During the morning work cycle, P4 is a mixed aged classroom, with children ranging in age from 3-6 years old. After lunch, kindergartners from P4 and P3 combine together and create a dedicated kindergarten class. Kindergartners work in all areas of the classroom completing goals in writing, reading, math, science and heart (sensorial area). Also, at the close of the day we read a chapter book. Yesterday we finished reading “The Boxcar Children” and then had a little party to celebrate this accomplishment and to help our students solidify their knowledge and appreciation for the story. Students brought in shoe boxes and they decorated their box with pictures from the story.
Making her “Boxcar Children” piece of art 
Kindergartners doing their afternoon goals:
writing 
doing a language box.
working with knobbed and knobless cylinders 
One of the founding tenants of the Montessori philosophy is to help teach children how to be peaceful people. Dr. Maria Montessori was creating her original work during the First WWI and she knew that instilling a personal sense of peace in her students was essential. She wanted to impress upon them, to recognize their feelings and to be able to express those feelings face to face with a friend when differences arise. We use a “peace rose” with the children where the first child holds the rose and initiates the conversation by saying their feelings “I am mad that you cut me in line”, then they pass the rose to the other child who says, “Well, I was sad because I was actually there before you”. The children work out their differences then end the conversation by holding the rose together and saying “peace” or “friends.”
We have also learned about Black Elks Vision of Peace. Black Elk, a holy man of the Oglala Sioux shared his vision of peace. Some times all people walk the black road of difficulties (life lessons) and other times all people walk the red road of peace. When people walk the road of peace the tree of life flowers and birds are drawn to its beauty.
Doing “Black Elk’s Medicine Wheel”
Our student council helps build our school spirit by asking students to participate in “crazy hair day!”
reading in the Outside classroom.