May The Fourth Be with You!.

My last blog post had to do with me desperately missing my routine. Now that we've been "Crisis" schooling for almost two months I realize that Yoda is right. I lost my hope, my wonder, even my gratitude. I'm okay with that though. I'm okay with all the lessons that COVID 19 and virtual teaching and crisis schooling has taught and is still teaching me. So, with that being said, tomorrow is Tuesday, May 5th. At my home we are calling it SUPER TACO TUESDAY and this house LOVES tacos!

So, I'm going to accept the fact that I had to fall apart a bit in order to appreciate all the wonderful gifts that COVID 19 has taught me to be grateful for. I'm thankful that my family is healthy, for our big beautiful backyard, for fresh fruit and vegetables, and for gorgeous weather to spend time outside with my kids. I'm thankful for technology and that I get to interact with you all, even from a distance. AND I'm thankful that this choice board is our last one for the LAST two weeks of school. 

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Here are the links to the choice boards for Lower Elementary. Don't forget to get into See Saw to see what activities you can also do for Explorations. Since Wednesdays are our Explorations day, it would be fun to do an activity or two from that choice board. 

Lower Elementary Choice Board ELA and Math May 4th-15th

Lower Elementary Explorations Choice Board

This Friday, we will be enjoying a Virtual Field Day so be on the look out for more information about that in your email. 

~Peace and Gratitude~

What is Normal?

When I was a little girl I can remember my mom telling me, "Normal is just a setting on a dryer." and it really stuck with me. When I was younger and I cared a great deal about people's opinion of me and wondered if I was "normal", I would always think "Normal is just a setting on a dryer.".

 Lately though, it has taken on a new meaning. I keep hearing my kids and my own inner voice say, "I can't wait until life just gets back to normal." After a brief pause I think to myself, "What is normal? Was life ever normal?" The reality is, life is ever changing and as soon as you think you have a normal life something like a birth, death, hurricane, wedding, new job, moving or a PANDEMIC turns your "normal" world upside down.

Covid 19 has made me realize that I'm not looking for normal, I'm craving routine. I'm craving the day in and day out routines that make life predictable. I've attempted to create routines for my family and myself, but each day in the house presents itself with a new reason why the routines I've created aren't working. In the classroom, we have routines, but they are always changing too. It's weird to think that I have an easier time adjusting to being more flexible when routines change at school than I am having at home. Even though I'm so lucky to live in a nice home, in a nice neighborhood with plenty of food and all the amenities I need to survive, I am finding myself longing for and missing my other home, Charles Ellis. I miss my friends, I miss interacting with the children. I miss the predictable unpredictability. 

So to embrace the unpredictability of life...I am posting the Lower Elementary Choice Boards for Language and Math for the next two weeks here. I have uploaded the activities onto See Saw. The choice boards can also be found on the Charles Ellis website.
Lower Elementary Language and Math Choice Boards April 20th-May 1st
I am also posting the Explorations choice boards. Since Wednesdays were our Explorations day, it might be fun to choose to do some of the activities from Explorations on Wednesdays.
Lower Elementary Explorations choice board

~Peace and Gratitude~

Embrace the Chaos and keep on Trucking...

"This is no time for comparison. Everyone is doing what is best for their family. Intentionally plan for what your family needs and never apologize for it."

I hope that you all had a wonderful 3 day weekend. I am so thankful that we had beautiful weather and could spend time outside. For me, I was really happy to not open my computer all weekend. I really miss Room 4. I miss the weird sounds coming from the air conditioning unit and the squeaks that the old wooden floor makes when we walk across it. You know how our school smells new and old and the same time? I miss that too. I miss walking into our classroom and turning on all the lamps in the morning with butterflies in my stomach because I'm excited to see what the day will have in store for us. I really, really miss each and every one of your faces, your smiles, your personalities and our time together. Even though this situation is not our ideal situation it reminds me of one of my favorite artist's, Kelly Rae Roberts, pieces of work

During times like these, we just have to keep on trucking. And that may look like different things to different families. If that means doing lots of school work, then go for it. If that means, taking lots of breaks, snuggling, playing games and hanging out, then go for it. If that means hunkering down in the middle of a hallway during a tornado warning, by all means, PLEASE do that! 

This week for school we will still be working on the same choice boards from last week. Make sure that whatever work you turn in is quality work. Also, if you choose to do other work or projects, that is completely fine. In terms of work, you and your family should do whatever you NEED to do to KEEP you and your family SANE and HEALTHY!  Remember to look on See Saw for all blog posts, Zoom meeting invitations and activities. 

Peace and Gratitude

Ease on down the road...

"Ease on down, ease on down the road

Come on, ease on down

Ease on down the road

Don't you carry nothing

That might be a load

Come on, ease on down

Ease on down the road

'Cause there may be times

When you think you lost your mind

And the steps you're takin'

Leave you three, four steps behind

But the road you're walking

Might be long sometimes

You just keep on trukin'

And you'll just be fine, yeah"

Good morning Room 4 families!  It's another week at home and another week of "home" school. 

Choice Boards

Last week all of the teachers at Ellis worked on creating Language, Math, Explorations and Social/Emotional choice boards. The goal is for students to do one activity from Language and Math everyday and upload it to See Saw. I will include the directions on getting onto See Saw at the end of the blog post. As a Montessori school, our philosophy has always been that student work not be graded or scored. Student work is checked and they are provided commentary, but they aren't penalized. As I stated last week, do what you are able to do. If you can't complete a Math and Language everyday, I understand. If you and your child have found other interests to pursue, I understand. If we need to extend this week's choice board into next week, we can. The choice boards for Lower Elementary can be found in See Saw, on the Ellis website under Lower Elementary and here.

Lower Elementary ELA choice board (Choose one activity)

Lower Elementary Math Choice Board (Choose one activity)

Lower Elementary Explorations Choice Board

Social Emotional Choice Board (Optional)

Office Hours

I will have office hours Monday-Thursday between 2:00-3:00 p.m. This will be a time when you or your child can contact me through Remind or email to ask me any questions that you have about school. I want those parents who have asked for later office hours and community meeting to know that you have been heard. I usually check my school email around 5 p.m. and 7 p.m, so I can answer any questions then as well. I will not check emails over the weekend as that is time for me to spend with my family.

 Ms. Jane's office hours will be Monday - Friday between 8:00-9:00 a.m. if you and your family have any questions for her.

Community meetings via Zoom

On Wednesdays and Fridays, I will hold community meeting via Zoom at 11:30 a.m.  More information about getting onto Zoom coming tomorrow.

See Saw

How to get on See Saw:

If you’ve used Seesaw before and have an account:

1. Go to app.seesaw.me if you are using a tablet or seesaw.me if you are using a computer
2. Choose "I’m a Student"
3. Sign in using your school Google account. Example: firstname.lastname@students.sccpss.com Password:school password
4. Click on your profile icon on the top left

If you’re using Seesaw for the first time:

1. Go to app.seesaw.me if you are using a tablet or seesaw.me if you are using a computer
2. Choose "I’m a Student"
3. Type in the code: VBEO DPPO. 
4. Finish creating your account using your school Google account. Example: firstname.lastname@students.sccpss.com

If you need help with your student's username and password, please email me and I will give it to you.

One Day at a Time

Good morning families!

 I, as well as you, am working from home with three kids needing to be on the computer or needing me in some other capacity. I understand that this is not easy on anyone. Ourselves or our children. I read an editorial article yesterday titled "Homeschooling isn't the same as CRISIS schooling." I think each and every one of us feels that. The author made very valid points and this one really hit home with me, 

"Children are grieving right now. Out of the blue, they lost a lot. While it is wonderful that so many classes are going online, it just isn't the same. They lost their in person time with their friends, their daily routine and the predictability of life that gives us security. HONOR that grief process. Don't just expect to jump into a perfect program and learn, learn learn!  Expect them to act out. Expect them to not want to get out of bed. Expect them to not have the words to express their inner turmoil."

​I also realize that there are many of you who are still working. You are essential and you're having to use older siblings or other family members to help you during this time. I even realize some of you may not have anyone to help at all and the last thing you can muster up doing at the end of a long work day is school work. Thank you so much to those of you who are working on the front lines to insure the safety of our country. 

Starting next week, to help with connection, I will be holding Room 4 community meetings via Zoom online on Wednesdays and Fridays. I am sending a survey to see what times work best for most families on those days. I'd love to see as many of the kids faces as possible, but if your student isn't able to make it to the Zoom meeting, that is OK! I'll work to find a time to meet with your child. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfM1BIuCSXlAGohswThwn9ffTZHlWzTB2Qw8crZ5M0XoWQrPA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Also, next week, the platform for turning in work will be See Saw. I sent an email about it yesterday. If you have any questions or help please email me or send me a message through Remind. If you need usernames and passwords, I have those. I will do whatever I can to support you and your family during this time. 

Peace and Gratitude

Week of March 30th Greetings and Info

Hello Students and Families of Room 4! I hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend with your families.

For the week of March 30th-April 3rd, students are still being asked to work from the choice board the district provided before Spring Break. If you need another one, please email me at
allison.barnes-spivey@sccpss.com. They are also located on the www.sccpss.com web page, as well as the Charles Ellis Montessori Academy website.

If you have any specific needs, feel free to email me and I will do what I can to help you and your student. Please keep the following advice in mind during this time from Dr. Emily W. King. She is a dear friend of mine and is a child and family therapist and psychiatrist  in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Here is a YouTube video discussing some learning opportunities that will be coming up next week.
https://youtu.be/JuEdioA4sis

Every family and every student is different. If you need some more ideas of activities for your student to do, please email me. If you can't get to the choice board or your child can't access the internet until the evening, that is completely fine. I am here for each and every one of you.

Peace and Gratitude,
Ms. Allie

Hi Room 4 Friends!

Good morning Room 4 friends! It has been wonderful to see some of your faces through pictures and video calls over the last few days. I can't believe that when we said our "good byes" on Friday, March 13 that I wouldn't see you in class again for awhile. I miss you all and can't wait until I can give you all hugs, high fives or fist bumps again.

Right now, just focus on working on the choice boards that were emailed on Monday.

Over the next few weeks I will be posting on the blog, emailing and video chatting with you.
I will post fun activities on the blog and resources that you can use while you are at home.

Damien's mom is going to reach out to see if anyone would like to share addresses so that you all can write letters to each other during this time. I think that it would be a super fun way to connect with each other.

Stay healthy, go outside and play, lie on the ground and watch the clouds. Last night, I was able to see Venus without a telescope in the night time sky. Enjoy your families.

Here is today or tonight's story and discussion questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKaIYqQ-Jtg