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1280 Simmons Avenue
Kirkwood, MO, 63122
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You Read the Blog! Good Job!

There is little quite as joyful as watching your child succeed. The swelling of the heart at their triumph is real. It can be understandably difficult to contain this joy which often bubbles out with a "Good job!"You've likely heard words in the Montessori world before about praise. The goal here is not to pile on but rather offer a quick reminder on the importance of your words.There are a few things to consider when you're praising your most precious people. First, our children want to please us. (Yes, even when it doesn't seem to be the case... it mostly is. They want to please us.) When we explicitly praise our children, we can unintentionally condition our children to expect and perform for praise.Instead of being internally motivated to try new things, succeed at a task, etc., their motivation becomes external. Keeping motivation internal supports our children's creativity and drive to take (healthy!) risks. If they're always looking to us for approval, we squelch their independence.Also, it conditions them to expect praise for the simplest of actions. Yes, the first few times they put their socks on it's exciting but, let's be real, this is a life skill they should be developing. You do not need to throw a party for their every feat! Rest assured they will be pleased enough with their own accomplishment!So, for those times when your child does look to you after accomplishing something and you want to do more than just smile...When your young child has put on their shoes how about, "You put them on!" Or when your child shows you their drawing, "You drew that. Would you like to tell me about what you drew?" These phrases show our pleasure in their success but they pin the pleasure more closely to the pleasure they internally experience through their own accomplishment. As your child grows, your feedback can become more explicitly linked to the process the child has gone through rather than the product. "You put your shoes on!" transitions into "You worked really hard to figure out how to solve that."(Think: growth mindset.)Lastly, overdoing the "Good job!" strips it of it's meaning. Our children either look for it at every turn or they dismiss it as meaningless because we use it incessantly. Save it for the time you need it. Keep its meaning intact.Okay, one last thought because supporting concentration is so very important ... please don't interrupt your children to praise them. If they are focused, don't break their concentration to let them know that you think they've done a good job. Their concentration speaks volumes about the contentment they get from their task at hand. Allow your children the pleasure of focus.Melinda, you knocked it out of the park yet again with this set of pictures! Thank you!

Thank you, Ms. Brea!

This week has brought the return of our beloved Ms. Megan! The children are delighted to have her back, and are at the same time missing Ms. Brea who seamlessly stepped in while Ms. Megan was away.Subbing is never easy work, and Ms. Brea did it with aplomb. She worked closely with Ms. Megan. This ensured  a smooth transition for the children as well as keeping a conscientious teacher at ease.Ms. Brea fit in with the staff, helped with "outside of the school day" events, brought dance to our Elementary children and was (of course!) beloved by the Checkerboard children in particular. She is observant - so important for a Montessori teacher! - and insightful. She gave lessons, sparked research and deftly guided the social work in the Checkerboard classroom. There is much to be said for the Guide and Assistant relationship which supports the work of the entire classroom. Ms. Brea and Ms. Sophie worked together brilliantly. Thank you, Brea for coming to St. Louis to be with us. You have made our - and in particular, our children's - year richer by your presence. We sincerely hope that your path crosses with Villa di Maria's again in the future!Here's a peek at Checkerboard students working on a thank you project for Ms. Brea! Ms. Brea, you will be missed!Melinda, thanks to you for these beautiful pictures highlighting Ms. Brea's role in our Elementary environment!

Sleep Baby Sleep...

Spring is finally here, and we have all been delighting in the sunshine we so longed for! It feels good to finally say "Yes!" to a child asking to go outside rather than nagging them to spend some time outdoors.The trade off to this weather is, at times, sleep. Games go late at night, outdoor dinners linger. While it may feel good to give our children more time in this glorious weather, we can't forget that their bodies depend on sleep.All of this joyful exuberance.... Not to mention all of this important work... Depends on, and needs to be balanced with, lots and lots of...Here are a few things to keep in mind:1) Children act differently when they are tired. Sometimes getting overly upset, being inflexible, not being able to concentrate or being grumpy, is just a sign of tiredness. If you're having trouble with any of the above, look at your child's sleep patterns. Are they consistently getting enough sleep?2) Sleep begets sleep. Staying up late does not equal sleeping in (especially for children!). Earlier to bed can equate to waking up later! The corollary to this is that sleep deprivation adds up.  In other words, *carefully* dole out those late nights. There's no shame in being the parent that leaves the park early. Sleep is important!3) Bedtime is not the same as asleep time. When you check those handy charts indicating how much time your child should spend asleep, or the ones indicating what bedtime should be based on wake up time, remember to consider how long it takes your child to fall asleep. (Tip: Printing out these charts can help take the struggle out of bedtime. The chart says you need 11 hours of sleep; the chart says it's bedtime - not the parent!)Sleep is malleable. You can change your child's sleep habits. Yes, it takes time and work, but it is doable and so important! Like providing healthy food for our children, supporting healthy sleep habits is one of the foundational things we can do to provide a good environment for our children. Sleep gives children the opportunity to thrive. And take good care of your own sleep needs. For all the times you've said, "I wish I had more patience" ask yourself if you're getting enough sleep. Being well rested is good for all of us!For more info on the importance of sleep and tips for bedtime, here's another blog post for you!Thanks to Melinda Smith and Samantha Clarke for the pictures!

Pollinators...

Take a look at one of the big events at VdM last week ... hosting and interacting with the exhibit "Pollinators: Little Helpers, Big Results."
The exhibit, which is normally installed in museums, zoos or aquariums, made a special visit to our school and Extended Day through Elementary children were invited to interact with the exhibit.
The exhibit discusses the importance of pollinators, the biodiversity of pollinators, why they are declining, stories of folks who are helping save them and what anyone can do to help.
The children learned about bat bats, hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. In Montessori fashion the exhibit was even more specific  - lesser long-nosed bat, Monarch butterflies, ruby-throated and rufus hummingbirds and the rusty-patched bumble bee.
Our great thanks to VdM parent Charmin Dahl for bringing her work with The Paly Foundation to Villa di Maria and facilitating the children's interactions with this exhibit. She started from what the children knew - asking the Extended Day children about the parts of a plant and if they knew of any pollinators. The children were all over it, "A bee is a pollinator!"
Charmin shared, "Conservation is extremely easy to teach to young children because they are still entrenched in that "fairness" milestone of development.  Children "get" conservation on that level -- "it's only fair that animals should get a chance to live out their lives in a habitat and without threat of extinction, because I want the same.""
"Pollinators" along with other Paly Foundation exhibits can be viewed online. Look over what your children experienced and use this as an opportunity to start a conversation. Charmin notes that, "The field of people who create exhibits (or create ed programs at zoos, etc.) know that conservation messages are more effective when learned as a multi-generational unit. ... Whatever that magic is about the family unit, we know that the conservation message sticks and that behavior is more likely to change (such as donating to a conservation org, or using reusable shopping bags, etc.)."

Credit for the brilliant photography is due entirely to Melinda Smith

Repetition and Patience

"When the child has come to understand something it is not the end, but only the beginning. For now there comes the 'second stage' … the more important one, when the child goes on repeating the same exercise again and again for sheer love of it. When I have just been introduced to a person and I find him interesting and attractive, that is not the moment when I turn my back on him and go away!! Rather it is just then that I have the wish to stay in his company and enjoy it."-Maria Montessori

At times adults find repetition soothing and comforting but we sometimes complain about doing the same thing over and over again. For children, repetition is so often welcome. In the prepared environment think of repetition as an avenue toward mastery (of self or task) - repetition as worthwhile and rewarding in and of itself, at times tedious but more often joyous.

Repetition is centering. Repetition leads to concentration and real learning.

So when your child tells you that they did the pink tower (again!) or brings home their 400th metal inset, rest assured, it's all the right things. They are mastering what they need to master. Movement to the next great task will come.

A few notes on repetition at home...

Very young children will crawl into the kitchen and incessantly open and close the same cabinet. It's not a cry for attention; it's not a need for anything other than to master this skill, to build their muscles, to learn about their environment. From the beginning humans repeat in order to learn.

At home we often shy away from allowing our children to repeat, especially those tasks that are arduous - the ones they have yet mastered, the ones that require massive clean up. Why let your child bake when they have not yet mastered it? In classic Montessori fashion we ask that you flip this on its head. If your child is struggling with something, this is the very thing you need to offer opportunities for them to practice - to repeat. Here we ask for  patience on behalf of your children. As adults who have mastered many life skills, it can be difficult to hold space for children who are doing the work of mastery. Sitting on your hands and letting them try (again) to pour, to put on their socks, to follow a recipe... can require a lot of patience. Give them this patience. Give them the time and the moments free of judgement to repeat that which they are trying to master.

The resplendent photographs are compliments of Melinda Smith.

A Weekend of Parent Education...

Observing in the classroom gives parents a glimpse of the magic of the classroom, allowing us to see the children in all their glory, doing all their things. We admire the children, their concentration, the work they are capable of doing. (Side note: Observation is well worth doing!)This past weekend, however, parents had the opportunity to see the classroom in a whole new way. They explored the classroom without children, turning their focus on the materials themselves. The weekend provided a time lapse of all Villa di Maria offers, introducing parents to work of young children through the work of the Upper Elementary children. After silently walking through a classroom from each level (Parent Child, Children's House, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary) and taking time to discuss as a group what they noticed in each of the classrooms, parents were invited to explore the environments more fully.Materials were laid out with instructions so that the parents could explore the work and follow the steps a child would follow doing the work. Other work was introduced through lessons. It's a real treat at any age to receive a lesson from a Guide!While adults can't have the same experience that children have in the prepared environments, this is about as close as we can get to recreating our children's experience. Parents left with a newfound appreciation for the work their children do at school, commenting that they would now go through their children's work folders with reverence.On the experience, one parent shared, "The objective is to experience the gift we are giving our children, and increasing our own understanding of the Montessori way.  Seeing how the "lessons" have layers of concepts and teachings that take years to peel back.  At the end, just when you think you "get it," like a great novel, you realize that all the activities are interconnected in a symphony of learning, spanning from when the children enter, to when they leave.  Yep, you missed it the first time through.  It's so subtle, you can't really explain it.  How would you explain Mozart to someone who's never heard it?"This opportunity is made available once a year. If you missed it this time, look out for it next year; it's well worth your time!Thanks to Jade Venditte for sharing pictures, to the staff and supporters of Villa di Maria for making this happen and to the parents who took a chunk of their time to understand more fully what they are giving their children with the gift of Montessori.

Spring!

Spring is (finally!) in the air. The rain will come and go, but we will soak in every drop of sunshine we can get!While everyone made the most of the snow and cold weather, the warmer weather is beyond welcome!Extended Day is enjoying their treat of playing in the tree just outside the playground. This is a magical place... just beginning to move from the Children's House playground but not quite to the Elementary space.Forts continue to be built and rebuilt.Appropriately, this fort is building a patio! Who doesn't want to spend a Spring day on the patio?Stone gathering for the patio.There are pretty high standards for the sticks used in some of the forts!Epic games of Ultimate Frisbee are underway. And lots and lots of tree climbing!Spring will continue to be enjoyed in all of its states so make sure your child has a change of clothes (Elementary as well as Children House - these children play hard in the mud!), boots and raincoats when appropriate. Happy Spring!

The Chicken Coop!

Remember ages ago when you donated to The Fund for Villa di Maria? Remember the promise of chickens, the chicken dance and the chicken contest?Yep, we reached our goal and Spring is here which means... time for chickens!Upper Elementary students, along with Stefan, our fearless Facilities Manager, have taken on the task of making the chickens a home at VdM. Here's a peek at one day of construction.Our thanks go out to  to Rick’s Ace Hardware, Norrenberns Lumber & Hardware and The Easy Chicken who donated most of the construction supplies.

     As they prepare for the coop, the chickens are being cared for and socialized!

Jade Venditte, thank you for sharing the pictures and for your tireless work on The Fund for Villa di Maria!

Women's History Month in STL...

March gives us the opportunity to highlight the power and influence of women in our shared story. If you're staying in town over Spring Break, take some time to dip into women's history. If you're off on an adventure, check these out on your return!Explore American history through the experiences of women who lived in St. Louis over the centuries. The Missouri History Museum Guide can be found here: https://mohistory.org/learn/schools/womens-history/Add some Mighty Girl Picture Books to your home collection or look for them in the library! https://www.amightygirl.com/mighty-girl-picks/top-picture-booksDid you know these women have notable connections with Missouri? “Unsinkable” Molly Brown, Josephine Baker, Tina Turner, Susan B. Anthony and Laura Ingalls Wilder...Read about them, talk at the dinner table and consider a day trip! https://missouriwomen.org/exhibits/experiencing-womens-history-in-missouri/Tuesday, March 26, 2019  6:00 PM - 7:30 PMSaint Louis County Library, Oak Bend BranchFriday Frenzy: Get inspired by the great Frida Kahlo and create your own artistic masterpiece. Ages 6-12. Registration required. Tuesday, April 9, 2019 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMSaint Louis Public Library, Central LibraryNoteworthy and Notorious Women: Did you know there are some 'Noteworthy and Notorious Women' laid to rest here at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum?Fri, March 29, 2019 7:00 PM – 9:00 PMShameless Grounds, 1901 Withnell Avenue, 63118SHE Stories: Misbehaved Women: "In honor of Women's History Month we want to celebrate all of the misbehaved women that have paved the way, rocked the boat, and challenged the status quo. Join Super Heroines, Etc. for tales of the women through history, women we've known, and the women that we are."My thanks to Jade Venditte for sharing these events with our community!

The Sheldon...

As the Children's House Extended Day children prepare for an upcoming trip to the Sheldon, let's look back at the adventure they had with the Elementary children last November when they went to Drums and Dances of Africa with Diadie Bathily and Afriky Lolo. The program sought to introduce students to "the sounds and movements of West Africa, with music and dance that celebrate history, nature and community."The children were of course prepared for the experience. Elementary students had lessons on the featured choreographer and his dance team as well as working on rhythm and mapping the countries of Western Africa. Upper Elementary students shared their work by helping to prepare the Children's Houses for the experience. The younger children were then invited to a sensorial experience of the drums at hand! The bus trip is admittedly always a highlight of these adventures.The performance itself received rave reviews from children and adults alike! Children and adults from each class were invited to join the group on stage to learn a dance. What a morning for our Extended Day children!While Extended Day children boarded buses back to school, the Elementary children continued their adventure with a trip to Ikea for lunch! This was a real Practical Life work - managing money, choosing items, navigating the cafeteria and of course eating with friends! Melinda Smith shared the joy of the day with us through her photographs. Thank you Melinda!

Light...

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."- Desmond Tutu

As winter resolutely stays and we crave the warmth and light of the coming spring, let's admire the light that shines despite the cold - the sunlight that breaks through, the light of friendship, the light of satisfying work.

The elementary children are particularly lucky to work in classrooms and common spaces with no shortage of light. The joy of work and friendship in these spaces is infectious.

As usual, Melinda Smith brings light to the darkness. Thank you for the photographs, Melinda.

Scissors!

Fresh new activities are invigorating. We observed this quite joyfully when scissors made their debut on the shelf in our Parent-Child class.

"Open. Close." Joy! She was so pleased at her newfound skill!

As with any new skill, the environment is set up for the child's success. The scissors really cut. The paper is stiff enough to easily hold its position while the scissors are being manipulated but not so thick that it's difficult to cut. Also, the paper is pre-cut into strips that are narrow enough to be cut in one snip.

In the above pictures, look at the child's left hand which opened when she opened the scissors with her right. There's so much opportunity for hand development in the first few years of life!

Note and admire the concentration. It is intense!

Trying again with just as much focus. (My favorite part of this photo may just be the shoes that she obviously put on herself!)

Similar to the top photo where the child opened both hands to use the scissors, this child opened his mouth when he opened the scissors. Scissors require a lot of focus!

My thanks to the parents in class who took and shared their pictures. The children often sat with their parent first and allowed me to join them and demonstrate the scissor use. Some were then able to sneak away and snap a picture!

Reading Material (Part 2)

As we close out Black History Month, here are a few more books to consider. Last time we offered books to read with your children. The books below are for you. Setting an example of reading is a gift; setting an example of consciously choosing books that make us think is yet another gift.Black is the Body is a magnificent collection of essays. Emily Bernard explores race, home, belonging, family, influence and so much more. The author is searching for revelation and gives it to the reader. Black is the Body is brilliant. Read it.Just Mercy follows a lawyer's fight for justice and deftly exposes the shortcomings of our criminal justice system. Reading story after story, your heart will be broken open - making room for compassion and a desire for justice. Bryan Stevenson continues the struggle. He was in the news this week as the Supreme Court ruled on a case he argued. Read Just Mercy, check out Stevenson's organization The Equal Justice Initiative and plan a trip to visit The National Memorial for Peace and Justice and The Legacy Museum. You will not be the same.Citizen is a collection of poems in which Claudia Rankine tells stories both her own and belonging to her community. She gives a very real understanding of life as a person of color in the United States, exploring the realities of daily life as well as narratives in the media. Her work is powerful and profound. It's impossible to turn away from the truths in her work.In Baracoon Zora Neale Hurston introduces us to Cudjo Lewis, who tells his story of being transported to the United States from Africa as a slave. Hurston's interviews with Lewis give us a first-hand account of this horrific part of our history. The book is important in many ways, perhaps most profoundly in that it forces us to confront a very real piece of our history.These books are individually brilliant. But, if you can read them all, the truths each manifests are amplified by every other book. Read, read, read. 

On Love and Independence...

"Joy, feeling one's own value, being appreciated and loved by others, feeling useful and capable of production are all factors of enormous value for the human soul."  Dr. Montessori

In parenting, love and independence are often placed in juxtaposition as though they are separate and perhaps rivaling entities. But they are not at odds with each other, being instead immensely, almost inextricably, intertwined.At birth children are entirely reliant on the adults in their lives. They need us to take care of their every need. We not only provide their food and clothing, we must feed and dress them. As our children grow, they rely on us differently. They begin to feed themselves, dress themselves. However, we often cling to rituals through which we have exhibited our love. We carry our children when they are capable of walking, dress them when they can dress themselves, solve their problems when they can learn to solve them themselves.Transitioning toward independence can be difficult - we carried and dressed and fed out of love. It's understandable that we may be slow to give up these signs of love. However, our children grow, change and need us differently. As this happens, our love can now be manifest through a willingness to let them gradually take on the tasks of humanity. We are given the opportunity to love our children into independence.Each child's and each family's path toward independence will look a little different. That said, there are times when particular steps can be made most easily. If we allow children to acquire life skills at the moments when they are interested, we have done them - and ourselves - a great favor. When the child's internal motivation has passed, skills must be taught rather than naturally acquired and children often push back. On our children's journey towards independence we're looking for these choice times when acquisitions are made most naturally. Parenting is made easier by giving your child the right kind of independence at the right time. It serves no one to wait too long to allow children to grow.The road is, of course, bumpy. We never hit all the magic times, and it can feel overwhelming to try. Here are two hints for finding these opportune moments for your child. First, observe them. When you notice that your child is trying to do something - let them. When you think your child seems ready to do something alone or for themselves - let them try. Second, talk to your child's guide. There are many acquisitions that happen on a similar trajectory for most children. Guides are masters of this knowledge! Go to parent education, reach out, ask and let your community support you in this endeavor. This is not work you have to do alone.Don't get caught in the false dichotomy of love and independence - it is not an either/or choice. The path of love and independence is a beautiful dance of providing what is needed, of letting go, of being there to hold space for the child as they explore the world themselves and of letting them take off on their own.My thanks, as always, to the photographic genius of Melinda Smith.

Introducing Melissa Fox

It is with great joy that we introduce the newest member of our team. Melissa Fox joined the VdM community in January as our resident Reading Specialist. Melissa has been diligently working to support the children in our environments. We are so happy to have her!Describe your educational background.  I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and Master’s Degree with Reading Specialization from Webster University in 2001.How/when did you become interested in education? I first became interested in education when I was a sophomore in high school. My high school had a fellowship in which students earned school credit for teaching ecology in partnership with Missouri Botanical Garden. I continued to pursue this passion for education throughout my high school and college years with Missouri Botanical Garden.My dedication to teaching reading developed during my first of five years of teaching first grade. I wanted to find out more about this magical time in a children’s development as they move from being emergent to fluent readers and writers. I quickly moved from teaching the sciences, to find my love for coaching literacy.What has been the BEST part of your Montessori experience so far? Every day I wake up and am thrilled to grow and learn with the students. Many of the foundations of Montessori are ingrained in my overall understanding of a child’s path of learning to speak, read and write. I see all of my coaching for literacy as a pathway of lifelong communication. I love working in an environment that understands and captures this underlying principle. "The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life." - Maria MontessoriWhat do you enjoy doing outside of your time at VdM?  I enjoy spending time with my three children and husband. I love being in the outdoors, physical fitness, and of course, reading books!If you were to plan a most perfect, relaxing weekend day, what would it entail?An ideal weekend day would be a spending a spring day at Innsbrook without ANY school activities, sports or commitments.  My family and I would have brunch together, go for a long walk with the dogs and play board or card games. ☺What is something you look forward to this school year?  I look forward to getting to know the students, staff, and better understanding the Villa di Maria community. From meeting Clover the bunny to each student, each day has been a joy, and I am looking forward to many more.Your Favorite:Color: YellowSeason: SpringBook: Too many to list!Childhood book: The Foot Book by Dr. SeussRead-aloud Book: The Penderwicks by Jeanne BirdsallAdult Book Read in Recent Years: The Nightingale by Kristin HannahHoliday: 4th of JulyMovie: Dead Man WalkingHobby: Walking my dogsType of music: Pop, jazz, country, classical and after a long day, silence ☺Song: "Living in the Country" by George WinstonRestaurant in St. Louis: Brasserie by NicheVacation: Destin, FloridaSport: Any sport where I can cheer for my childrenGame: Hearts and SpadesFruit: BananaVegetable: ArtichokeIf you had to choose ONE:Rain or Snow: SnowCoffee or Tea: CoffeeMorning or Night: MorningOcean or Lake: OceanDog or Cat: DOGS, you can never have too manyTalk or Listen: ListenWalk or Run: WalkSave or Spend: SaveBike or Swim: BikeSalt or Pepper: SaltRealistic Fiction or Fantasy: Realistic fictionSummer or Winter: SummerNew York or California: New York; that is where my husband lived when we met!Cook or Dine Out: Dine out

Standardized Testing

For many of us, schooling is inextricably linked to memories of testing, evaluations and scores. One thing that draws us to Montessori is the general absence of testing as we experienced it. However, the absence of traditional tests is not an absence of assessment.Assessments are only helpful if they give information which is valid and accurate. Surely many of us can relate to the experience of doing well on a test but not truly understanding the information tested. So, unlike traditional models, assessment in Montessori classrooms provides real feedback to the guide - and the child - about their understanding.The child is frequently assessed by their guide through direct interaction and observation. This one-on-one consideration allows the guide concrete understanding of where a child is, what they understand and where any gaps in knowledge might be.Moreover, the children are given the skills to self-assess - to determine for themselves where they need more practice, where they went wrong, what they need to do to succeed. This work is not done in a vacuum; the guide works on the skill of self-assessment with the child. In the Elementary classroom this work can concretely be seen during weekly conferences although in reality the work is done every day. This is true not just of academic feats but also of social and emotional endeavors.Testing in the more traditional sense is, however, a reality of our world. And as test-taking is a skill in and of itself, it is something we want to give the children some experience with. And so, at the beginning of March our 3rd through 6th year students will embark on a week of standardized testing after spending time at the end February prepping for the experience. For those with 3rd years, please know that this is a rite of passage that is generally greeted with excitement and eager anticipation!As this type of test is divergent from the experiences most Montessori children are familiar with, the message that we send our children about it is important and formative.To that end, we ask that you encourage your children to do their best without unnecessarily weighting the outcomes. From our perspective, this test gives them practice and exposure to the types of standardized tests which they may be taking in the future. It does not necessarily mean one thing or another about them academically. It has gravity and importance, but it does not (and cannot) reflect the fullness of their intellect or ability.Finally, when you receive your child's scores in the next few months, please refrain from sharing the results with them. This information is not helpful to your child, and it is difficult to share scores with children without giving them false import. Remember that while the scores may be helpful on a macro level (e.g., providing feedback to guides regarding class-wide strengths or weaknesses), the scores are taken out of any meaningful context for children. The children may try to contextualize their numbers by comparing them with classmates which is, as you can imagine, beneficial to no one. The social nature of Elementary children, coupled with the novelty of test scores, lead us to ask the community as a whole to refrain from sharing test results with children.The important parenting work surrounding the test taking experience is to reassure your child that while you want them to do their best and try their hardest, you love them anyway, no matter what.  Make sure that they know that the test does not prove or disprove anything about them as people. And finally, to support the entirety of the experience, make sure they are well-rested, well-fed and unscreened the morning of testing.My thanks to Anna Schwind for many, many of the above words along with lots of insights (as always!). The brilliance of the photography comes from Melinda Smith and Lauren Knight.

Adventure on Valentine's Day

With the Sixth Years taking on Montessori Model United Nations in New York City, the rest of Upper Elementary decided to a take on the City Museum! Upper Elementary students came up with the idea, planned the trip and obviously had loads of fun! My thanks to Lauren Knight and Samantha Clarke for the photos! And if you want to truly see the children in action, take a look at these. IMG_5252      IMG_5247

Alumna Spotlight

As our children progress through Montessori environments we delight in their growth and development. It's worth noting though that this development does not just aid them as children, rather it forms a strong foundation for their whole lives. At times this connection can be difficult to see - we take a leap of faith that providing this for our children now will continue to bear fruit later. We give them practice making choices hoping they'll learn how to make good ones. We teach interdependence hoping their worldview will be informed by this knowledge. We plant seeds so that we may see not just the bud but the full blossoming that often occurs much later. So, what a joy to highlight an alum who clearly is flourishing; who has taken all she's been given at Villa di Maria and is doing her part to positively impact the world. So, let's take a look at the project Gabrielle McAuley (VdM Class of 2016) is currently working on. Her Montessori roots are clearly bearing fruit just three years after graduating. Gabrielle attended Villa di Maria from age two to twelve and is now a freshman at Clayton High School. (And yes, she is the daughter of Mrs. McAuley, P1 guide extraordinaire.) She was struck by the opportunity to help bond the city with the county by connecting Clayton High School students with communities in other parts of St. Louis. To that end, she applied for and was granted a plot of land through St. Louis’s Land Reutilization Authority’s Garden Lease Program to start a community garden downtown. Her hope is to eventually turn this project into a non-profit.Gabrielle’s objective is to bring neighbors together, provide food for hungry families and partner with the community to grow their own food. She gives credit for having some of the essential skills needed to manage this initiative to the work she did of creating a rain garden while attending the Montessori Adolescent Program (MAP). Since it's a shady lot, she’s collaborating to design sculptures that will amplify sunlight. She has also partnered with a student-run club, Volunteen, along with Green Club to build composting bins.Her team is seeking to raise $400 for building supplies by selling t-shirts designed by her fellow students. To support Gabrielle’s project, please purchase your $25 t-shirt by 2/22/19 here. You can also make a donation of cash via this link (note, since she is not yet affiliated with an NPO, your donation is not tax deductible). Good luck Gabrielle! It's a delight to see the good you are putting back into the world. 

Creating Community Together Part 2: Class Meetings

Anna Schwind sneaks us in to take another peek at the magic of Elementary classrooms ...
Class Meetings: Dialogue, discussion and decisions.
Welcome to the second part of the series on creating community together. The previous entry  was focused on the early work the children do to establish guidelines and norms for the school year in each classroom. But, of course, troubles and complications will arise even when we’ve created a class constitution. Not everyone can abide by the rules as set all the time, and conflicts over interpretations of the constitution will appear almost as soon as the ink has dried.
So each classroom must have a mechanism for revisiting the guidelines as established, and for modifying and refining the ideas that were first set down to address specific situations that arise. The usual tool used for this is the class meeting.
Like the creation of the class constitution, the class meeting can have a variety of formats or be run in a variety of different ways depending on the children and the teacher, but at its most basic, the class meeting is a convening of all children and adults in the environment. Meetings can be regularly scheduled or not. They can be announced or impromptu. They may or may not have agendas. They can be quick or extensive. In fact, the children will have already experienced a class meeting on their first day, even if it is not labeled as such, because gathering to create the class constitution was - itself - done through a class meeting.
 The class meeting is where the children have the opportunity to work on a variety of critical social skills as well as gathering as a group. A class meeting could be as simple as an announcement about an unusual itinerary for the day or it could be tackling a thorny and persistent issue surrounding interpersonal relationships or coming together as a group to tackle a class-wide problem. In a class meeting all are expected to listen to the speaker, to raise their hands and wait to be acknowledged before they speak, and to present their ideas or comments in as clear and constructive a way as possible.
 As mentioned before, the ideal situation is one in which the children have as much responsibility as they can handle. In some classrooms, children call class meetings or make agendas. Guide Megan Eilers has implemented a fabulous system for class meetings which places the bulk of the responsibility on the children. They decide on the agenda and run the meetings, which are scheduled weekly.
It works like this:
There’s a notebook in the classroom where members of the community (children or adults) may write class meeting topics, along with their name.  Items written in the book are of two types: announcements and reminders which do not require discussion or input, and matters which are to be discussed and decided on by the group (usually through a simple majority vote).
Three children are assigned to run the meeting each week. Those children will gather the day before the regularly scheduled class meeting to decide on the roles each will play and the agenda for the meeting. They categorize the topics their classmates have written in the notebook as either requiring discussion or not. They then choose one or two things that require discussion and three or four of the announcement type items to cover. Preparation for the meeting also entails checking in with the person who wrote in the notebook to make sure the topic is still relevant and to see if that person has something they need to contribute at the meeting. They also decide on their roles: secretary (takes notes during the meeting, recording all solutions offered and resolution of votes), officer (assists children in following the meeting rules with non-verbal reminders - such as a shoulder tap, also calls on children to speak and keeps track of the time) and facilitator (leads the meeting, opens and closes each item for discussion, and oversees voting).  Once they have settled on the agenda and their roles, they are ready to run the meeting.
As expected, the first few meetings were a little bumpy, but as the students practiced working with the notebook items and the agenda and each of the different roles, they have become more skilled. Class meetings run smoothly now, and everyone knows what is expected.
After the meeting, the meeting notes and agenda are placed back into the binder, as a public record for the entire community. Should anyone forget what was decided, they can check.
Now that you’ve seen an example of a class meeting, stay tuned for the home version: the family meeting.
Special thanks to Megan for thorough information on the process for her class meetings and to Melinda Smith for the beautiful pictures of said meetings!Anna, thank you! You bring the Elementary experience to life.

Black History Month Events

To begin our celebration of Black History Month, we want to share some of the many events available in the St. Louis region. Choose the ones that speak to your interests, or choose a venue you've never been to, and take time to purposefully learn and celebrate.The list below is just a fraction of what is going on this month (more here!) let alone the work, art and events that go on year round - more on these to come as well!https://www.slam.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/kehinde-wiley-charles-i-small.jpgFebruary 1 - February 10: Kehinde Wiley: Saint LouisSt. Louis Art MuseumAll ages: Kehinde Wiley "invited strangers he met in neighborhoods in north St. Louis and Ferguson to pose for his paintings. Wiley then created eleven original portraits that are inspired by carefully chosen artworks in the Museum’s collection."February 7: Unfinished Business: From the Great Migration to Black Lives MatterThursday, February 7, 7 p.m.Missouri History MuseumThe Missouri History Museum will host a special screening, which features a compilation of oral histories of African American elders from historic black churches throughout the country.February 9: Creative Kids: Great Migration MappingSaturday, February 9, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.St. Louis Public Library - Central LibrarySchool aged children: Children listen to Jacqueline Woodson’s book This is the Rope and map out the family’s journey on a large interactive map of the United States. February 11 - 16: Display Reception: Where'd You go to High School: The Black High School Experience in St. LouisMonday, February 11, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.St. Louis Public Library - Machacek LibraryAll ages: Join us for the opening reception of this traveling pictorial and interactive display about Black high schools in St. Louis since the Great Migration.February 14: Book Bingo: Black History MonthThursday, February 14, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.St. Louis County Library - Indian Trails Branch, Registration recommended.All ages: Play bingo, have fun, win books.February 16: Family Day at the NBM – Black History JamSaturday, February 16, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.National Blues MuseumAll ages: It’s free admission for families, and will include live music, scavenger hunts, story time, hands-on activities, and crafts! It will also include our Musical Petting Zoo!February 20: After-School Club: Robots Wednesday, February 20, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.St. Louis County Library - Oak Bend BranchAges 5-12: Drop by the Children’s Section to get hands-on time with various robots and learn a little about some famous African-American inventors.February 23: We Are MagicSaturday, February 23, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.St. Louis County Library - Natural Bridge Branch, Registration required. Ages 4–11: Celebrate fairy tale adaptations featuring diverse characters through spell-binding activities, face-painting and a movie. Dress-up encouraged.February 23: Underground Railroad Shuttle TourSaturday, February 23, 10:00am - 12:00pm Alton Visitor CenterLearn about local, Underground Railroad sites on a shuttle tour with J.E. Robinson Tours and the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau. The two-hour guided shuttle tours will stop at some of the sites that were part of the Underground Railroad system including Rocky Fork Church, Enos Apartments and more. Ladysmith Black Mambazo id=February 24: Ladysmith Black Mambazo Sunday, February 24, 7:30 PM Sheldon Concert HallFor over 50 years, South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo has spread the message of peace, love and harmony to millions all over the world. Now led by the sons of legendary founder Joseph Shabalala, the 2017 Grammy Award-winners for Best World Music Album return to The Sheldon with uplifting vocal harmonies, signature dance moves and charming stage presence. Before the concert, you’ll have the opportunity to view A World of Music – Celebrating St. Louis’ Immigrant Communities, from The Sheldon’s Hartenberger World Music Collection, in the Sheldon Art Galleries. Please let us know if you attend any of these events! We would love to hear feedback about which programs are particularly interesting and beneficial to our community.Thanks to Jade Venditte for the compilation of events!