Loads of New Books!
I go to the American Library Assoc. Midwinter Meeting every January to get free or very cheap books for the library and for students. This year we were lucky to have it in Boston, which meant I could bring my car and collect as many books as I could carry! I brought over 120 books (!!) – about 40 new finished books to add to the collection and 86 ARCs (books that aren't yet published). I ask students to help me decide which of these new books we should buy for the library. So there's lots of new choices for winter reading!
–Ms. Jessica, Tobin Librarian
Photo above: Emi Rodes and Avery Carangelo reviewing some of the new ARCs.
Spotlight on Megan Cahill
Get to know our always smiling Children's House teacher! Meet Megan >>
Parent Ed Corner
Teach Real-Life Skills
Montessori students are taught to take care of themselves and their classroom and to be helpful to others. They wash tables, organize shelves, prepare their own meals, and assist younger children. In addition to mastering real-life skills, they come to see themselves as valued members of the community.
Having your child help at home can bring similar rewards. Take the time to teach each skill separately and to repeat the lesson as needed. Each task your child masters adds to his confidence and self-esteem.
–Young children, for example, can peel vegetables, fold their clothes, match their socks, and care for pets.
– “Tweens” can sort the mail and take out the recycling.
–Adolescents can prepare the family dinner, read to their younger siblings, help with computer maintenance and home repair, and manage their own bank account.
Indoor Recess Fun
Very cold days call for indoor recess! Room 283 has lots of fun fun playing The Night At the Museum game with Ms. Karianne
Tobin Mock Cadecott Winners
All the Lower Elementary classes spent the month of December evaluating 35+ picture books published in 2015. They looked at each book rating them for how well the pictures told the story, the design of the book and the excellence of the artist.
The overwhelming favorite was:
"Mummy Cat" by Marcus Ewert, Illustrated by Lisa Brown
Runner-ups or honor books are:
"Leo a Ghost Story" by Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Christian Robinson
"Meet The Dullards" by Sara Pennypacker, Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Chinese New Year
Jenny Wang, the mother of the former Room 283 student Daniel, came to Room 283 to tell the children about the Chinese New Year, it's customs and traditions. Thank you, Jenny!
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