WELCOME BACK
It feels a little late to share how thankful I am to be back together, as we’re already a month into our school year! The month has flown by in the blink of an eye. In that blink, we have seen the classrooms transform. Thank you for sticking with us through those first few weeks of adjustment. We see all the hard work you put into forming special traditions, new routines, and thoughtfully packed lunches. Hopefully, you’ll come to visit us soon. We will hold a few community events throughout the year, classrooms will provide parent education nights, and students will host work showcases. We hope to make our space a welcome place for our community. This newsletter will be released on the first Monday of each month. I will provide reminders, announcements, classroom updates, and notes about Montessori education. I hope it builds a small window into the awesome things happening
inside our little school. Our space and our newsletters are open to parent use as well.
Contact the office if you’d like to utilize our community room or write a blog for our
newsletter.
A NOTE ABOUT CONFERENCES
Conferences are coming up at the end of the month. I wanted to take a minute and talk about how to approach conferences. Here is some advice compiled from my own experiences and notes from other Montessorians.
- Talk to your child about what they want you to know, ask, or talk about at conferences. If your child attends the conference, talking about it beforehand helps them know what to expect. Conferences can be uncomfortable for children (especially teens); some hate being talked about, and others are nervous about what their teacher will share.
- Ask about your child’s development (social, motor, emotional, intellectual, academic, artistic). Take note of things going well or need more development at home. Montessori teachers are experts in childhood development. They may have some great insights.
- Be mindful of time. Teachers have a clear schedule for the night. If you have extra things to discuss, you may want to each out to your teacher to schedule a double block of conferences.
- If you want to know more, ask to observe in the classroom.
Montessori classrooms have intentional rules about observing, but it can be a helpful prep to see how your student moves throughout the day. - Don’t forget… good education is a team effort. You have a plethora of special knowledge and expertise regarding your child. Teachers are experts in developmental psychology, learning, and community building. Together, you form a team that supports the growth of your child.
CHILDREN’S HOUSE
Children’s House (CH) will always get the award Most Improved. These little tykes came to school a few weeks ago full of worries about being away from home and getting along with new friends. They had to adjust to sharing a space, a schedule, and a teacher with all these other little kids! They had to remember to drink water, enjoy snacks, and go to the bathroom. These are big feats for our littlest humans. Here
are three things to ask about at conferences: adjustment to classroom norms, number
sense/letter sounds, and sensorial work.
ELEMENTARY I
Elementary I (EI) didn’t waste any time getting down to what they know best – getting out! They visited the La Crescent History Center, La Crescent Library, and Whitewater State Park this month. Anytime elementary students go out, it is an important part of their holistic learning. Elementary is the time when “going out” skills are best practiced. However, the last trip on the list is an extra special part of EI. Each year, they
travel to a nearby state park in the three seasons they are lucky to witness together.
These trips are so fun, but they are also important for later events. In E2, they will attend Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center for a three-day trip. And, in AP, they will return to some of the same state parks for a 4-day camping trip. Here are three things to ask about at conferences: reading development, social connections, and capacity for imagination.
ELEMENTARY II
Our Elementary II (E2) students started their journey through the great lessons this month. The Great Lessons are an integral part of elementary education. Montessori’s research found that our students 6-12 years old strongly desire to know how the universe is organized. They look for answers about why things are the way they are and how this world developed over time. The Great Lessons answer some of
the biggest questions: how were the world, life, humans, communication, and numbers created? This work will build a foundation for their later studies of civilizations, biomes, elements, geography, and geometry. Here are three things to ask about at conferences: social relationships, math operations/writing skills, and moral development.
ADOLESCENT PROGRAM
Every classroom spends time forming a community, but Adolescent students make a
big deal about it. Each year, they take a fall trip to a nearby state park. This year, they traveled to Whitewater State Park in St. Charles. Students could unplug from technology and immerse themselves in the park’s beautiful landscapes.
They learned how to identify different types of fungi while on a nature hike. All students had opportunities to cook meals for their peers, and the food was delicious! The AP community came together around the campfire and had plenty of time to splash in the creek, play board games, write reflections, and run off their energy in the group camp area. The week was filled with laughter, connection, and learning.
Here are three things to ask about at conferences: agency, valorization, and
organizational skills.
MEET THE TEACHER
Luke Wahl-Squared, or Mr. Wahl as he’s known around the building, has been with LMSS for four years. As a self-proclaimed nerd, Luke’s passion for math transfers easily to many students in AP. Math is not typically a hot subject for adults, but we often hear teens talking about how much fun it is with Mr. Wahl. There are few things Luke likes more than math, but he does take a break here or there to enjoy nature and spend time with his friends. We are so thankful for Luke’s laid-back attitude and
never-ending energy for going above and beyond to better the lives of his students