Arctic September Newsletter

Transcription

1 Arctic September Newsletter "Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world" Dr. Maria Montessori During the month of August we focused on sea animals and we introduced more colors. The children enjoyed painting fish, octopus, fruit and vegetables using red, yellow and blue colored paint. Each week we did cooking projects and the children enjoyed tasting new foods. We had a special project of making tie-dye shirts. Thanks to all our classroom parents for your donations - we really appreciate them! Theme of the month Welcome back everybody! After a great summer break we are ready for a new school year filled with fun, joy and knowledge. During September we will focus on wild animals and we will do imaginary safaris to discover how these wild animals live. We will sing different songs about elephants, monkeys and lions in English and Spanish. We have new materials focused on our theme such as matching work, language cards, books and more.

2 Spanish Words to Practice at Home English Spanish Look Mirar Please Por favor Thank you Gracias Walk Caminar Run Correr Slow Lento Fast Rapido English Elephant Bear Giraffe Crocodrilo Zebra Spanish Elefante Oso Girafa Cocodrilo Zebra Song for the month: SPANISH SONG TO PRACTICE AT HOME: La Arana Pequenita La Arana pequenita subio, subio y subio Vino la lluvia y al suelo la bajo. Luego salio el sol y todo lo seco La arana pequenita subio,subio y subio.

3 Important Dates Monday, August 31 Teacher Planning Day School Closed Tuesday, September 1 - First day back to school! Thursday, September 3 - Parent Ed Night - How to help your child succeed in a Montessori program (Toddlers) Monday, September 7 Labor Day School Closed Wednesday, September 9 - Parent Coffee Get Together - 8:15 am 9:00 am in MOA s Sportscourt. We invite our parents to enjoy a cup of coffee and get together for a social hour. Come meet other parents and your administrative team too Thursday, September 17 Parent Education Night - Come See What Your Child Does at School (Primary) In respective classrooms Saturday, September 26 - Pumpkin Patch Event at Lee Farms, Where: Lee Farms SW 65th Ave, Tualatin, OR, 9-11 am Just a Few friendly reminders Please bring one box of tissues and one box of wipes for our class each month. Thank you!

4 Remember to label everything (Shirts, socks, backpacks, underwear, everything). Please try to dress your children in clothes and shoes that provide an opportunity for them to dress themselves. Now for the weather please provide boots and extra clothes too. We are out of wipes this month, feel free to donate a box to the classroom. We would like to say thank you Krista for bringing new art projects to the room each week.

5 Tie Dye

6 Parent Education Article Do What You Say and Say What You Do Throw rocks into the pool one more time and we re leaving the party, Jonathan s parents told him. It was a surprise party for his grandparents anniversary. When Jonathan threw in the next handful of pebbles, nothing happened. Empty threats. It is an easy trap to fall into. We think if we mention the possible consequences of an action, our child will stop, or if not, at least others will see that we tried to make Jonathan stop.

7 If Jonathans parents had been serious, Jonathan would have been out the door before the last ripple hit the pool edge. By leaving they d be teaching Jonathan to listen to what they say, because what they say means something. Instead they taught Jonathan that what they say and what they do are two different things. Follow through is an important parenting skill and we may have to miss a party or two if we believe in follow through. Humpf! What do we get when we show our children that we mean it? We have children that get it. The neurons in their brains make the connection that what mom and dad say and do are important, so, brain, listen up! When we do what we say, we have to think through and make our words and actions counts. We want to under promise and over deliver. Here are a few tips to help. Understand the impulse control of a three-year-old. If you ask a three-year-old not to do something, chances are they will do it. This is due to the fact that the impulse control part of the brain, or the prefrontal cortex, is not developed enough to understand how not to do something. Take the example: Don t run. All the child s brain hears is run. State behavior requests in the positive: Come with me. Hold my hand. Sit. Stop. Instead of Tommy, if you throw the ball one more time, I ll have to take it away say,

8 Tommy, roll the ball or I ll have to put it away. Also, Show me how to roll the ball will help get the desired behavior. Be short and sweet. Say it once in a positive way. If the ball gets thrown after you ve said, Tommy, roll the ball or I ll have to put it away, don t say another word. Silence is golden. Actions speak louder than words. Take the ball and put it away. There may be crying, but say, You may choose to do something else. Tomorrow I ll let you play with the ball again. Tomorrow I m sure you ll remember to roll the ball in the house. What would you like to do now? Say it in a word. It s tomorrow already and Tommy gets a chance to play with the ball. Ask him what you would say about the ball. When Tommy answers, simply say, Yes. Roll. Promise only what you re prepared to do. Ever hear these phrases? We re never going back. You re grounded for life. No television for a month. Whatever consequences you choose to connect with an action, make sure they are logical and immediate. Take the ball away Now! It s logical and immediate, and doable. Neural pathways for cause and effect are developed in our children s brains by these kinds of important parenting actions.

9 Beware of what you say. Your words are powerful. If you say it, mean it. If you mean it, do it. You are your child s prefrontal cortex your words and actions are forming the foundation for a lifetime of decision-making, planning, cognitive flexibility, impulse control, and situational appropriate behavior.