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American River Rapids - I am excited to share with you that today (March 8) is International Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Day. This special day highlights the significance of nurturing social and emotional skills in our students to support their overall well-being and success.

Social-emotional learning is a fundamental component of education at American River. By fostering skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, we empower our students to thrive academically and personally. Studies show that SEL improves well-being and academic outcomes, builds a positive school climate, and provides children with the necessary skills to excel in today’s workforce. 

As we continue to prioritize social-emotional growth at our school, we invite you to explore ways to support your child's development in these areas at home. 

• SEL Skills, discuss the following SEL skills with your child and how they use each one in their daily life: 
  • Self-Awareness—My recognition of who I am, what I need and how I feel relative to the world around me.
  • Self-Management—My ability to manage my emotions and behaviors, to complete a task or succeed in a challenging situation.
  • Social Awareness—My demonstration of consideration for others and a desire to positively contribute to my community.
  • Relationship Skills—My ability to use positive communication and social skills to interact effectively with others.
  • Decision Making—My approach to problem solving that involves learning from others, from past experiences and using my values to guide my action and accepting responsibility for my decisions.
• Empathy
  • Empathy and thinking about the perspectives of others helps us stay resilient when we don’t feel our best. When your students see a peer or family member having a hard time, help them think of that person's perspective and how they might be feeling and then decide what act of kindness they could do for that person. 
• Gratitude
  • Gratitude has been shown to boost physical, psychological and mental health, particularly during challenging times. Make a list of three to five things to be grateful for with your student - try to do this everyday, perhaps during car rides, before bed, or during mealtime!  

We appreciate your partnership in creating a supportive and inclusive community for our students. Together, we can cultivate a culture that grows our students' social-emotional well-being and equips them with essential life skills.

As always, please reach out on parentsquare, or stop by my office if there is anything I can do to support your student!

-Ms. April Lonero

Counselor

For one evening, our school transforms into different countries from around the world and welcomes families to travel to each classroom to experience the culture, history, customs, landmarks, and food from chosen countries. Paper goods and "passports" are provided and all donations raised will go to The Mustard Seed School.

The spring sing led by music teacher Ms. Ally will close out our Cultural Fair event in a very peaceful way and celebrate our campus community!

Our American River annual Read-a-thon is happening and coincides with our Pajama Spirit Day. So, it will be extra fun to read all our favorite books while gathering in our cozy pajamas! Read-a-thon is a favorite fundraiser benefiting our classrooms.

Watch Me Work night is an exciting time for your student to share a Montessori lesson and experience the amazing classroom materials they use everyday.

Parent/Guardian volunteers provide a valuable resource to our learning community - in the classroom, on field trips, for special events, and more! As a requirement to volunteer at CMP, the training is designed to give important guidelines for expectations when serving CMP students in a volunteer capacity. Dates and times for the Zoom training are on Parent Square.

Join us as we support our students as they SPELL their way to success! Details on ParentSquare.

Greetings American River families,

I hope this newsletter finds you well as the weather is colder and we are wrapping up 2023! In this quarter's edition of the newsletter you will find: information on community support resources, parenting support resources, and books for student’s social-emotional learning. Wishing you a safe and joyful end to 2023 and looking forward to seeing everyone in 2024!

If you need to reach me, please send a ParentSquare message or email to me at alonero@cacmp.org.

Warmly, 

Ms. April

 

Community Support Resources

If your family or a family you know is in need of support this holiday season please find a list of some local community support resources.

Food Banks: 

• Sacramento Food Bank
  (916) 456-1980 | www.sacramentofoodbank.org

• River City Food Bank
  (916) 446-2627 | https://rivercityfoodbank.org/

• Elk Grove Food Bank
  (916) 685-8453 | www.elkgrovefoodbank.org
  9888 Kent Street, Elk Grove, CA 95624

• The Orangevale-Fair Oaks Food Bank
   (916) 238-8868 | www.ovfocf.org
  6483 Main Ave, Orangevale, CA 95662

• Union Gospel Mission (Christmas Food Boxes)
   (916) 447-3268 | https://ugmsac.com/food-box-program/
  Sign-ups: Start December 1 | Giveaway: December 20

• El Dorado County Food Bank
  (530) 621-9950  | https://foodbankedc.org/ 
  4550 Business Drive, Cameron Park, CA 95682

Family Support

Below you will find a brief blurb about community support designed to serve the needs of children and families in the region.

The Folsom Cordova Community Partnership is a 501(c)3 community based non-profit. Our mission and vision support our work to: build strong families, meet the needs of struggling parents to increase self -sufficiency, promote youth development through positive peer and adult relationships and develop employment skills for individuals to achieve their career goals. We bring together resources and programming in a Family Resource Center and Job Center to create a “one-stop” experience, which encourages and supports families as they identify their own needs and reach their goals. https://www.thefccp.org/

 

WellSpace Health has provided care and support to individuals and families throughout the Sacramento region since 1953. Our focus has always been to offer a full range of quality medical care, dental care for children and adolescents, mental health and behavioral health services to underserved populations.  We do this by placing ourselves within the communities we serve and employing outstanding healthcare professionals who are devoted to our mission. https://www.wellspacehealth.org/about

Since 1867, the Sacramento Children’s Home has been committed to helping children by providing high-quality care to the Sacramento region’s most vulnerable children and families. From providing crisis support for families with infants and toddlers to providing short-term residential care to foster youth who have suffered trauma, SCH services focus on child abuse prevention, intervention, and mental health treatment for our area’s most at-risk children and families. Our programs promote child safety, positive parenting, education, and mental health, and improve the healthy functioning of families. https://www.kidshome.org/about-us/

Mental and Behavioral Health Support Resources

At this link you will find a list of mental and behavioral health supports: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13-UNXtj7pFepx2MYQHaZAPit4AIMap5KSWTxQm_Ww_k/edit?usp=sharing

Support Search Tools

CITYHub is a free resource that compiles support services in an easy to search format. Enter your zip code and find support resources in categories such as: food, housing, transit, health, legal, care, and more. https://cityhub.findhelp.com/

211 Sacramento is another resource connection service for the Sacramento area.  Information and Referral Specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dial 211, call (916) 498-1000 or (800) 500-4931, or go to https://www.211sacramento.org/211/ to connect with services. For holiday specific 

services, visit: https://www.211sacramento.org/211/holiday-programs/

 

DISCLAIMER: This list is of known providers of a particular service. The providers on the list are from a variety of sources. The list is being provided as a courtesy, for information only, and the user should understand that no assurances or guarantees regarding the providers on the list are being made by providing this list. The California Montessori Project neither endorses, approves, nor recommends any specific provider listed below. This list is not inclusive of all community agencies, services, or organizations that provide the particular service, and the omission of an agency, service, or organization from this list does not imply disapproval. It is the responsibility of the user of this list to determine whether any of the content is of value to them and whether or not the agency, service, or organization meets their specific needs.

 

Parenting Resources

 Below you will find resources for parents related to student mental well-being and anxiety.

“Family Guide to Supporting Young People’s Mental Health and Well-Being: Information, Tips, and Resources”. The guide helps parents, other adult family members, and caregivers support the overall well-being and mental health of school-aged children. It offers information about the social and emotional development of young people and explains warning signs that may signal mental health challenges. It equips caregivers with targeted strategies, tools, and resources that help them advocate for their family, address each child’s specific needs, and access professional help. Access the download here: https://www.wested.org/resources/calwellfamilyguide/?utm_source=e-bulletin&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2023-11-issue-2#content

The Wellness Education Lab provides practical and empowering mental health training in an accessible module format. The training is relevant and inclusive, offering strategies that participants can use immediately. Each module offers a version for students (13+) and parents/guardians. Modules are on anxiety, mental health foundations, and strategies to support students. Access the trainings here: https://wellnessedlab.org/

Do you ask your child about their day and always hear “it was good” or “I don’t know”? Here are 75 conversation starters to kick off a conversation. This can be useful at the dinner table, in the car, or anywhere you are! https://www.purewow.com/family/conversation-starters-for-kids

Doing any traveling in the near future? This article lists 24 tips for traveling with children and details how to make flights and road trips easier for children with autism, anxiety, and other challenges. https://childmind.org/article/24-tips-for-traveling-with-children/

If you need any additional resources please reach out to me at alonero@cacmp.org

Screen-Time

As a break from school often means more time for students with their screens and devices here are a few tips to support your child’s sleep while managing their device use!

• Limit using screens before bed. 

• Block the blue light.

• Keep phones out of the bedroom or sleeping area at night. 

• Talk about tech expectations. 

• Walk the walk. 

More details about these strategies can be found here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/how-to-help-kids-balance-phones-and-screens-with-sleep

Needing more tech/media support for your child? You can find resources for toddlers through teens on https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Social-Emotional Learning Books

Looking for some reading to do with your child over winter break or looking for new books to add to your home library. See below for lists of the top social-emotional learning (SEL) books recommended by school counselors and educators!

• Books on worry and anxiety: https://www.counselorchelsey.com/blog/worryandanxietybooks

• Books about feelings: https://theresponsivecounselor.com/2017/05/must-have-books-all-feelings.html

• Books about classroom behaviors: https://simplyimperfectcounselor.com/10-sel-books-that-solve-classroom-behavior-problems/

• Books about self-control: https://theresponsivecounselor.com/2022/01/childrens-books-about-self-control.html

• Other SEL books: https://www.colorincolorado.org/booklist/social-and-emotional-learning-books-kids

• SEL books by category: https://luckylittlelearners.com/the-top-social-emotional-learning-books-for-kids/

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

School Counseling sessions are reserved for students with social-emotional struggles that affect the student's learning. Please let your child's teacher know if your child is struggling with a social-emotional or behavioral concern that affects them at school. If the teacher sees the same (or even a different) concern during school hours, he or she will contact the counselor for a check in and from there we can work together to provide appropriate next interventions which may include counseling sessions. If a student is struggling with a social-emotional concern that does not affect their learning, school counseling sessions are not appropriate and the counselor can consult with you to provide more appropriate recommendations and referrals.

How can I get my child to see the counselor for a check in?: Check ins can be requested for a variety of reasons Please have all check in requests go through the classroom teacher in order to ensure the teacher is aware of the student's needs. Teachers may also directly request a check in for the student if they are noticing a need in class. Note that check ins are generally informal and given to any student that needs a little support/pep talk. Informed consent is not needed for a check in because check ins are not weekly or ongoing.

How can I get my child to see you for regular, weekly counseling?: These types of sessions require that the counselor consult with the teacher to determine if the concern is ongoing & occurring at school. Please contact your child's teacher and explain the concern. If they see similar struggles at school, they will get in touch with the counselor. Either your child's teacher or the counselor will then be in touch with next steps and/or recommendations.

How are school counseling sessions different from therapy sessions?: These differ in several ways. School counseling is for concerns that affect a student's learning. They are short term and skill-based. School counseling sessions are not for treating mental health disorders, clinical concerns, or trauma. Therapy, however, can be for a broad range of issues and improve functioning in multiple settings. Therapy can range from short term to long term and may be recommended for those struggling with mental health disorders, clinical concerns, or trauma. School counseling is not a replacement for therapy.

My child saw the counselor/a school counseling helper last school year. Can they continue?: They cannot automatically continue, however if the child is still struggling with the issue (or a new issue), please get in contact with your child's teacher to let them know what is going on. They will let the counselor know and either the teacher or the counselor will be in touch with next steps and/or recommendations.

Are counselingsessions and check ins confidential?: Yes, counseling sessions and check ins are confidential unless the counselor needs to break confidentiality in order to keep a student/child safe (child is in danger of hurting themselves, another, or is being harmed). If your child is offered regular counseling sessions, confidentiality & its limits will be outlined in the Informed Consent.

Do you need a guardian's consent to provide counseling sessions?: Yes, in order to provide weekly, ongoing individual or group counseling sessions the counselor/counseling intern would need one legal guardian's signed consent. Check ins, however, are informal, intended to provide a quick conversation and support, and do not require consent. Additionally, if a student is in crisis and the counselor intervenes, signed consent is not needed, however guardian(s) will be notified about the crisis situation after the student is attended to.

We're looking forward to Hibernation Day - a chance for classes to share hot chocolate, make hibernation crafts, and be cozy in PJ's before we head off to winter break!

Our winter Scholastic Book Fair is December 11-15!

Our Annual APEX Fun Run program is here and this year students will be learning about their POWER:

P = Proactive (how to be a self-starter)

O = Optimistic (keeping the positive attitude always)

W = Work it out (resolving conflict in a healthy way)

E = Effort (hard work yields the best results)

R = Reality Check (recognizing the world for what it is and staying true to who we are)

CMP American River's music teacher, Ms. Ally Webb, is now working with our Upper Elementary students to prepare for their Band performance this spring. Students recently had try-outs and those selected will be practicing their percussion instruments each week learning ear training, sight reading, and using Chrome Music Lab to transform their individual sounds into an amazing performance.

Let's cheer on our beautiful butterflies, ants, jellyfish friends and more during the TK/Kindergarten Invertebrate Parade!

“Everyone talks about peace but no one educates for peace. In this world, they educate for competition, and competition is the beginning of any war. When educating to cooperate and owe each other solidarity, that day we will be educating for peace.”

- Maria Montessori

CMP will host a parent education night with Teresa Lyday-Selby focused on Peace in education. Details can be found in ParentSquare.

"Maria Montessori believed each generation of children brings renewed hope for a more peaceful world. But so often in our practice we make the mistake of isolating peace as a separate curricular area. As children move from respecting their physical space to respectful collaboration, from projecting their own desires for peace and social justice to leading that change, they will come to understand that conflict is an opportunity for growth and understand their own potential for leadership. This is the essence of Montessori, and can be found in the design of the materials, the prepared environment, and in their actions.

Deeper commitment to education for peace and social justice supports the attainment of basic human rights such as freedom, dignity, safety, equitable treatment, and a standard of living adequate for health and wellbeing.

By creating respectful, inclusive classrooms, celebrating diversity in all its forms, crossing cultural boundaries, and modeling engaged citizenry, Montessori educators nurture students who will transform the world and make it a better place for their generation and the generations that follow."

-from the American Montessori Society website

 

American River's Harvest Festival is fast approaching and we look forward to spending an evening with families to enjoy games, activities, treat booths, chili cook-off, and silent auction. The campus is transformed with fall color; roaming super heroes, creepy creatures, fairy princesses; and, a highlight for all is the Haunted House.

Each year the playground is turned into a cardboard landscape of inventions, sculptures, buildings and other creations all fueled by imagination and teamwork.  Launched from the overwhelming global response to the short film, 'Caine's Arcade,' the Imagination Foundation was founded to find, foster, and fund creativity and entrepreneurship in children around the world to raise a new generation of innovators and problem solvers who have the tools they need to build the world they imagine. 

"We envision a world in which creativity is a core social value and a critical skill developed in every child; where the innate passion, curiosity, and creativity of children are nurtured in schools, homes, and communities everywhere; where all children are taught to be creative thinkers and doers, and encouraged to make their very best ideas happen in the world." ~https://cardboardchallenge.com/about/

Greetings American River families,

Welcome back to school! It is wonderful to see our returning students & families as well as meet our new students & families; my cheeks hurt from smiling! I am feeling excited and hopeful for this school year - I expect to see a ton of academic & social growth from these Rapids!

My name is Ms. April and I am American River’s full-time school counselor. I joined the American River community in March of 2022 and I am excited to continue supporting your students in their academic achievement, social-emotional development, and career and college readiness. I have the privilege to work with all students, staff, administration, parents, families, and members of the school community to support our students' well-being and development. Please continue reading for more information about American River’s School Counseling Program and resources for parents. Newsletters will be distributed quarterly but if you are in need of information or support on specific topics please feel free to contact me! You may also hear from me for special events or occasions throughout the year!

If you need to reach me, please send me a ParentSquare message, email me at alonero@cacmp.org, or stop by if my door is open (my office is C5 along the main office hallway).

Warmly, 
Ms. April
School Counselor, MS, PPS, NCC
(Pronouns: She/her)
P: 916-864-0081x821
alonero@cacmp.org
Community Mental Health Resource List
 

American River School Counseling Program

American River offers a comprehensive school counseling program that encompasses academic, career, and social-emotional learning, and provides guidance to students and families in these areas. School counselors work closely with teachers, administrators, parents, and community members to help students on their journey as life-long learners. Services include classroom guidance lessons and check-ins available to all students and individual and group sessions may be provided to students with social-emotional struggles that affect the student's learning. If you are concerned about your child's social-emotional wellbeing at school, please reach out to your child's teacher to discuss your concerns. If you are interested in learning more about the role of a school counselor, please see the resource below from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).
The Role of the School Counselor
The Essential Role of Elementary School Counselors 
The Essential Role of Middle School Counselors
 

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Classroom Lessons

All classrooms will receive a Meet the Counselor Lesson during the month of August to introduce myself and my role at school. We discuss how I can support students when they are experiencing a problem or having strong feelings, how they can ask to see my, and student confidentiality. 

I will be visiting all classrooms monthly with a topic related to social emotional development, academic skills, and/or career and college readiness aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA)’s Mindsets and Behaviors and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)’s Framework. Interested in learning more about SEL? Read this article on the Fundamentals of SEL and dive deeper with information on SEL with Families & Caregivers.

Back to School Considerations

Here are some ideas to provide support and positive reinforcement for your child during this time of transition to their school routine:

Mornings

• Start the day with some positive energy; some sillyness, music, or singing can brighten the mood. Create a “good-bye ritual” with your student. It could be as simple as a five second hug, a secret handshake, or a positive affirmation.

• Make sure to eat breakfast at home or at school - those calories are needed for the brain to do its job.

• Notice what your child is feeling and reflect & normalize it. Instead of trying to convince them that school will be great if they are hesitant, just let them feel what they feel; you don't have to fix it. (It's freeing for you too!) Think about how this small shift in language would make you feel: "Oh, don't be nervous! It will be okay, you get to make friends and play!" --> "I can feel you clinging to my hand and I'm thinking you might be feeling nervous. It's okay to feel that way, I sometimes feel that way too. I bet lots of kids feel that way today." This helps them see that nervousness is not something that can be avoided in life, it's normal, and even when they feel it, they can get through it.

• If your child is having a hard time separating from you, try to shorten the process as much as feasible. It is HARD to see your child distressed; their distress can be prolonged and intensified by a drawn out goodbye. Keep it brief, such as: "This is hard, and you can do hard things. I will be at work, you will be at school, and at 3 o'clock I will pick you up. I love you!" Then remind yourself that you're a good parent!!

• Is Your Child Missing School Due to Anxiety? In most situations, anxiety is normal and temporary. Anxiety becomes a concern if it persists — it can affect relationships with family, peers and teachers, contribute to academic challenges, and lead to school avoidance/refusal. This article covers symptoms of anxiety and ideas for parents including accessing school supports.

Afternoons

• Some kids will be eager to talk about how the school day went right after school. Others are different, and will need some quiet time to process. Experiment with talking about school at different times of the evening and see what your child responds best to. 

• There's a LOT of mental, emotional, visual, auditory, etc. stimulation that happens in a school day, and the beginning of the year can cause a lot of fatigue while they get used to this -- especially in kids, who are not as adept at understanding when they are overstimulated/tired, or how to handle these feelings.

• You can see how the phenomenon mentioned above can lead to fatigue or even an overflow of emotions - there is a specific name for this: Restraint Collapse. "At school, kids do what they need to in order to ‘be good’ or keep the peace. After they’ve done that all day, they get to the point where they just don’t have the energy to keep this restraint, and it feels like a big bubble that needs to burst.” More on this topic and how to handle it here: https://www.todaysparent.com/kids/school-age/after-school-restraint-collapse-is-a-real-thing-heres-how-to-deal-with-it/

• Try to do a low-key, low-expectation activity that helps your child decompress such as a quiet bike ride, a walk around the block, or some time to lay in the grass.

• Prioritize non-screen time and rest - information on how much sleep kids need here: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sleep.html 

Teen and Tween Parenting Resources

Are you a parent of a teen or pre-teen? In the article “Your middle school child is the most amazing person” the author shares information regarding the developmental changes your child is going through underscored by the information they are absorbing from their environment. It includes tips to help parents support their adolescent children and a piece of information that stands out is: “middle schoolers are at their best around adults who delight in the fact that they are often smart and silly in equal measure.”

And 10 Parenting Tips for Preteens and Tweens from the Child Mind Institute including: 1. Don’t feel rejected by their newfound independence, 2. Set aside special time with your child, 3. Try the indirect approach, 4. Don’t be overly judgmental, 5. Watch what they watch with them, 6. Don’t be afraid to start conversations about sex and drugs, 7. Don’t overreact, 8. Don’t be “clueless” either, 9. Encourage sports for girls, 10. Nurture your boy’s emotional side. Check out the article for the full details!
 

FAQs

School Counseling sessions are reserved for students with social-emotional struggles that affect the student's learning. Please let your child's teacher know if your child is struggling with a social-emotional or behavioral concern that affects them at school. If the teacher sees the same (or even a different) concern during school hours, they will contact the counselor for a check in and from there we can work together to provide appropriate next interventions which may include counseling sessions. If a student is struggling with a social-emotional concern that does not affect their learning, school counseling sessions are not appropriate and the counselor can consult with you to provide more appropriate recommendations and referrals.

How can I get my child to see the counselor for a check in?: Check ins can be requested for a variety of reasons Please have all check in requests go through the classroom teacher in order to ensure the teacher is aware of the student's needs. Teachers may also directly request a check in for the student if they are noticing a need in class. Note that check ins are generally informal and given to any student that needs a little support/pep talk. Informed consent is not needed for a check in because check ins are not weekly or ongoing.

How can I get my child to see you for regular, weekly counseling?: These types of sessions require that the counselor consult with the teacher to determine if the concern is ongoing & occurring at school. Please contact your child's teacher and explain the concern. If they see similar struggles at school, they will get in touch with the counselor. Either your child's teacher or the counselor will then be in touch with next steps and/or recommendations.

How are school counseling sessions different from therapy sessions?: These differ in several ways. School counseling is for concerns that affect a student's learning. They are short term and skill-based. School counseling sessions are not for treating mental health disorders, clinical concerns, or trauma. Therapy, however, can be for a broad range of issues and improve functioning in multiple settings. Therapy can range from short term to long term and may be recommended for those struggling with mental health disorders, clinical concerns, or trauma. School counseling is not a replacement for therapy.

My child saw the counselor last school year. Can they continue?: They cannot automatically continue, however if the child is still struggling with the issue (or a new issue), please get in contact with your child's teacher to let them know what is going on. They will let the counselor know and either the teacher or the counselor will be in touch with next steps and/or recommendations.

Are counseling sessions and check ins confidential?: Yes, counseling sessions and check ins are confidential unless the counselor needs to break confidentiality in order to keep a student/child safe (child is in danger of hurting themselves, another, or is being harmed). If your child is offered regular counseling sessions, confidentiality & its limits will be outlined in the Informed Consent.

Do you need a guardian's consent to provide counseling sessions?: Yes, in order to provide weekly, ongoing individual or group counseling sessions the counselor/counseling intern would need one legal guardian's signed consent. Check ins, however, are informal, intended to provide a quick conversation and support, and do not require consent. Additionally, if a student is in crisis and the counselor intervenes, signed consent is not needed, however guardian(s) will be notified about the crisis situation after the student is attended to.

For those of you who don't yet know me, my name is Ms. Ally and I am the music teacher/band director at CMP's Orangevale and American River campuses. Each week, I visit every classroom for half an hour and do a music lesson with them. In our lessons, we will learn the basics of music theory, music history, music from around the world, peace songs and other fun sing-alongs, how to play and perform with pitched and unpitched percussion instruments, and more! If you would ever like to reach out to me and start a conversation, please feel free to message me here on Parent Square or send me an email at awebb@cacmp.org

Once every two weeks, I will be posting my newsletter with interactive links that will give you a peek into what we are learning. Here's what we've been up to the last two weeks:

As a way of introducing myself to the students, I sang them this song that I wrote called Three Truths and Two Lies. The song works exactly as you'd think it does. Three of the verses are true, and two of them are lies. See if you can discern which of the lyrics are factual about me and which ones are designed to throw you off. Enjoy!
 

We Are One

With the International Day of Peace coming up in September, I am teaching all the students this song, which I have renamed We Are One. We talked about unity, and how it stems from the word unit, which we know from our Montessori Golden Beads, means one. As a class, we had a conversation about what it means to be part of a unit, like being part of a team who will only win/be successful if we care for each other and work together.
 

Body Percussion

To help us understand how to count along to the beat of a song, the lower and upper elementary students have learned exercises #1-4 from this cool body percussion video called Just Beats.
 

Music As Fractions

This week, the lower and upper elementary students are learning about how the body percussion rhythms we learned last week relate to music note values that can be expressed as fractions. For this, I used the Montessori red fraction materials to demonstrate the concept of the quarter note and the eighth note. Next week, we will dive more into our musical fractions with this awesome video from music educator Phil Tulga as well as another fraction video of his involving Aztec rhythms. Spoiler alert: Phil will be coming to our school for a special music/math assembly in March!