“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.”

Happy October!

The classrooms are full of pumpkins, bats, spiders and other fun and spooky Halloween things. The children are busy with all of their Halloween related work - counting spiders, washing pumpkins, writing Halloween words, reading Halloween stories and creating Halloween art.

As always, please call or email with questions. Thank you for sharing your children with us,

-Catherine

Catherine Bailey

Director of Early Learning

(904)827-2835

VP: (904)824-4540

baileyc1@fsdbk12.org

During the beginning of the school year, as new students join the Montessori classroom, a lot of instruction is focused on preliminary activities and body movement. Children become more familiar with the Montessori classroom and common tasks in the classroom by performing these activities. Common preliminary activities include walking in a line, carrying a tray, pouring water from a pitcher, opening and closing containers and transferring items using a pincer grasp, spoons, or tongs. These activities all help children gain more control over their body and begin to refine their movements. Some of the tasks help children develop gross motor skills while other focus on fine motor skills, helping prepare the child for writing at a future age. Children are able to develop their self-confidence as they complete these tasks. That self-confidence then allows them to try more challenging and complex activities in the future.

Students use work mats to designate their personal workspace. Other students are taught to respect this and not interrupt a student who is working on a mat or to touch or disrupt their work. Practicing rolling and unrolling a mat teaches the child an important step in their work cycle that will be part of their everyday routine in the Montessori classroom.

This task helps develop hand-eye coordination, visual discrimination, and the fine motor skills needed for writing. This work allows children to begin to develop the skills necessary for classifying objects in more complex ways such as by size or texture.

This activity requires a great amount of concentration, as students focus on not spilling any beans. This activity can easily be set up at home using a variety of different glasses!

Students got the opportunity to walk around campus and search for road signs! Each student was so excited when they found the sign that matched the picture they were carrying. Students were able to explain the meaning of each sign and why they are important!

We had an exciting day filled with apple-themed activities with the second-grade class. Our adventures began with apple stamping, where the students used fresh apples to create vibrant prints on paper, allowing them to explore their creativity while learning about shapes and patterns. Afterward, we moved on to a hands-on experience of making homemade applesauce. The students eagerly participated in peeling, chopping, and cooking the apples, filling the room with a delicious aroma.

To top off our apple-themed day, we organized an apple tasting event. Each student sampled different varieties of apples, from sweet to tart, and then we graphed the results of their favorites. This not only helped them practice their math and data skills but also encouraged discussions about the different flavors and textures. Overall, it was a fun and educational day that engaged the students in multiple ways while celebrating the wonderful world of apples!

Dear Parents,

We warmly invite you to our Baby Dragons Club, where parents can connect and learn together! Join us every Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 in Gore Hall Room 126, where we'll dive into exciting topics like cooking with kids, the power of fingerspelling in reading, and fun strategies to make reading time special. Plus, we have so much more in store!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Sonia Garcia-DeNight at garcias@fsdbk12.org.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Early Learning Center

PH or Text: 904-827-2835

Gore Hall Office (if you cannot reach anyone in the ELC)

904-827-2520

Cary White Office (if you cannot reach anyone in the ELC)

904-827-2739

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Health Care Center

PH: 904-827-2410

VP: 904-201-3910

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Transportation

PH: 800-992-8747

Parent Services

PH: 904-827-2212

VP: 904-201-4540

Campus Police

PH: 904-827-2315

207 San Marco Avenue,

St. Augustine, FL, USA

ELC Webpage

ELC Facebook Group

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, political opinion, affiliation, marital status, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other basis as mandated by federal and state law in its educational programs, services or activities, or in its hiring or employment practices. FSDB also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups as required by law.

Contacts for questions, complaints, or requests for additional information are as follows:

Student Discrimination/Harassment

FSDB Boarding Program Administrator

PH: 904-827-2603

Requests in writing can be sent to:

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind

207 San Marco Avenue

St. Augustine, FL 32084