Archive for category: Blog

Maria Montessori asserted, “When children come in contact with Nature they reveal their Strength.”

Being outside is THE best. Children use all of our senses when we’re outside. They see, hear, smell, touch and sometimes taste if there are tasty vegetables in the garden or fruit on the trees. Being outdoors builds their confidence. It teaches responsibility and promotes imagination. In a less structured environment, children have an opportunity to control their movement and refine their gross motor skills. Being outdoors promotes exercise, allows them to release energy that has built up throughout the day, and gives them a much deserved brain break after working hard. Simply put, children need to move! These are just a few of the benefits of having an outdoor class.

Due to budget deficits, schools throughout the nation are finding ways to cut their spending, and often the first thing to be removed from the curriculum is art. At Foothills Montessori School, we are committed to offering art education. We see the value in arts education and appreciate the significance it can have on student development. There is evidence that supports it helps our students to develop stronger academic skills, improve their decision-making processes, foster inventiveness, and help build self-confidence. These are the things we want for every student that joins our community. 

We asked our art teacher, Ms. Angela, what the goal of our art curriculum is for our students and she said, “The goal at FMS has been to support fundamental academics, supplement our cultural curriculum, and bridge gaps by developing new ways of seeing.  At a young age, children begin to communicate through artistic expression.  Long before they are able to read and write, they tell stories through their artwork.  Creativity through expression in the arts helps to improve innovative thinking for our students at every level.  It’s the ‘out of the box’ thinking that provides so many areas for growth. Students exposed to the arts become adults with improved focus, decision making skills, self-confidence, and civic engagement.”

During our spring school closure in 2020, Foothills Montessori continued to provide our art curriculum remotely. The art curriculum was delivered through project-based challenges. Project-based challenges in the arts allow our students to devise strategies for problem solving. As teens and adults, life is full of trials and obstacles.  Determination and commitment gained through project-based learning helps prepare our students for future challenges.  No matter their level of development, their capacity expands.

In closing, the Brooking’s Institute did extensive research and published an article in 2019 on the impact of the arts educational experience.  Their findings determined that arts education not only positively impacted emotional and social outcomes for students by fostering greater compassion for others; but it concluded that the students they researched had 13 percent higher standardized writing scores*.  Our students create magic everyday with their creativity and dedication to their arts based projects- many of which become treasures or family keepsakes.  The true beauty in arts education is that those experiences are helping to frame our future.  Students that become strong leaders, inventors, designers, communicators, and citizens.  Whatever they choose to become on their path, the arts provide them with tools to use for a lifetime.

*Brian Kisida and Daniel H. Bowen Tuesday, February 12, 2019

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2019/02/12/new-evidence-of-the-benefits-of-arts-education/       

The excitement of returning to school this fall has been both energizing and exhausting for students, families, and staff. Reopening a school amidst a global pandemic is no easy feat but, ultimately, is the best thing for our students. You might find yourself feeling worried or anxious by things outside the scope of your control. These feels are normal for both adults and children, but it is imperative we all take the time to practice self-care and allow ourselves to maintain our physical and mental health.

Often, emotional well-being is a foreign concept to children. They may act out, throw tantrums, or even give you the silent treatment. Establishing a self-care routine for both you and your child will benefit the whole family. Practicing self-care will give your child additional tools to regulate and express their emotions in a healthy way. You may even learn some new ways to unwind too!

Here are four easy self-care routines you and your family can establish together!

1. Get Active

Whether it is a mini-dance party in your living room, yoga on the lawn, or a plunge into the pool on a hot day, engaging in physical activity isn’t only great for your physical health but your mental health as well. Exercise of any kind, not just high intensity workouts at the gym, release endorphins and trigger a positive feeling in the body.

2. Journaling

Taking time to write down what happened throughout the day encourages us to cope with negative experiences and celebrate positive ones. Journaling is especially good for children because they are in a sensitive period of development and it supports them in acknowledging their feelings and problem-solving.

3. Nap Together

Sleep helps us feel energized, aids in de-stressing, and gives our mood a boost. Most people, especially parents, do not get enough sleep. Establishing a quick 30-minute nap in the afternoon will not only help you feel refreshed but allows you to bond with your child. Children love to sleep with their parents because it gives them a sense of closeness and safety.

4. Make Time Reserved for Family

Many of us are guilty of taking our work home with us. Whether it is responding to an email after work hours or going into the office to work on a project during the weekend, these things add stress to our lives. Sometimes working outside of work hours is necessary, but by establishing a strict “family time” during the week ensures we commit to building relationships with our loved ones. Strengthening your relationship with your child will help them feel more secure in an ever-changing world.

Greetings FMS students and families!  As we adjust to our new way of staying home and being mindful of the part each one of us plays in helping our community stay healthy, we also want to share our deepest intent of nurturing and supporting our FMS family. We are in uncharted territory and the need to stay focused on what matters most is an important challenge for each of us.

We are complex, social mammals (ask your child “ what makes a mammal a mammal?”) and the need for contact, reassurance, and sustained interaction is a vital emotional and psychological need for all of us. We have certainly felt the immediate pullback of physical contact with each one of you, yet the heartfelt connection we know between us is strong and growing. The value we place on each student (and their families) is in clear sight of each teacher and administrator at FMS (including our direct reports at Endeavor, our parent company).  We know the health and well being of every student, their family, and the FMS staff, along with their families, matters most to the long term well being, productivity, and growth of Foothills Montessori School. We are committed to this vision and offer our professional experience, hope, and action towards this noble aim.