BOOK FAIR LUAU

There will be some changes coming to TMA’s Library in the next few weeks!  The Book Fair Luau will be making a festive stop at our school from Wednesday, May 9^th, to Tuesday, May 15^th.  Hours during school days will be 8:20am to 5:00pm.  Saturday, May 12^th, will be family day, with the Fair being open from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  Parents will have the chance to choose books with their children for their summer reading enjoyment.

The Library will be turned into a fun beach-themed luau with tikis, surf boards, and hanging palms.  One of the books being offered with this theme will be Pig Kahuna. In this picture book, two little pigs discover some beach fun with a surf board.  Froggy and his family have a warm Aloha when Froggy Goes to Hawaii.

Since this year marks the 100^th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, several Titanic books will be available. There will be a special two-book set from Magic Tree House: Tonight on the Titanic and a companion nonfiction “Fact Tracker” book to answer all of your Titanic questions.  Remembering the Titanic follows specific people who worked on the Titanic or were her passengers.  It starts with her building, tells of her crash and sinking, and finishes with the eventual rescue of the survivors.

These and many, many more books of different reading levels and on a wide range of subjects will be available under the swaying palms.  There’s sure to be something for all the readers in the family.  See you at the Book Fair Luau.  Mahalo!

Submitted by: Linda Meyer- Assistant Librarian at The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes

Over-the-Moon for Books!

Here’s a link to the list of the 100 "Greatest Books for Kids," ranked by Scholastic Parent & Child magazine, as published in USA Today last month:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/story/2012-02-14/100-greatest-books-for-kids/53095042/1

Now we all might have strong opinions about books included or left off this top 100. Isn’t that the fun of lists? But there are definitely some terrific titles here! As a book lover and also a moon watcher, several moon-inspired titles on the top-100 list caught my eye.

For toddlers, some of whom love to talk to the moon and other inanimate things, there’s that ever-favorite soothing bedtime story, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.  (We even have Buenas Noches, Luna, the Spanish translation!)

Your young children might like to hear you read the beautiful picture book, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. In lyrical style, accompanied by ink and watercolor illustrations, it tells the quiet adventure of a father and child going out into the wintry night to spy on nature. It’s number 74 on the list and it is a Caldecott medal winner.

“And the moon was so bright the sky seemed to shine.”

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

Upper Elementary students might enjoy the Newberry Honor Book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin.  The author herself calls her book “a fantasy inspired by the Chinese folktales that enchanted me in my youth…” It is the tale of a brave and brilliant girl who seeks to help her family by following her heart all the way to the moon and back to bring them wisdom. The title is number 26 on the linked list and it is a Newbery Honor Book.

And for a blast of science, non-fiction readers will enjoy the number 91 title on the list. It reveals facts from NASA transcripts, reports quotes from the astronauts, and shows marvelous photographs to tell the story Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon.

These four moon explorations are all in The Montessori Academy Library collection. In fact, we have the majority of the listed "Greatest Books for Kids" amongst the thousands of books on the shelves of the Library. Stop in before the next full moon and borrow an old favorite--or discover a new book--for your child.

Submitted by: Meg Rooney, Library Assistant at The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes

Montessori Education Books for Parents

If you’re searching for information about Montessori education, TMA’s Library is definitely one of the places you’ll want to visit. Whether you and your family are new to Montessori education, currently have a child in a Montessori classroom and want to know more about how that classroom works, or want insight into the future levels of your child’s Montessori education, there are books and pamphlets that can help you in your quest for answers. Listed below are just a few of the titles available for you to check out:

Endangered Minds: Why Children Don’t Think and What We Can Do About It

by Jane Healy  (382 pages)

In this classic, an educational psychologist explores the best ways to help children learn.

In a Montessori Home: A Parent’s Guide to Preparing the Home for Children Birth to Three by Sarah Moudry  (26 pages)

How to arrange your home to be child-friendly, Montessori style.

Math Works: Montessori Math and the Developing Brain by Michael Duffy 

(78 pages; color photos and charts)

An excellent explanation of how the Montessori math materials are designed to work with a child’s developing brain.

Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs

by Ellen Galinsky  (382 pages)

A highly respected child-development researcher writes about character traits children need to learn to be successful in the twenty-first century.

Montessori in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Account of How Children Really Learn

by Paula Polk Lillard  (266 pages)

A Montessori teacher’s diary of a year of learning in a Montessori early childhood classroom; the Montessori method in action.

Montessori Insights for Parents of Young Children by Aline D. Wolf

(52 pages; photos)

Very helpful information for parents on how to use Montessori principles at home.

Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Stoll Lillard  

(404 pages)

The author reviews scientific research on education and demonstrates that the insights gained from that research are already part of the Montessori classroom.

A Parents Guide to the Montessori Classroom by Aline D. Wolf

(61 pages; colored photos)

An excellent guide to the three-to-six year classroom, with explanations and photos of specific early childhood works.

Together With Montessori by Cam Gordon  (94 pages) A very clear and concise overview of Montessori education and also a guide to help everyone involved in a Montessori community “work in harmony” to build an exemplary school.

Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents by Maren Schmidt  (269 pages)

A detailed but extremely accessible overview of Montessori education.

What Is Montessori Elementary?  (17 pages; includes many photos)

An introduction to the Montessori elementary classroom, showing how Montessori education changes with the developmental needs of the child.

What Is Montessori Preschool?  (23 pages; includes many photos)

A beginning overview of Montessori principles and a look at how an early childhood classroom functions.

Submitted by: Lin Brooks- Librarian at The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes

Ball room dancing is all the rage in upper-elementary. Thanks to Brian and Amy O'Day for bringing their craft into our classroom. The students have been learning Waltz and Swing steps during our Wednesday gym time.

February was also our big science month. The science fair on the 8th was a huge success. The students are quite proud of their respective projects and eagerly shared them with family, friends, and TMA faculty and staff. We are continuing our study of the atom and the periodic table of elements.

Submitted by: Helen Muffoletto- Upper Elementary Teacher at The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes 

The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes Values and Missions

The children from upper elementary discuss, problem solve, and act upon values and goals constantly in order to be able to take charge of their learning and become self-aware of who they are and who they want to become. Some of the values being taught are respect, integrity, tolerance, and gracious community.  Discussions of what these values look like and don’t look like in our daily lives, along with activities to bring more meaning to the concepts, create wonderful daily actions by the children, as well as meaningful conflict resolutions when needed.  Some of the works that are done include writing about what actions in the classroom show these values and what actions have not shown them.  Discussions and individual writings from each child interpreting the meaning of these values and how they feel about the way they portray themselves on a daily or weekly basis, including areas where an individual may feel there is need for improvement, give the children continued valuable time to internalize life-long values that will instill confidence and a sense of purpose to their lives.

A Student’s Personal Interpretation:

When I think of respect, I see people being quiet and being courteous to other classmates and helping them if they need it. You can be respectful by listening and being honest.

When I see integrity, I see people not giving up on their work until they give the work a fair shot. I also see people having faith in their answers and not going with a classmate’s answer if your answer is different.

When I see tolerance, I see a person not yelling at a classmate if they are being unkind. Instead, they should quietly ask them to stop. If they do not stop, try to ignore them. Try not to take drastic measures.

When I see a gracious community, I see a quiet classroom of people helping others. I try to create respect by showing a gracious community.

When teaching values, it is important for each child to realize that they have the power within themselves to become whom they wish to be and overcome any obstacles that may seem to be in their way. Difficult situations and academic studies that children sometimes call ‘hard works’ are simply challenges to overcome. The students discussed the purpose of The Montessori Academy’s mission statement and its importance. The children then created their own mission statements to show what they each thought was needed as guidelines for their personal growth.

Students’ Personal Mission Statements:

• The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes is where the children work in a community, helping each other with their problems. They also manage their time throughout the week so they can get all of their work done. The Montessori Academy uses different teaching methods and the children respect everybody around them.

• The Montessori Academy is dedicated to teaching children and our future leaders the importance of communication, support, and the importance of working at your own pace.

• The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes helps children learn by letting them work at their own pace and by teaching respect and responsibility.

• This year I want to learn a lot and be nice.  I also want to be respected because of the way I act.

• My mission is to finish my work and excel, along with helping other students.

• The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes creates a gracious community for your child to work and learn. We teach children to be respectful of others and to care for the community.  We will help all children work and learn to the fullest of their abilities.  Here, children will learn to be independent and learn how to be a leader.

• The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes will help me in my career because I will stay organized.

• The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes teaches children to have open minds.  We believe that every child should be able to move at their own pace. We teach children to take on challenges so they will be prepared for later life.

• The Montessori Academy teaches us about responsibility. It teaches us in an independent cycle.  We believe everyone is academically unique and different. When you leave this school, you will become a new and responsible person who is capable of great things.

• The Montessori Academy teaches the students to be respectful and independent. The people at The Montessori Academy cultivate time management, respect, and intellect. They advise us on good choices as well as building a gracious community through the students.

Submitted by: Becky Dennis- Upper Elementary Teacher at The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes

The True Meaning of Sports

Many would be believe that the only thing that matters in sports is winning. Actually, winning is the least important thing. Do not get upset, there is more to the story.

Let us consider this small example of a sporting event I love. I love March Madness! Let's say that 64 teams are invited to the tournamet. Well, if winning was the only thing that was important then we could say that only one team is a winner and 63 teams are losers. This is far from the case. First of all, if the other teams did not show up to the tournament, who would play?  Secondly, we must also applaud all the hard work each team displayed throughout the season to be invited to the tournament. (Plus, all the hard work all the other teams demonstrated who were not invited to the tournament.)  And lastly, we can not afford to overlook the personal satisfaction that each of the men and women achieve by improving each game, learning to work together as a team and learning life lessons. They learn about committment, displine, dedication, perserverance and desire just to mentiontion a few. These lessons are far more important than the game itself.

So, is it the winning that matters? I would say no. Winning is only the decoration on the cake. Preparing the cake is what is important. (Although, we do love the icing!)

Submitted by: Michael Poole- Junior High Teacher and Athletic Director at The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes

A Year in Review- Books!

January is traditionally a month when we review the previous year, remembering highlights and favorite things. In many fields, awards are given to the “best of the best.” The field of children’s literature is no exception: two of the most famous awards in children’s literature are announced in January. The Caldecott Medal is given to the illustrator of the “most distinguished” picture book, and the Newbery Medal is awarded to the author of the book with the “most distinguished” writing. Both of these medals are awarded by the American Library Association. Both medals have a first-place award, as well as a second-place honor award. Most years, several books share the honor award; with the wealth of children’s literature available today, it’s not hard to imagine how difficult it would be to narrow the list of award winners! Requirements for both awards include that the author or illustrator be a U.S. citizen or resident. Also, the book must have been published during the year previous to the award.

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 The Caldecott Medal was first awarded to an illustrator in 1938. The award is named for 19^th-century English children’s book illustrator Randolph Caldecott, a beloved illustrator and early advocate of children’s literature. Caldecott Award winners from the past include such favorites as Make Way for Ducklings (1942), Madeline’s Rescue (1954), Where the Wild Things Are (1964), and Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears (1976). More recent winners include Snowflake Bentley (1999), The Hello, Goodbye Window (2006), The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2008), and The House in the Night (2009). All of these titles are a treat for the eyes, and provide an easy way to introduce young children to fabulous art. The stories in these books also happen to be ones you don’t want your child to miss. The Invention of Hugo Cabret (recently made into a movie) is a rare exception—it’s a book for older readers, but the art work is integral to the story.

The Newbery Medal was first awarded to a children’s writer in 1922. This award is named for 19th-century English children’s publisher and bookseller John Newbery. Like Randolph Caldecott, John Newbery was one of the earliest supporters of children’s literature. Still-popular Newbery award favorites from earlier days include The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1923), Rabbit Hill (1945), King of the Wind (1949), and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1968). More recent Newbery winners include Shiloh (1992), Holes (1999), The Tale of Despereaux (2004), and When You Reach Me (2010). These are stories that bring inspiration and enjoyment to generation after generation of young readers. These are stories by writers who are passionate about the art of literature and passionate about having a positive influence on the lives of their young readers.

 

Watch for official announcements of the 2012 Caldecott and Newbery Award winners on Monday, January 23, 2012.

Submitted by: Lin Brooks- Librarian at The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes