A Guide to our Community

Ms. Marianne and Ms. Jazmin

2017/2018
Snack
In order to enhance our practical life opportunities and also reduce waste for our community, we are asking for
grocery store gift cards/monetary donations so we may purchase specific snack options for each child, each
day.
Our goal is to provide nutritious, and whenever possible, organic snacks, that require preparation from students.
Some examples may be slicing cheese to be eaten with cracker,, cutting vegetables and fruit, boiling and peeling
an egg,, etc. These types of snacks also create less waste than individually packed items. This helps us in the
endeavor of developing sentient beings that are natural caretakers of their environment.
In the past we have asked families to donate snack a week at a time for the entire community. We believe
that a $20 gift card or monetary donation from each student shall be sufficient. We also understand that not
all families are in a position to donate, and with that in mind we ask that if you are able to donate more that
you please do. All funds/gift cards will be used for food for your children throughout the school year.

Birthday Celebrations
As is customary in the Montessori classroom, our students celebrate their birthdays by walking around the
sun for each year they have been alive. Parents and families are invited to come and tell their story, one year
at a time and photos of each year are welcomed as well, or the child may tell their story. This can be done on
their actual birthday.
As far as treats go, we prefer healthier treats such as fruits cups etc, but if you would like to send in
something on the sugary side we do ask that they are mini cupcakes or perhaps a cookie per student etc.
Please do not send in goody bags. Because we will have 48-50 students in our community we will have to hold
a monthly walk around the sun for the birthdays for that month. We will do this on the last Thursday of each
month, unless something comes up that would necessitate a change in day. On this day we ask that if parents
wish to send in a treat that they send in 25 treats (rather than 48 or 50), and the students will choose one or
two treats depending on how many birthdays we have.

Learning Logs
Students are expected to record their work on their learning logs on a daily basis. In general, the expectation
is to complete a minimum of one language, one reading, and one math work-daily. This is flexible depending on
the work. Some work is much more involved and may take a longer period of time to complete and a
discussion will be had with the student should this be the case. Science and Social Studies requirements are
communicated verbally to the student. As a general rule, Science and Social Studies should be worked on
every week, but the completion dates are much longer as the work is almost always research based and then
a culminating activity such as a presentation of some sort. Students are expected to go beyond the minimum
requirement of work.
If we see that your child is struggling in any way; rather that be with time management, attention, socializing
during work periods, academically, or behavior, we will let you know. No news from us is generally good news.
Also, if we see that your child is consistently not completing their work, they will be moved to morning recess, in
which they will go to recess for 20 minutes in the morning during a separate time than the rest of the class.
We have found this effective on many levels.

All students are given Lessons and Discovery Choices sheets for each subject area at the beginning of the
school year. Students mark lessons as they are given. Each time a new lesson is given the student is now able
to practice that skill. We will be giving lessons and asking students to join that we feel are ready for the lesson.
When the students have received lessons and practiced the skill sufficiently, we will check for mastery via
conferencing.

Behavior
All students are expected to uphold our MOntessori core values of treating their environment and others with
respects and care, making sure to use grace and courtesy in all interactions. We believe in natural
consequences for choices made.

Volume
Our room is a whisper classroom. This means that the volume level should not rise above a whisper at any
time during a work period. We begin the day on zero, and that means silent, and after our morning meeting, the
room goes to a whisper. We encourage a quiet buzz in the room where students are working together to solve
lifes mysteries and/or the teacher is giving a lesson to a small group or another group is practicing a play they
will perform to the class later.
On the same note, anyone who enters our room is expected to follow the whisper rule as well. We welcome our
parents to come and visit or volunteer in our room, but make sure to bring your whisper voice with you.

Hallway/ Line Behavior

As we, as individual students or as a group, move through the hallways of Charles Ellis, we should always
remember that there are many other students trying to concentrate and work. Students are required to move
through the hallways silently so as not to disturb others. When we move as a group, we will be lined up in line
order. As always, we are expected to represent our community well.
We also need to remember that anything that does not belong to us, belongs to someone else. No one should
ever go into anyone elses cubby or pick up anything that doesnt belong to them. Any work that is being
displayed should be left alone.

Restroom
We know that for rising first year students not having a restroom in the classroom can be a stressor, but we
can assure you there is nothing to worry about. We allow the students to use the restroom whenever needed,
however we do encourage students to use the restroom before they enter the classroom in the morning, and
then wait until our group restroom breaks. We generally send first year students with another responsible older
student at the beginning of the year until we can see that they no longer need an escort. We will also have
available a sign out and restroom pass that can be used at the students discretion.

Lunch
Lunch is held in our classroom, as a community. We encourage families to send a towel for students to sit on
shall they choose to sit on the floor for lunch, picnic style, as many do. We do ask that the microwaveable food
sent for lunch is kept to a minimum as it takes time from their lunch while we wait for several students to
heat their lunch. Also, if your child requires plastic cutlery, paper plates, etc. please be sure to send them with
your child, as we often do not have any to give out.

This guide is not all encompassing, but it covers what we believe are the most important areas that affect our
classroom environment. If you or your child have any questions about rules or procedures, please feel free to
contact us at:

Materials
Instead of using text books like traditional schools, we rely on prepared materials to aid our students in
mastering skills here at Charles Ellis Montessori Academy. These materials may be wooden, plastic, cloth, paper,
glass, etc. Teachers will work with the students to explain and demonstrate how these materials should be
correctly handled and used throughout the school year. Your child needs to understand that these materials are
important and valuable and should be taken care of by all.
When a student uses a material, he needs to make sure that he takes only what he needs and when that
student is finished with the material, he should return it to its correct place as soon as possible so others
may use it. All cards and materials should be returned to their correct locations and not just laid down, shoved
into a binder, etc.

Homework
Homework is not traditionally assigned in the MOntessori classroom as it is viewed that the childs activities at
home should reflect their innate interests. That being said, we will be sending home a monthly reading log for the
child to log their nightly reading. The Monthly Reading Log will be collected on the last day that school is in session
for the month. We will also send home a sheet with specific web sites and login information that we employ in
the classroom for skills practice. If you know your child is struggling in a particular area or perhaps your child
shows an express interest in a certain area, these sites are here to help. Please use them at your discretion.

Field Trips
Our community, Ms. Marianne's and Ms. Jazmins, will be going on field trips with Ms. Kirstens community. This will
allow us greater flexibility. Near the beginning of the school year we will be sending home all of the permission
slips for the year, with the exception of Musical Explorers, Field Day, and various walking field trips we plan to
take with just our community to Hull Park for example. We will also be asking for all funds for the field trip at
that time so that we do not have to worry about collecting throughout the school year. As usual, if you are able
to donate more than we are asking,, that is always welcome because not all students families are able to pay
the fees.

This guide is not all encompassing, but it covers what we believe are the most important areas that affect our
classroom environment. If you or your child have any questions about rules or procedures, please feel free to
contact us at:

Marianne.Howze@sccpss.com
Jazmin.Corbell@sccpss.com

We look forward to having a wonderful, productive, and safe year!

Ms. Marianne and Ms. Jazmin

Lower Elementary Montessori Guides