Children's House Room 5

June News

In June, we will learn about Community Helpers. We will discuss who the helpers are and what makes dads special and great. Also, we will learn about California. It’s landmarks, mountains, rivers, deserts, beaches, flower and bird. We will also learn about the summer solstice. We will also talk about the end of the school year. We will take end-of-the-year photos to show our progress from the beginning. Thank you so much for the opportunity you have given us to be part of your child's education. God bless you. 

May Recap

This month, we learned about Whales, and we discussed the types of whales that we see here in California, as well as their migration patterns. We had so much fun talking about why moms and teachers are so special to us. We also learned about South America and discussed the types of foods natives eat, and what traditions they share, such as music, etc. We also learned about the caterpillars and watched them eat lots of food, go into a cocoon while getting big and fat, and eventually turn into a butterfly. The most exciting project was the eggs into the incubator, then after 21 days, amazing little chicks hatched. The children learned the chick's life cycle. We also had a Mother’s Day tea party with mothers coming to celebrate and participate with us. I hope that everyone is enjoying the gift that your child made for you with lots of love! 



Our Montessori lessons entailed practical life. We learned about sorting, folding, lacing dressing frames, cutting vegetables, fruit cutting, and setting the table. For sensorial, we differentiated between red rods, used baric tablets, rough and smooth boards, and sound cylinders. For language, we used sandpaper in addition to the pink level reading and writing. For math, we used small bead frames, number puzzles, number matching, and number review. Also, the children worked on their addition with the stripboard and used golden heads. They are growing in math.

The special project we did this month was the growing of the caterpillars into butterflies. This, as well as the Mother’s Day gifts (marble painting of a frog).  Enrichment for this month was based on Spanish, music, and Art.

April Recap

In April, our theme was Islands and Volcanos. We learned about how islands form and grow and read books on how the islands form. But the most exciting lesson for the children was learning the parts of the volcano, and I can’t forget their reactions when we saw a volcano erupt; that was wonderful. Also, we learned about different kinds of beautiful rocks that are formed by the eruption of a volcano. Another activity the Children enjoyed was identifying Australia and New Zealand on the map and the globe. They worked with the map, and they colored Australia with the correct color (Brown). Also, they learned about the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean and colored them as well. We talked about the culture and traditions of the people in Australia and New Zealand. Also, we learned about their flag.



Another beautiful discussion was Earth Day. The children shared their thoughts on how to care for planet Earth, and they enjoyed watching for and watering the plants and the garden in the backyard. We discussed what makes the rainbow. We talked about why bees are essential to our environment and community. Also, we talked about turtles and kangaroos in our community. For our Montessori Jobs, we worked on zoology with parts of the turtle and fish, and for our Botany, we worked on the parts of the flower and tree. For our Grace and Courtesy, we practiced putting on our jackets, pushing our chairs in, and folding and washing napkins. Our unique book was Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

March Recap

March was full of learning activities and a lot of reading. We celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday, reading and sharing his books with the class. Also, we had so much fun celebrating St Patrick's Day. The children had so much fun making Dr. Seuss's hat. Also, the children learned about Africa. The children had the opportunity to find Africa on the map and the Globe. Also, they learned about the countries, people, language, music, and sports. They enjoyed learning about the animals found in Africa. Children shared facts from different countries of Africa. On the landscape, they worked on their favorite animal, collage poster. We also learned about dinosaurs and how scientists study them. They are divided into three separate eras. They learned the names of the dinosaurs, and which ones are carnivorous and herbivores. They made art of the dinosaur's habitat. The children enjoyed their Saint Patrick's Day party. 

In Our Spanish classroom, they learn the days of the week, months of the year, colors, the alphabet, and more. 



The children were working very hard on our Montessori jobs. They worked on dinosaur cards, and gardening. They planted a bean and watched them grow and cared for the plants. They practiced how to wait for their turn and how to show kindness. They love to clean the tables, sweep the floor, and dust the classroom. For our enrichment program, the children had so much fun learning to cook and doing art, but something that they could not miss was computers. 

February Recap

The theme for February was Culture Awareness and Friendship

We studied the continent of Asia; the children were able to identify Asia on the globe and on the map. We also learned about the traditions of Asia, their food, clothes, and customs. We discussed the Lunar Year. Also, the children had the opportunity to express their friendships with others by writing a little encouraging note in a paper heart while learning what it means to be a great friend, as well as what they can do for others. We observed Black History Month and acknowledged essential people like Martin Luther King Jr. and how he fought for civil rights. They enjoyed working on their Black History project where everyone chose one superhero from the Black History event. We learned the importance of President’s Day, as well as a few notable ones, such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The children enjoyed the book for this month, Little Blue and Little Yellow, which we followed up with a few science activities combining blue and yellow playdough, which makes green, and mixing blue and yellow paint, creating the same results. Also, we enjoyed the open house. They also enjoyed Friday share days, where they shared their Black History project, Asia flags, and things that begin with the letters P Q R and S. And, of course, the children enjoyed the Valentine’s Day party, where they shared cards, candies, stories, and food.



Our Montessori jobs included zoology, and they worked with three-part cars panda bears, elephants, and silkworms. The next was botany, where they worked with parts of the roots, parts of the tree, and parts of the flower. For science, we studied water cycles. For art, they made friendship art, such as a handprint of best friends, cutting out little hearts, creating and best friend art. Along with practical life, sensorial, language, and math themes. For our next job, we learned about grace and courtesy, where they learned good manners, bathroom manners, and how to carry their belongings to school.

January Recap

I hope all your families had a warm and safe holiday season and are ready for the new year. The theme for January was Winter, Snow & Ice. 

For geography, children learned to identify Antarctica on a globe and map, and they learned the differences. We also discussed who lives in Antarctica and the science research centers there. The book we read was The Mitten. The children loved the story, and they created their mitten with an animal inside. We also discussed the activities we do in winter and the type of clothing we wear as well. The children looked at the difference between snow and ice. They saw how the ice melted and turned into water. They observed water in different forms.



The children had the opportunity to learn what animals need to hibernate, the places they hibernate, and for how long. They sorted the animals that hibernate from the animals that do not. We learned a hibernation song and that is how the children learned about the different environments for hibernation. A common animal we looked at was penguins and the different species. 

For our Montessori jobs, we learned the body parts of a penguin. The children created their penguins. We learned how the animals can be tracked by their paw prints on snow. We also looked at the importance of exercising and eating fruits and vegetables. We talked about taking turns and inside voices, caring for class materials, and cleaning their faces. For our enrichment, the children enjoyed music, art, cooking, and computers.

December Recap

In December we talked about Celebrations Around the World. The children had the opportunity to share and discuss the topics of the holiday they celebrate. The children shared the traditions they have in their homes such as the types of food they eat and the kinds of clothes they wear. They also shared photos of past years celebrating with their families. We made Christmas ornaments and a Christmas present for each parent. I hope you enjoy your Christmas present.

We read The Giving Tree and learned about the gift of giving. The children learned to share, and the importance of caring and sharing with others. The children enjoyed their Christmas performance with songs such as “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” and “El Burrito Sabanero.” Thank you all for your collaboration for our Christmas party by bringing snacks and letting the children enjoy their time.

For our Montessori activities, the children enjoyed zoology and learning about the parts of the horse. Another activity that was very successful was watching ice turn into water. For Grace and Courtesy, we reinforced covering a cough and blowing our nose then washing hands. We also practiced saying please and thank you. They loved participating in share day by bringing in an item from the holidays that they celebrate and a photo of the last celebration.

November Recap

November theme was Virtues and Values. We discussed how we can work together, how to help each other and be good friends. We practiced helping someone that was in need. We learned how to fix problems using the peace table. In circle time we practiced how to face problems in different situations, as well as standing up for ourselves. We gave different responsibilities in the classrooms. The children were big helpers. They learned how to encourage a friend when they were sad. They also learned the 50 states of the United States. They learned to identify the states on a map as well as coloring one. We focused on California and the flower, tree, bird, flag, and animal that represents it. They learned about the culture of the people and the diversity of people that live in California.

The children enjoyed the book To Fill a Bucket, where they learn to help and be kind to others. The children worked on their Thankful Tree. They painted the leaves with different colors, and they expressed what they were thankful for. The children shared a favorite book, and something from California. They shared something that starts with J and K. Lastly, they shared a picture from Thanksgiving. For our Montessori jobs the children painted a Turkey. They learned living vs non-living, eagles, turkeys, and bears. They went for a nature walk and collection. The children and I discussed the weather and the color of the trees and the leaves. They learned the parts of the tree. For our grace and courtesy, they washed their hands, cleaned a spill, setting the table, and blowing their nose. They also created their own pumpkin patch. For our enrichment they enjoyed music, different instruments, and painting rocks and turkeys. They cooked fall snacks and desserts. For computers the children enjoyed the curriculum.

For Spanish the children learned the parts of the body, fruits and vegetables. They all shared what they were thankful in Spanish. The children loved their Thanksgiving party, and they learned the story behind the celebration. 

October Recap

In October the children learned the names of the planets. The layers of the Earth and the importance of the Sun and Moon. They also learned their functions and why we need them. They were excited to see how many stars our Solar System has and worked on their own solar system projects. We discussed North America and located it on the map. They had a chance to color their own maps and explore the animals that lived there. We learned about the culture in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The book of the month was Going on a Leaf Hunt. We discussed how the leaves change colors in the fall and worked on a leaf project. We learned about the parts and life cycle of the pumpkins, and we carved our own. The children also learned the parts of a spider. We made a pumpkin patch in the classroom. We decorated the family tree with the family pictures the children brought from home. For our Montessori learning, we discussed plants vs animals. We discussed what kind of animals are nocturnal, like owls, and bats. We enjoyed a fun Halloween parade, where the kids had a chance to dress up. We had a good time feeling the difference between hot water and cold water in a safe environment. This helped us look at the different stages of the water, liquid, gas, and solid. For grace and courtesy, the children learned how to put on a coat. Asking and offering for help and getting in line. The children enjoyed enrichment that included music, art, cooking, computers, and Spanish.

September Recap

Happy Fall to all the parents from Belltower Academy. I am very excited about the new school year. We welcome our new friends and their families. I am Ms. Chavez the Lead teacher; Ms. Dayanna is my assistant teacher and our room is #5. The children learned the rules of the playground and our classroom. Our theme was All About Me. We talked about what makes us special and why we are special. What are our talents, the color of our hair and eyes. We discussed in the month of September how we can get to know ourselves and each other. We created self-portraits. We discussed why our families are so special to us. The parents and children worked together on a family tree. I really enjoyed meeting all the parents at our Back-to-School Night. We went over the rules and expectations. I appreciate you all. The children are learning the calendar, days of the week, months of the year, in English and Spanish.



We learned the seven continents and colored a globe to understand the specific colors of the continents. The children also learn the difference between a globe vs a map. They worked on practical life and vocabulary that describes the difference between large and small, heavy and lighter. They used tongs, basting, lids, containers, tweezers, locks and keys. For language, the children worked with matching cards, three-part cards, memory games, tracing and writing letters. They also worked on their phonics. The book for the month was The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. The children learned how to sit at circle time. For Math they worked on association of number rods and cards. They learned to count with a spindle box, and how to trace numbers with the sandpaper numbers, also counting and tracing numbers from 1-10. For the special days the children participated in share days and being snack host. For enrichment the children enjoyed using the computers, cooking, music, art and gardening. 

Summer 2024 Recap

September will be a Month full of amazing lessons. The children will learn the rules of the playground and our classroom. Our theme will be All About Me. We will talk about what makes us special and why we are special. What are our talents, the color of our hair and eyes? We will discuss in September how we can get to know ourselves and each other. We will create self-portraits. We will discuss why our family is so special to us. The parents and children will work together on a family tree. I will meet with parents at our Back-to-School night, and we will go over the rules and expectations. The children will learn the calendar, days of the week, months of the year, the alphabet, numbers, and much more in English, and Spanish. 

Thank you for letting me be part of your child's education.