updates from the classroom

WHEW! It has been such a busy couple of weeks I haven't been able to catch my breath. I figure I am overdue in posting about my classroom.

First off, I had a great time at the IMC Annual Conference in Clearwater, FL. It was AMAZING. The presenters were top-notch, the hotel and beach were beautiful, the keynote speakers were very interesting, the meals were great and the vendors were very tempting!
Highlights:
1. Workshop with Jane Nelson, author of Positive Discipline and co-author the various series with that title.
2. Workshop with Kathryn Kvols, author or Redirecting Children's Behavior
3. Keynote speaker Jackie Costentino (hope I spelled that right) from Williamsbug Montessori School on the history and future trends in Montessori education
5. Sitting at the dinner table with Tim Seldin, president of IMC and hearing his plans to revolutionize Montessori teacher education
6. Finding out that I was absolutely correct in that I was leaving my class in safe hands-- apparently both days I was out went very well.

Secondly, my classroom has exploded with new works! I brought back goodies from conference, of course. Also, the geography and science areas have been hopping! Today we talked about how mountains are made and looked at the layers of the Earth. I made a model from colored plasticine clay, and cut it open so we could see the layers. The children have been talking to each other during class about how we live "on the crust." We also have some interesting Native American inspired works out, including a Lunar Calendar work, pictograph writing, and crayon rubbings. In preparation for Thanksgiving, we've been reading about Squanto and the First Thanksgiving. We are also doing Yoga poses each day before we leave group time, courtesy of Ms. Marcia! French lessons are already popular as well!

Tying together the cultural and physical geography, I will be presenting a lesson on the Native American Four Elements. All week we have been studying the Lithosphere related topics, so that goes along with Earth. Next we'll look at the Hydrosphere which goes along with Water. Right around Thanksgiving, we will talk a little bit about Fire, with a few Native American tales in there. After Thanksgiving, we'll do a few lessons on the Atmosphere, and introduce weather and clouds. (I could use some baby food jars if anyone has any, by the way.) This seems like a perfect way to give an overview of physical geography.

This year's emphasis will be on biomes and climates, so we will be starting that in December, as well as beginning a study of Europe.

All the children are doing really well right now in the classroom. Daylight savings and Halloween definitely disrupted everyone some, but we are back in the swing of things.