Week in Review : December 4th - 7th

What a great (and surprisingly short) week we had in Lower Elementary! We hope everyone had a wonderful time in the snow on Friday!

For language jobs this week, first grade students continued exploring suffixes, symbolized sentences with verbs, and edited sentences for capitalization and punctuation. Second grade students continued exploring suffixes, were introduced to adverbs, and edited sentences for spelling, spacing, capitalization, and punctuation. Third grade students continued exploring suffixes, were introduced to interjections, and edited sentences for spelling, spacing, capitalization, and punctuation.

For math jobs this week, first grade students were introduced to the various types of angles, completed large addition and multiplication problems, and added fractions. Second grade students found lines of symmetry for various shapes, multiplied fractions, and solved large problems using all four operations. Third grade students found lines of symmetry for various shapes, multiplied fractions, and solved large problems using all four operations.

For cultural jobs, students continued their study of Greek gods and goddess, mountains, and amphibians.

This coming week, students will be hard at work practicing for their holiday program on Tuesday, visiting the holiday store put on by the middle school, singing at Shelby Ridge nursing home, and celebrating the holidays with a bowling party on Friday! Whew..what a great week we will have!

Important Dates and Reminders 

* Please remember to send in $5.00 for Amaryllis bulbs that will be taken to Shelby Ridge nursing home. 

12/11- Party of Mrs. Naomi - Beginning at 2:00 in Lower Elementary Classroom 3

12/12- Holiday Performance (Grades 1-8) 

12/13-  Classroom 1 and 2 to Shelby Ridge 

12/14- Classroom 3 to Shelby Ridge 

12/15- Bowling Party - Dismissal at 1:00! NO AFTERCARE 

Week in Review: November 27th - December 1st

Wow! We had a wonderful week in Lower Elementary! Students began to practice for their holiday program and were given many presentations! It is hard to believe that December is here!

In language arts, first grade students were introduced to suffixes and verbs. They also continued to work on writing "How to" books in preparation for "publishing" their final drafts next week. Second grade students reviewed suffixes and wrote sentences with prepositions. Students continued to work on their realistic fiction stories and discussed how to "show" and not "tell" in their writing. Third grade students reviewed suffixes and completed work with conjunctions. They also continued to work on their realistic fictions stories by adding more details and dialogue.

In math, first grade students practiced solving large addition and multiplication problems, were introduced to tally marks and angles, and practiced adding fractions. Second graders practiced solving large addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems, multiplied numbers by 10 and 100, multiplied fractions, were introduced to coordinate grids, found lines of symmetry for polygons, and practiced math facts. Third graders practiced solving large addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems, multiplied numbers by 10 and 100, multiplied fractions, found lines of symmetry for polygons, were introduced to coordinate grids, and practiced math facts.

For cultural studies, students worked in groups to research Greek gods and goddesses. In geography, students were introduced to the parts of a mountain. In science, students began to research an amphibian.

Important Dates and Reminders 

* Please remember to send in $5.00 for Amaryllis bulbs that will be taken to Shelby Ridge nursing home. 

12/12- Holiday Performance (Grades 1-8) 

12/13-  Classroom 1 and 2 to Shelby Ridge 

12/14- Classroom 3 to Shelby Ridge 

12/15- Bowling Party - Dismissal at 1:00! NO AFTERCARE 

Week in Review: October 30th - November 3rd

It was a wonderful week in Lower Elementary! The highlight of our week was definitely the Halloween celebration on Tuesday (pictures to come soon!). Thank you so much for all the parents and families to helped to make the day a memorable one for our students! We all had a wonderful time!

For language arts jobs this week, first grade students identified the meanings of the prefixes bi, tri, quad, and octo. They also symbolized phrases with an article, adjective, and a noun and explored Halloween idioms. Second grade students reviewed the meanings of prefixes bi, tri, quad, and octo, symbolized sentences with prepositions, and explored Halloween idioms. Third grade students reviewed conjunctions, reviewed the meanings of prefixes bi, tri, quad, and octo, and explored Halloween idioms.

For math jobs this week, first grade students solved large addition and multiplication problems, added fractions, explored Roman Numerals, and were introduced to convergent and divergent lines. Second grade students solved large subtraction problems, subtracted fractions, reviewed Roman Numerals, and constructed and measured angles. Third grade students solved problems with all operations, subtracted fractions, constructed and measured angles, and reviewed Roman numerals.

For cultural jobs, students began a study of amphibians. They also began a study of the country of Greece, with incorporated allusions of Greek Gods and Goddesses.

Reminders and Important Dates 

Don't forget to send in food pantry items for the Catholic Center of Concern! Fresh fruits and vegetables can be sent in on Thursday, November 15th. 

Nov. 7th - Make-Up and Sibling Pictures 

Nov. 10th - No School - Veteran's Day Holiday 

Nov. 15th -  Peace Ceremony 

Halloween Reminders!

We are looking forward to celebrating Halloween on Tuesday, October 31st! 

Halloween Parade - The JBMA Halloween Parade is one of our annual traditions where students have an opportunity to dress up as a character and learn from one another. This year, Lower Elementary students are looking forward to the Halloween Parade on Tuesday, October 31st beginning around 9:00. 

Students are invited to dress up as a character from a book, a historical figure, or cultural representative. We aim to keep Halloween light-hearted and fun for everyone, and therefore will not allow weapons, blood, or anything scary. Our costume parade brings all ages together and we need to respect the needs of the younger children.

Halloween Party -  Our Halloween party for Lower Elementary will be from 12-2 on Tuesday. Please send in $5 to help cover the cost of the party. If you would like to volunteer, please respond to the email send by the room mothers.

Week in Review: October 10th -13th

Students had a wonderful week learning and growing together! The highlight of our week was the special Diwali celebration on Friday! Thank you to all the parents who worked so hard to make the celebration possible!

For language arts jobs, students reviewed antonyms and synonyms, articles, verbs, pronouns, and began new writing pieces on "How to" books (first grade) and realistic fiction (second and third grade).

For math jobs, students worked with math operations, studied angles, identified curved and straight lines, and sorted the different type of triangles.

For cultural jobs, students began research on a specific fish, identified landforms, and heard the story-The Great Lesson 4: The Coming of Language.

Reminders 

October 19th and 20th - Parent/ Teacher Conferences  - Dismissal at 1:00

October 24th - School Pictures

Week in Review: September 25th - 29th

Students had a great week learning and growing together! It is hard to believe the first quarter is almost over!

For language jobs this week, first grade students were introduced to synonyms and articles, reviewed common and proper nouns, and "published" their personal narrative story. Second graders reviewed synonyms, identified linking verbs, reviewed common and proper nouns, and "published" their personal narrative story. Third graders reviewed synonyms, were introduced to pronouns, reviewed common and proper nouns. and "published" their personal narrative story.

For math jobs this week, first grade students used materials to solve large addition problems, wrote number words, compared fractions, told time to hour or half hour, counted coins, reviewed even and odd numbers, and used triangles to form quadrilaterals. Second graders solved large multiplication problems, reviewed even and odd numbers, compared fractions, and had further work with quadrilaterals. Third graders worked with large multiplication, reviewed even and odd numbers, compared fractions, and identified triangles by sides.

For cultural jobs, students continued their study of fish by examine the exterior anatomy of a real fish. Student identified the parts of a volcano for a geography job this week. In History, students heard The Third Great Lesson: The Coming of Humans.

Reminders 

October 5th - Open House 6:00 -7:30 

October 6th - End of the 1st Quarter 

October 9th- No School for Students (Professional Development Day)

October 15th - Fall Festival 1-3 PM

October 19th and 20th - Parent/ Teacher Conferences  - Dismissal at 1:00

October 24th - School Pictures

Students enjoyed exploring the external parts of a fish this week! 

Week in Review: September 18th-22nd

We had a very exciting week in Lower Elementary! Students enjoyed traveling to the Birmingham Children's Theater to see a production of The Jungle Book. We had a great week learning, laughing, and playing together.

For language jobs, first grade students matched sets of antonyms, matched vocabulary cards of animals and their homes, edited and illustrated their personal narrative writing piece, and reviewed common and proper nouns. Second graders reviewed antonyms, wrote sentences with helping verbs, reviewed common and proper nouns, and edited their personal narrative writing. Third graders reviewed antonyms, wrote sentences with adverbs, reviewed common and proper nouns, and edited their personal narrative writing.

For math jobs, first grade students completed large addition problems, wrote number words, compared fractions, told time to the hour or half hour, wrote even and odd numbers, and constructed quadrilaterals using different triangles. Second graders completed large multiplication problems, wrote even and odd numbers, compared fractions, told time to the minute, and constructed quadrilaterals using various triangles. Third grade students completed problems using all four operations, wrote even and odd numbers, compared fractions, calculated elapsed time, and constructed quadrilaterals using various triangles.

For cultural jobs, students began a study of vertebrates. Students viewed a powerpoint and short video about fish. In geography, students located the continents, oceans, and seas on a map. For history lessons, students discussed how time can be divided into eras. Students used the Montessori material called The Clock of Eras in order to visualize how time has been sectioned into eras.

Students are excited for next week when they will celebrate their writing skills. Students will have an opportunity to share their personal narratives with one another!

Reminders 

October 5th - Open House 

October 6th - End of the 1st Quarter 

October 9th- No School for Students (Professional Development Day) 

Week in Review: September 5th - 8th

We had a very busy week in Lower Elementary! Students enjoyed researching an organism found on the Timeline of Life as well as researching a continent of their choice.

For language jobs this week, first graders reviewed vocabulary for animals and their young, sorted words into categories, and continued to craft a personal narrative story. Second grade students had further practice with irregular verbs, sorted words into categories, and continued to work on crafting a personal narrative story. Third grade students reviewed the various types of adverbs, sorted words into categories, and continued to craft a personal narrative story. All students enjoyed reading and discussing the topics covered in the Scholastic News magazines.

For math jobs, first grade completed large addition problems, wrote number words, counted coins, told time to the hour or half hour, and had further practice with naming fractions. Second graders completed large multiplication problems, wrote numbers in expanded notation and in word form, identified equivalent fractions, and found the perimeter of quadrilaterals. Third graders completed large multiplication problems with a 2 digit multiplier, wrote numbers in expanded notation and in word form, identified equivalent fractions, and found the perimeter and area of quadrilaterals.

Students enjoyed hosting the first Peace Ceremony of the year on Friday! Each student decorated pinwheels with peaceful words and symbols. The third graders did an outstanding job presenting the elements and speaking about "Pinwheels for Peace" and the International Day of Peace. It was a wonderful week!

Dates and Reminders 

September 15th - Movie Night 7:00 pm 

September 19th - Children's Theater - Classrooms 1 and 2 

September 22nd - Children's Theater- Classroom 3  

Week in Review: August 28th - September 1st

Wow! It is hard to believe that August is already over and September is here! Students had a great week learning and growing in Lower Elementary! Students ended the week with a special celebration for Dr. Montessori's birthday (August 31st)!

For language jobs this week, first grade students sorted the names of various animals and their young, classified words into categories, and practiced crafting a personal narrative story. Second grade students had work with irregular verbs, classified words into categories, put words into alphabetical order by the second letter, and practiced crafting a personal narrative story. Third grade students continued their review of adverbs, classified words into categories, put words into alphabetical order by the third letter, and practiced crafting a personal narrative story.

For math jobs this week, first grade students practiced large addition problems, wrote number words, identified quadrilaterals, named fractions, and practiced math facts. Second grade students practiced math operations, reviewed quadrilaterals, found equivalent fractions, and practiced writing large numbers in expanded notation. Third graders practiced large math operations and math facts, reviewed quadrilaterals, found equivalent fractions, and practiced writing larger numbers in expanded notation.

For cultural jobs, students continued to complete science experiments which stem from the First Great Lesson. For Geography, students watched a short video on pangea and then created a "globe" by tracing the continents onto two paper plates. For History, students experienced the Third Great Lesson: The Timeline of Life. Students were able to see and hear how animals came to live and change over the course of time.

Dates and Reminders 

September 6th -  Speech and Hearing test 

                              Play Auditions 

September 8th - Peace Ceremony 9:00 

September 15th - Movie Night 7:00 pm 

September 19th - Children's Theater - Classrooms 1 and 2 

September 22nd - Children's Theater- Classroom 3  

Montessori Resources/Articles 

https://www.mother.ly/child/7-key-phrases-montessori-teachers-use-and-why-we-should-use-them-too-

Week of August 21st - 25th

We had a wonderful week in Lower Elementary! The week began with students viewing the Solar Eclipse and ended with 3rd graders performing the Second Great Lesson - The Drama of the Archeozoic Ocean. A wonderful time was had by all!

For language jobs this week, first graders sorted nouns, put words in alphabetical order, and reviewed compound words. Second graders reviewed verb tenses, put words in alphabetical order, and reviewed compound words. Third graders discussed the various types of adverbs, put words in alphabetical order, and reviewed compound words

For math jobs this week, first graders made numbers with golden beads and then practiced adding those numbers together. They were introduced to fractions, named quadrilaterals, and wrote number words. Second grade students reviewed large addition and multiplication operations, reviewed fractions, and defined the six types of quadrilaterals. Third grade students reviewed all operations, reviewed fractions, and defined the six types of quadrilaterals.

For cultural subjects, students did artwork and experiments that 

deepened their understanding of  solar eclipses. Students also wrote a sentence and drew a picture which described their understanding of the Second Great Lesson - The Drama of the Archeozoic Ocean. 

First Week of School

Lower Elementary had a wonderful first week of school! Students participated in community building activities, discussed rules and procedures for the classroom, and then got straight to work on jobs in the classroom! Enjoy the pictures!