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Author: Joshi Haskell

Teaching Gratitude to Children

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog, Parent Education.

One time when one of my boys was about four years old I found myself in a common battle trying to get him to clean take care of his belongings and clean up the toys that were scattered about his play room. I felt good about our system and knew that I was not asking him to complete a task that was outside his ability to complete.  We had cleaned the room successfully on a number of occasions. Finally, out of frustration, I told my son that if he did not clean up the toys I was going to gather them up, put them in a garbage bag, and give them to children who didn’t have any toys.  I left the room and, to bolster my threat, returned seconds later with a large trash bag.  My son approached me with an armful of toys and dropped them passionately in to the open bag.  Baffled, I asked “what are you doing?”  and tearfully he replied “I didn’t know there were kids without any toys.”

My heart ached.  Not that he had discovered something so disturbing to him, not that I hadn’t really intended to make good on my promise, and not even that there actually are children without toys…in that moment my heart ached because I had failed to help instill in him a sense of interconnectedness among our society.  I had a hard moment of realization that this little person was so willing to give of himself and of his most prized possessions and I had not yet given him the opportunity.  Our young children, at their most vulnerable and impressionable development deserve to practice, recognize and express gratitude. Before they are swept away in a growing world of immediate gratification, online shopping, and disconnected communication we should be giving our children true practice with the gift of gratitude.

Gratitude is a conscious process.  One that takes practice, patience, and a deep consciousness that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. Gratitude is scientifically proven to make people more happy. Research from the Greater Good Science Center tells us that “gratitude actually blocks toxic emotions even as it allows us to celebrate the present. What’s more, grateful people are more stress-resistant and have a higher sense of self-worth.” Who doesn’t want that for their children?  Gosh, who doesn’t want that for themselves?

So, how do we teach our children gratitude?

  • Gratitude, as a character trait, must first be instilled through your children’s most influential role model – YOU. Model gratitude for your child.  Express gratitude in their presence regularly.  Recognize that any amount of gratitude can not co-exist in an environment of annoyance or criticism.  Saturate your environment in gratitude and, even in times of irritation or misdeed, seek out the good and say, out loud, that which you are grateful for.
  • Give children opportunities to participate, make decisions, and develop awareness of the many tasks and responsibilities surrounding them.  Do not allow your children to think that laundry, dishes, dinner, new purchases, etc. go without a certain amount of preparation and follow through.  Share those tasks, involve children in the process, and let them see (and participate in) the complete cycle.
  • Write thank you notes. When your child, or your family, receive a gift or are otherwise cared for, express written gratitude. These notes do not have to be perfect but the effort that goes in to expressing written gratitude is developmentally effective in teaching a lifelong skill of gratitude and appreciation.
  • Teach your child that immediate gratification is a delusion. Example – teach that the vegetables or bread we eat comes from seeds planted, nurtured, watered, harvested, packaged, transported and sold by store keepers and involved many, many people who work hard to put food on our tables. Saying Grace helps us remember to be grateful to all who contribute to our well being.
  • Spend leisure time doing things that do not involve spending money or result in “stuff.”  Teach the satisfaction that comes in accomplishing goals, laughter, fresh air, conversation, story telling, painting, singing, playing instruments, drawing and physical movement.
  • Talk often and honestly about feelings. Share gratitude but also share other emotions.  If your child is sad, validate their feelings of sadness.  If your child is happy, give validation.  Teach them language around feelings and reflect on outcomes.  We have a tendency to talk about feelings or situations “in the moment” but revisiting past events, talking about outcomes, and finding the good that comes from each scenario are hugely powerful in teaching resiliency and, you guessed it, gratitude!

May this Thanksgiving offer you many opportunities to experience gratitude.  May you be enveloped in peace, laughter, friendship and love.

Battery Recycling Now Available at MCS

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Announcements, Blog, Get Involved (P.S.A).

The Green Committee is excited to announce that battery recycling is now available at MCS! Most household batteries, specifically dry cell batteries (sealed, non-rechargeable, carbon zinc, or alkaline), lithium or lithium-ion batteries, and even small handheld electronics may be brought in for recycling. A container for the batteries is located in the office. Simply follow these easy steps to recycle your batteries:

Step 1-Check to see if your battery type may be recycled

Step 2-Tabe the ends of each battery terminal with clear tape

Step 3-Place taped batteries in the designated container

Battery recycling will prevent toxic substance from being released into the environment and conserve raw materials. We hope that all of our MCS community will take advantage of this easy recycling program!

Winter Sports Registration & Waivers

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Announcements, Blog.

Winter Sports Registration and Waiver Forms are now available. Please read through, fill out completely, and return to the MCS Office by December 18th. You may pick forms up from the MCS Lobby display or print them. Winter-Sports.pdf

Winter Sports will commence February 3rd, 2016 and take place every Wednesday until March 2nd, 2016 (five weeks).

When filling out your student’s forms, please consult the following scale:

 

Also, we have check lists (see below) available to help students keep track of their belongings to and from home, school, and the resort. Please ask for one from the MCS Office if you feel your student would benefit from such a tool.

If you have further questions, please direct them to: ashleehaslam@mcsslc.com

MCS’ Holiday Giving Project Through The Neighborhood House

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Announcements, Blog, Community News, Get Involved (P.S.A).

MCS is sponsoring 3 families through The Neighborhood House. The first two families are single moms who have fallen on some hard times and the third family is a family whose mother has terminal cancer and they expect this to be their last holiday season together. We have three trees set up in the MCS Lobby. Each tree is adorned with ornaments. On the back of the ornaments is a family, family member, and their wished for gift.

 

 

We have broken up the families to: Family A, Family B, and Family C. On the table next to the trees are complete lists. Please fill out what ornaments you drew on these lists so we can more easily track what is being donated. We encourage you to involve your students in this process. All donated items must be to MCS no later than Thursday, December 10th.

The Neighborhood House has been helping and supporting children and families in our community since 1894. It was founded with the goal of serving underprivileged children, to raise the standard of living, and to provide food and clothing when necessary. Neighborhood House exemplifies the ideals of an early settlement house. They have a strong history of bringing individuals, families and community together. From the very beginning, they have embraced their neighbors, celebrated Utah’s many cultures, and connected families to cultural and community resources in our community. Throughout their rich history, one thing has always remained constant: providing quality care for low-income families based on their ability to pay. More information can be found here: nhutah.org

 

Spring Pizza Mondays

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Announcements, Blog.

Session 2 of Pizza Mondays will be starting on Monday, January 11th. The session will run from January 11th through May 23rd, excluding January 18th, February 15th, and March 21st when the school will be closed. A pizza lunch will include seasonal fruits and vegetables and your choice of pizza.

Please submit completed form, with payment in full, to the office by Wednesday, January 6th for your student to participate in the first Pizza Monday. Any changes to a pizza order must be made by no later than the Thursday before the change is to take effect.

You may place an order anytime between January 11th and May 23rd, but please be sure to prorate the total amount due. All Checks should be made payable to Montessori Community School, or MCS.

Raising your Montessori Child

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

As Montessori parents, we are giving our children a great gift that does not just start at 8:30am and end at 3pm.  This gift should be nurtured, honored and recognized at all times, particularly in the home. Donna Bryant Goertz wrote one of my favorite Montessori books about classroom management in the Lower Elementary classroom, ‘Children Who are Not Yet Peaceful’. This book highlights the value of community and truly honoring and trusting each child to develop in their time, in their way, and in absolute authenticity.  It is powerful and inspiring for educators and parents and I highly recommend it to those of you who are raising Lower Elementary age children or who will be doing so in the near future. However, its values are appropriate for children, parents, and educators of all ages.

In her book, Donna presents some wonderful tips for how to best support children in the home.  Family life for the [early elementary] child should include as many of the following elements as possible:

  • A slow-paced lifestyle with long hours of sleep on a regular schedule, a nutritious diet high in protein and fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of exercise, and a generous amount of time in nature.
  • Someone to behold the child’s face with joy, hold her, hug her, and treasure her for herself alone.
  • Someone to read chapter books aloud for twenty to thirty minutes every day, at a level three years beyond the child’s reading level.
  • Someone to recite poetry every day, a new poem each week.
  • Someone to sing every day, a new song each week.
  • Someone to tell delightful stories of the child’s own life.
  • An atmosphere of open curiosity and inquiry, in which everyone in the family treasures learning.
  • Responsibility for caring for himself and his own things as well as contributing to meal preparation and the care of the house, garden and pets.
  • A two hour weekly limit on all screen media – movies, videos, TV, and computer games combined.
  • Freedom from being dragged around on errands.
  • Freedom from the cynicism and sarcasm appropriate to later years.
  • Parents who say no cheerfully and mean it.
  • Parents who wait until their children are in bed to listen to music, watch movies, play computer games, and watch TV programs, even the news, that are not appropriate to the children’s ages or that would give the children more media hours that is best for the development.
  • Parents who establish and uphold a family child-rearing culture that is appropriate to the child’s age and who support age-appropriate independent thought and action and an age-appropriate role in decision making in as many areas and as often as possible.

TEN TIPS FOR SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD AT HOME:

  1. Prepare every room of your home so your child can participate fully in family life. Example: Solicite your child’s help in creating a menu, stock the pantry and fridge with food they are allowed to eat, give your child a lesson on how to serve themselves from start to end, including the clean up process, set them up for success.
  2. Differentiate carefully between age-appropriate and age-inappropriate participation in family life. Example: Be clear about the movies, games, etc. they are allowed to view and why those are appropriate.  Stand your ground.
  3. Include the child in plans if you don’t want a bored child on your hands. Example: Before you make a new purchase, such as a new dishwasher, show her the features you are looking for, the price range, etc. and allow her to help you while at the store.  Consider giving her a clipboard for note taking, listen to her opinions and explain when, why and how you are making your purchase decision.
  4. Organize family life to fit the needs of your child’s age and personality. Example: Organize a bedtime ritual that is appropriate for your child’s personality and respect that routine regularly. Avoid variations of schedules and consider individual needs.
  5. Welcome all feelings and help your child to express strong emotion with clarity and respect. Example: Give your child appropriate language.  “I can see you are angry and I understand how being excluded from your brothers play date can be frustrating. You wish they would include you.  Have you thought of a way you can express your desire in a way that might make your brother want to include you?”
  6. Explain carefully what’s going on in the family, while staying on an age-appropriate level in keeping with your child’s understanding and interest. Example: Mommy and daddy are speaking in private often because we are concerned about your brothers school work.  We want to talk about ways we can help him and although we are all upset, we love each other no matter what.”
  7. Maintain cycles of activity in balance with basic needs for nutrition, sleep, exercise, quiet concentration, solitude, and companionship that fit your child’s temperament. Example: If your child fights with a particular friend during a play date, together make a carefully organized plan for the play date.  Consider how they will spend their time, what they will do if they have conflict, etc.
  8. Participate three times a day with your child straightening his room and bath and putting away his toys, materials and games. Example: Keep only one-tenth of your child’s possessions neatly stored and handsomely displayed on shelves. Store the others away and rotate the possessions about once a month, with your child’s help, allowing them to choose what is unpacked.
  9. Treat your child’s behavior as “in process” and developmental, never simply as good or bad. Example: Avoid praise and stick to acknowledgement. ” I noticed you were so mad and Sandy and you yelled instead of hitting, that shows great impulse control.” “I see you threw your socks in the laundry, that is very responsible. Soon you will place all of your clothes in the laundry.”
  10. Balance firmness and consistency with a generous measure of hopefulness, good cheer, and joy. Laugh a lot. Tell wonderful little stories of your child’s life, often. Example: Calmly and quietly put away your child’s bike and make it unavailable to him when he leaves it out in the rain again. Make a date for buying wax and showing him how to repair it before he uses it again. Have fun together repairing the bike and laugh and take pictures of one another, don’t focus on the mistake. Remind your child, “Next week when you put your bike away every day, we will ride to the park together.”

Basic Herbology and Practical Potions

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Announcements, Blog, Studio Classes.

Basic Herbology & Practical Potions

with Donda Hartsfield, Outdoor Classroom & GO teacher

Wednesdays, 3:45 – 5:00, November 18th – January 27th

 

(Elementary Only): Students are introduced to the joy and the science of herbal awareness and application through sensorial and practical experiences.  Students will encounter such herbs as Hawthorn, Dandelion, Yarrow, Calendula, Lavender, Elder, Marshmallow, Rosemary, Thyme, Ginger, Nettle, Rosehips, Mint and more.  Students will be preparing and taking herbal remedies home throughout the course.  Fees cover cost of supplies that go home, such as bottles, teas, glycerides, etc.  Full attendance is strongly recommended!

 

Register by Monday, November 16th!

 

Wednesday, November 18th

Introduction to Herbs and Herbal Teas – gathering and drying techniques, tasting exploration of herbal varieties including their medicinal properties, preparing custom tea blends

 

Wednesday, December 2nd

Glycerides and Vinegars – Herbal extractions through the use of glycerin and vinegar

 

Wednesday, December 9th

Decoctions – root extractions through simmering and reducing

 

Wednesday, December 16th

Salves – Creating topical salves through gentle heating of herbs, oils, beeswax

 

Wednesday, January 6th

Syrups – Decocting herbs with water and adding honey to make delicious therapeutic syrups

 

Wednesday, January 13th

Plant Profiles and Dreaming Bundles – Making a plant profile containing important information about the plant of choice.  Practicing the art of informed intention with plants by selecting certain plants for certain desired effects through dreaming bundles which can be placed beneath one’s pillow.

 

Wednesday, January 20th

Finishing Vinegars & Glycerides – Straining herbal materials from the liquids of vinegars and glycerides as well as bottling and labeling

 

Wednesday, January 27th

Medicine Trade – Celebrate through sharing what we’ve learned as well as extra herbal potions with each other

 

 

 

Basic Herbology & Practical Potions

Contact Donda Hartsfield for more information at dondahartsfield@mcsslc.com

Or 801-604-3020

 

Child’s name:___________________________________________   Child’s Class: ______________________________________

 

Parent’s name: __________________________________________ Parent email: ______________________________________

 

Parent’s phone number: ____________________________________________ Cost of course:  $70.00 per student

 

Form of payment:   Check    or    Cash   Will your child be in Extended Day on these days?  Yes  or  No

Please make checks payable to Donda Hartsfield and give payment and registration forms to the MCS Office.
Register by Monday, November 16th!

MCS Halloween Carnival 2015

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog, Community News.

S would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all of the parents, grandparents and other community members who worked together to make our Halloween Carnival such a smashing success.  Thank you to those who came out to play and enjoy this great event with all of us. And, congratulations to the Uinta class on the success of their first Spook Alley.

An Early Childhood Aspens class student smiles for the camera.

As always, the reptiles and other creatures were a huge draw, exciting children and adults all throughout the night.

Two families with students in the Magnolias class enjoy the trunk-or-treat in the parking lot.

This Early Childhood student had a great time showing off her wings all night.

We had a great time watching the magician.

Hey Chris!

Montessori Parents’ Guide to Snowbird Mountain School

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Announcements, Blog, Parent Education.

Montessori Parents’ Guide to Snowbird Mountain School
February 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, & March 2nd, 2016

Print article or read on:

Is my child old enough to learn to ski? Or snowboard?

Snowbird Mountain School provides lesson experiences for children as young as 3. However, just because your child is 3 years old, doesn’t mean that he or she is ready to be in mountain school. Here are some things to consider:

  • Is your child comfortable being with adults other than family?
  • Does your child go to daycare or play groups?
  • Is your child “potty trained” and able to use the bathroom facilities independently?
  • Has your child been exposed to snow and winter conditions?

If you answered no to any of these questions, you may want to approach with caution. Your main focus should be on the overall experience your child will have. Let’s face it, if they have a bad experience, you are sure to feel the negative impact on your vacation!

We do not offer snowboarding with the Montessori School until the child is at least age eight. This is due to equipment needs, and developmental processes of MOST children.

Please direct any special needs concerns to Montessori School.

Accommodations can be made with prior notification.

What can I expect my child to learn during the program?

Kindergarten kids often take longer to “get their wings” and be able to ski on their own. Often the preparedness of the child, size, willingness, and ability to balance, and equipment fit are the keys to a quicker beginning. Each child is an individual, so success is about having fun and wanting to come back!

Older children will often learn to turn and stop on the beginner slope by the end of the first day. Snowboarding may take a bit longer. Be supportive at the end of the lesson, and encourage your child to be happy with small successes. Just balancing while gliding on skis or a board is quite an accomplishment! Once the basic sensations have been repeated enough times, there is often an “aha” moment when a child can glide and turn.

Our instructors use an activities based approach, in which children are often familiar with the games they play, and the variable is the skis or snowboard. This will often appear that they are “just playing games” but basic skills are being absorbed by the children as they play, making the next steps come much more quickly… not to mention that the process is indeed fun!

For children who already know the basics, the groups are split by age first and then ability. This is to provide common ground for the children (we don’t want a very young child to be riding with a group of teen-aged kids) so they will make friends and want to come back again and again. The groups often explore the mountain together, and find challenges through activities that will build skills and help them learn resort safety and etiquette.

What can I do to prepare my child for Mountain School?

 

  • Talk about winter activities and what your child can expect. View the web site together, and look at photos of the places they will be visiting. Experience other winter oriented activities together if possible with your child. The idea is to eliminate the unknown variables in the sport to make the transition from the unknown to the known easier.
  • For very small children, rent, borrow, or buy gear ahead of time and let your child walk around on carpets or on the lawn fully geared up. This will give some confidence and familiarity… be prepared to allow short exposures often!
  • Kids should know their full name, birth date, parent’s full names, phone number, and address at home. If staying at the resort, put your business card with the room number and/or cell phone number where they can access it.
  • Kids should know if they have allergies and what to do about them. Bring any medicines they will need, educate the staff, but remember that we are NOT licensed to administer medications, so either you will need to be there to do it, or arrange for medical personnel through our ski patrol to cover it.
  • Older children should be prepared to learn safety rules ( review safety etiquette called YOUR RESPONSIBILITY CODE that can be found at nsaa.org)
  • Be sure to have your child’s gear checked by a reputable shop. Be sure the bindings are set to the boots properly. Children grow very quickly, so double check… it can mean their safety.
  • Be sure your child has proper clothing, eye protection, and sun protection.
  • Water and wind resistant, breathable insulated pants and parka.
  • Water proof gloves or mittens (mittens preferred for younger children). Remember they will be in contact with lots of snow all day long!
  • Helmets are recommended,. For information on purchase and fit, visit lidsonkids.org .
  • Neck gaiters are a must; especially when it’s snowing (and it does that a lot at Snowbird!)
  • Eye wear is critical; if you can’t see, you can’t ski or ride! Please be sure your child has appropriately sized goggles or sunglasses (UV protective). Snow can burn developing eyes easily, so be sure your child can tolerate them.
  • Put sunscreen on your child before arrival. Staff will make the attempt to re-apply, but children are not always available and willing, so be sure the first coat gets applied by YOU!
  • SOCKS are critical. Be sure to provide one pair of socks that fit well, are NOT cotton (this will make for cold feet!). Imagine wrinkled socks and uncomfortable feet; and be sure your child doesn’t have them!
  • Mark all personal belongings!!!!
  • When you return to your room, be sure to get the clothing and gear dried out. This is often forgotten, and can make the next experience very soggy.
  • Try to plan for a good night’s rest, adequate time to eat well the day before and a nutritious breakfast. Load them up on water and/or juice or sports drinks. Altitude can be an issue for children, but if they are properly fed, rested, and hydrated, the day will be more enjoyable.

 

What are the goals for your child’s experience?

 

It is important to determine what your goals are for putting your child in mountain school. Are you hoping they will become the next Bode Miller? Do you want them to enjoy being on the mountain while you grab a bit of r&r? Are you mostly interested in providing them with a challenging and exciting experience that they will want to repeat? Be as honest in your assessment as you can be, and you will find that your expectations will be more likely to come true.

 What level should my child participate in?

  • If your child has skied or snowboarded before, try to be specific as to how much, and on what slopes, and where. It is important to know if he/she could turn and glide by themselves, or if they were held or used a device to hold the skis together.
  • It is also important to note what resort your child went to, and how long ago. Snowbird has challenging slopes to learn on, so be conservative. A blue square slope at a different resort might be a green circle slope here, especially during inclement weather.
  • Remember that it is always easier to graduate a child up a level than to demote them, so be conservative in your estimate, and rest assured we will move them to a more challenging group if need be.
  • All classes take warm up runs in the beginning, and appropriate adjustments will happen at that time.
  • Our goal for your child is first and foremost to have FUN and enjoy the company of the children they are with. If you feel your child is not challenged enough, be sure to speak with his or her instructor so you can find out what actually happened in the class.
  • Check out the web site for the skill level descriptions.

 

Security

  • Children must be signed in and out of the program by staff members. Please be sure to follow this procedure for your child’s protection.

What kinds of questions should I ask the instructor after the lesson?

  • Ask about the best part of the day, or the favorite activity
  • Ask what slopes and trails they experienced together
  • Ask where you might be able to ski or ride together safely
  • Ask if they made new friends, and what they are looking forward to next time

Please let us know how we did, and if there is anything we can do to make you and your child’s visit more enjoyable!

 

Helpful Websites

 

www.snowbird.com for additional program information

 

www.aasi.org for the American Association of Snowboard Instructors

 

www.lidsonkids.org for more information on helmets

 

www.nsp.org for the National Ski Patrol. Listed under safety/dressing properly

 

www.nsaa.org for the Responsibility Code

 

www.psia.org for the Professional Ski Instructors of America