Welcome back!
The return from the holiday break is a bit like the first day of the school year. Everyone is eager and a bit nervous about being back but the mid year magic begins to occur. There is renewed joy and vigor in the work of the children. It can be likened to the train that chugs up the side of a steep mountain from August thru December than from January until May experiences a rapid decent. The volume, speed and complexity of work increases and the children grow exponentially. This month you will be invited to a parent education evening called "Show Me Night." This evening of education will be presented by your child in her classroom on Wednesday, January 26th. Times are indicated by your students last name initial.
Faith North A-L 5:00-6:00 M-Z 6:00-7:00
FNM@Shaw M-Z 5:00-6:00 A-L 6:00-7:00.
Come experience some of the joy and vigor with us!
We look forward to seeing you then.
All the best,
Susan Engdall
Principal
Events for the week of January 10th-14th
January 10th Afterschool sign ups begin in the Faith North office
January 11th-Sakiball demonstration 11:30-12:45 at FNM and 1:00-2:00 at FNM@Shaw
January 11th Spelling Bee rehearsal 10:00 Faith North Multi-use room
January 12th Spelling Bee in the Faith North Multi-use room from 8:30-?
January 12th Early Release
January 13th & 14th Early Release for Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, December 3, 2010
The North Star Community Edition
Faith North Montessori and Faith North Montessori at Shaw
602-257-3914
Calendar of Events for week of
December 6-10
Monday, December 6
Driedle presentations for Primary students at North in the PM
Tuesday, December 7
Driedle presentations for Primary students at Shaw in the PM
Wednesday, December 8
Thursday, December 9
Friday, December 10
After school classes end
Our mission is to provide a solid academic foundation employing the philosophy of Maria Montessori within a loving, respectful and supportive community.
Through Cosmic Education we give the child a vision of the whole universe
All children experience maximum learning potential or windows of optimum learning at various times
All children are motivated to learn, multiple and divergent intelligences are honored and recognized
The celebration and respect of diversity is critical
The child’s hand is his teacher—experiential learning is essential to internalization
The prepared environment is a student centered, learner-centered environment
Self-discipline is achieved through natural consequences and peace education
The dignity of labor and purposeful movement is vital and encouraged
Hello Faith North Community,
The children very much enjoyed a field trip to the Phoenix Symphony for a holiday concert this morning. Thanks to all of the parents that helped make the trip a safe and happy one for all of the children.
We had a very informative presentation at our Site Council meeting this week on ways to help your children with mathematics at home. A big thank you to Kim Hertzog, Montessori parent and Director of General Studies and PEER for PESD for her work with us. I have copied some of the ideas below. These types of everyday math expand thinking and help create a flexible mathematical mind. I hope you will try a few favorites with your children.
Making the Weekly Grocery List (Organization)
Directions: Have your child create the grocery list. They should organize it in a way that will be user friendly, can easily keep track of how many items are needed, etc.
How Much Do We Need? (Estimation, Computation)
Directions: Involve your child in deciding how much is needed. “How much milk do we need for a week? How many loaves of bread do we need to make “x” number of sandwiches? How much lunch meat do we need if each sandwich takes “x” number of slices?”
Weighing In (Weight, Unit Price, Computation)
Directions: Gather the produce you are purchasing. Have your child estimate the weight of each item. “How much do you think these 6 apples weigh?” Have them weigh the objects and compare the measured amount to the estimate. Use this as an opportunity to discuss weights between weights that result in fractional amounts. Also compare size and quantity to weight (3 apples weigh more than 3 carrots).
NOTE: Estimation is sometimes difficult for students as they have no frame of reference. You might want to weigh one or two of the objects and use that as a benchmark to determine the total. Example: I am buying 6 potatoes and 2 of them weigh one pound so all they will all weigh about 3 pounds because there are three 2s in 6.
Extension: Have your child mentally estimate the total cost based on the cost per pound and explain their reasoning (one pound of potatoes cost $1.29 so three pounds will be about $4.00 because $1.30 + $1.30 and $1.30 are $3.90).
Shape Hunt (Sensorial, Shape Recognition, Decomposition of Shape)
Directions: Have your child provide the name for different 3D shaped containers. Afterwards, have them name the parts that make up that shape (an oatmeal container is a cylinder and is made up of 1 rectangle and 2 circles).
The Final Bill (Estimation, Computation)
Directions: Have your child estimate the total grocery bill. To do this, they may need to keep a running total. Compare the estimated amount to the actual amount.
What Might I Have? (Coin Value, Equivalency, Logic, Reasoning)
Directions: Decide on a monetary amount and have your student tell which dollar/coin combinations you might have that totals that amount. “I have $.32. What might I have?” (3 dimes, 2 pennies; 32 pennies; 1 quarter, 1 nickel, 2 pennies)
Extension: Cut out coupons. Have your child make that amount or have them tell you the amount using coins. “A coupon worth $.40 is 4 dimes or 1 quarter, 1 dime and 1 nickel.”
Extension: Designate both the total amount and the number of coins. “I have $.27 and 3 coins. What do I have?” (1 quarter and 2 pennies)
Money Match (Equivalency)
Materials: One die, coins (10 pennies, 10 nickels, 10 dimes, 6 quarters)
Directions: Decide who will go first. The first player rolls the die and makes that amount using pennies; the second person does the same. The play continues however players must trade their pennies for other coin equivalencies whenever possible. The winner is the first to reach a designated amount
Where is the Best Savings? (Comparing)
Materials: Grocery store ads from different grocery stores
Directions: Provide your child with grocery store ads from different stores. Compare the prices at different stores to determine which is the better buy and why.
What’s for Dinner? (Computation, Organization)
Materials: Grocery section from the paper; dinner menu; designated budget
Directions: Provide your child with the grocery section in order to make up a list of food that will feed the family for a week and meet a budget of “$x”. Have them make a chart to figure out the cost of more than one item. Discuss what happens if the amount is greater than the budget.
Fraction of the Cost (Fractions, Percents)
Materials: Grocery section from the paper listing sales price and regular price
Directions: Give your child the regular price and the sales price of an item. Have them determine the fraction of the cost (if the regular price is $2.50 and the coupon is $.40 and that is close to 1/5 or 20% of the original cost).
Wish List (Estimation, Computation)
Materials: Toy or clothes catalogs
Directions: Pick a spending limit for your child’s wish list. The limit need not be realistic, since this is just a wish list. Provide a catalog or advertising for your child to look through and suggest making a wish list. “Let’s pretend we could get some things from this catalog. What would you get if you had $100 to spend?” Explain that your child can’t go over the spending limit, although it’s OK to spend a little less. Have your record items and prices and keep track of their total. Encourage the use of rounding as a means to make the task more efficient.
What Might I Have? (Coin Value, Equivalency, Logic, Reasoning)
Directions: Decide on a monetary amount and have your student tell which dollar/coin combinations you might have that totals that amount. “I have $.32. What might I have?” (3 dimes, 2 pennies; 32 pennies; 1 quarter, 1 nickel, 2 pennies)
Extension: Cut out coupons. Have your child make that amount or have them tell you the amount using coins. “A coupon worth $.40 is 4 dimes or 1 quarter, 1 dime and 1 nickel.”
Extension: Designate both the total amount and the number of coins. “I have $.27 and 3 coins. What do I have?” (1 quarter and 2 pennies)
Money Match (Equivalency)
Materials: One die, coins (10 pennies, 10 nickels, 10 dimes, 6 quarters)
Directions: Decide who will go first. The first player rolls the die and makes that amount using pennies; the second person does the same. The play continues however players must trade their pennies for other coin equivalencies whenever possible. The winner is the first to reach a designated amount
Where is the Best Savings? (Comparing)
Materials: Grocery store ads from different grocery stores
Directions: Provide your child with grocery store ads from different stores. Compare the prices at different stores to determine which is the better buy and why.
What’s for Dinner? (Computation, Organization)
Materials: Grocery section from the paper; dinner menu; designated budget
Directions: Provide your child with the grocery section in order to make up a list of food that will feed the family for a week and meet a budget of “$x”. Have them make a chart to figure out the cost of more than one item. Discuss what happens if the amount is greater than the budget.
Fraction of the Cost (Fractions, Percents)
Materials: Grocery section from the paper listing sales price and regular price
Directions: Give your child the regular price and the sales price of an item. Have them determine the fraction of the cost (if the regular price is $2.50 and the coupon is $.40 and that is close to 1/5 or 20% of the original cost).
Wish List (Estimation, Computation)
Materials: Toy or clothes catalogs
Directions: Pick a spending limit for your child’s wish list. The limit need not be realistic, since this is just a wish list. Provide a catalog or advertising for your child to look through and suggest making a wish list. “Let’s pretend we could get some things from this catalog. What would you get if you had $100 to spend?” Explain that your child can’t go over the spending limit, although it’s OK to spend a little less. Have your record items and prices and keep track of their total. Encourage the use of rounding as a means to make the task more efficient.
More or Less War (Greater than, Less than, Equal to)
Materials: Deck of cards
Directions: Decide who will go first. Each player turns over one card at the same time and compares the amount. They should state, “Which is more or less? How many more? How many less?” The player with the largest card takes the pile.
Today’s Number (Computation)
Directions: Pick a number. “Let’s all try to come up with different ways to make 11. Here’s one way:
8 + 2 + 1 = 11. Can you find a different way?” Have students write as many equations as they can to make that number.
How Many Numbers Can You Make? (Computation, Order of Operations)
Materials: Deck of cards
Directions: Deal out 4 cards to each player. Using all four cards and a choice of any operation(s); make as many different answers as you can in 5 minutes. Example: If the numbers are 4, 8, 9 and 2, what numbers can be made? (4 + 9 + 8 + 2 = 23; 4 + 9 – (8 + 2) = 3; (9 – 8) x (4 – 2) = 2)
Make 100 (Computation, Place Value)
Materials: Cards with numbers 1 - 9
Directions: Each player chooses 6 cards from the deck. Using 4 of the cards make two, 2-digit numbers whose sum is closest to 100. Example: If the numbers are 1, 4, 5, 2, 3 and 3: 53 and 42 is 95 which is 5 away from 100.
Numbers in the Newspaper (Number Recognition)
Materials: Newspapers
Directions: Have your child look for the numbers 1-100 in the newspaper and make a book.
Newspaper Scavenger Hunt
Materials: Newspapers
Directions: Have your child look for different things in the paper such as: a graph; a triangle; a percent sign; something measured in inches, feet or yards; something that comes in 2s, 3s or 4s; a number larger than “x”, etc.
Numbers on a Roundtrip (Number Recognition)
Directions: Have your child make a list of numbers 1 – 50. As they are driving in the car or out and about, have them look for and record where they found each number.
How Long? How Far? (Elapsed Time)
Directions: Tell your child when you need to be at a destination and have them figure out what time they need to start getting ready. “We need to be at the party at 3:30. It will take us 30 minutes to get there. You still need to clean your room, shower and get dressed. What time do we need to leave? What time do you need to start getting ready?”
License Plate Fun (Naming Numbers, Estimation, Computation)
Directions: Have your child read the number on the license plate, excluding any numbers. Example: EA4235 would be “four thousand, three hundred twenty five”. You can compare the amounts on other license plates to the amount on yours using words such as greater than, less than and equal to. You can also estimate the difference between plates using increments of 10, 100, 1,000 or 10,000.
Directions: On a road trip or for a designated distance, keep track of the states found on different license plates. Graph the results.
Directions: Add the numbers on a license plate (EA4235 would be 14) or find different amounts. Example: Can you make a 1 using two different numbers? (Yes, 5 – 4 = 1)
Guess My Number (Logic, Reasoning, Vocabulary)
Directions: Choose a number. Have your child ask questions to find your number. Encourage the use of precise mathematics vocabulary when possible. I am thinking of a number between 0 and 100. Is it greater than 50? No (number is between 0-50). Is it greater than 30? Yes (number is 31-50). Is it even? Yes (number is 32, 34, 36…50). Is it a square number? Yes (answer is 36).
Clean Up, Clean Up (Estimation, Counting)
Directions: Choose something your child can count and put away, such as crayons scattered on a table or toys on the floor. Ask your child to make an estimate the number of items to be picked up. “About how many things are we looking at here? About 10? About 50? Closer to 100 or 1000?” Have your child count each item that they put away. Part way through clean up, give your child a chance to revise the original estimate. “You predicted that there were about 1000 books on the floor. So far, you put away 29, and there are just a few left. Do you still think there are about 1000? Do you want to change your prediction?” If they are counting a large number of objects, have them group them (2s, 5s, 10s) to make counting easier.
What’s Fair? (Division, Fractions)
Directions: Put the food or objects to be shared on a plate so everyone can see it. If there are more than a few items, ask your children to make an estimate. “About how many cherries do you think we have? Let’s count and see.” Have them determine how they would share the items so that it is fair. There are 17 cherries and 3 of us. How many cherries should we give each person?” If there are any extras, discuss what to do with them. If it makes sense to divide the extras into equal parts, you can do this as a way to bring up fractions. No one wants to divide the extra cherry into three equal parts, but you could easily divide other kinds of foods.
Junk Mail? (Counting, Sorting, Data Collection and Analysis)
Directions: Set the stage for the project by sorting today’s mail and talking about junk mail (decide what will count as junk mail). “Let’s sort today’s mail. We’ll put regular mail in one pile, junk mail in another. How much mail do you think we throw out every week without even reading it?” Encourage your children to make some predictions. Every day for a week, have your child help sort the mail into two piles: junk mail and regular mail. After counting the number of pieces in each pile, have them record the date, how much regular mail, how much junk mail, and the day’s total. When they’re done, add the junk mail to the junk mail pile for the week. Have them record their data with a chart, graph, tally, or some other way. Throughout the week, ask questions about the data that has been collected. “Is there more junk mail or regular mail today? How much more? “How much junk mail did we get so far this week? Did we get more junk mail or regular mail so far? How many pieces of mail did we get in all today? How many so far this week? If we get the same amount of junk mail each week, how much will we have in a month? A year? What fraction of the mail is junk mail? Is it more than half?”
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
Faith North Montessori and Faith North Montessori at Shaw
602-257-3914
Calendar of Events for week of
December 6-10
Monday, December 6
Driedle presentations for Primary students at North in the PM
Tuesday, December 7
Driedle presentations for Primary students at Shaw in the PM
Wednesday, December 8
Thursday, December 9
Friday, December 10
After school classes end
Our mission is to provide a solid academic foundation employing the philosophy of Maria Montessori within a loving, respectful and supportive community.
Through Cosmic Education we give the child a vision of the whole universe
All children experience maximum learning potential or windows of optimum learning at various times
All children are motivated to learn, multiple and divergent intelligences are honored and recognized
The celebration and respect of diversity is critical
The child’s hand is his teacher—experiential learning is essential to internalization
The prepared environment is a student centered, learner-centered environment
Self-discipline is achieved through natural consequences and peace education
The dignity of labor and purposeful movement is vital and encouraged
Hello Faith North Community,
The children very much enjoyed a field trip to the Phoenix Symphony for a holiday concert this morning. Thanks to all of the parents that helped make the trip a safe and happy one for all of the children.
We had a very informative presentation at our Site Council meeting this week on ways to help your children with mathematics at home. A big thank you to Kim Hertzog, Montessori parent and Director of General Studies and PEER for PESD for her work with us. I have copied some of the ideas below. These types of everyday math expand thinking and help create a flexible mathematical mind. I hope you will try a few favorites with your children.
Making the Weekly Grocery List (Organization)
Directions: Have your child create the grocery list. They should organize it in a way that will be user friendly, can easily keep track of how many items are needed, etc.
How Much Do We Need? (Estimation, Computation)
Directions: Involve your child in deciding how much is needed. “How much milk do we need for a week? How many loaves of bread do we need to make “x” number of sandwiches? How much lunch meat do we need if each sandwich takes “x” number of slices?”
Weighing In (Weight, Unit Price, Computation)
Directions: Gather the produce you are purchasing. Have your child estimate the weight of each item. “How much do you think these 6 apples weigh?” Have them weigh the objects and compare the measured amount to the estimate. Use this as an opportunity to discuss weights between weights that result in fractional amounts. Also compare size and quantity to weight (3 apples weigh more than 3 carrots).
NOTE: Estimation is sometimes difficult for students as they have no frame of reference. You might want to weigh one or two of the objects and use that as a benchmark to determine the total. Example: I am buying 6 potatoes and 2 of them weigh one pound so all they will all weigh about 3 pounds because there are three 2s in 6.
Extension: Have your child mentally estimate the total cost based on the cost per pound and explain their reasoning (one pound of potatoes cost $1.29 so three pounds will be about $4.00 because $1.30 + $1.30 and $1.30 are $3.90).
Shape Hunt (Sensorial, Shape Recognition, Decomposition of Shape)
Directions: Have your child provide the name for different 3D shaped containers. Afterwards, have them name the parts that make up that shape (an oatmeal container is a cylinder and is made up of 1 rectangle and 2 circles).
The Final Bill (Estimation, Computation)
Directions: Have your child estimate the total grocery bill. To do this, they may need to keep a running total. Compare the estimated amount to the actual amount.
What Might I Have? (Coin Value, Equivalency, Logic, Reasoning)
Directions: Decide on a monetary amount and have your student tell which dollar/coin combinations you might have that totals that amount. “I have $.32. What might I have?” (3 dimes, 2 pennies; 32 pennies; 1 quarter, 1 nickel, 2 pennies)
Extension: Cut out coupons. Have your child make that amount or have them tell you the amount using coins. “A coupon worth $.40 is 4 dimes or 1 quarter, 1 dime and 1 nickel.”
Extension: Designate both the total amount and the number of coins. “I have $.27 and 3 coins. What do I have?” (1 quarter and 2 pennies)
Money Match (Equivalency)
Materials: One die, coins (10 pennies, 10 nickels, 10 dimes, 6 quarters)
Directions: Decide who will go first. The first player rolls the die and makes that amount using pennies; the second person does the same. The play continues however players must trade their pennies for other coin equivalencies whenever possible. The winner is the first to reach a designated amount
Where is the Best Savings? (Comparing)
Materials: Grocery store ads from different grocery stores
Directions: Provide your child with grocery store ads from different stores. Compare the prices at different stores to determine which is the better buy and why.
What’s for Dinner? (Computation, Organization)
Materials: Grocery section from the paper; dinner menu; designated budget
Directions: Provide your child with the grocery section in order to make up a list of food that will feed the family for a week and meet a budget of “$x”. Have them make a chart to figure out the cost of more than one item. Discuss what happens if the amount is greater than the budget.
Fraction of the Cost (Fractions, Percents)
Materials: Grocery section from the paper listing sales price and regular price
Directions: Give your child the regular price and the sales price of an item. Have them determine the fraction of the cost (if the regular price is $2.50 and the coupon is $.40 and that is close to 1/5 or 20% of the original cost).
Wish List (Estimation, Computation)
Materials: Toy or clothes catalogs
Directions: Pick a spending limit for your child’s wish list. The limit need not be realistic, since this is just a wish list. Provide a catalog or advertising for your child to look through and suggest making a wish list. “Let’s pretend we could get some things from this catalog. What would you get if you had $100 to spend?” Explain that your child can’t go over the spending limit, although it’s OK to spend a little less. Have your record items and prices and keep track of their total. Encourage the use of rounding as a means to make the task more efficient.
What Might I Have? (Coin Value, Equivalency, Logic, Reasoning)
Directions: Decide on a monetary amount and have your student tell which dollar/coin combinations you might have that totals that amount. “I have $.32. What might I have?” (3 dimes, 2 pennies; 32 pennies; 1 quarter, 1 nickel, 2 pennies)
Extension: Cut out coupons. Have your child make that amount or have them tell you the amount using coins. “A coupon worth $.40 is 4 dimes or 1 quarter, 1 dime and 1 nickel.”
Extension: Designate both the total amount and the number of coins. “I have $.27 and 3 coins. What do I have?” (1 quarter and 2 pennies)
Money Match (Equivalency)
Materials: One die, coins (10 pennies, 10 nickels, 10 dimes, 6 quarters)
Directions: Decide who will go first. The first player rolls the die and makes that amount using pennies; the second person does the same. The play continues however players must trade their pennies for other coin equivalencies whenever possible. The winner is the first to reach a designated amount
Where is the Best Savings? (Comparing)
Materials: Grocery store ads from different grocery stores
Directions: Provide your child with grocery store ads from different stores. Compare the prices at different stores to determine which is the better buy and why.
What’s for Dinner? (Computation, Organization)
Materials: Grocery section from the paper; dinner menu; designated budget
Directions: Provide your child with the grocery section in order to make up a list of food that will feed the family for a week and meet a budget of “$x”. Have them make a chart to figure out the cost of more than one item. Discuss what happens if the amount is greater than the budget.
Fraction of the Cost (Fractions, Percents)
Materials: Grocery section from the paper listing sales price and regular price
Directions: Give your child the regular price and the sales price of an item. Have them determine the fraction of the cost (if the regular price is $2.50 and the coupon is $.40 and that is close to 1/5 or 20% of the original cost).
Wish List (Estimation, Computation)
Materials: Toy or clothes catalogs
Directions: Pick a spending limit for your child’s wish list. The limit need not be realistic, since this is just a wish list. Provide a catalog or advertising for your child to look through and suggest making a wish list. “Let’s pretend we could get some things from this catalog. What would you get if you had $100 to spend?” Explain that your child can’t go over the spending limit, although it’s OK to spend a little less. Have your record items and prices and keep track of their total. Encourage the use of rounding as a means to make the task more efficient.
More or Less War (Greater than, Less than, Equal to)
Materials: Deck of cards
Directions: Decide who will go first. Each player turns over one card at the same time and compares the amount. They should state, “Which is more or less? How many more? How many less?” The player with the largest card takes the pile.
Today’s Number (Computation)
Directions: Pick a number. “Let’s all try to come up with different ways to make 11. Here’s one way:
8 + 2 + 1 = 11. Can you find a different way?” Have students write as many equations as they can to make that number.
How Many Numbers Can You Make? (Computation, Order of Operations)
Materials: Deck of cards
Directions: Deal out 4 cards to each player. Using all four cards and a choice of any operation(s); make as many different answers as you can in 5 minutes. Example: If the numbers are 4, 8, 9 and 2, what numbers can be made? (4 + 9 + 8 + 2 = 23; 4 + 9 – (8 + 2) = 3; (9 – 8) x (4 – 2) = 2)
Make 100 (Computation, Place Value)
Materials: Cards with numbers 1 - 9
Directions: Each player chooses 6 cards from the deck. Using 4 of the cards make two, 2-digit numbers whose sum is closest to 100. Example: If the numbers are 1, 4, 5, 2, 3 and 3: 53 and 42 is 95 which is 5 away from 100.
Numbers in the Newspaper (Number Recognition)
Materials: Newspapers
Directions: Have your child look for the numbers 1-100 in the newspaper and make a book.
Newspaper Scavenger Hunt
Materials: Newspapers
Directions: Have your child look for different things in the paper such as: a graph; a triangle; a percent sign; something measured in inches, feet or yards; something that comes in 2s, 3s or 4s; a number larger than “x”, etc.
Numbers on a Roundtrip (Number Recognition)
Directions: Have your child make a list of numbers 1 – 50. As they are driving in the car or out and about, have them look for and record where they found each number.
How Long? How Far? (Elapsed Time)
Directions: Tell your child when you need to be at a destination and have them figure out what time they need to start getting ready. “We need to be at the party at 3:30. It will take us 30 minutes to get there. You still need to clean your room, shower and get dressed. What time do we need to leave? What time do you need to start getting ready?”
License Plate Fun (Naming Numbers, Estimation, Computation)
Directions: Have your child read the number on the license plate, excluding any numbers. Example: EA4235 would be “four thousand, three hundred twenty five”. You can compare the amounts on other license plates to the amount on yours using words such as greater than, less than and equal to. You can also estimate the difference between plates using increments of 10, 100, 1,000 or 10,000.
Directions: On a road trip or for a designated distance, keep track of the states found on different license plates. Graph the results.
Directions: Add the numbers on a license plate (EA4235 would be 14) or find different amounts. Example: Can you make a 1 using two different numbers? (Yes, 5 – 4 = 1)
Guess My Number (Logic, Reasoning, Vocabulary)
Directions: Choose a number. Have your child ask questions to find your number. Encourage the use of precise mathematics vocabulary when possible. I am thinking of a number between 0 and 100. Is it greater than 50? No (number is between 0-50). Is it greater than 30? Yes (number is 31-50). Is it even? Yes (number is 32, 34, 36…50). Is it a square number? Yes (answer is 36).
Clean Up, Clean Up (Estimation, Counting)
Directions: Choose something your child can count and put away, such as crayons scattered on a table or toys on the floor. Ask your child to make an estimate the number of items to be picked up. “About how many things are we looking at here? About 10? About 50? Closer to 100 or 1000?” Have your child count each item that they put away. Part way through clean up, give your child a chance to revise the original estimate. “You predicted that there were about 1000 books on the floor. So far, you put away 29, and there are just a few left. Do you still think there are about 1000? Do you want to change your prediction?” If they are counting a large number of objects, have them group them (2s, 5s, 10s) to make counting easier.
What’s Fair? (Division, Fractions)
Directions: Put the food or objects to be shared on a plate so everyone can see it. If there are more than a few items, ask your children to make an estimate. “About how many cherries do you think we have? Let’s count and see.” Have them determine how they would share the items so that it is fair. There are 17 cherries and 3 of us. How many cherries should we give each person?” If there are any extras, discuss what to do with them. If it makes sense to divide the extras into equal parts, you can do this as a way to bring up fractions. No one wants to divide the extra cherry into three equal parts, but you could easily divide other kinds of foods.
Junk Mail? (Counting, Sorting, Data Collection and Analysis)
Directions: Set the stage for the project by sorting today’s mail and talking about junk mail (decide what will count as junk mail). “Let’s sort today’s mail. We’ll put regular mail in one pile, junk mail in another. How much mail do you think we throw out every week without even reading it?” Encourage your children to make some predictions. Every day for a week, have your child help sort the mail into two piles: junk mail and regular mail. After counting the number of pieces in each pile, have them record the date, how much regular mail, how much junk mail, and the day’s total. When they’re done, add the junk mail to the junk mail pile for the week. Have them record their data with a chart, graph, tally, or some other way. Throughout the week, ask questions about the data that has been collected. “Is there more junk mail or regular mail today? How much more? “How much junk mail did we get so far this week? Did we get more junk mail or regular mail so far? How many pieces of mail did we get in all today? How many so far this week? If we get the same amount of junk mail each week, how much will we have in a month? A year? What fraction of the mail is junk mail? Is it more than half?”
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The North Star Community Edition
Faith North Montessori and Faith North Montessori at Shaw
602-257-3914
Calendar of Events for week of
November 29-December 3
Monday, November 29
Galileo testing begins for 2nd-8th graders
Tuesday, November 30
Wednesday, December 1
PTA/Site Council Meeting at FNM@Shaw
Thursday, December 2
Friday, December 3
“Let it Snow” symphony walking field trip 10:00
Middle School Dance 7PM-11PM
Hello Faith North Community,
Campus was rather quiet this week as our middle school students enjoyed 3 days on a Land Lab in the Prescott Pines. In Montessori terms, this is preparing a safe and nurturing environment, consistent with Maria Montessori's vision for adolescent growth. It is a an opportunity to support holistic human development in an outdoor classroom, a natural habitat abundant in opportunities for field study, and an authentic community where teens can develop and test mature social visions for their growth, together and independent of family.
Today was the annual thanksgiving luncheon and wow, what a turn out. Thanks to all of the parents that came to enjoy lunch with your child. The weather was beautiful and made it was a delightful day to sit outside under the Palo Verdes and enjoy each other’s company and a delicious turkey lunch.
The week of November 22nd school will be closed for fall break. School resumes on Monday, November 29th.
Please join us on Wednesday, December 1st for our monthly Site Council/PTA meeting to be held on the Shaw campus. The Site Council will meet at 5:00 in the media center where the Director of General Studies will be discussing the topic of Mathematics. The PTA will be held in the cafeteria and begins at 6:00.
On December 3rd at 10:00, all of our children will be attending “Let It Snow” performed by the Phoenix Symphony. The performance will begin at 10. This is a walking field trip. Children are $1.00 and adults $5.00. We have reserved a limited amount of seats so please check with your child’s teacher if you would like to help chaperone the trip. We will be back to school by 11:30.
Several weeks ago, our middle school students held a carwash in the parking lot to raise funds for a dance. Our first middle school dance will be held on Friday, December 3rd in the multi-use room at North from 7-11. More information on this event will be forthcoming.
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
Faith North Montessori and Faith North Montessori at Shaw
602-257-3914
Calendar of Events for week of
November 29-December 3
Monday, November 29
Galileo testing begins for 2nd-8th graders
Tuesday, November 30
Wednesday, December 1
PTA/Site Council Meeting at FNM@Shaw
Thursday, December 2
Friday, December 3
“Let it Snow” symphony walking field trip 10:00
Middle School Dance 7PM-11PM
Hello Faith North Community,
Campus was rather quiet this week as our middle school students enjoyed 3 days on a Land Lab in the Prescott Pines. In Montessori terms, this is preparing a safe and nurturing environment, consistent with Maria Montessori's vision for adolescent growth. It is a an opportunity to support holistic human development in an outdoor classroom, a natural habitat abundant in opportunities for field study, and an authentic community where teens can develop and test mature social visions for their growth, together and independent of family.
Today was the annual thanksgiving luncheon and wow, what a turn out. Thanks to all of the parents that came to enjoy lunch with your child. The weather was beautiful and made it was a delightful day to sit outside under the Palo Verdes and enjoy each other’s company and a delicious turkey lunch.
The week of November 22nd school will be closed for fall break. School resumes on Monday, November 29th.
Please join us on Wednesday, December 1st for our monthly Site Council/PTA meeting to be held on the Shaw campus. The Site Council will meet at 5:00 in the media center where the Director of General Studies will be discussing the topic of Mathematics. The PTA will be held in the cafeteria and begins at 6:00.
On December 3rd at 10:00, all of our children will be attending “Let It Snow” performed by the Phoenix Symphony. The performance will begin at 10. This is a walking field trip. Children are $1.00 and adults $5.00. We have reserved a limited amount of seats so please check with your child’s teacher if you would like to help chaperone the trip. We will be back to school by 11:30.
Several weeks ago, our middle school students held a carwash in the parking lot to raise funds for a dance. Our first middle school dance will be held on Friday, December 3rd in the multi-use room at North from 7-11. More information on this event will be forthcoming.
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Faith North Montessori and Faith North Montessori at Shaw
602-257-3914
Calendar of Events for week of
November 15-20
Monday, November 15
Tuesday, November 16
Wednesday, November 17
Thursday, November 18
Friday, November 19
Saturday November 20
Our mission is to provide a solid academic foundation employing the philosophy of Maria Montessori within a loving, respectful and supportive community.
Through Cosmic Education we give the child a vision of the whole universe
All children experience maximum learning potential or windows of optimum learning at various times
All children are motivated to learn, multiple and divergent intelligences are honored and recognized
The celebration and respect of diversity is critical
The child’s hand is his teacher—experiential learning is essential to internalization
The prepared environment is a student centered, learner-centered environment
Self-discipline is achieved through natural consequences and peace education
The dignity of labor and purposeful movement is vital and encouraged
Hello Faith North Community,
The Fall Festival was among the best yet. Perfect weather, lots of friends, delicious food and fun activities for everyone. The middle school students really out did themselves with the Operation Game that required substantial hand eye-coordination as well as the ability to tolerate a little good natured teasing from the kids running the booth. I came away with a nice colorful array of spider rings!
I wish to thank Rebecca Sanchez for her amazing organization of the festival! To Jen Skinner, Shannon Alllsworth, Susan Zbick, Rene Hodge, Karla Roberts, Brenda Loman and Malinda Hurd for being out in front and getting things done. I also wish to thank the other 50 parents that were involved in set up, clean up and running the booths. It would not have been nearly as fun without you. Early estimates were that this great community fund raiser brought in close to $3,500.00!
Please remember that school is closed Thursday, November 11th and Friday, November 12th for Fall Break. School resumes Monday, November 15th. We will have Thanksgiving break the week of November 22-26. School resumes on Monday, November 29th. Please have your children spend time engaged in great literature and some fun family activities. With such great weather trips to the zoo, hiking, and gardening are just a few of the activities to engage in. If you are visiting family, it is a great time for your child to interview and write a non-fiction story about a family member that is engaging.
On December 3rd at 10:00, all of our children will be attending “Let It Snow” performed by the Phoenix Symphony. Children are $1.00 and adults $5.00
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
602-257-3914
Calendar of Events for week of
November 15-20
Monday, November 15
Tuesday, November 16
Wednesday, November 17
Thursday, November 18
Friday, November 19
Saturday November 20
Our mission is to provide a solid academic foundation employing the philosophy of Maria Montessori within a loving, respectful and supportive community.
Through Cosmic Education we give the child a vision of the whole universe
All children experience maximum learning potential or windows of optimum learning at various times
All children are motivated to learn, multiple and divergent intelligences are honored and recognized
The celebration and respect of diversity is critical
The child’s hand is his teacher—experiential learning is essential to internalization
The prepared environment is a student centered, learner-centered environment
Self-discipline is achieved through natural consequences and peace education
The dignity of labor and purposeful movement is vital and encouraged
Hello Faith North Community,
The Fall Festival was among the best yet. Perfect weather, lots of friends, delicious food and fun activities for everyone. The middle school students really out did themselves with the Operation Game that required substantial hand eye-coordination as well as the ability to tolerate a little good natured teasing from the kids running the booth. I came away with a nice colorful array of spider rings!
I wish to thank Rebecca Sanchez for her amazing organization of the festival! To Jen Skinner, Shannon Alllsworth, Susan Zbick, Rene Hodge, Karla Roberts, Brenda Loman and Malinda Hurd for being out in front and getting things done. I also wish to thank the other 50 parents that were involved in set up, clean up and running the booths. It would not have been nearly as fun without you. Early estimates were that this great community fund raiser brought in close to $3,500.00!
Please remember that school is closed Thursday, November 11th and Friday, November 12th for Fall Break. School resumes Monday, November 15th. We will have Thanksgiving break the week of November 22-26. School resumes on Monday, November 29th. Please have your children spend time engaged in great literature and some fun family activities. With such great weather trips to the zoo, hiking, and gardening are just a few of the activities to engage in. If you are visiting family, it is a great time for your child to interview and write a non-fiction story about a family member that is engaging.
On December 3rd at 10:00, all of our children will be attending “Let It Snow” performed by the Phoenix Symphony. Children are $1.00 and adults $5.00
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
Friday, October 29, 2010
Calendar of Events for week of
November 1-5
Monday, November 1
Tuesday, November 2
Kiwanis present dictionaries to our 3rd year students
Wednesday, November 3
Site Council 5:00 and PTA Meeting 6:00
Faith North Main Campus
Thursday, November 4
Friday, November 5
Report cards come home k-8th grade
Saturday November 6th
Fall Festival 2:00-5:00
Faith North Campus
Hello Faith North Community,
Wednesday we had a great celebration of our cultural community. We showed our pride in the “Small World Parade” then shared in “A Small World Potluck.” There were some amazing presentations on countries and cultures around the world as well as some beautiful Native American projects by the students and the food was diverse, remarkable and yummy.
This month’s site council meeting will be devoted entirely to a discussion of the future of Faith North as it relates to the two
campuses. Doug Allsworth, Faith North parent and Phoenix Elementary School Board Member will be in attendance to:
* gather our perspective on this important topic
* share any insights he has from the District
Please attend, November 3 at 5pm in the Faith North Main library, prepared with your thoughts, questions, ideas and concerns on the
matter.
Then join us for a PTA meeting in the multi-use room at 6:00. Attendance at these meetings counts towards your volunteer hours too. Pizza and childcare are provided.
Please plan on attending our Fall Festival on Saturday, November 6th from 2:00-5:00This will be a fun event for the whole family with classroom booths, a rock climbing wall, inflatable bounce houses, a cake walk and lots of great food and company. We need cakes for the cake walk and folks to help set up and clean up. If you would like to volunteer please contact Rebecca Sanchez at rsanchez05ssr@aol.com
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
November 1-5
Monday, November 1
Tuesday, November 2
Kiwanis present dictionaries to our 3rd year students
Wednesday, November 3
Site Council 5:00 and PTA Meeting 6:00
Faith North Main Campus
Thursday, November 4
Friday, November 5
Report cards come home k-8th grade
Saturday November 6th
Fall Festival 2:00-5:00
Faith North Campus
Hello Faith North Community,
Wednesday we had a great celebration of our cultural community. We showed our pride in the “Small World Parade” then shared in “A Small World Potluck.” There were some amazing presentations on countries and cultures around the world as well as some beautiful Native American projects by the students and the food was diverse, remarkable and yummy.
This month’s site council meeting will be devoted entirely to a discussion of the future of Faith North as it relates to the two
campuses. Doug Allsworth, Faith North parent and Phoenix Elementary School Board Member will be in attendance to:
* gather our perspective on this important topic
* share any insights he has from the District
Please attend, November 3 at 5pm in the Faith North Main library, prepared with your thoughts, questions, ideas and concerns on the
matter.
Then join us for a PTA meeting in the multi-use room at 6:00. Attendance at these meetings counts towards your volunteer hours too. Pizza and childcare are provided.
Please plan on attending our Fall Festival on Saturday, November 6th from 2:00-5:00This will be a fun event for the whole family with classroom booths, a rock climbing wall, inflatable bounce houses, a cake walk and lots of great food and company. We need cakes for the cake walk and folks to help set up and clean up. If you would like to volunteer please contact Rebecca Sanchez at rsanchez05ssr@aol.com
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
Friday, October 22, 2010
The North Star Community Edition
Faith North Montessori and Faith North Montessori at Shaw
602-257-3914
Calendar of Events for week of
October 25-29
Monday, October 25
Tuesday, October 26
Wednesday, October 27
United Nations Day
Parade at North 10:45
Parade at FNM@Shaw 9:45-Elementary 10:45-Primary
Thursday, October 28
Friday, October 29
Hello Faith North Community,
What a great Game Night we had last Friday. We had a full multi-use room, great food and some tremendous prizes! Our own assistant office manager Teresa Carreon won the 50/50 raffle and treated the staff to some breakfast goodies this week! Saturday, the events committee was already working on the Fall Festival at a meeting held in C. Steele Park. This will also be a fun event for the whole family with a rock climbing wall, inflatable bounce houses, classroom booth, a cake walk and lots of great food. Please plan on joining us on Saturday, November 6th from 2:00-5:30. If you would like to volunteer please contact Rebecca Sanchez at rsanchez05ssr@aol.com
On Wednesday, October 27th we will be celebrating United Nations Day. This is a day designed to celebrate our diverse cultural community. Your child should choose one that is either prevalent in your family or one that you and your child would like to learn about. With your child, put together a traditional costume or parts of one that they may wear that day for our “Small World Parade.” Then, prepare a food that is also symbolic of the heritage the child represents to bring and share in “A Small World Potluck.” Festivities begin with a parade at 10:45 at North. On the FNM@Shaw campus the Elementary parade will be held at 9:45 and the primary parade at 10:45. Then the potlucks will be enjoyed by the children in their respective classrooms. Parents are welcome!
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
Faith North Montessori and Faith North Montessori at Shaw
602-257-3914
Calendar of Events for week of
October 25-29
Monday, October 25
Tuesday, October 26
Wednesday, October 27
United Nations Day
Parade at North 10:45
Parade at FNM@Shaw 9:45-Elementary 10:45-Primary
Thursday, October 28
Friday, October 29
Hello Faith North Community,
What a great Game Night we had last Friday. We had a full multi-use room, great food and some tremendous prizes! Our own assistant office manager Teresa Carreon won the 50/50 raffle and treated the staff to some breakfast goodies this week! Saturday, the events committee was already working on the Fall Festival at a meeting held in C. Steele Park. This will also be a fun event for the whole family with a rock climbing wall, inflatable bounce houses, classroom booth, a cake walk and lots of great food. Please plan on joining us on Saturday, November 6th from 2:00-5:30. If you would like to volunteer please contact Rebecca Sanchez at rsanchez05ssr@aol.com
On Wednesday, October 27th we will be celebrating United Nations Day. This is a day designed to celebrate our diverse cultural community. Your child should choose one that is either prevalent in your family or one that you and your child would like to learn about. With your child, put together a traditional costume or parts of one that they may wear that day for our “Small World Parade.” Then, prepare a food that is also symbolic of the heritage the child represents to bring and share in “A Small World Potluck.” Festivities begin with a parade at 10:45 at North. On the FNM@Shaw campus the Elementary parade will be held at 9:45 and the primary parade at 10:45. Then the potlucks will be enjoyed by the children in their respective classrooms. Parents are welcome!
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
Friday, October 15, 2010
The North Star Community Edition
Faith North Montessori and Faith North Montessori at Shaw
602-257-3914
Calendar of Events for week of
October 18-22
Monday, October 18
Tuesday, October 19
Wednesday, October 20
Early Release
An Evening of Literacy-CANCELED
We will reschedule in the spring
Thursday, October 21
Friday, October 22
Saturday, October 23
Parent Work Day-CANCELED
Our mission is to provide a solid academic foundation employing the philosophy of Maria Montessori within a loving, respectful and supportive community.
Through Cosmic Education we give the child a vision of the whole universe
All children experience maximum learning potential or windows of optimum learning at various times
All children are motivated to learn, multiple and divergent intelligences are honored and recognized
The celebration and respect of diversity is critical
The child’s hand is his teacher—experiential learning is essential to internalization
The prepared environment is a student centered, learner-centered environment
Self-discipline is achieved through natural consequences and peace education
The dignity of labor and purposeful movement is vital and encouraged
Hello Faith North Community,
As I write, our children are having their pictures taken. As you might imagine, our 3 year olds are not quite certain they like that idea! We have resorted to puppetry and any other gimmick we can think of to get a quick smile. Hopefully, you will be pleased with the end results. If not, retakes will be scheduled, the date is pending.
All of us are looking forward to the Spaghetti Dinner and game night scheduled for this evening. Stop by and enjoy some big fun with your children and get to know some other of the great families that make up our community. I would like to take a moment to thank the events committee headed by Rebecca Sanchez for their great planning. Chef Alvin Tamura and parent helpers have prepared spaghetti and salad for thousands!
Wednesday we held our Site Council and PTA meeting. I cannot stress the importance of being a part of these meetings. It shows your children that you are committed to their school and their education. It also allows you to be a part of the decision process in factors that affect our school. Please plan on joining us every month. It will count towards your 10 hours of service. Our next meeting will be held on the Faith North campus on Wednesday, November 3rd. As always, child care and pizza will be provided.
Our goal this year for tax credit donations is a lofty $30,000.00! As of the October 1st we have collected $3,600.00. Please remember that no amount is too small. These donations may be dropped off in the Faith North school office or done on the district website at phxschools.org
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
Faith North Montessori and Faith North Montessori at Shaw
602-257-3914
Calendar of Events for week of
October 18-22
Monday, October 18
Tuesday, October 19
Wednesday, October 20
Early Release
An Evening of Literacy-CANCELED
We will reschedule in the spring
Thursday, October 21
Friday, October 22
Saturday, October 23
Parent Work Day-CANCELED
Our mission is to provide a solid academic foundation employing the philosophy of Maria Montessori within a loving, respectful and supportive community.
Through Cosmic Education we give the child a vision of the whole universe
All children experience maximum learning potential or windows of optimum learning at various times
All children are motivated to learn, multiple and divergent intelligences are honored and recognized
The celebration and respect of diversity is critical
The child’s hand is his teacher—experiential learning is essential to internalization
The prepared environment is a student centered, learner-centered environment
Self-discipline is achieved through natural consequences and peace education
The dignity of labor and purposeful movement is vital and encouraged
Hello Faith North Community,
As I write, our children are having their pictures taken. As you might imagine, our 3 year olds are not quite certain they like that idea! We have resorted to puppetry and any other gimmick we can think of to get a quick smile. Hopefully, you will be pleased with the end results. If not, retakes will be scheduled, the date is pending.
All of us are looking forward to the Spaghetti Dinner and game night scheduled for this evening. Stop by and enjoy some big fun with your children and get to know some other of the great families that make up our community. I would like to take a moment to thank the events committee headed by Rebecca Sanchez for their great planning. Chef Alvin Tamura and parent helpers have prepared spaghetti and salad for thousands!
Wednesday we held our Site Council and PTA meeting. I cannot stress the importance of being a part of these meetings. It shows your children that you are committed to their school and their education. It also allows you to be a part of the decision process in factors that affect our school. Please plan on joining us every month. It will count towards your 10 hours of service. Our next meeting will be held on the Faith North campus on Wednesday, November 3rd. As always, child care and pizza will be provided.
Our goal this year for tax credit donations is a lofty $30,000.00! As of the October 1st we have collected $3,600.00. Please remember that no amount is too small. These donations may be dropped off in the Faith North school office or done on the district website at phxschools.org
All the best!
Susan Engdall
Principal
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