A kind and gentle North Austin community school
Our playground is more than just a place to relax and unwind. While we definitely run and dance and play, several curricula intersect here. This unstructured time is central to Social Emotional Learning. Here we are within nature where we stop to learn about biology and ecology. We watch the bugs and birds, especially butterflies […]
Frequent followers of our updates know that we like to refresh our shelves. Returning from Winter Break, the kiddos are always excited to find fresh and new materials on our shelves for them to work with. The chill of January was no exception to this, and we got to do it again for February! First […]
This month, with our self-isolation due to the coronavirus outbreak, we understand that children are staying at home. These are trying times for us all, when simply leaving home can be a stressful experience. We are left to find solace within our homes, with our family. Parents, we are writing here to let you know […]
Visitors to HMS know that our playground is a special place. We love our shade trees, flowering shrubs, the playhouse, playscape, the mud box and the “stage” (photo, right). We eat lunch outdoors and watch the squirrels and grackles watching us. While our classroom has a fair amount of structure, our playground subscribes to what […]
Recently one of our students, just shy of his fifth birthday, pointed to the rack of beaded chains on our wall and asked “What can I do with these?” “You can form them into squares,” the teacher replied, “to help you count them. That’s called multiplication.” “Is that like when you multiply?” he asked. (Likely […]
A few years ago (maybe it was in our first year?) our parents suggested that we get together for a school camping trip. With Khuloud and Rick both being avid campers, it was a go. That first trip at Mother Neff State Park was such a joy that it became an annual occurrence. And then, […]
At HMS, we begin each school year with the unit of Space. As a part of that, our four year olds have been working hard on a perforation work to create their own map of the Solar System. This is a multi-step process for the young, developing mind–one that takes patience, dedication and concentration, and a channeling […]
We all know that toddlers olds are active. They learn about the world through movement. Picking up objects, turning them around in the hand, sliding them along the floor. One facet of Montessori curriculum that enables, say, a two-year-old to succeed is the Practical Life area. Practical Life activities, such as pouring, wiping, setting a table, […]
On weekdays our students come to school to work. On Saturday, their parents came to work–and great things happened: a bigger garden, a new playhouse, an outdoor water filter, cleaned and sealed decks, and new tree stumps. Good times!
Much of the time our students spend at school is focused on developing their sense of order in the world, with the aim of improving their academic self and self-confidence, but we can’t help but also notice and enjoy the extent to which children enjoy and grow outside of the classroom–on the playground. The playground is intentionally […]
Many thanks to one of our wonderful parents for sharing a story with our students this morning, and helping with a craft to illustrate it. First, we read about how Peter woke up on a snowy day and went outside to play. Then, each student made a 3D illustration based on the Peter’s fun day.
This morning we had a visitor–one of our Grandpas–and he shared his rock collection with us! There were lava rocks, crystals, fossils and even a meteorite!