Montessori Observation

Every spring Montessori International has the second parent teacher conference which includes a classroom observation. Bryan and I went to school with Emma last Tuesday to see what she has been up to. I always enjoy seeing her in the classroom environment. She worked hard on metal insets which focuses on tracing, fine motor skills, pencil control and coloring within the lines. She showed us one of her new math lessons. It is a lesson that involves demonstrating one to one correspondence of numbers 11-20. She is learning the ones and tens columns and what it means to have 10 ones. She is also very social and did some other lessons with her friend Osha.

When we met with her teacher Ms. Laticia, she told us that she is the most caring and loving student (which we see and believe as well), but it was heartwarming to hear it from her teacher. Although we did not see it, Ms. Laticia informed us that she is moving along in reading. She is reading 3 letter words (we have also started Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons- so she is getting reading instruction in school and at home), creating 3 letter words with the moveable alphabet and working on puzzle words (or sight words that are not sounded out phonetically). It is just unbelievable to think she has 3 more months of Montessori preschool and will then head to Gilbert Traditional Academy.

http://www.gilbert.k12.az.us/schoolpgs/neely/neelyinfo.php

We are so proud of her and how hard she has worked the past two years. We will definitely miss Montessori and the supportive environment but we are exited to move to the next step. We feel like she has gotten a strong basis academically and socially.

GO EMMA GO.

We hope and pray that we have made the right choice as far as schools go. (We have toured 4 and kept coming back to GTA). If it is the right fit then YAY...if it is not we know what else is out there and where we can go.

Emma's teacher also expressed to us that she has an exceptional singing voice and can follow the tone of a song with ease. One of the Montessori aides has been working in music her entire life and told us about a music program called Let's Play Music. She told us that she has worked with many young children and that being able to match the tone is a gift. We have gotten many compliments when she sings at church and of course we think she has a good voice. We are planning to do a trial class and most likely will enroll her next fall. She has a special part in the America the Beautiful festival. We can't wait to see the festival performance and will post some pictures.