Hello, families-
We survived the first week of school together! We made it, yeah!
The children are getting acclimated with their new environment. To some, this is their first experience of a "big school." There were several crying episodes throughout the day but this is all normal. The crying tends to happen during transitions, when the children think that they are transitioning to dismissal. Not to worry - your children will build their capacity to sustain the longer day. Thank you parents for giving your children the chance to work on their independence. It is so inspiring to see parents hold back their own tears during drop off. A quick drop off builds your child assurance that you trust the adults you are leaving them with. This results in your child's ability to get over their separation anxiety. Once again, thank you, parents!
Since we are talking about independence, I would like to share some of my insights of yesterday's nap transition. Some children did not have their things labeled. This became a challenge because our class shares a nap room with Room 103. When the children are awaken from nap, they have assigned corners in the nap room to drop off their things. Some of the blankets and pillows were mixed up because the students are still learning this process. Teachers and teaching assistants found it difficult to figure out whose items were left behind. We also noticed that some children had full sized pillows that were difficult for each child to transport with the rest of their things. These factors prevented the nappers from learning how to "make their cots" and pack it away to go home on Fridays.
Montessori education is very big on independence and learning how to do things on your own. One of my jobs is to make sure that I set a Prepared Environment to facilitate my students' success. From the very beginning, I need to make sure that I have thought of every detail. I need to make sure I do not expect a child to do something that he/she is not capable of. With nap, I am going to need your help. I will assure you that I will have a solid procedure for nap so your children will independently pack their own things.
Please find below some things that I suggest:
- Each napper should have a small pillow, a small blanket and an optional fitted (crib sized) fitted sheet.
- Please make sure that these items are labeled.
- Please ensure that the items are able to fit a reusable bag. If you don't have one, I can provide you with one. Please label this bag. Note that the bag is easily carried by a child to and from the nap room. (See pictures)
- As pictured, your child will be instructed to place the bag under their cots.They will have the bag safely put away so that the same bag will go home on Friday. Please reuse the bag and send the same bag to school on Monday.
- A big pillow plus the other nap items will discourage the children to be responsible of packing by themselves.
 |
| "This is too big! I can't fit this in my bag. I can't see where I am going!" |
 |
This bag has a blanket, pillow and fitted sheet inside.
|
- Last year, The students carried their nap things at dismissal. Since we have a tight doorway, I am placing the bagged items along the wall in the hallway for quick pick up when you sign out your child. If your child goes to after school, I will send their nap bag with them. Please don't forget to find it with your child when you pick up at J at School.
- If you provided your child with a roll away blanket with a pillow attached, please practice rolling it up at home. I will also practice this skill with your child at school.
Thank you very much for your support. I hope that you find this procedure easy. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me at ctguerrero@cps.edu
To end this post, I would like to inspire you with some on my favorite Montessori quotes on independence.
"The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of Responsibility and the wings of Independence."
"Montessori is an education for independence, preparing not just for school, but for life."
"Children are as independent as you expect them to be."
"He who is served is limited in his independence."
Always,
Mrs. Guerrero
