independence, a love of learning, and self-confidence.

But school is only one facet of a child’s life. Parents can create an environment that is conducive to creativity and critical thinking in the home, as well. Arts and crafts, weekend trips, outdoor activities, interactive games, books, and  imaginative play all help the young child’s brain to grow and make new connections.

For more ideas, check out this Pinterest board, “DIY Montessori Activities.” There are also tons of books on Montessori activities to do at home, which you can check out on Amazon. We hope you find some new ideas and enjoy exercising your brain!

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits of Spanish Immersion

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Let’s take a look into the window of P1, one of our Spanish Immersion classrooms.

“Hola, como estas?” (Hi, how are you?) “Por favor” (Please), “Gracias” (Thank you) are a few of the common Spanish phrases heard in our classroom as we begin our day together. “Uno, dos, tres” (one, two, three) can be heard as the children count in Spanish. “Por favor, venga al circulo, no mas trabajo,” (please come to circle, no more work) is an example of the daily instructions our students hear as they experience the Spanish language in a natural and routine manner.

We have found that singing in Spanish is also an easy and enjoyable way for the children to hear the rhythm of the language. The children work with exclusive Spanish language materials in learning how to identify objects and pictures in Spanish. They do this by learning how to pronounce, spell and associate the concepts in the Spanish language. The Montessori math materials are also taught in Spanish, once the concepts are learned in English. — From the P1 Blog

Spanish Immersion is an optional program for ages 3 through third grade that is designed to provide students with a solid foundation for bilingualism. Half of all lessons are given in Spanish and one classroom support teacher speaks only in Spanish, creating a native-like environment. Conversing, singing and doing works in Spanish is a fun and natural way to acquire bilingual fluency and cultural understanding. Research suggests that learning languages at earlier ages and over longer periods of time supports second-language acquisition (Tochon, 2009). Benefits include:

  • Increased ability to control attention and keep information in memory, better awareness of language structure and vocabulary, and improved skills in creative thinking and problem solving (Adesope, Lavin, Thompson, and Ungerleider, 2010).
  • Bilingual students attain higher levels of achievement on standardized tests in reading, writing, social studies, and math, and report higher levels of self-confidence (Tochon, 2009).
  • Students in “50-50” language-immersion schools, in which students spend half of their day learning in a nonnative language, perform as well as, or better than, students in monolingual schools on standardized tests, and these benefits extend to English-language learners as well as native English speakers (Gómez, Freeman, and Freeman, 2005; Palmer, 2009; Thomas and Collier, 2002).
  • Learning a second language not only has cognitive and academic benefits, it also supports a greater sense of openness to — and appreciation for — other cultures and improves opportunities for cross-cultural friendships and employment (Tochon, 2009).

Sources: http://www.edutopia.org/stw-global-competence-research