Janette's Cycle 2 Class

Room C2JR Distance Learning

We have been having an interesting experience with our Distance Learning, as has everyone I’m sure. Technology is a wonderful thing, but it has its limitations.  The children have taken in their stride the difficulties with connecting online.

Although we would all love to be back on campus, this experience has provided children with the opportunity to learn more about the use of technology, which they wouldn’t have had normally. We have had to remember our Grace & Courtesy skills, so that we don’t try to talk over each other, as having face to face via a screen compounds that difficulty.

I miss seeing the children each day and having the ability to speak to them at any time and visa versa, but we have been making the most of our face to face time.  Children are also learning to become even more independent from their teacher’s assistance and I believe the Maria would approve.  We will have some interesting conversations when we return to school.

I have very much enjoyed seeing the photos of children’s work on Transparent Classroom, thanks to Amy’s expertise and generosity in making this happen for us, and also being able to comment about the work in the photos.

We have been discussing the Second Montessori Story of the Timeline of Life, from single-celled aquatic organisms to the evolution of mammals. This was followed by the Third story on the evolution of humans.  The children have spanned millions of years of history through these stories. It has given them an overview of evolution of life on this planet.

They have also been exploring Photosynthesis and the needs of plants, further reiterating the relationship between all that this planet has to offer.

The children have also been exploring further afield and have been engaging in some Extra Activities suggested each fortnight, which has involved experimentation and higher order thinking skills.

We couldn’t achieve what we have, if it wasn’t for the wonderful support of our parents. I take my hat off to you, having to cope with your own commitments, as well as those of your children. You are doing a marvelous job.

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder”, they say, so just think how happy we will all be to see each other again, in person, when we return to campus?

Janette Reimerink

Cycle Two Directress

Klari and the praying mantis

Amelie doing dynamic addition

Alese got busy with a science experiment