Klahanie School
May 2017 Newsletter
Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the
ones we move toward. When we are
listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.
- Karl Menninger
April 2017 Reflection
Thank you for such wonderful conferences! As always, the joy of sharing how your child is moving, feeling, exploring in class is a fantastically fun experience! As parenting process continues, please send me an email or phone call if you seek referrals or specific inquiries about developments. Spring is busy and wonderful and what you see around you in the “spring green” is exactly the growths mirrored in your child. We adults keep up with the changes and support our own processes as we steer in directions that inspire and support safety within our self and family.
What an amazing group you parents are!
We had a month full of amazing growths and connection as a
group. Being inspired by the
Compassionate Listening work in our circle times have been sprinkled with compassionate
listening exercises tailored for our young multi-age group. We began playing a “listening game”
each day (the children have begun requesting) where a child holds the talking rock to share a story or
thought. We listeners then have
the fun job of listening to the facts and
take turns repeating them back.
We also ask the person what they felt, or will some times guess if
enough leading words are given during the story and ask if that was the feeling, the emotion? The last
step, if enough is shared in the facts and feelings, I help frame it with “it
sounds like you really enjoy or value having
quiet, independent time” or “…. time spent with family,” etc. to help highlight
the idea of an internal value which
are always positive, imbedded truths in all humans and what connects us to one
another. This story/listening
exchange along with greeting each and every person around our circle silently,
only with present and loving eye contact, are pillar foundations to the work of
Compassionate Listening peace development work. And the Klahanie School children are soaking it up!
Elders have begun completing their large projects and we had
the first of some anticipated future ceremonies honoring their dedication,
excitement and knowledge. These
projects include exercise in math, language, science and sensorial. Some upcoming excitements will be the
elders practicing counting together, separate and teaching a younger friend up
to 1000 on the Montessori 1000 chain. Our class has also had great fun diving into the solar
system unit.
Our Painted Lady larva will be arriving this week and spread
us to the spring focus of butterfly life cycle observation and release in the
garden.
Ten
little eggs all in a mound.
Out they
will crawl, crawling around.
And then
they will sleep and we know why, out they emerge as butterflies.
Butterfly,
butterfly what lovely wings.
Flutter
by, flutter by how my heart sings.
Butterfly,
butterfly I’d like to know, when it rains, when it rains where do you go?
March Curriculum Topics
Niche In Nature
I’ve got a Niche in nature,
no matter what you say.
I’ve got a niche in nature
and it’s going to stay that way.
We’ve each got a niche in
nature, whether we’re big or small.
If niches are protected
then there’s room enough for us all!
….
Butterfly Song
Ten little eggs all in a
mound, out come the caterpillars crawling around.
Then they will sleep and we
know why, out they immerge as butterflies.
Butterfly, butterfly what
lovely wings.
Flutter by, flutter by how
my heart sings.
Butterfly, butterfly I’d
like to know, when it rains, when it rains where do you go?
….
Bend and Stretch, reach for
the sky.
There goes Jupiter, there
goes Mars.
Bend and stretch, reach for
the sky
Stand on tippy toes oh so
high.
·
Spanish
Continued Intro and Practice: Jordan will begin leading ending circle
time with daily Spanish! A large
portion of our community is from Mexico and what fun to begin exploring and
sharing connections. Thank you Teacher
Jordan!
·
Teamwork: All
groups that create teamwork
·
Bees: bee hives and teamwork, bee life cycle
and why they are so important
·
Cinco De Mayo:
More Spanish language
introduction, music/dance and foods (please feel free to share what you like
from Mexican culture and knowledge!)
·
Mamas and
Papas: Mother’s and Father’s
Day love!
Reminders/Thank You
o Dates for Summer Session:
- July 4-6th (Tues, Wed, Thurs) 9:30-1:30pm
§
July
11-13th (Tues, Wed, Thurs) 9:30-1:30pm
§
Please
note: paperwork will be emailed out asap.
Thank you!
·
Please
remember to put sunscreen on your child as well as supply them with a water
bottle. We will continue to do
our walks to Klahanie beach and having water available is very helpful. Thank you!
·
Thank you
Liz Carlson for your weekly help children create his/her Self Portraits!
·
Thank you
Jen Keller for coming in and helping Jordan in class!
·
Tie Dying: Please
send one or two pre-washed white tee shirts to school. We’d love to get our tie-dye started the
last week of May!
