Welcome Back
Welcome to lower elementary! Thank you for sharing your child with me this year; It is a privilege to help support your child’s growth during this period of tremendous social, emotional and academic change.
In an effort to be greener, I am striving to build a paperless community. If I do not already have your E-mail, please send an E-mail to: strickeran@tcaps.net that just says, “Hi” so that I can add you to my contacts. If you do not have Internet access and need to receive paper copies, please let me know so that I can print them for you.
Many important forms will be coming home with your child in the next week. Please take time to look through these and return any paperwork the office sends. One of the forms provides permission to take walking field trips; our class takes many walking trips and the form must be returned if your child is to join us.
Scholastic Books
Scholastic is an inexpensive way to build your child’s library and helps us add to our library as well. Book orders will come home every 4-6 weeks. If you would like to order from the September book order forms, please return your order form or place it online by Wednesday, September 15th.
We begin our day at 8:15. Students may be dropped off on the playground beginning at 8:05 A.M. Please do not drop your child off before this time as there may not be an adult available to supervise him/her before then. If you need earlier care, latchkey is available for a small daily fee or hot breakfast is available and supervised in the cafeteria beginning at 7:30 for $1.25. Students not in latchkey or at breakfast will be allowed to enter the building from the playground to prepare for class at 8:10. The final bell rings at 8:15, and the students should be in the classroom and ready to start their day by that time. Montessori encourages student independence. You can help instill this in your child by dropping her off at carline or at the door rather than walking her into the building. Our day concludes at 3:13. At this time students will be dismissed to their lockers to get their belongings before heading out to carline. The half-day dismissal time is 11:37 A.M.
At the close of the letter you will find a list of recommended school supplies, and a “wish list” of things that would benefit our environment. While shopping for school supplies can be exciting, and any donations made to our community are greatly appreciated, there are several things that you do not need to purchase for your child:
In order to ensure the safety of everyone in our community, we have established expectations for our environment. Respect is the fundamental component of our behavior expectations. Respect for self, respect for others, and respect for the materials and property of others are all very important. And, while there are specific rules for specific situations, our rules can be broken down to three “w‘s.”
Fundamental to the Montessori philosophy is the idea that we are to “follow the child.” This does not mean that we follow the child blindly allowing him to do as he chooses. As the directress, it is my job to observe the needs of each child so that I may present activities that will meet these needs. Montessori lessons are intended to spark a child’s interest and encourage independent follow-up work.
Students will receive lessons in all curricular areas and are free to choose from any material in the room once they have received a lesson on its proper use. However, while each student may be drawn to one particular area, s/he is expected to complete a variety of activities and to challenge his/herself in order to meet curricular goals. The children will plan their day to meet their goals. This is a Practical Life activity that encourages the children to take responsibility for their education and work habits.
We work with a three-year curriculum and the children will be exposed to important concepts several times. So, if something did not spark an interest the first time, it should at a later time. After a child completes a three-year cycle, the majority of Montessori children meet or exceed state and local benchmarks. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s learning, please let me know. To help you understand the Montessori classroom, I also encourage you to read Montessori Today, by Paula Polk Lillard, any of Maria Montessori’s books, or Montessori websites.
Students generally record their lessons and work in composition books, so you will not see much work coming home from school. These books are mini-portfolios of each child’s work and progress in the Lower Elementary environment and will be shared with you at conference times.
Lunch
You may purchase a hot lunch from our cafeteria for $2.10. If you would like your child to eat hot lunch please send cash or a check made payable to “TCAPS” in an envelope or Ziploc® baggie labeled with, “Stricker” and your child's first and last name. For your convenience, many lunches can be paid for in advance and a balance held on your account. Of course, you may choose to send in a homemade lunch for your child. Many of the children prefer to pack their lunches in order to make the most of their brief time in the cafeteria.
At Home Enrichment Activity
Time management is a lifelong skill. To foster this skill, homework is considered a practical life activity for lower elementary students. At-Home-Enrichment activities are designed to be engaging and enjoyable. Many of the activities are designed to be completed with the assistance or support of an adult, and can be built into family time. These activities will generally consist of “Things to Experience” such as: visit a museum, see a play, or learn a magic trick, and “Things to Learn.” Spelling words, the continents, or multiplication facts are examples. In addition to the enrichment activities, your child may have occasional projects including monthly book reports. Enrichment activities will typically come home on Wednesdays and be due the following Wednesday.
Spelling
Children are encouraged to use inventive spelling of unknown words in their daily writing until they have learned the pattern or rule for the correct spelling of the words. However, learning conventional spellings of words is important, so spelling is a part of our curriculum. Our spelling program is sequential and based on Orton-Gillingham. It begins with simple phonetic words and progresses through sound patterns one at a time to encourage mastery of the rules. New students will be assessed in the fall to determine where they will begin on the spelling sequence and returning students will be given a review test to verify retention of previously learned words. Your child will receive a new list once they have shown mastery (80% or greater) of the previous list. While the lists may seem simple, even too simple for your child at times, the goal is not to memorize the words to pass the test, but to internalize the rule so that it carries over into daily writing. Please help find a permanent spot to keep the spelling words each week and encourage your child to study them. Spellchecks will be given on Tuesdays so that new lists can be sent with Enrichment on Wednesdays.
Snack
In the past, each student in our environment has been assigned a week to provide snacks for our entire community. Last year our class piloted a Seed to Table snack program. This year we will again be utilizing the area Farmers' Markets to provide fresh, local food for the children and sample in season food when possible. This model has been successfully used by other Montessori schools including Baltimore Public Montessori School in Baltimore, Maryland. This “Seed to Table” program piggybacks the Farm to School movement and will be used to integrate our botany, practical life, math and grace and courtesy curricula. We will be taking trips to local Farmers' Markets this fall and again in the spring and I have spoken with several farmers about learning opportunities and going outs at their farms.
This program will teach our children how to cook good, healthy food using local and sustainable produce and ingredients. The children will be involved in preparing, preserving, cooking, serving and of course, eating the food daily and when possible harvesting food from our garden or a local farm. In lieu of sending in snacks throughout the year, I am asking that families make a contribution of $50 per child toward the purchase of ingredients used in our daily Seed to Table snack program. This fee is less than the average “grocery list” for a weekly snack and can be divided into five monthly installments for your convenience. We will also be keeping a class “checkbook” to ensure fiscal responsibility of the snack budget and to help the children gain valuable, real-world math skills.
Carline
The lower elementary carline will continue to be on Griffin Street behind the school. Please pick up your carline tags today. If you have more than one child in our program, your oldest child(ren) will be picked up with the youngest child in your family.
Volunteers
There are many opportunities for volunteers to assist in our community. In our classroom parents are always needed to listen to children read; supervise children in our garden; help with particularly messy or complicated art/cooking projects, and chaperone field trips or going-outs. I would also like to find someone that is willing/able to walk a small group of older students to the Farmers' Market for the remaining Wednesday markets of the season to shop for snacks. Within the greater Montessori community there are opportunities to help in the library and the cafeteria on a regular basis along with opportunities to help with PTO functions throughout the year. In addition to the existing opportunities, our school received a grant to start a “Walking School Bus” and will be recruiting volunteers to help run the walking route on a regularly scheduled basis; watch for more information on this grant opportunity to come home soon. If you are available to help with any of these jobs, please send me an E-mail with your availability and interests so that I may add you to our volunteer schedule. All adults wishing to volunteer at TCAPS need to have FIA clearance on file. The clearance is free and doesn't take long but for the safety of the children, this must be turned in before you will be allowed to work with students.
While everything your child needs to be successful at school will be provided by our school district, our students would benefit if they had the following:
Recommended School Supplies
*journal ~a composition book-styled journal works best; they are more durable than spiral bound notebooks. Primary ruled notebooks with space for drawing at the top are available at both Wal Mart and Office Depot; I recommend these for all first year students and any older student still practicing proper letter formation.
1 spiral bound sketch book, no smaller than 9”x 9” 2-3 square boxes of tissues
1 box Band-Aids® *backpack without wheels
Composition books ~ 3 for new students, 1-2 for returning students to replace current books as they are filled.
Athletic style gym shoes (without cartoon characters if possible)
*Indoor shoes ~ gym shoes may double
folder ~ Any 2 pocket folder, plain or with an image appropriate for school to be used as a communication folder.
*Indoor Shoes: In our classroom, most of each child’s work is done on the floor. In order to keep your child, the materials, and our classroom carpet clean, it is essential that each child has a pair of shoes that stay at school and they wear only inside the school. It is unnecessary for your child to keep multiple pairs of shoes at school; the athletic-style gym shoes necessary for physical education class may serve as your child’s indoor shoes. If you send a pair of shoes other than gym shoes, please be certain they are appropriate for working on the floor. Soft-soled casual shoes are best. Slippers, clunky shoes and flip-flop style sandals pose a safety hazard to everyone in our environment, and are not permitted. If your child cannot tie his own shoes, please do not send lace-up shoes, indoor or otherwise; independence is key in a Montessori environment; having someone else tie your shoes is counterproductive.
*Backpack: Most of the students share a small locker. The smallest backpack that will hold all of your child’s things is best.
*Journal: Most Fridays, your child will write a letter to you detailing some of the things they did at school that week. Your job is to reply and send your letter back on Monday. This does several things: you get your child’s view of school; your child gets a personal note to start off his week; and your child sees you doing your “homework,” which reinforces its importance. I would highly recommend a Mead® Primary Composition Book or other primary ruled notebook for all first year students, and any returning student still struggling with proper letter formation. In the past I have found them at Wal-Mart.
Observations/visitations
Parents are encouraged to observe in the classroom, but only after the first six weeks of school. This allows the child time to become comfortable with the environment. You will need to call the office to schedule an observation after the appropriate number of weeks.
Donations are always greatly appreciated, and many of the items on this list are on sale this time of year.
Classroom Wish List
Dish soap (Earth-friendly “green” soap please.)
Watercolor paint set
#2 pencils
Post-It ® notes flags sponges
Glue sticks
Markers
Scotch tape ¾” wide
Watercolor paper. Any brand is fine, but 140 lb. cold-pressed paper is best.
A Final Note…
As you begin to prepare your child for the return to school it is very helpful to readjust their sleeping schedule to match school hours. The first weeks of school are often quite stressful for children, especially first graders. Switching from the relaxed pace of summer to the serious business of learning, following school expectations, and managing peer interactions can be challenging. In September, children are often exhausted by lunchtime, leaving you with an overwhelmed child in the evening. Preparing them ahead of time for an early morning day will help them feel strong and successful.
I am looking forward to working with you to support your child this year.
Sincerely,
Angela Stricker
In an effort to be greener, I am striving to build a paperless community. If I do not already have your E-mail, please send an E-mail to: strickeran@tcaps.net that just says, “Hi” so that I can add you to my contacts. If you do not have Internet access and need to receive paper copies, please let me know so that I can print them for you.
Many important forms will be coming home with your child in the next week. Please take time to look through these and return any paperwork the office sends. One of the forms provides permission to take walking field trips; our class takes many walking trips and the form must be returned if your child is to join us.
Scholastic Books
Scholastic is an inexpensive way to build your child’s library and helps us add to our library as well. Book orders will come home every 4-6 weeks. If you would like to order from the September book order forms, please return your order form or place it online by Wednesday, September 15th.
- SIGN UP at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Register" button in the "First Time Here?" section. Register for your own user name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code: HK76G. This unique code ensures that your order is sent to me.
- SELECT the books you'd like to order -- choose from thousands of titles -- many more than in our monthly flyers.
- SEND your order to me online by the due date and your child's books will be delivered directly to my classroom.
We begin our day at 8:15. Students may be dropped off on the playground beginning at 8:05 A.M. Please do not drop your child off before this time as there may not be an adult available to supervise him/her before then. If you need earlier care, latchkey is available for a small daily fee or hot breakfast is available and supervised in the cafeteria beginning at 7:30 for $1.25. Students not in latchkey or at breakfast will be allowed to enter the building from the playground to prepare for class at 8:10. The final bell rings at 8:15, and the students should be in the classroom and ready to start their day by that time. Montessori encourages student independence. You can help instill this in your child by dropping her off at carline or at the door rather than walking her into the building. Our day concludes at 3:13. At this time students will be dismissed to their lockers to get their belongings before heading out to carline. The half-day dismissal time is 11:37 A.M.
At the close of the letter you will find a list of recommended school supplies, and a “wish list” of things that would benefit our environment. While shopping for school supplies can be exciting, and any donations made to our community are greatly appreciated, there are several things that you do not need to purchase for your child:
- spiral notebooks ~ We use composition books to record student work in our environment because they are more durable.
- special pens, pencils, erasers and art supplies ~ These items often cause unnecessary conflicts between students. If you would like to purchase these items, please consider purchasing them as a donation to our community for everyone’s use; many of these items are on our wish list.
- Binders are not recommended for lower elementary students; we do not have adequate storage space to accommodate binders in our cubbies. However one, half-inch binder will be allowed and has been requested by our Spanish instructor to organize Spanish materials.
In order to ensure the safety of everyone in our community, we have established expectations for our environment. Respect is the fundamental component of our behavior expectations. Respect for self, respect for others, and respect for the materials and property of others are all very important. And, while there are specific rules for specific situations, our rules can be broken down to three “w‘s.”
- Whisper
- Walk
- Work
Fundamental to the Montessori philosophy is the idea that we are to “follow the child.” This does not mean that we follow the child blindly allowing him to do as he chooses. As the directress, it is my job to observe the needs of each child so that I may present activities that will meet these needs. Montessori lessons are intended to spark a child’s interest and encourage independent follow-up work.
Students will receive lessons in all curricular areas and are free to choose from any material in the room once they have received a lesson on its proper use. However, while each student may be drawn to one particular area, s/he is expected to complete a variety of activities and to challenge his/herself in order to meet curricular goals. The children will plan their day to meet their goals. This is a Practical Life activity that encourages the children to take responsibility for their education and work habits.
We work with a three-year curriculum and the children will be exposed to important concepts several times. So, if something did not spark an interest the first time, it should at a later time. After a child completes a three-year cycle, the majority of Montessori children meet or exceed state and local benchmarks. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s learning, please let me know. To help you understand the Montessori classroom, I also encourage you to read Montessori Today, by Paula Polk Lillard, any of Maria Montessori’s books, or Montessori websites.
Students generally record their lessons and work in composition books, so you will not see much work coming home from school. These books are mini-portfolios of each child’s work and progress in the Lower Elementary environment and will be shared with you at conference times.
Lunch
You may purchase a hot lunch from our cafeteria for $2.10. If you would like your child to eat hot lunch please send cash or a check made payable to “TCAPS” in an envelope or Ziploc® baggie labeled with, “Stricker” and your child's first and last name. For your convenience, many lunches can be paid for in advance and a balance held on your account. Of course, you may choose to send in a homemade lunch for your child. Many of the children prefer to pack their lunches in order to make the most of their brief time in the cafeteria.
At Home Enrichment Activity
Time management is a lifelong skill. To foster this skill, homework is considered a practical life activity for lower elementary students. At-Home-Enrichment activities are designed to be engaging and enjoyable. Many of the activities are designed to be completed with the assistance or support of an adult, and can be built into family time. These activities will generally consist of “Things to Experience” such as: visit a museum, see a play, or learn a magic trick, and “Things to Learn.” Spelling words, the continents, or multiplication facts are examples. In addition to the enrichment activities, your child may have occasional projects including monthly book reports. Enrichment activities will typically come home on Wednesdays and be due the following Wednesday.
Spelling
Children are encouraged to use inventive spelling of unknown words in their daily writing until they have learned the pattern or rule for the correct spelling of the words. However, learning conventional spellings of words is important, so spelling is a part of our curriculum. Our spelling program is sequential and based on Orton-Gillingham. It begins with simple phonetic words and progresses through sound patterns one at a time to encourage mastery of the rules. New students will be assessed in the fall to determine where they will begin on the spelling sequence and returning students will be given a review test to verify retention of previously learned words. Your child will receive a new list once they have shown mastery (80% or greater) of the previous list. While the lists may seem simple, even too simple for your child at times, the goal is not to memorize the words to pass the test, but to internalize the rule so that it carries over into daily writing. Please help find a permanent spot to keep the spelling words each week and encourage your child to study them. Spellchecks will be given on Tuesdays so that new lists can be sent with Enrichment on Wednesdays.
Snack
In the past, each student in our environment has been assigned a week to provide snacks for our entire community. Last year our class piloted a Seed to Table snack program. This year we will again be utilizing the area Farmers' Markets to provide fresh, local food for the children and sample in season food when possible. This model has been successfully used by other Montessori schools including Baltimore Public Montessori School in Baltimore, Maryland. This “Seed to Table” program piggybacks the Farm to School movement and will be used to integrate our botany, practical life, math and grace and courtesy curricula. We will be taking trips to local Farmers' Markets this fall and again in the spring and I have spoken with several farmers about learning opportunities and going outs at their farms.
This program will teach our children how to cook good, healthy food using local and sustainable produce and ingredients. The children will be involved in preparing, preserving, cooking, serving and of course, eating the food daily and when possible harvesting food from our garden or a local farm. In lieu of sending in snacks throughout the year, I am asking that families make a contribution of $50 per child toward the purchase of ingredients used in our daily Seed to Table snack program. This fee is less than the average “grocery list” for a weekly snack and can be divided into five monthly installments for your convenience. We will also be keeping a class “checkbook” to ensure fiscal responsibility of the snack budget and to help the children gain valuable, real-world math skills.
Carline
The lower elementary carline will continue to be on Griffin Street behind the school. Please pick up your carline tags today. If you have more than one child in our program, your oldest child(ren) will be picked up with the youngest child in your family.
Volunteers
There are many opportunities for volunteers to assist in our community. In our classroom parents are always needed to listen to children read; supervise children in our garden; help with particularly messy or complicated art/cooking projects, and chaperone field trips or going-outs. I would also like to find someone that is willing/able to walk a small group of older students to the Farmers' Market for the remaining Wednesday markets of the season to shop for snacks. Within the greater Montessori community there are opportunities to help in the library and the cafeteria on a regular basis along with opportunities to help with PTO functions throughout the year. In addition to the existing opportunities, our school received a grant to start a “Walking School Bus” and will be recruiting volunteers to help run the walking route on a regularly scheduled basis; watch for more information on this grant opportunity to come home soon. If you are available to help with any of these jobs, please send me an E-mail with your availability and interests so that I may add you to our volunteer schedule. All adults wishing to volunteer at TCAPS need to have FIA clearance on file. The clearance is free and doesn't take long but for the safety of the children, this must be turned in before you will be allowed to work with students.
While everything your child needs to be successful at school will be provided by our school district, our students would benefit if they had the following:
Recommended School Supplies
*journal ~a composition book-styled journal works best; they are more durable than spiral bound notebooks. Primary ruled notebooks with space for drawing at the top are available at both Wal Mart and Office Depot; I recommend these for all first year students and any older student still practicing proper letter formation.
1 spiral bound sketch book, no smaller than 9”x 9” 2-3 square boxes of tissues
1 box Band-Aids® *backpack without wheels
Composition books ~ 3 for new students, 1-2 for returning students to replace current books as they are filled.
Athletic style gym shoes (without cartoon characters if possible)
*Indoor shoes ~ gym shoes may double
folder ~ Any 2 pocket folder, plain or with an image appropriate for school to be used as a communication folder.
*Indoor Shoes: In our classroom, most of each child’s work is done on the floor. In order to keep your child, the materials, and our classroom carpet clean, it is essential that each child has a pair of shoes that stay at school and they wear only inside the school. It is unnecessary for your child to keep multiple pairs of shoes at school; the athletic-style gym shoes necessary for physical education class may serve as your child’s indoor shoes. If you send a pair of shoes other than gym shoes, please be certain they are appropriate for working on the floor. Soft-soled casual shoes are best. Slippers, clunky shoes and flip-flop style sandals pose a safety hazard to everyone in our environment, and are not permitted. If your child cannot tie his own shoes, please do not send lace-up shoes, indoor or otherwise; independence is key in a Montessori environment; having someone else tie your shoes is counterproductive.
*Backpack: Most of the students share a small locker. The smallest backpack that will hold all of your child’s things is best.
*Journal: Most Fridays, your child will write a letter to you detailing some of the things they did at school that week. Your job is to reply and send your letter back on Monday. This does several things: you get your child’s view of school; your child gets a personal note to start off his week; and your child sees you doing your “homework,” which reinforces its importance. I would highly recommend a Mead® Primary Composition Book or other primary ruled notebook for all first year students, and any returning student still struggling with proper letter formation. In the past I have found them at Wal-Mart.
Observations/visitations
Parents are encouraged to observe in the classroom, but only after the first six weeks of school. This allows the child time to become comfortable with the environment. You will need to call the office to schedule an observation after the appropriate number of weeks.
Donations are always greatly appreciated, and many of the items on this list are on sale this time of year.
Classroom Wish List
Dish soap (Earth-friendly “green” soap please.)
Watercolor paint set
#2 pencils
Post-It ® notes flags sponges
Glue sticks
Markers
Scotch tape ¾” wide
Watercolor paper. Any brand is fine, but 140 lb. cold-pressed paper is best.
A Final Note…
As you begin to prepare your child for the return to school it is very helpful to readjust their sleeping schedule to match school hours. The first weeks of school are often quite stressful for children, especially first graders. Switching from the relaxed pace of summer to the serious business of learning, following school expectations, and managing peer interactions can be challenging. In September, children are often exhausted by lunchtime, leaving you with an overwhelmed child in the evening. Preparing them ahead of time for an early morning day will help them feel strong and successful.
I am looking forward to working with you to support your child this year.
Sincerely,
Angela Stricker
