Children's House Room 5

January 2026

Dear beautiful families I hope you all spent a warm and safe holiday season and are ready for the new year. The theme of this month is “ Winter, Snow & Ice. 



In geography, the children learned to identify Europe on a globe and a map, and to recognize the differences. We also discussed how people live in Europe and their traditions. Also, the children learned the different countries and flags of Europe. The book we read was “The Mitten”. The children loved the story and they created their own mittens with an animal inside. We also discussed the activities we do in winter and the types of clothing we wear. 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 the animals who are living in Europe and for Science we had many activities about the life cycle of the butterfly. We observed all the stages of the butterfly very closely, as well as the life cycle of the deer, cats and dogs, whales, and plants. Also, we introduced addition, subtraction, and multiplication in math. The children had the opportunity to work very hard in Language, and they are practicing their writing and reading every day. We talked about taking turns, inside voices, caring for class materials, and cleaning their faces. For our enrichment, the children enjoyed music, art, cooking, and computers. Last but not least the children studied the big admirable “Martin Luther King” history book. The children learned how he brought freedom to the United States with peace not with violence. The children also learned the rights we have in this Country. We enjoyed every moment teaching our children. 

Thank you and God bless you. 

Ms. Chavez

December 2025

December was a busy and exciting month in our Primary classroom as we wrapped up the year together. The children stayed engaged, curious, and eager to learn while continuing to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We focused on keeping routines consistent while also embracing the joy and excitement that comes with the holiday season.

Throughout the month, we spent a lot of time working on grace and courtesy. The children practiced being good listeners, waiting their turn to speak, and using kind words with their friends. We also worked on recognizing emotions and expressing feelings in appropriate ways. The students practiced calming strategies like deep breathing and learned how to use their words instead of actions when something felt frustrating. These moments helped strengthen our classroom community and supported positive peer relationships.

In sensorial work, the children explored different materials that helped refine their senses. They worked on color sorting, visual discrimination, and identifying shapes and textures. Activities like sandpaper letters and hands-on shape exploration helped build fine motor skills, concentration, and confidence while keeping learning fun and engaging.

Math lessons focused on hands-on learning and real-life connections. The children practiced subtraction using manipulatives and stamp games, worked on sorting and classifying objects, and solved simple word problems. Each child was encouraged to move at their own pace, allowing them to build confidence and independence in their math skills.

Language work continued to grow through phonogram practice, sound-to-letter matching, and early reading activities. Writing assignments were inspired by seasonal and cultural themes, giving students the opportunity to express their ideas creatively. A big focus was making sure the children truly understood what they were reading or writing, rather than just focusing on spelling or grammar.

Cultural studies and science were a big part of our month as well. The children learned about South America, including its cultures, animals, and geography. In science, they explored topics like parts of a leaf, animal life cycles, rocks and minerals, volcanoes, and different natural environments. These lessons encouraged curiosity and thoughtful discussions as the children made connections to the world around them.

Art, music, and special activities were woven throughout the month and connected to what the children were learning in class. Creative projects allowed them to express themselves while reinforcing academic concepts. Fun Fridays were always something the children looked forward to and were a great way to end the week on a positive note.

We also read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, which led to meaningful conversations about kindness, giving, and caring for others. It was a perfect story for this time of year and gave the children a chance to reflect on the importance of generosity and love.

Overall, December was a wonderful month filled with learning, growth, and special moments. We are so proud of the progress the children continue to make and are thankful for the support from our families. We hope everyone enjoys a restful and joyful holiday break, and we look forward to an exciting new year together. ✨



May God bless all of you! 

Ms. Chavez 

November 2025

In November we discussed how we can work together, help each other and be good friends. We learned how to fix problems using the peace table. During circle time we practiced how to face problems in different situations. As well as standing up for themselves. We gave different responsibilities in the classroom. The children were big helpers. We learned how to encourage a friend when they are sad. 

We 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 diverse people that live in California. The children enjoyed our book of the month 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 started with J and K. Lastly the children shared a picture from Thanksgiving.

For our Montessori jobs the children painted a Turkey. They learned living vs nonliving, eagles, turkeys, and bears. They went for a nature walk, and we 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 were washing their hands, cleaning a spill, setting the table, and blowing their nose. They also created their own pumpkin patch. For our enrichment they enjoyed music, different instruments, painting rocks and turkeys, and cooking fall snacks and desserts. For computers, the children enjoyed the curriculum we follow. For Spanish the children learned the body parts, fruits and vegetable. They all shared what they are thankful for in Spanish. The children loved their Thanksgiving party, and they learned the story behind the celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving 

October 2025

This month we learned about the seasons. The children witnessed how the leaves on the trees fall and change color. We explored the functions of the roots and the plants. Everyone enjoyed painting their own pumpkins for the classroom, as we discussed the Fall Season. We learned about the pumpkins' life cycle. We discussed North America and the animals that inhabit it. We also discussed the animal kingdom, and they learned which animals a vertebrates and invertebrates. As well as mammals and birds and their characteristics and fish characteristics.

For Montessori, we worked with practical life. For example, greeting people with eye contact and shaking hands. Cleaning up after themselves and learning manners. For Math, I introduced them to numbers by using the golden beads and cards. They learned the place value of different numbers. In Language, they practiced writing their first and last name. They are also learning the beginning sound of the words using the movable alphabet. The kids are enjoying the musical instruments. We are learning about grace and courtesy by asking for help and expressing ourselves. On Fridays, they have been really enjoying Friday Share Day! 



The children really loved the Fall festival that included popcorn and hot dogs. The costume parade and classroom party were also very fun for the children. Thank you for the opportunity you have given me to be part of your child's education.

God Bless You! 

Ms. Chavez 

September 2025

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 and Ms. Dayanna as 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, and the color of our hair and eyes. We discussed how we can get to know ourselves and each other. We created our self-portraits. We discussed why our family is 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 learned how to sit at circle time and during that time they learned the calendar, days of the week, months of the year, in English and Spanish. They worked on practical life and worked on vocabulary that describes the difference between large and small, heavy and lighter. They used tongs, basting, lids, containers, tweezers, locks and keys. For language they worked with matching cards, three-part cards, memory games, tracing and writing letters. They also worked on their phonics. The book of the month was The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.

 For math they worked with association of number rods and cards. They learned to count with a spindle box, and how to trace numbers with the sandpaper numbers, counting and tracing numbers from 1-10, 11-19. We used the 10^th board to count by 10s to 100. We learned the place value with golden beads. We introduced tenths, hundreds and thousands. For the special day the children participated in share days and snack hosts. For enrichment the children enjoyed using the computers, cooking, music, etc. We have our second circle time after nap time, where the children are learning zoology, botany, geography and science. For September they learned about animals, and plants. The children also learn the difference between a globe and a map.

The kids shared their stories of their families. They learned their five senses; we used the sound cylinders to know what it means to hear. We used different types of flowers to smell. We also touched different fabrics and we read I spy to learn what sight is. For Spanish the children learned the calendar, days of the week, months of the year, colors, numbers and the alphabet. They are also learning their manners like, “si por favor,o no gracias.” Simple phrases to communicate with others and how to identify objects. They are also learning the fruits and songs in Spanish. and much more!

It is a pleasure to be the teacher of room 5

Summer 2025

We had such a wonderful time this summer at Belltower! Each week brought a new theme, giving our children the chance to learn, explore, and of course have plenty of fun in the sun.



We kicked things off with Party in the USA and wrapped it all up with an exciting Spirit Week and our big End of Summer Celebration. In between, our adventures took us “out of this world” while exploring the planets, diving deep into Ocean Life, and stepping into a world of imagination with Castles, Dragons, Kings & Queens. The children made their own flags, learned about ocean animals, and even created their own underwater adventures.

Our themes also helped highlight important real-world skills and creativity. The children explored the role of Community Helpers all around us, got silly and adventurous during Circus Week, stretched their problem-solving skills with STEM week, and discovered the magic of nature during Bugs & Insects.

One of the most exciting parts of the summer was Spirit Week! Each day had a new theme: Inside Out Day, Bugs & Insects Day, Sports Day, Community Helpers Day, and, of course, Pajama Day. The kids loved dressing up and showing off their creativity to friends and teachers alike.

Summer wouldn’t be complete without some unforgettable in house field trips and hands-on experiences! From the reptile show to the petting zoo, plus water play, waterslide days, and even bubble days our children had nonstop opportunities to play, laugh, and learn. We were so happy with how open-minded our friends were and how much they enjoyed every single in-house field trip. Petting a snake was definitely a highlight for some! 

We wrapped up our summer with Field day! We had face painting, so many games, and yummy treats! This was a great experience for our friends to celebrate the friendships, skills, and memories made during this summer!

This year’s summer program perfectly captured the Belltower spirit of blending learning with joy. We can’t wait to see what adventures await next summer!

We are looking forward to an amazing school year!