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My name is Robin Norgren, M.A. and I am here to help make Montessori philosophy more relevant in the classroom. My projects include: Josey's Art School, The Gifted Learner, Creativity and Wonder and A Montessori Way of Seeing. I found my way into educational spaces as a mother of Creative children yet I am not an art teacher. This information is important because my style empowers teachers who are shy about teaching art but looking for products that promote expression over technical perfection.
Getting back into yoga - and to myself
I have had a love hate relationship with yoga over the years. I started yoga about 16 years ago. And I did not like it. I did not find any enjoyment. It wasn't about the quiet. It was more about the movement. Being that connected to my body, my breath. Cardio is fast moving, powered by beats and bass and 30 minutes and you are done. Pretty mindless for me. Set the timer on a cardio machine and go. But over the years, I find myself wanting to go back to it. Try it again. First to meet the challenge. Master it. Show myself that I could do it. But something is different each time I go back to the practice. I felt the same way about Pilates. And I have ZERO interest in trying it again. Maybe if I had to choose a word to describe why I return to yoga is respect. Maybe even honor. I feel honored and I respect that when I come to the practice I come as I am ON THIS DAY.
Spirituality and in particular a spiritual practice where I take time in the morning and sit in the quiet with a journal and a Bible in my hand and a devotional plan to guide my practice felt very much the same at the beginning of my practice with it almost 27 years ago. I did not love it. It was very mechanical. I basically mimicked what others said I should say and feel. But then life got hard. And then harder. And at some points almost unbearable. But I come to with similar feelings of honor. And respect. And at 51, I find that the 'me' I am meant to be is more along the line of F*&^ it, you have tried all the ways you have been told to fit in. Why not really try to figure out what all of thiese experiences are REALLY supposed to add up to.
It was actually in a yoga class that I first heard the whisper "It's okay to be a woman." That happened 15 years ago. Before my daughter was born. And I have wrestled with why I needed to hear that for years now. Anytime I need to stand up for myself. Anytime my voice is minimized. Anytime, I feel unsure if I am even capable of making hard decisions for myself. I think of that revelation.
Today I started my yoga practice again. That was after last week being compelled to begin a green smoothie challenge. And that was after I walked away from a job because it was way more stress than it was worth and my body was shutting down in dramatic fashion and I had to use my voice and say ENOUGH. Scary stuff when you have become accustomed to being somewhere that can muscle through. Anything. But not anymore. I am back to really paying attention with the wisdom of these 50 years. What power does this wisdom hold that I am still dancing around with little girl eyes. I want to put away childish ideals. And become a fully evolved woman. With things to say that shape the future. So I begin by coming back to my first love which is writing. And I wait for no matter how long it takes to find out what this wisdom holds.
Find my Creativity Classes on Udemy
Diary of a First Year Montessori Kindergarten Teacher - Week 34
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| photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@anniespratt |
You
can definitely feel the wrap up of the year on our campus. MAP testing
has begun for Kinders as well as assessment in class in order to report
for final report card/ILP assessments.
Thanks to all who have taken the time to connect with me about the best
fit for first grade. I am sad as the year is ending but so proud to
have witnessed all of the joy in learning that has gone on this year.
You
child may have mentioned that first graders are in our class for about
45 minutes in the afternoon. We as a community who strives to make sure
all students are at their cutting edge
of learning and prepared for their next academic step. Holding true to
that vision, our Montessori first graders are coming in for additional
Montessori support. This is a two fold blessing because they get to
experience our classroom dynamics and the kinders
get a chance to meet potential future classmates in the Lower El
classroom.
MONDAY:
Video: "Tacky the Penguin" - https://www.youtube.com/
Writer's Workshop: Write a personal narrative for Tacky
Geography: Begin study of Antarctica
TUESDAY:
Video: "I Broke my Trunk" - https://www.youtube.com/
Writer's Workshop: Write your own Ouch Story/Work on sequencing: beginning, middle, end
Language: Blends review
Informative Writing: Pretest for Quarter 4
Video: Antarctica https://www.
WEDNESDAY:
Art: Aurora Borealis
1/2 Day Beautification Day at School/Kindness Day
THURSDAY:
History: Telling Time Review
Math: double digit addition no regrouping
New works in practical life
Video: glaciers - https://www.youtube.com/
FRIDAY:
Art: directed line drawing - penguins
Reading: Penguin by Polly dunbar
Conservation and Ecology Video: King Penguins as an endangered species - https://www.youtube.com/
Here's to another great week!
Warmly,
Mrs. Norgren
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Diary of a First Year Montessori Kindergarten Teacher - Week 33
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| photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@jontyson |
Good afternoon Montessori Kindergarten Families,
I
hope you had a restful weekend. We had a cooking activity and we made
kites - all while Ms. Gonzalez was away! We sure missed you Ms.
Gonzalez and hope you had a great birthday!
MONDAY:
Writers Workshop - Opinion Writing
Lesson on book reviews
Sight words review
Lesson on how to build a sentence
Math/Handwriting - free choice all week
TUESDAY:
Inventions- "Real Machines" by Rebecca Rissimen
Language - Blends review: br,dr,sm,fl
Art/Geography- brown coiled snake
WEDNESDAY:
cooking day: chicken and chickpea patties, cucumbers
Art: kite making
THURSDAY:
Writers workshop - personal narrative: family portrait
Geography review: Australia
FRIDAY:
no school
Warmly,
Mrs. Norgren
Have you signed up for my Montessori Newsletter?
Diary of a First Year Montessori Kindergarten Teacher - Week 32
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| photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@thefoxicon |
Good afternoon Montessori Kindergarten Families,
Week
32 is in the books. We are having more conversations about the
privilege to choose your own work in the Montessori environment and many
are handling that responsibility well. For
those whom this type of environment is hindering their ability to grow
in their academics, I am having one of one coaching time with them as
well as small group sessions in an effort to ignite this desire and
foster this skill. As we close out the year, we
will have conversations as a team to make sure the next right choice
for your child is a Montessori classroom. San Tan's passion is
to ensure that each child is in the right environment to grow his/her
love of learning and keep him/her on the cutting edge
of his/her learning ability.
MONDAY:
telling time
work on student treasures book
begin Harmony day mural
Video on Harmony Day: https://www.youtube.com/
reading/sound table
Math/Language/handwriting all week
TUESDAY:
Opinion Writing Workshop- What is your favorite thing to do at recess?
Complete Harmony Day mural
Game: Who am I? Australian Landmarks
Art: Honeyeater Bird mixed media project
WEDNESDAY:
finish honeyeater project
Writing workshop: "I am happy as a honeyeater because..."
20 addition problems - no counters
FINISH STORYBOOK TREASURES
THURSDAY:
15 minutes of quiet reading time
Time: writing hands on a clock to tell time
Opinion Writing: Is it a Duck or a Rabbit?
Video: Duck? Rabbit? https://www.youtube.
FRIDAY:
15 minutes of quiet reading time
missing addends
present Australian projects all week
Teams: Brainstorm possible inventions for household jobs
RECYCLED PROJECTS OF AUSTRALIAN LANDMARKS PRESENTED ALL WEEK
Please make sure to check out the signup genius link for our cooking project next Wednesday.
Have a great weekend!
Warmly,
Mrs. Norgren
Have you signed up for my Montessori Newsletter?
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