Dear Meerkats,Here we are. It is May, and school is officially online and at home for the rest of the year. This doesn't mean that learning stops though! As Montessorians, we know that so much of our learning takes place at home. May 4th through 8th is Teacher/Staff Appreciation week, and I am so thankful to work with such amazing teachers and staff!
Citizenship At HomeDPS defines citizenship as "Serving a community by assuming the duties, rights and privileges of belonging to the community". Right now, our job is to follow the guidelines set for us. For many of us, that includes working from home, staying home as much as possible, and if leaving the house, we wear some type of face covering or mask. We are demonstrating good citizenship just by following these guidelines, because when we do these things, we are helping to protect ourselves and others in our community from the spread of COVID-19. If you want to do more, then here are a few other ideas for supporting our community during this pandemic:
Conversation Starters:
In the Home: Activities and ResourcesHere are some additional social and emotional learning recommendations, to encourage you during the continuing school closure. Stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and loneliness can begin to build up, so I highly recommend using at least one activity or strategy from this newsletter or last month's newsletter once a day. It doesn't have to be the same activity every day, but there are some added benefits to consistency. One of my daily practices (that I've done in the past inconsistently) is journaling at least three things that I am grateful for at the end of each day. For me, this requires only four or five minutes of reflection, and it has been really helpful for centering myself. Here is a "snipit" of what I am thankful for: I have a job, and I am able to safely work from home. I work with an amazing group of administrators, staff, and teachers! I work at a school with such a high level of engagement and support from students and their families. I have gotten to spend more time with my family, my pets, and my interests. I have added time to spend crafting, exercising, and spending time outside. I've also had the opportunity to (finally) open an Etsy shop with some of my creations. Maybe journaling isn't an activity that your student can do alone, but gratitude could be a conversation at dinnertime or bedtime. Even through all of the changes and trials of COVID-19, there have been some good things that have come out of it, and we can all benefit from taking the time to recognize what we still have and appreciate. Continuing to build on my recommendations from last month, I want to encourage you to find ways to relax, create, and be active. Our amazing specialists have shared many ideas that fit into these categories. Please visit their websites here: Art- https://sites.google.com/dpsnc.net/moreheadmontessori-art-site/home PE- https://sites.google.com/dpsnc.net/moreheadpecentral/home Media- https://sites.google.com/view/moreheadmontessorimedia Additional recommendations include: Try one of the citizenship activities listed above. The New Horizons App offers free guided meditation and audio-stories for children. The activities listed at the top can all be accessed for free, but there are others available at a premium cost. Schedule a virtual playdate - Meet up with friends using Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, or Google Hangouts. Take a tech break and go for a walk or build a fort on a rainy day. Setting up a meeting with your teacher, a specialist, or Ms. Harrell to chat about what's going on in your day. Try a Feeling Scavenger Hunt like this link from Centervision or any of their other Social-Emotional Learning activities Learn something new - a new skill or a new subject - there are lots of Ted Talks for and by children. Try a new breathing technique - Box breathing is one of my favorite mindfulness techniques (see here). Actividades en españolRecursos en Español
Encontrado aquí Book RecommendationsThese are books with citizenship themes, all of them have linked read-alouds, except for Woodrow for President. Please review prior newsletters if looking for more book recommendations. What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick Woodrow for President: A Tail of Voting, Campaigns, and Elections by Peter Barnes The Mitten Tree by Candace Christansen Grandaddy's Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box by Michael Bandy and Eric Stein Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers The Empty Pot by Demi The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins Thank you all so much! I miss you and I can't wait to see you soon!
-Ms. Jeannine Harrell
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AuthorMs. Jeannine Harrell, School Counselor at Morehead Montessori in Durham, NC Archives
August 2020
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