The third and fourth graders have been exploring what sound is, and how different sounds are produced. We have watched the evidence of the vibrations that the sounds we produce make, and how subtle changes in the materials we are working with can create different sounds. We have been using a PBS website to make these changes into music, and we have witnessed resonance vibrations in a video of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge as well with the parallel bars on the playground. Sound like fun? It sure is!

During the next few weeks, the fifth and sixth graders are studying Health and Human Reproduction in Science. For this unit, we separate in two groups by gender. The gals are studying this unit first, while the guys have extra math and STEM time. In a few weeks we will switch, and the guys will have their turn to explore this unit. In the meantime, we are all exploring the world of Architecture and Design in the STEM classes. The students explored various architecture styles and have begun to use Google Sketchup to create some wonderful structures! We will go in depth with this unit over the next few months, focusing on multiple aspects of architecture and design.

February brings our preschoolers to home, sweet home—during Kindermusik! Children learn well in the comfortable surroundings and everyday activities of home, so we’ll use this nurturing theme to turn our classroom into a pretend house. Building, cooking, washing, and baths will be the focus of our activities. With our poem, “Where do you live?”, in which we say a poem while we make a house with our hands, the children will develop sequencing skills as well and fine motor skills.

And speaking of home, parents can use their Home Kit and read together the story about the different kinds of houses animals make—from spider webs to bird’s nests. When you find these homes in your very own backyard, you reinforce the learning that’s happening in class.

5th and 6th graders have been learning about all kinds of angles—acute, obtuse, supplementary, vertical, etc.

But before we begin our work in geometry, we start each day with a couple of puzzles. We have a daily Word Puzzle, such as: NEFRIENDED = DEFRIENDED (A friend in need is a friend in deed.)

Then we often have a word problem that introduces or uses different problem solving techniques. Sometimes we read a “30 Second Mystery” and discuss possible solutions. All of these games/puzzles help students begin to think “outside the box” and develop problem solving strategies. And, perhaps most importantly, it wakes them up and gets them excited and makes them think.

If you come into the Primary unit around 11:00am you will see Writer’s Workshop in progress.

We (Carla and Janet) believe that it’s imperative for students to see themselves as readers and writers at the earliest opportunity. In this way, students develop habits of thinking about literacy that will sustain them through later grades. One way to help our primary students view themselves as writers is to have a daily Writer’s Workshop. We can’t stress enough the importance of writing daily.

Children become better writers by practicing often. Students need to write everyday so they can stay interested in their story. Students lose interest if they only write once every few days.

One to one conferencing is also part of our daily writing. Students meet with us and go over their writing. We work together with a student and give suggestions to help them improve as a writer.

The last part of Writer’s Workshop is the Author’s Chair. Two or three students share their writing with the class listening. This gives the Authors the chance to see what their classmates understand and also what they don’t understand about each writer’s story. The students enjoy being the Author and sharing.

If you are not busy between 11:00 and 12:00, stop on in and see great writer’s writing or grab a pencil and paper and start writing with us.

Did you know that tomato juice is the state beverage of Ohio?  The intermediate and upper units of McGuffey know that and much more about the state of Ohio as we explore Ohio History. We have looked back into Ohio’s earliest people, how our area developed and became a state, Ohio’s involvement in the Civil War and what Ohio is now.

The 6th grade is concentrating on developing a resolution for OMUN (Ohio’s Model United Nations). We have discovered some very interesting “problems” facing Montenegro.

In Language Arts we are developing our skills to be better writers. We are learning to “spice up” our words by using dialogue, simile, personification, onomatopoeia, etc. Be on the look out for our “wonderful writers”!

Today we started our three week science unit on the human body. This morning, we investigated the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. We tasted one example of each taste and described it. We also tried to guess what we were tasting, and talked a little bit about how the purpose of taste is to help us figure out what to eat and what not to eat.

Everyone liked the sweet taste of sugar. Most of us liked the pink lemonade mix we tasted for sour, and we also agreed that although the bitter cocoa we tried smelled yummy, it didn’t taste good. Some children loved tasting salt, some didn’t. The Parmesan cheese we tried for umami was a big hit, though. And we thought umami was a fun word to say.

If you (like us) went to school when they taught only four basic tastes, you might not be familiar with umami. It’s the savory, meat-like taste found in soy sauce, tomatoes and cheese, and it helps us detect foods with protein in them.

We’ve got many works around the classroom that children can explore to learn more about the digestive system. In addition, we are talking about the five food groups.

They can brush a set of teeth, or explore what the inside of each tooth looks like. They can sort foods by food group or even set a place for a table. Interested in having your child help set the table in your household? You’ll notice we provided a photo which helps the child know what the place setting should look like. Simply provide a photo of your own, and you’ll have help at meal time!

After months of strategic planning and action, the Board of Trustees is thrilled to announce that the McGuffey Foundation School is being renamed and reborn as The McGuffey Montessori School.

For years we have described ourselves as “Montessori-like”, “similar to Montessori”, “following Montessori principles”, etc. Well, the time is right to take the big leap. We will be officially a Montessori school in August, but we are rolling out the name now. We will continue to be a pre-primary through grade 8 school, and will be holding onto the values and ideas that make McGuffey unique among private schools. In the coming days, you will see promotional materials, banners, and other items carrying our new name.

There is a wealth of information on the Internet about Montessori education, but if you prefer your information in the old fashioned paper format, just ask us for a copy of “What is a Montessori Elementary” or “What is Montessori Preschool”.

Holy cow!

Have you seen all the amazing items that will be part of the silent auction at Trivia Night this year? Make sure you visit the Trivia Night page to peruse the items, and think about what bids you’d like to place. Remember, if you can’t attend, you can always ask a friend to bid for you.

We still have a few spots left at some tables, so buy your tickets soon and join the fun!