Kato's newsletter

We had a fairly good start this week: a few bumps, but mostly happy, eager kids trying hard to fit back into the routine of daily work and interacting all day. One of the best tools for helping the adjustment is SLEEP: adequate sleep (ten or twelve hours for a five-year-old) is not just rest, it's the time the brain uses for processing and storing information and experiences that are acquired during the day. Without deep sleep, it all slips away. It's been proven that sleep before midnight is more valuable than after that hour, so the whole "early to bed, early to rise" adage is true, as far as brain function goes.

Part of a good night's sleep is having a bed time ritual, and I want to encourage you to make reading a story together part of yours. Reading to your child is not only better than letting him watch a movie, it's the antidote for what screen time does to an immature brain. And having mom or dad read with them is the number one motivator in getting kids interested in reading. Their only homework for now is just to read with you every night (when possible).

This week's theme was "cooperation", the many ways people are different, and we talked a LOT about what to say and do when others make you uncomfortable or hurt. You can support this by respecting any "stop!" or "no!" when your child doesn't want to be tickled anymore, or would rather not give great aunt Prunella a kiss. Of course, there are times when circumstances demand that an adult overrides a child's wishes (seat belts, at the doctor's, etc.). In the coming weeks we'll begin looking more closely at bodies, how to stay healthy and people who help us take care of ourselves. If you have ideas for guests or field trips, please let me know!

Speaking of health, I would like to insist that your child's fingernails be kept trimmed. It's one of the things Maria Montessori was a stickler about and I always thought her obsession was a power trip. However, she was a physician, and pinworms (spread by eggs caught under the nails after scratching the buttocks) are one of the most common, highly contagious childhood parasites. I'm rigid about hand-washing (especially after using the toilet) and I keep a nail brush at the sink, but shorter nails are easier to keep clean. Thank you!

In more pleasant news, the afternoon class is already picking up momentum in reading and writing. The morning class is reviewing form drawing for the benefit of the youngest ones, who are being introduced to it. The extensions for the older ones will be handwriting improvement. Mental math (oral problems we solve as a group) holds interest for both age groups. Tuesday will be our first Spanish-only morning with Arlene and Milo. I'm looking forward to the coming months of settling in to our new year, and working with such cooperative and curious students!

-Kato

Kathy's News Letters 2011