Recess time!

(Refer to earlier post on a typical day's schedule for more on recess)

Generally, the recess periods are staggered so that the younger grades (K/1/2) are outside at a different time than the older grades (2/3/4/5).  Of course, with the overlap of mixed grade class compositions, this doesn't always work out perfectly; for example, does the 1/2 class go outside with the K/1 group, or the older group?  Hmmm...  Anyways, the point is that there won't be any unnecessary trampling of 5 & 6 year olds whenever the students are set free from the confines of the classroom.

The deal with mixed grade classes and Montessori

(Original post 8/26/2011; updated with some new information 8/30/2011)

You will have noticed by now that all the classes at Daniel Bagley are mixed grade (K-1, 1-2, 2-3, or 4-5).  I understand that this is common practice in Montessori programs to accommodate a range of ages and skill levels; our school's Contemporary program has mirrored this.  I'm not sure whether it is for consistency, or flexibility with maintaining class sizes, or ensuring equivalent learning opportunities, or best practices, or a combination.

Have a question? Check the archives!

I'm noticing a lot of activity on the blog as we approach the beginning of the school year, so I suspect there are quite a few first-time readers visiting the site.  I never imagined we'd be getting 100 hits a day.  Crazy!  Many thanks to all you wonderful Daniel Bagley families for checking it out.

If you have a specific question, take a look at previous posts (there are only about 30 of them, so you can scan the titles easily), but if the answer isn't there, PLEASE email me and I will post something as quickly as possible.

--Lexy
(mom to Alex - 1st grader, and Isabelle - kindergartener)

p.s. Look for teacher assignment letters in the mail any day now!

p.p.s. New family social at Welcome Night (Tuesday September 6) - come & hang out at the playground and front lawn any time between 5:30-6:30.  Bring a blanket and a picnic and meet the other families in your class (and school).  Meet-the-teachers starts at 6:30.

p.p.s.  First day of school next Wednesday September 7 - bell #1 is at 9:25am (when the kids line up in their class lines on the playground).  Bring your camera for first day pictures and stick around for the annual all-school flag ceremony immediately afterwards.

Field trips and other extracurricular events

Yup, there are field trips in kindergarten, about one per semester.  Usually parent chaperones are requested (if you are unsaddled with a younger sibling), and usually there is school bus transportation.  Field trips are often  held in conjunction with other classes.

Bit and bites from this morning's playdate (waitlist, teachers, after-school classes, etc.)

Thank you to all the families who came out to our New Family playdates!  It was wonderful to see all the new (and older) students making friends over the last two weekends.  We estimate that there were about 25 families who came out today, and about 25 last weekend as well.  That's a pretty good representation of the new Bees.

Here are a few thoughts on some of the items that came up this morning:

Making the transition to Kindergarten

Granted, I don't really know much about this (my kids usually tell me to 'go away' as soon as they get to camp/soccer/gymnastics/school because they're fiercely independent), but some children have a harder time transitioning to full day kindergarten.  There might be clinging and tears for a day or two, or it might continue for weeks, depending on the child.

There are tons of web resources and books out there, but a good (and important) strategy is probably to talk to your teacher to find out how she prefers to approach the situation.  It's not like she hasn't gone through it before with hundreds of other five year olds.  She'll know how to smooth the transition with minimal disruption to other students.