“We must help the

child to act for him-

self, will for himself,

think for himself...

This is the art of

those who aspire to

serve the spirit.”

Maria Montessori

(Education for a New World)

In This Issue

End of Term Notes

Astronomy & Space

Field Trips

Botany– Tree Study

Conflict Resolution

TAG Program

Specials Calendar

Parent Conferences

Homework & Tests

End of Term One on Oct 30th We have completed the first term of the year and the majority of

standardized testing required by Prince George’s County Public

Schools. Each child has a work portfolio containing their completed

work, weekly clipboard work plans and self-evaluation assessments.

Please sign up: Parent Conferences on Nov. 11th

Bring your questions and concerns. You will have the chance to

view your child’s “Writing Journal,” work portfolio, and individu-

al test scores that I have received. Twenty minute time slots are

available from 8:10 AM to 4:40 PM. The sign-up sheet is on our

classroom door (Room #113) or you may email me with your

preferred time , then I can let you know if that slot is still open.

First Term Classroom Newsletter November 1, 2015

Students proudly displaying their Astronomy and Space Study Art & Research Project Posters (Maryam, Claire & Samantha)

Lower Elementary Class– Grades One to Three 2015– 2016 School Year

Astronomy, Space & Botany Studies The Montessori school year began with a Great

Lesson about the Story of the Universe.. This

was followed by learning about NASA, space

missions, the solar system, asteroids, comets,

dwarf planets, stars, galaxies, moon craters, the

possibility of extra terrestrial life and much more.

These studies will continue, however we have

started autumn with plant & tree studies, parts

of, life cycles, and doing outdoor tree and leaf

identification. Students explored life under a

dead tree (fallen log) and found lots of bugs.

Sara milks a cow at Echo Hill!

Elsie’s poster about “The Life Cycle of an Oak Tree”

Field Trips– “Hands On” Learning

Owens Science Center

Third graders from all the Lower Montessori classes visited Owens Sci-ence Center around the corner from us on Greenbelt Road accompanied by Mr. Shaw. Prior to the visit, they reviewed prior knowledge about The Water Cycle. Some experiments they conducted on the trip were the mixing (and separation) of oil and water and how oil spills can impact the marine environment.

Echo Hill Outdoor School

Many of our students (62% of our class) plus several parent chaperones visited Echo Hill on the Chesapeake Bay. The overnight nature trip be-gan when the bus had a 1.5 hour delay due to a flat tire. Students did marsh and wetland studies, had an evening hay ride followed by a bon-fire, petted goats, visited a dairy farm, some went canoeing and all of us enjoyed the food which was plentiful and wholesome. The kids really appreciated an amazing sunset barbeque on the beach Although the bus ride was long, this experience was fun for everyone!

Idiagbonya shows no fear...

TAG Program

Five second and third

graders in our class have

been designated “Gifted &

Talented.” The first grad-

ers took their OLSAT test

to determine eligibility for

TAG next year. Our TAG

students & their advisor

Ms. Karuna Skariah will be

featured on the National

Geographic web site for

work they did on the topic

of Latitude and Longitude .

PEACEMAKERS

Dr. Maria Montessori was

dedicated to using her

methods to teach children

about tolerance, multicul-

turalism, global thinking

and peace. With 23 chil-

dren in our class of vary-

ing ages, interests and

abilities, we have had our

share of situations requir-

ing conflict resolution. Our

students serve as media-

tors and are learning the

skills to resolve disagree-

ments encouraging using

words. Our school has

zero tolerance for bullying.

Grade 3 TAG students Mason & Nathaniel working on writing.

Homework for Ms. Primo’s Class Maria Montessori did not believe in homework. The time the child has at home inter-

acting with family and playing outdoors is very valuable. In our class, there is only one

homework assignment. A brand new “Daily Reading Log” page is due every Mon-

day morning at arrival time before morning circle begins! Parents can help them

remember, because failure to turn in homework is recorded in the gradebook as zero.

Every night all students are expected to read a minimum of 20 minutes either inde-

pendently, to siblings or with a parent reading aloud. Parents should initial the log after

the child writes the title and author of the book they read. Students should initial it, too.

TESTS

Every Friday (that school is in-session) students in all three grades will take a Spelling

Quiz on their 16 new leveled word lists they are given every Monday morning. The

results are recorded in an Excel gradebook & averaged as a component of their Eng-

lish language grades. Parents should remind kids to practice & review their words.

All the basic pre-tests required by the County are now done, except the Third Graders

still will have an OLSAT test to do in Term Two for screening and determination for

TAG program admission. Beginning in January, there will be more tests. Third graders

must take the computerized PARCC (Common Core) tests in the early Spring for the

first time. Everyone will take end-of-the-year post –tests in both Math & Reading.

Two third grade

Peacemaker Leaders

are Leonardo & Nasib.

Daily Schedule

9:15 Morning Circle Mtg.

Montessori Work Period

12:30 Clean-Up & Lunch

1:10 Recess Time

1:45 Writing Journal Time

Reading or Math

2:30 2nd Clean-Up

2:45 “SPECIALS”– Art, PE

or Music with Arts teachers

3:45 DISMISSAL to bus

Ongoing Activities in Class All students have been assigned to a small group of peers for reading and

math lessons, based on test scores and observations. Third graders will

begin a brand new mandated “Writing FUNdamentals” program begin-

ning in Term Two. Self-selection of Montessori materials work takes place

from 9:30 to 12:30 AM each day. Students must log work on a clipboard.

Computers and Technology Learning

Technology is integrated into our daily classwork, but since we only have two

computers, we have to assign time blocks. Each student has their own access

ID and password for the wifi system. They are allowed to work on typing,, math

games, and the third-graders are learning to navigate and use the tools in Mi-

crosoft Word. All the students have learned how to search for information in

Google and using various data bases. Most did their Astronomy research pro-

jects combining both library book resources and computer research. We have

been to the lab once all together and hope to schedule more time blocks for

this, as well as library book check-outs, during Term Two.

Here our some of our students focused on work or displaying their creations.

Contact me directly by email at: lyndaheidi.primo@pgcps.org