UMA Spring Break

A Reminder...UMA is on Spring Break starting Friday, April 15th. We will be back in the office on Monday, May 16th.

Students: If you have an urgent need, please email the UMA office at uma@unitedmontessori.com, and we will get back to you within 1 business day.  

Applicants: We will continue to accept applications during Spring Break. If you have any questions regarding the UMA program or need assistance with your application, please call the UMA office at 206-441-4337.

Happy Spring!

Earth-Friendly Project: Herbs in a Can!

Whole Foods Market is celebrating "Earth Month"...not just Earth Day on April 22nd! Here is just one suggestion they make to introduce to your children: A compact herb garden planted in an aluminum can from your recycling bin. 

For details on how to get started, click on the picture for the direct link.

Gardening, recycling, healthy living...YES!

Save the Date!

2011 Sharing Fair
Cedar River Montessori, 15828 SE Jones RD, Renton, WA 98058
Date: 30 April 2011, Saturday 09:00 AM

PNMA invites all UMA student teachers to attend and to share a Lesson Plan at the 2011 Sharing Fair. All UMA student-interns are welcome to join PNMA for free (no cost - sponsored by UMA).  Check the PNMA website and find out how to participate and submit your Lesson Plan (see guide, below).

REGISTRATION OPTIONS:
¥    Register ONLINE anytime as a Member or Public Individual who will attend the event.
¥    Register BY MAIL as a member who will bring a lesson to share...with This Guide

PLEASE NOTE: These forms are due two weeks prior to the event: April 16.

Join fellow Montessorians in sharing curriculum ideas, attend the mini workshops (geo-cache, wood working, elementary art, music, ropes course)...vendors open during entire event, raffle at 11:30. You definitely don't want to miss this special event...it only comes once a year!

Job Opportunity

(Job Posting: a free service with UMA membership)

Seeking Montessori teacher - The Learning Tree, Seattle

A growing daycare in Seattle is currently seeking an experienced Montessori teacher for primary class. Great potential; Competitive pay DOE; Low teacher VS. children ratio; Please email your resume to vshidirect@yahoo.com

Art - Balloon Painting

A student project out of archives: Submitted by Ann Mannie of Greenville, NC, entitled Balloon Painting. 

The following is a conversation Trudy (UMA evaluator) and Ann (UMA student) had about the use of balloons:

Ann: My question to you is a safety issue. The project uses partially inflated balloons as a tool for painting. The children loved the bright colors and the squishy, bouncy feeling of the balloons and enjoyed mixing primary colors. I used helium balloons and only partially inflated the balloons so that they were less easy to pop, but I started to get concerned about balloons as a choking hazard with young children (and that they can be inhaled and not easily dislodged) so I have taken up the project for now. What are your thoughts about balloons in the classroom with young children?

Trudy: I am aware of the standard warnings on latex balloons for children under 8 years old. I am very big on safety, however, I believe this balloon Art exercise poses no threat to children. First, no primary-aged child is going to be tempted swallow a balloon with paint on it. Second, the Montessori classroom is all about observation. An adult is always aware of who is working with the balloons and observing. Any child working on this particular Art exercise will have had a proper demonstration, which could include a “safety warning.” Naturally, you would not put this activity out until the class was normalized. If we carried each “safety issue” to the extreme, then certainly we would have to remove all knives, sewing needles, magnets, marbles, small beads, scissors, sharp pencils, glassware, etc. from the Montessori classroom. In this case, the three balloons sitting in paint are just fine!

Ann: Thanks for your reassurance about the balloons in the classroom. My daughters agreed with you, saying that if we have knives and pin punching tools in the classroom, we should be able to handle balloons also! That said, I feel comfortable with the balloons and will use that as my art activity. 

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So, readers...what do you think? We welcome your comments!

Geography - Planisphere Map

Out of our archives...Kellie Stubblefield of Whitsett, North Carolina shares her original project entitled The Felt Continents Map. “I really enjoyed working with cloth and utilizing a wooden board that I already had, to create what I believe is a pretty high quality home-made Montessori material.”

Kellie cut the boards and hinged them so that the maps fold up for easy storage and carrying. The top map functions as a control. This is yet another fine example of creativity, resourcefulness, and attention to detail. The materials are natural, inviting for the child...simply beautiful. Thank you, Kellie!

UMA Spring Break

UMA will be on Spring Break from April 15th - May 15th.

Happy Spring! UMA will be taking advantage of this scheduled time off by participating in continued-education classes, training new staff members (to be introduced in May), and attending to the usual administrative necessities. We all are also looking forward to a time of rest and relaxation with our respective families and friends!

So, what does this mean to you?

Students:

If you have an urgent need, please email the UMA office at uma@unitedmontessori.com, and will get back to you within 1 business day.

Applicants:

We will continue to accept applications during Spring Break. If you have any questions regarding the UMA program or need assistance with your application, please call the UMA office at 206-441-4337.

A reminder will be posted again next week!

Fun, Fantastic, Furoshiki

A better way of gift wrapping. It's eco-friendly - A gift within a gift! Explore different ways you can try this with your children. Beautiful!

Free Download: Star & Number

One of the many benefits of UMA Membership is being able to enjoy "freebies" for home or classroom use. UMA membership is free, so sign up and download the latest Math worksheet entitled Star/Numbers... a very simple tracing & counting exercise. Notice how the odd and even numbers are easily differentiated.

REMEMBER!  Rather than individual worksheets, we encourage that you laminate the document onto heavy cardstock and allow the children to use a dry-erase marker, to be used over again many times!

Earth Hour 2011: It's time to go beyond the hour

At 8:30 PM on Saturday 26th March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

With Earth Hour almost upon us, our prayers and thoughts are with the people of Japan during this incredibly challenging and sad time for their country.