11/5/24
October Newsletter – Teddy Classroom
Hi families,

October was a busy month! I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you for actively participating in the conferences and setting up goals for the next few months.

The children have been busy with our fall activities, and I wanted to update you on what we are currently working on:

Dressing independently

We are getting ready for the cold weather, and the children have been practicing “the coat flip” to put on their coats independently. I will include this lesson inside their backpack so you can help them practice at home.

Here is a short lesson

Food preparation

We’ve introduced food preparation, and the children are absolutely loving it! Our first lesson was peeling an orange, and they enjoyed every step, from peeling to using tongs to transfer to the bowl and setting up the table to eat it.

It’s a fun and yummy way for them to learn fine motor coordination and foster their sense of order and concentration.

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Thank you, and have a nice day!

Thalia Rodriguez

Infant and Toddler Guide

9/30/24

Teddy Bear room – September news and upcoming events

Hello parents,

September has been a quick and exciting month. I already see significant growth and improvement in the children during our morning work cycle.

Practical life
In the practical life area, we’ve introduced activities like pet, dish, and hand washing on the stand. These activities help the children develop their concentration, memorization of sequence, and problem-solving skills to prepare for mathematics. We have many practical life activities planned for the rest of the school year. Have I mentioned that this is my favorite area in the classroom?

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Language
In our language area, the children are working with an introductory set of everyday objects, such as objects around the house, clothing, etc. This set of cards looks simple, but the children are learning essential skills required for a lesson, such as listening, responding to directions, waiting for their turn, observing their peers’ lessons without interruption, etc.
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Save the date – Upcoming events.

Parent Teacher conferences – October 14th to October 18th – 01:00 – 02:00 pm (20 minutes blocks)
I will send you a separate email so you can sign up for the parent-teacher conferences. The meetings will be 20 minutes long; you can choose Zoom or in-person.
Parent education night – Monday, October 21st at 5:30 pm
Thanks for helping me choose the subject “Working with toddlers without power struggles” for our parent education night. I have invited my friend and mentor, Heather Harty, to join me during the presentation. Heather founded Little Bluestem Montessori at Monticello and is a mentor and lecturer at Seton Montessori Institute in Chicago.
I look forward to seeing you at the conferences and our parent education night. Please let me know if you have any questions,
Warmly,

Thalia Rodriguez

Infant and Toddler guide

9/20/24
International Peace Day Video

Hello families,

Here is a video I made to celebrate International Peace Day.
I hope you enjoy it!

Thalia Rodriguez, Infant and Toddler guide

8/30/2024
Teddy Room – August Newsletter

Hello families,

August has been a bustling month for our toddler classroom. The children have been actively learning about routines and participating in group activities. We’ve been practicing sitting calmly during circle time, following directions such as waiting in line, and carefully carrying our plates and cups during meals. We’ve also been working on our walking skills, going for short walks in the morning to practice holding our safety rope. While we may not have mastered walking without losing shoes or tripping over, we’re making progress every day!

In Montessori, children often work on the floor if they wish. So, we practiced using a mat to create our workspace. There are so many small lessons that the children are learning that sometimes adults can take for granted. For example, we spent part of our morning learning how to carefully turn the pages of a book so as not to leave a crease or tear.

We are still getting to know the children, observing their personalities, and modifying our classroom schedule to adapt to their needs. Following consistent routines in the classroom helps the children develop their sense of order and gives them the security to make independent choices.

While we have a long journey ahead, we already see promising progress. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to continue supporting your child’s growth and development.

Here are some photos:

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Thalia Rodriguez

Infant and Toddler guide

8/23/2024

Teddy Bear – video and update

Hi families,

This week, we focused on routine and learning the ground rules of our classroom. The children are learning to participate in group activities, waiting in line, transition routines, and sitting at the table when eating meals.

I am attaching a short video of our morning work cycle so you can peek inside our classroom. Also, today, your daily report will include the activities we practiced this week.

Have a great weekend!
Thalia Rodriguez