Dear Montessori Timberwolves Families and Friends,
Thank you to our families who came and supported our book fair, sponsored by Brilliant Books, a locally owned store! The students love this fair, and we appreciate your patronage in supporting our library and media center. Shout out to Ms. Jennifer Tank, our LMC paraprofessional, for all her coordination, time, and effort in bringing this to our community!
Thursday was a great day in the Timberwolves Cafe. We had special servers—shoutouts to volunteers Mr. Mike, Mr. Dimas, our AC student servers, and Mrs. Rucker, Ms. Pattie, and Ms. Deb for all their help cooking this special lunch for students. Students were challenged to have some scripted table talk about their gratitude. Our staff was humbled by the many thank yous and smiles—your kids are awesome!
Next week will surely be a short, sweet week of learning - with school in session only on Monday and Tuesday. Thanksgiving break begins Wednesday, November 27. Attendance is still essential these two days as classrooms will continue with necessary instruction—school Resumes on Monday, December 2, 2024.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Tracy
The Early Years: Characteristics of Primary Aged Children (Sensitive Periods)
According to Montessori Theory, the most critical sensitive periods occur between birth and age six. In other pedagogies, sensitive periods are commonly called windows of opportunity or developmental milestones. During their first six years of life, children move through five main categories of sensitive periods: order, language, sensory skills, movement, and social skills. Each sensitive period lasts as long as it is necessary for a child to complete a particular stage in their development. These periods of special sensitivity are only temporary and fade once the aim is accomplished.
Throughout a child’s development, there are times when their ability to gather and retain information or master a skill peaks dramatically. As a parent, you may observe your children becoming more interested in language. They start replicating your speech patterns to develop their own voice. Learning to recognize these sensitive periods can assist in your child’s growth at home.
In a Montessori school, Lead Guides know how to identify sensitive periods within their students and will optimize this time to provide resources needed to facilitate learning.
Practical Life and the Primary Classroom (Our Casa)
Aristotle said, “The senses are the gateways to intelligence. There is nothing in the intellect that was not first in the senses.”
In a Montessori classroom, the Practical Life area offers the first sensory experiences to a child. Spooning grains of rice, tonging pretend sushi, peeling carrots, and even handwashing offer a child sensorial feedback as they perform different activities. So, what exactly is practical Life, and why is it a crucial part of the Primary curriculum?
Practical Life is one of the foundational areas of the Montessori Classroom and helps children develop useful skills for everyday life. It includes many of the activities a child does to take care of herself, care for her environment, or contribute to society.
Based on what we know about child development, according to Dr. Montessori’s four planes of development, children from age 3 to 6 are in the sensitive period for language, order, movement, senses, and small objects. Practical Life activities provide a child with exposure and experience in these areas during these sensitive periods.
- Carline Courtesy Reminders
DO be patient and courteous! - DO NOT pass cars in the line. You could lose your privilege to use Carline. DO NOT buckle your child in line - if your child cannot buckle themself, you should use the walk-up system. We need to keep the line moving.
DO plan ahead—winter weather is coming quickly and will slow down systems. DO NOT be crabby with our staff due to your time constraints. We are working hard for safety and efficiency.
- Lost and Found: Our Lost and Found pile is growing quickly. Please encourage your child to look through for any lost items. Also, if you are in the building, be sure to look for items. We also ask that you label all your child's clothing (coats, boots, snow pants, etc.). This makes it so much easier to make sure all items get returned to the owner. We will donate all non-labeled items at Thanksgiving.
- Cold Weather Clothing: Temperatures can vary throughout the day and from day to day. All students go outside for recess, with the only exceptions being if it is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit or heavy, consistent, rain/storms. With Michigan weather being unpredictable this time of year, coats, rain gear, hats, mittens/gloves, and shoes (not sandals) are all a must. Our office can help if you need any outdoor gear items. Thank you!
- Yearbook Ordering Information: ENJOY 10% OFF your order! CODE: F202410OFF EXPIRES: July 31, 2025 Redeem Now. Don’t forget to order your FREE Digital SmileSafe card! More about the Smilesafe program here.
- November 26, PTO Meeting (3:30-4:30)
- November 27, 28, & 29 - No School, Thanksgiving Recess
- December 2, Picture Retakes
- December 4, Early Release Day, Dismissal at 1:12 pm
- December 5 & 6, CASA Music Informances
- December 6, PTO Movie Night
- December 12, Lower El. Music Informances
- December 17, TBA Student Run CU Deposit Day
- December 18, 5 - 8 Band & Orchestra Holiday Concert @ 1:30 pm
- December 23 - January 3 - Winter Recess
- January 6 - School Resumes
Highlights:
-December 6th is movie night!
-The final PTO meeting of the year takes place on Tuesday, Nov 26th, 3:30-4:30p. All parents and MO staff invited to attend; childcare is provided!
Details about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities can always be found in the PTO Update: https://secure.smore.com/n/3ct649
Dear AC Families,
Please use this link to access news and events from the AC community. The drive will be updated on a monthly basis.
- CASA students learning colors in Spanish and working on a flag from Bolivia. They have been learning a song about countries where Spanish is spoken that can be found on my Google classroom website.
- Lower El applying knowledge of feelings in Spanish to respond to books and sorting them out into the SEL Zones of Regulation
TCAPS Montessori School
Email: ruckertr@tcaps.net
Website: https://www.tcaps.net/schools/elementary-schools/montessori/
Location: TCAPS Montessori School, Franke Road, Traverse City, MI, USA
Phone: 231-933-6420
Facebook: facebook.com/TCAPSMontessori
YouTube: TCAPS Montessori YouTube Channel
X: @TRuckerTCAPSmo