May 2014

I had such a wonderful time getting to know everyone in April and I am looking forward to new children joining our group in May! We have spent a lot of time learning some of our classroom rules and getting used to our daily routine. We focused on Practical Life and practiced taking care of our fragile works by walking slowly while holding them and making sure they were put away nicely so they can be used by another friend. The children have been working very hard in taking care of our classroom; I have noticed that they are making a conscious effort to make sure everything is nice and neat. We also focused on grace and courtesy and have practiced using polite words to ask for help as well as being respectful of each other’s work and space. Lastly, we welcomed our new friends Stella and Max and we are so happy to have them in our classroom!

We will continue practicing care of the environment and grace and courtesy throughout the month of May as this will help us make a smooth transition into Peace Education. I have already introduced our peace table; the children really appreciate having the opportunity to take a moment to recharge before choosing a work or getting back to a work that requires more time and concentration. The peace table is also a good tool for them to use when they are feeling sad, or even mad or frustrated. We are learning that sometimes we do not feel happy and it is okay if we need space and time to feel calm again.

I will begin to introduce our peace rose; the peace rose will be used as a means to resolve any conflict that may arise in the classroom. If a child is feeling sad or mad due to something another friend did or said, both children will take turns holding the peace rose so they can express how they feel and come up with a peaceful way to solve the problem. I will also introduce our “I think you’re wonderful” necklace. At any given moment, a child may gently put the necklace on a friend who has done a kind act or might need a little extra love to get through the day.

We will also explore the meaning of peace and how taking care of our Earth is a very important part of being peaceful. This will tie in with topics such as recycling, composting, taking care of plants, taking care of the ocean and taking care of all animals. Last but not least, we will discuss appropriate ways of expressing our feelings and how to be respectful of the way other people feel.

I am excited to begin this new topic with the children in Amarillo, please feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments.