Una’s Chat
Dear Families,
Monday, our entire staff attended the Montessori Schools of Connecticut (MSC) conference.
Our conference this year was hosted by Dr. Steven Hughes, a pediatric neuropsychologist. In his role as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in Pediatric Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Hughes did extensive research “identifying social and emotional rearing environments that help to build better brains.” He and his colleagues were “not just interested in intelligence, but in emotional wellbeing and social functioning, too.”
Currently, his research interests include: the measurement of attention and executive functioning in children and adults, the effects of living in poverty on child development, and the neurodevelopmental benefits of a classical Montessori education.
The last one may surprise you; let me explain. While Dr. Hughes was doing his original research at the University of Minnesota, his daughter attended a Montessori school. He, like any other parent, observed in the school and in his daughter’s classroom. As he watched his daughter’s development, he became more and more intrigued with Montessori. He began to research Montessori from a neuropsychological perspective and ultimately left his position to work full time researching Montessori, explaining its brain-based origins, and advocating for it all over the world.
At our conference, Dr. Hughes spoke about his findings and why he felt so driven toward advocacy. He calls Montessori the original brain-based approach to education and states that Montessori is the ultimate twenty-first century education and the answer to the current dilemma in conventional education. He illustrated how the prepared environment, (which includes the classroom, the materials, the approach and the adults), met all of his original research criteria to identify social and emotional rearing environments that help to build better brains. He also spoke about the need for “School 2.0” to meet twenty-first century demands, arguing that current conventional schooling is still firmly entrenched in “School 1.0,” a method designed to meet the needs of the Industrial Revolution Era.
Congratulate yourself! You are ahead of the curve; your child is one of the 5% of U.S. children experiencing a twenty-first century education.
Have a great weekend,
Una
It's As Easy As 1-2-3
1. Observe your child prior to your Parent/Teacher Conference. Observation times are available daily at either 9:00am or 9:30am the week of 10/31.
2. Sign up for your Parent/Teacher Conference on Friday, November 4. Childcare is available for the duration of your conference.
3. Fill out your Pre-Conference Questionnaire and return it to the Main Office or your child's teacher by Tuesday, November 1.
Check Out our Blog for Photos of
P4's Celebration of Diwali
Many thanks to Shalika Bansal and Vidya Sundaram for leading a celebration of Diwali with the P4 community. Visit our blog for more photos and to learn about this important holiday.
Family Association News
Next FA Meeting is Wednesday, November 30 6:30-8:30pm
This is an additional meeting to the original schedule, but an important one regarding the future structure of MSGH FA fundraising.
Thank you for your support.
298 pies were ordered, and the MSGH FA earned $1,788! Pies will be ready for pickup on Monday, November 21.
298 pies is a lot to hand out: HELP! We'll organize in the lobby and deliver to cars during drop off. If you can help, please contact Rebecca London.
New Additions to our Blog!
Enjoy our photos from today's Elementary Mystery History Day, as well as some from the Konrad family taken at the Toddler and P1 classroom socials. Thank you, Sven and Kersten! Click here to visit the Blog section.
Annual Fund 2011-2012
Support the 2011-2012 Annual Fund Campaign: Sign up for monthly-installment giving today by contacting Susan Rich-Bye!
