How to Talk to Your Learner Without Saying a Word  September/October  2009 

Edited by Crystal McConnell cmcconnell@shiningminds.com September/October 2009 Written By and For Community Montessori Families Since 2002 How to Talk to Your Learner Without Saying a Word Contributed by Crystal McConnell I found as we geared up for the
new year, a theme began to emerge
for me. More and more I found
myself talking with staff and
families (and my husband) about
parental involvement at school:
how to get involved, how to get
others involved, what it means to
be involved, and perhaps most
importantly, why I SHOULD be
involved. Through these conversations, it occurred to me that what
we DO as parents communicates far
more to our children than what we
SAY.
When the topic of parent
involvement comes up, do your
eyes tend to glass over? Or does
your inner scheduler immediately
jump up, Blackberry in hand and
scream “Oh no...we’re too busy for
that!”? I know...I’ve been there,
too. But have you thought about
what you are really saying when
you do that? What messages you
are sending to your child?
For example, say you take
Johnny to soccer practice. Not only
do you take him there, but you
might even coach his team. Meanwhile, you get Janie to weekly piano
lessons, have her practice a few
times a week and attend every
concert and recital.
Amazing! Without saying one
word, you are teaching your
children what you value (them,
physical activity, the arts), declaring
your love and devotion, and reassuring them that you will support them
in attaining their own personal
goals.
You also drop Janie and
Johnny off at school promptly each
morning.
Then what?
Are you cutting and laminating
materials for teachers, reading to the
Early Education learners, or organizing the library? Are you picking
up recycling, subbing in the studio
UPCOMING EVENTS SEPTEMBER 14‐25 NWEA Computerized Assessment (“grades 2‐10”) 15‐17 GQE Retest for qualifying teens 24 Family Night at the Louisville Science Center OCTOBER 1 School Picture Day 5‐8 Scholastic Book Fair or helping plan the Celebration for
Education? Are you weeding the
landscaping, cashiering the Book
Fair or supporting an enrichment
program?
Where are you, and what is
that saying to your learner?
It’s important to “talk” with
your child or teen about the importance you place on their education.
By letting them see you at school,
even if you are not involved with
them directly, they will still know
you are here. “Tell” them you
believe education is always
important by attending school
events outside the regular school
day—visit the Harvest Homecoming booth or attend Fall Family
Night at the Science Center.
“Speak” to them about their school
work by attending all the Parent
Partner Conferences and visiting
their studio for ten minutes each
week.
For some, this new type of
(Continued on page 2)
6 PIP Workshop, 7 pm‐ Teen’s Program: College Credits, Core 40, ACT/SAT, Heroic Journey. Developing true learning and supporting individ‐
ual growth in all areas! 9 All Programs Closed, Staff Professional Day 10 Harvest Homecoming Kids’ Tent 12:30‐3 PM 15 Child’s Work Night/Teen Exploration All Programs, 5‐7 pm 22‐23 All Programs Closed, Staff In‐Service Days Remember: Newsletter submissions are due by November 1 for the next edition!
Contact cmcconnell@shiningminds.com.
Engaging the
Community
How to Talk to Your Learner (Continued from page 1)
Yoga An adult yoga class presented by CM parent Joey Hawman Thursdays, 6‐9 pm River Bend Winery, 120 S. 10th Street (between Market and Main) Cost: $9.00. Contact joeyhaw@gmail.com. Remember
to Recycle!
Collection bins for
ink cartridges, toner
and old cell phones
are located in the
Parent Room!
conversation will mean getting actively involved for the very first
time. It may mean moving out of your own “comfort zone”. It
might even mean you have to juggle your calendar a little bit. And
yes, at first it might be a hassle. But I guarantee you the benefits to
both you and your learner will be immeasurable, and the connection
you will both feel—to each other and to the school—will only bring
about a positive result at school and at home.
The very fact you have sought out Community Montessori as
your child’s school shows you place significant importance on their
education and success. We believe learners can only reach their
full potential when ALL OF US—you, them and the school—are
working together to support them.
As part of our enrollment process, we require families to
commit to a minimum of 10 hours of involvement time each year.
The Parent Involvement Partnership, more commonly known as
PIP, was formed to help connect family members to opportunities.
You will hear a lot this year about getting involved. You will
learn about PIP, and receive emails full of opportunities to help,
both school wide and from your teachers and studio coordinators.
We never stop asking because it never stops being important. I
encourage you—I challenge you—to let your actions speak for
themselves. Get Involved. Today.
ACT/SAT Registration Deadlines Approach The ACT and SAT are college
entrance exams. Most colleges and
universities accept or require the scores
of at least one of these tests for admission, although some schools are changing this policy.
The ACT is an achievement test,
and it directly measures what a learner
has retained from their school coursework. The SAT is an aptitude test, and
measures a learners verbal and reasoning abilities. Most colleges require one
or both of these depending on their entrance requirements, and what they consider to be important to success at their
institution.
The ACT has 5 components
(Math, Reading, English, Science and
an optional Writing test). The SAT has
3 components (Critical Reasoning,
Math and a required writing test). The
ACT’s writing test is only taken if the
college you are applying to requires it.
To determine if you should take
the ACT or SAT, you will need to consider your situation. The ACT is open
to anyone “grades” 6-12. Because it
measures achievement, the score report
can be indicative of which areas are
goal areas for a learner as they plan
their future coursework. The SAT is
not recommended until the junior year,
so learners can test while the information is still fresh in their minds. (The
PSAT, however, can be taken as a
freshman or sophomore.) Check with
your advisor for help in planning when
to take a test.
A wealth of information for both
learners and parents can be found on
the following websites, including test
registration, dates, fees, test prep help,
college planning resources—you name
it! We HIGHLY RECOMMEND each
Teens Program family register at these
sites!
www.actstudent.org www.collegeboard.com 2 UPCOMING TEST DATES AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES ACT Local test site: IUS Test Date Dec 12, 09 Feb 6, 10 April 10, 10 Deadline Nov 6, 09 Jan 5, 10 Mar 5, 10 SAT Local test site: NAHS Test Date Nov 7, 09 Dec 5, 09 May 1, 10 Deadline Oct 1, 09 Oct 30, 09 Mar 25, 10 PIP MISSION STATEMENT
“We believe that family involvement is the best foundation for
school and personal success. We support the continued growth of
each member of our school community through opportunities of
involvement at the school and with its activities.”
H
E
L
P
F
U
L
Top 5 Reasons to
Volunteer
By: Tracy Pickman-Yates
5. Be connected: Volunteering is a great way to
stay connected with your studio, other families and
school in general.
4. Learning is everywhere: Volunteering is a
great way to learn more about the school philosophy and learning environments.
Get Involved!
3. Make an impact: You will impact your learner
and all learners by supporting your studio and
school in general.
2. Make a difference: When you give of yourself,
you make a difference and are a contributing part
of something great.
and the #1 top reason to volunteer?
1. Share yourself: Everyone has something important to share and we all play a part in our school
and learner’s success!
Andy Neichter’s advice to new parents: “Take a deep breath and relax. You are going to get a lot of information thrown T
at you and if you do not I
understand the Montessori P
process it can be a bit overwhelming. Remember O
that the staff and other F
parents are great resources the for advice. Volunteering is fun! You will be blown away M by the commitment that the teachers and staff have for O
this school.” N
T
H
So who’s PIP, anyway ?
The Parent Involvement Partnership was created because we believe
so strongly that family involvement is the foundation on which a
love for lifelong learning is built. Four main involvement areas are
supported by PIP: Event Planning, Studio Support, Staff Appreciation and Family Fundraising.
The PIP Council is a group of parents who volunteer their time and
energy to coordinate involvement opportunities on a school-wide
level. This year we have returning members: Becky Herald, Shaunna
Graf, and Kelly Coots; and new members: Tracy Pickman-Yates,
Brandy Worster, and Andy Neichter.
If you are a new parent, you might be overwhelmed with the amount
of information you’ve received since the beginning of the year.
We’ve all been in those shoes at some point! Remember we are
always here to help, so please don’t hesitate to stop and say hi in car
line or send us a friendly email if you ever have any questions,
concerns or even ideas.
Written by: Brandy Worster
You can contact the PIP Council anytime at pip@shiningminds.com
or visit them on the web at http://pipshiningminds.tripod.com/ .
3 Welcome to our new staff members this year. Please be sure to introduce yourself to them! e Ba
Welcom
Barbara Moore
Sapphire
Co-Teacher
Abby Kerns
Typhoon
Advisor
Debbie Jinks
Oak
Advisor
What’s For Lunch? Liz West
Developmental
Specialist
Coordinator
Jana
Morgan Herman
Learning
Coordinator
Thanks to our contributing studios: Rainforest, Pentagon, and Diamond Community Montessori believes that good nutrition
is an important cornerstone of a good education.
Throughout our curriculum we weave in discussions
about good health and wellness choices. School
lunch is great opportunity to support these beliefs by
modeling them at home.
Younger learners are able to assist with preparing sandwiches
and other items, and even our youngest learners can slice
apples (yes, they can—ask any Early Education teacher!) and
put them in a container.
We also consider lunch planning and preparation a
Work@Home opportunity. Learners of every age are capable
of packing their own lunch. Challenge your teen by asking
them to pack a lunch that represents each food group, or let
them plan the weekly grocery list for their lunches. Make sure
they have enough food to eat by discussing portion sizes.
overs are a Healthy left
orite! teacher fav
Mike Schipinski
Cypress
Advisor
ck !
We encourage you to have discussions with your learner about
what is healthy and why. Guide them in making selections
that give them a well-rounded lunch that will carry them
through the rest of the afternoon.
We asked learners what they liked for, and about, lunch.
Here’s what they had to say:
“We like the ‘one small dessert’, so
we don’t eat too much sugar.”
-Rainforest Studio
Early Education
Top 5 Lunches
2.
“I like to use the microwave!”
- Rainforest Studio
1. Mac-n-Cheese
Ham Sandwich, Chips & Fruit
3. Pizza
4. Strawberries
5. Chocolate Milk
“ We like eating on the patio.” - Rainforest Studio
4 Reheated Piz
za is a popula
r choice in Diam
ond Studio! Teachers’ Choice?
- Healthy Leftovers
ies
- Fresh fruits and vegg
- Sandwiches
- Cheese
Exploring Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius Contributed by Jana Morgan Herman I am a scientist.
Actually, we all are. In case you missed the staff shirts on the first day of school, we are all working on the scientific
minds we need to foster in our learners and ourselves. This is a challenging task. Many of us grew up in traditional
schools, with traditional mindsets. Somewhere along the way, all of us here stopped to consider a different path in
education. We might not have been able to put our thumbs on what we intuitively felt to be a better way, but we
knew it when we saw it: Montessori.
Finally, someone stopped to compile and examine research from outside the Montessori world. Angeline Stoll
Lillard, a product of Montessori whose mother, Paula Polk Lillard, is one of the most well known Montessorians in
America, did not accept Montessori education at face value, but questioned, “Does this really work? Is it really better? What does the research say?” The results of her scientific inquiry are relayed in Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. Guess what? The scientist Maria Montessori, possessed and developed a prescience about childhood
development and education which is being proven in the most current brain, psychological, and educational research.
Over the course of the year we will look more closely at the eight primary tenets of Montessori philosophy. Stoll Lillard enumerates them as follows:
(Continued on page 6)
Helping Hands
Your opportunity to get involved!
Please contact PIP at pip@shiningminds.com if you’d like to help with any of the following:
Support Learner Art Projects
Learners at each age level participate in making art for auction/raffle at the Celebration for Education. We are in need of
adults who can help support learners with these projects, and also donations of the following materials:
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Wal-Mart Gift Card
Hobby Lobby Gift Card
Small Unfinished Wooden waste basket
White fabric shower curtain
Lamps (old or new, small)
Fabric (any amount or design)
Ribbon (any color or style)
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Picture Frames (any size)
Expanding shower rod
Wooden rods for wall hangings
Buttons (any shape or size)
Yarn and Felt
Wood burning tool
School Beautification
Adopt-a-Bed—we have many flower beds on the property and outside studios that need your support to stay
beautiful! An excellent project for morning or afternoon carline—park your car and weed while you wait for
your child to get out of school, or engage learners by helping during the school day.
Studio Assistant
Volunteers are needed in every studio for Studio Assistants, who “sub” in the studio when a co-teacher is absent.
5 Exploring Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius (Continued from page 5)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
that movement and cognition are closely entwined, and movement can enhance thinking and learning;
that learning and well-being are improved when people have a sense of control over their lives;
that people learn better when they are interested in what they are learning;
that tying extrinsic rewards to an activity, like money for reading or high grades for tests, negatively
impacts motivation to engage in that activity when the reward is withdrawn;
that collaborative arrangements can be very conducive to learning;
that learning situated in meaningful contexts is often deeper and richer than learning in abstract contexts;
that particular forms of adult interaction are associated with more optimal child outcomes; and
that order in the environment is beneficial to children. (Stoll Lillard, 2006, p.29)
Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to learn more about the profound influence Montessori’s pedagogical research has on
children, and by extension, our world. I learn something new every time I read this book, and I have read it every
year since its publication! My favorite chapter at the moment is chapter four on the impact of interest on human
learning. I feel confident that by asking questions, observing ourselves and our children, we will be better scientists
who strive to make the best possible outcomes for education.
I’m including a link so that you may read the first chapter of the book: http://www.montessori-science.org/
Montessori-Genius/Lillard_Montessori_Science_Genius_Ch1.pdf. The book can be purchased through our Amazon
Family Store. Also, here is the link to a podcast interview with Stoll Lillard about her work: http://
www.parentsperspective.org/podcasts/285.mp3. Enjoy!
Take a moment to check out the
Parent Room in the Cupola!
Do you wonder what your
young learner does all day?
Here you will find space to work on studio volunteer
projects, the collection bins for Box Tops, Campbell’s Labels,
etc., and a DVD player for watching the PIP Workshops
you couldn’t attend!
NEW! In the halls on either side of the Parent Room
you will now find a PIP information area to help
keep you up-to-date!
Come get some philosophy and material
lessons for Early Education!
We will be discussing the different areas
of the studio, showing different materials and the philosophy behind them, and
answering any questions you may have
about the Early Education program.
Tuesday, October 6th
7 –8:30 pm
In the Quatrefoil Studio
Girl-Scout-a-Palooza!
Any girls interested in girl scouting should plan to attend Girl-Scout-a-palooza for information and sign ups.
Sept 19th at Sam Peden Park, 3-6 pm.
We have several troops here at CM
for “grades KG through 7th”.
For more info pickup a flyer in the
information station in the cupola.
6