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We Are All Teachers - Lesson Plan for Our Last Full Day of School, May 20.

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One of my favorite things about both Montessori and play-based philosophies is the idea that the teacher does not hold all the knowledge. In many Montessori schools teachers are instead called guides, because we are just the helpers as children discover and learn from their environment, their peers, and, yes, sometimes the teacher, too. While I hope some of my planned lessons have taught your children a few things, the majority of their learning happens in spite of me. I have actually been told by several children on many occasions that I don't need to lead the circle, they are happy to read the story or be the teacher today. That's why for our last day of school, I am inviting each child to be the teacher for the day! I know most children have a favorite book at home that they can "read" from memorization, some like to make up their own stories, some might like to teach the class a favorite song. Maybe your child has something special they think the class would enjoy...
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The World Needs More Teachers Like Abby

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Working with Abby this year has been such a blessing. I appreciate many things about her, but her optimism is what really shines. She believes in the good, the just, and the kind.  Happy Teacher Appreciation week, Abby. We love you. 
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Celebration Week - Our Last Full Week of School

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  Our last full week of school will be May 13 - 17, with a short Graduation Week to follow. We can't believe the year has gone so quickly! We decided to make our final week of school full of celebratory days. Here is the calendar of events for this week: MONDAY - PJ and Waffle Day - Please wear PJs to school and bring a stuffie if you wish! It will be a cozy day. WEDNESDAY - Smoothie Day - Please bring in your favorite fruit to add to your green smoothie! It is also Ariela's birthday today, so we will be circling the sun for this little sweetie. FRIDAY - Under the Sea Day - We will be whipping up a special treat along with other surprises! We will be celebrating Emmett's birthday today - the big 0-5!
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Dear Mama - Our Plans for May 6 - 10

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IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MAMA'S   this week, and those who show up to do the work of a mama. We will read lots of stories at circle times about the special bond between mother and child, including Me and Mama , a mama for Owen, My Mama , and more.  Of course we will be making some sweet crafts for special people, learning some sweet songs, and just generally celebrating the women in our lives.  S usan's favorite song about the love for a mama - from Tupac to his mother Afeni. (We will NOT be listening to this in class 😊) Our mamas read to us, bake with us, explore and play with us. They are patient and kind and joyful. Thank you for being our mamas.
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May Day! Mae Day! Lessons for April 29 - May 3

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The week begins in April, but we can't wait until May!  On Monday, April 29   Abby will read a couple of lovely gardening books, including Lola Plants a Garden and Green Green: a Community Gardening Story. There will be some planting in our rain garden as well as some planting to take home! A wonderful, earthy day to take us out of April ... and into MAY! The merry month of May begins this week - Wednesday is May first! Or, it WAS May first until we decided it was better off MAE first! Today, we celebrate the small but mighty human Mae. We will make sure to have her favorite table choices, and her favorite stories to share. Welcome to the first annual Mae Day! When Susan's child Emma was little, she started announcing "Emma Carpenter Days" on a random maybe twice-yearly basis. Infrequently enough that it was special, but not that built up in her expectations. I would just casually announce in the morning that in checking the calendar I had found that it was EC Day...
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Bike Day Review, by Serena

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"...a dream come true" when asked by her daddy how bike day was   
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Butterflies, Bubbles, and Bikes - Baby, It's Spring!

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This week, April 22 - 26, is our last full week of April and packed full of fun! Monday is EARTH DAY! Abby will read the Curious Garden and the children will learn a butterfly song. Did you know we have our caterpillars? Soon, we will be enjoying and then releasing our own sweet butterflies, all while learning about their fascination life cycle. There will be a special Earth Day art activity set for this day as well.  WEDNESDAY IS BIKE DAY Important information about Bike Day: Each child should have a bike, scooter, and helmet to participate in our biking portion of bike day. There will be a track drawn in the parking lot by our lovely volunteer parents, and well as a very exciting ramp to test those dare devils. A bike/scooter washing station, complete with sponges and rags, will be set up, as well as a place to enjoy bubbles. The extended forecast shows nothing but blue skies and 60 degree temperature. Perfect! On Friday, we will have some spring cleaning activities. Children ca...
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