From Director's Desk: posted on 9/26/08
It is that time of the year when we invite parents to sign up for Observation times in the classroom and join us for Parents’ Classes. Being an educated parent is a very important ingredient in our parenthood. More knowledge helps us to enjoy and take pleasure in understanding our children. Please sign up on the Observation Schedule for an hour or half hour observation in the month of November. The sign-up sheet will be posted inside the lower front door for Rimon and Devash parents and inside the upper front door for Gefen parents. If you cannot come in to sign up, you can e-mail Janel Herman at Janel@alefbetmontessori.org with your preferred times.
Observation Schedule
Observation dates will run Nov. 3 through Nov. 21, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. We allow two parents per time slot in each classroom. Here are some tips for observations:
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Look at other children's work, not just your child's, because while you are there she will be excited and not into her normal routine. Looking at other children while they work will help you understand what she is doing when you are not there.
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Turn your cell phone off.
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We use quiet voices in our classroom. Remember, you are an observer, please try not to be noticed.
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Observe the teachers and write down notes or questions you have. You will be able to discuss your observations with the teacher at 11:30 a.m.
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Attend the classes and be involved.
From Director's Desk: posted on 9/19/08
“Why is my Baby crying? Is she not ready? What can we do?” the mother asked me. I stand with the mother, listening to her heart racing and see her pain. All she wanted is to hold her child a little longer, so that she will stop crying. It is so hard. So hard on the mom and the child. We are in a transition period. It is hard for a child to say Goodbye. It is difficult for the child to understand that you will always come back for her. There is no way to explain to a small child that in 2 1/2 hours mommy will be back. Children ages 18-months to 5-years-old are not capable of understanding the concept of TIME as we do. Only in the Elementary class do they start realizing how short a minute is in comparison to an hour. There is a little switch in the brain that kicks in at the Elementary level. But before that, children cannot tell what is one minute to 7 minutes to 2 hours. They can only sense it through the rhythms of the people and activities around them.
What can we do then? How do we transition? There is no shortcuts, no free rides. Transitions are always difficult. Talk to your child at home. Say that you are going to school, and Mommy will always come back. Assure them that you are confident – as their little sensors can tell when you are lying about it. Believe in your heart that they are in a good place.
Once in school, a child will become accustomed to the activities in the class. This way, she learns a routine. The routine helps her understand the following: first we sing, then we read, then we play, then we eat, then we go outside, then we sing again and then MOMMY COMES BACK!
Here is a sweet song that the mommy shared with me. The tune can be found at www.cdbaby.com
Mommy comes back
She always comes back
She always comes back to get me
Mommy comes back
She always comes back
She never would forget me
Shabat Shalom,
Ellie
From Director's Desk: posted on 9/12/08
Dear parents,
Hooray! The children and staff are all settling into our new classrooms and we are off to a successful start for the school year. We have now begun our Hebrew Program, which is done within the classrooms using the Montessori Method – each child at her own pace. Our program is divided into three areas: Spoken (vocabulary), Letter Recognition (phonetics), and Reading and Writing (movable alphabet, pencil and paper).
Spoken (vocabulary):
In all of our classes we speak Hebrew. We expose the children to the spoken language and enrich them with vocabulary - words that they will hear again and again from our staff. Being a Montessori school, we do not separate them for classes, but engage the child in a Hebrew activity such as songs, reading a book, stories, object recognition, and generally hearing Hebrew from the Hebrew speaking staff member. This is all done in the classroom.
Letter Recognition:
Children develop the ability to recognize and follow a specific line (not just arbitrary strokes, but more deliberate tracing and following a pattern) at a certain age. This usually happens at, or after they turn three. At this point we start introducing letters in Hebrew. The children will recognize these letters by learning the sound of the letters (phonetically). For example, the letter Bet, we call it "bhh" not "bet," as it makes the sound "bhh". In addition the child will practice forming the letter by tracing her finger on a sanded board, and by tracing it in a sand box.
Later, we will begin with our program Chalav U Dvash, which helps the young child build specific vocabulary within each lesson. In this program they learn a combination of words and full sentences, through the use of cards, objects, games and songs.
Reading and Writing:
From the beginning of the year, our 5-years-old have been reviewing the alphabet letters and punctuation, which they have learned last year. Each child will later progress into more advanced writing using the movable alphabet, as well as pencil and paper.
Learning a language is not a competition. A child in our program is not expected to reach a certain level, but rather to absorb the language. Being exposed to a spoken language is sufficient at this young age. They do not need to take notes, or scribble the letters in order to memorize them. We do not encourage testing, but we highly encourage reading to them, pointing at objects and asking "what is this?", or asking them to tell you about a song or a story that they learned in school.
The Alef Bet Montessori Staff