Who We Are: Adina Rey
Adina and her lovely familyAs part of a series we're calling Who We Are, we're working to build and connect our community by interviewing the talented, dynamic parents and staff who make up the people of Villa di Maria. Today, we meet Adina Rey, mother of two children new to Villa this year: a son in Lower Elementary and a son in Upper Elementary. She is also a Den Parent for the Lower Elementary Racks and Tubes classroom, heading up out-of-school get-togethers, including the upcoming visit to Tilles Park for a carriage ride to enjoy the holiday lights at the end of the month. Welcome, Adina, and thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!VdM: What do you do (career-wise and any hobbies)? Can you tell us a bit about how you came to Villa di Maria as a new family this year?Adina Rey: When I am not home with my family, I work as a Nurse Practitioner in the role of a Hospitalist at a community hospital. During my time off, I enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors with my family. We love to hike, fish, bike ride, and camp.Our family came to Villa di Maria as the enrollment at our previous AMI school was dwindling and we knew it was time for a change. We chose Villa due to the school's fabulous reputation among local Montessorians. The school is known to be the most authentic AMI school in the area, and the teachers are all well respected among the Montessori community.VdM: What drew you and your husband to Montessori education in general? What do you love most about it?AR: I first learned of Montessori education during my undergraduate studies in Human Development, long before I had children. The concept was intriguing and made sense to me. Later, when my oldest son was three he had already mastered the concepts presented in the public school preschool curriculum, and the school was unable to present new material to challenge him. It was then that I recalled what I had learned of Montessori education and we enrolled him in an AMI school and never looked back.What I love about Montessori education is that it embraces and appeals to the uniqueness and strengths of each individual child. It is always fascinating to observe and witness the children engaged and thriving within their classroom environment. I am always impressed with the confidence of the children, and their social mannerisms.VdM: Do you have any stories of Montessori moments outside of school with your children?AR: Just today, I took my children and several of their Villa friends to play at a park on our way to school. We came across a street sign that looked to have been vandalized and left at the park. The children immediately and spontaneously began to question the social implications of the act of vandalism. They also investigated and compared the street sign to other street signs in the area and determined that it came from a major intersection. They requested use of my phone and used Google Maps to locate the specific street the sign came from, and pondered how they may return the sign and enact justice. The children ranged in age from 3 to 10, and all were engaged. It was wonderful to observe their teamwork and critical thinking at work.VdM: What advice would you give to parents who are curious about Montessori education?AR: I would advise any parent to observe a primary, lower elementary, and upper elementary classroom at work. Regardless of the age of their child at the time, it is beneficial to see all of the classrooms and the consistency and progression of the program. I would also encourage those interested to contact with a current Montessori parent to ask any questions or address any of their concerns. And finally, I would encourage the parent to ask about the accreditation of the school they are looking into; unfortunately, not all Montessori programs are as authentic as Villa di Maria.Thank you, Adina, for all that you and your family contribute to the Villa di Maria community! We are so glad you are here!
Below: one Villa di Maria child's birthday celebration in P2. She celebrated her third birthday with loving friends who honored her for the special human she is!
The celebration starts with the Directress calling her up to the front of the class. The Directress (here, Jessie Braud) invites the child to retrieve the special birthday candle from its place and carry it carefully to the front table. The rest of the children are gathered upon the rug to watch.
The Directress ceremonially lights the candle and invites the child to pick up the globe, to represent the world that will travel around the sun for every year of life. The lighting of the candle signifies the moment at which the child was born. There is a hush around the room as the gentle glow takes form.
In preparation for the birthday celebration, the parents are asked to provide pictures for each year of the child's life. This child was born in Paris, a significance that is discussed with the other children. After discussing each year of life, the child walks around the sun (signified in some classrooms by a large rug with the sun at the center and a path around it to represent Earth's orbit; in this case, signified by a large circle on the floor marked by tape). The child walks with the globe around the "sun" while the Directress and her classmates sing: The earth goes around the sun, tra la, the earth goes around the sun, tra la, the earth goes around the sun, and then (the child) was one (then two, then three)!" 
Each year of life is celebrated in this way. Here, the Directress speaks of this child's first trip to China, where her father is from.
And here, the child's favorite instruments: there are a lot of them! She says, "I like the violin best."
Here, she gets ready to carry the globe around for her second year of life.
At the end of the celebration, the child blows out the candle and the children sing "The Ladybug Song," per her request.And in case you were curious, Maria Montessori was born on August 31st, 1870!"We should walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity." -- Maria Montessori
Briefly observe a group of Primary children playing so intently they don't notice the adults around them (even when those adults are taking photos!), and you will see on any given day the filling and dumping and refilling of large buckets with wood chips. These children carry the heavy buckets all around the playground and engage with each other about their play. I asked a few of them what they were playing, which varied depending on the day or group of children."We play ice cream factory.""We play hang up the bucket and then fill it up. Then we dump it out. We can hang it from a hook over there." "He's the bad guy and we have to keep the treasure away from him!" "This is my bucket! I dug a hole!"
"We play factory. We make chocolate. We poor dirt in the bucket and water. We mix it, then it is chocolate!""Robbers! Wood chips are the money and we steal the money from the people! We fill up our buckets to a million dollars. More than a million dollars! Then we run away and don't get caught!""Pizza makers. The wood chips are cheese, and the dirt is pepperoni, and the other wood chips are the vegetables. We make so many pizzas that are delicious."
The power of imagination; it's a wonderful thing."We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry." — Maria Montessori
Photo credit: Ladue NewsGarden Glow at Missouri Botanical GardenThis St. Louis tradition also includes over a million beautiful lights, but also has the appeal of traditional holiday music, food, and drinks. Look for select Family Nights, which occur on certain Wednesdays, and feature a discounted ticket price of $3. Purchase tickets 
Photo credit: Branson Ticket TravelTrail of Lights in Branson, MOIf you're up for a long drive (perhaps a weekend stay?), head down to Branson, MO for their Trail of Lights display, a drive-through animation display with music, lights, and many different scenes. At the end of the trail, visitors can stop by Inspiration Tower, where they can ride glass elevators up to 230 feet for "a Santa's-eye view of the lights from above." Children are $6, Adults $12, or by the carload $35. Buy tickets 
Photo credit: downtownstl.orgHolidays at Union StationLocated in downtown St. Louis at the Union Station train shed, Holidays at Union Station invites kids to go ice skating, get photos with Santa, and even take a train ride to the North Pole on the Santa Express Train. Trains leave the station at 4:45, 6:15, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m Wednesdays through Sundays. Reserve tickets 
Katelyn and two of her friends making a game for Boo FestAs a parent, it was wonderful to see the spark in her eyes while she worked.Rachel (8) wants to be a baker and maybe a chef. Recently, I had to work a couple hours late one night. While Eric and Katelyn were at gymnastics, Rachel said something like, "Mom, it's a treat because you are working so hard tonight. Please don't peak or come into the kitchen. I'm making dinner for the whole family all by myself. You cannot come into the kitchen until I'm ready so you will be surprised. It will be wonderful!"
Rachel, posing with her surprise family dinnerWhen we were allowed to enter the kitchen, she'd made dinner (even customizing the salads to each family member's vegetable and dressing preferences), set the table, lit the candles, dimmed the lights, served drinks and put the soft dinner music on (knowing we prefer that station as a family to her preferred pop station so we can talk better at the table). It was a beautiful, calming dinner that she served with pride. At dinner she especially enjoyed taking the lead prompting everyone to say something they were thankful for, then announcing her favorite "Bon appetite" similar to her classroom lunch hour before starting our meal. I could see her glowing with pride and joy that she did everyone herself and that we all loved it!VdM: What advice would you give to parents who are curious about or interested in Montessori education?TP: Observe, question, and read. Observe the classrooms; notice the prepared environment and the calm and concentration of the children. If you are very analytical like my husband and I are, thus needing more "proof" that this type of education is right for your child, interview staff and parents and current (as well as previous) Montessori students. Read about Montessori concepts; three books I've found useful are Montessori Madness, The Montessori Method, and The Absorbent Mind.Thank you, Tami, for taking time out of your busy schedule to allow us into your family's life! We are so grateful for all the hard work you do for Villa di Maria, surely making it all run more smoothly. 
The hand-washing activity was born in the first Casa di Bambini and was introduced out of necessity. It was shown to elicit tremendous concentration, focus, and joy far beyond the point at which their hands were clean. Maria Montessori, in her keen scientific observations, noted that something about this activity was satisfying an inner need of the young child.
Heather Steinman, Directress in Primary Three at Villa di Maria, shared in a previous blog post, entitled 
The new elementary building will include three classrooms, a kitchen and multipurpose room, a pool house with girls' and boys' locker rooms as well as an office, and a pavilion for community gatherings and Camp Pegnita.
This is a sample of the siding for the new building. All of the materials chosen for the new building are environmentally friendly, in addition to maintaining some of the characteristics of the current structures and surrounding neighborhood.The children were very curious about the construction process itself. They asked questions about the large machinery, such as "the one with the big roller," which is used to flatten the concrete they have poured. In fact, they were quite curious about all things relating to the slab: the big pourer, the concrete finisher, and whether getting the concrete wet might ruin it (as there were some rainy days following the pouring of the concrete slab). They all agreed that they wanted the job of the guy who operated the ride-on trowel (shown below).
Photo credit: Constructionequipment.comEach worker talked about his or her job and what they liked best about their job. Questions ranged from what happens if someone forgets to put in a piece of wood, to what type of pencil was attached to one of the hard hats! Amazing the little details these curious learners pick up on!
The construction of Phase I (which includes all of the structures mentioned above) is on target for being complete by May 31, 2017. This will complete on campus construction for awhile before Phase II begins - at least one year, more likely around three years - (Phase II will include an administrative building and a gym; Phase III will include four Primary classrooms), leaving a bit of time for everyone to settle in.
The skeleton of the building is going up fast; since taking the above photo, the roof is now up! One of the most exciting aspects of this space is the grand size — not just of the building, but also of the huge windows which will allow plenty of natural light into the classrooms and new spaces! We cannot wait to see the finished product!Thank you, Melinda, for taking these beautiful pictures! 
They also provide a little privacy! Here, a child reads to himself within the comfy shelter of some big green leaves.
Within the primary and elementary classrooms, there is also the important lesson of caring for the environment. Children are shown how to dust leaves, remove dead leaves, water, and otherwise care for the plants within their classroom. There is also the flower arranging lesson, to be covered in a future blog post. The flowers below were picked from one of Villa di Maria's own fall gardens.
The thought and care that goes into each Montessori classroom continues to amaze and inspire. If you'd like to introduce some plants into your child's home environment, here is a list of easy-to-care for varieties:
Polishing is one of the best activities there is for a young child! There is nothing quite like taking some tarnished silver or brass and working hard to make it shiny once again. The polishing work in the Children's House allows the child an endless cycle of activity; the object can be polished again and again and again… even more than once in the same sitting! There are some favorite classroom objects that may find themselves being polished daily (like our little silver hippopotamus, for instance!).
This particular child really struggled with squeezing enough polish into the bowl, but she tried and tried and tried until she succeeded.
Success!
Another reason polishing is so wonderful is because, like many Practical Life lessons, it allows for the child to develop her logical sequencing. Every time the child polishes, the sequence of the activity is reinforced (first you lay out the materials, then you open the bottle, then you put just a little polish in the bowl, and so on). Polishing also allows the child an incredibly conspicuous result of their labors. The tarnish on the cotton ball and polishing cloths are a good indicator of their work, as is the shininess of the polished object.
All of this unlimited work allows the child to continue lengthening and strengthening her concentration as well, which is another key component of a Practical Life activity. It also gives the child opportunities to tend and care for her environment. While the youngest children are unconsciously caring for their environment (because at their age, they are just polishing to polish), an older child is definitely polishing to make his environment more beautiful and pleasant for his peers and himself.
Thank you, Jessie, for taking the time to explain the wonderful activity of polishing! 
This calm time is important for each child to experience. As she arrives, she puts her things away neatly to start the day. It is each child's responsibility to hang up her own coat, hat, and gloves; it is part of her routine to change her shoes from outdoor shoes into her clean indoor ones. She zips up her coat on a hanger and then hangs it alongside the others.
As each child arrives within the designated time window, the Directress is available to greet him or her. This is such an important part of the day — a time for a child to feel special, and even to reaffirm the child's place in the classroom and his relationship with the Directress as she shakes his hand, looks him in the eye, and welcomes him by name and with a verbal greeting.
When the children arrive all around the same time, they are also treated to each other! While in the coat room together, they chat and catch up on socializing time. Checking in with each other is another way these children solidify their relationships with each other and build self esteem before going to choose work in the classroom. Just as adults often take time to greet one another and socialize a bit as they arrive at work in the morning, the children also need this time. They tell stories or share news of their families. Sometimes they tell silly jokes and make each other laugh. It is a relaxing, enjoyable way to start the day!
Within the first 30 minutes of a Montessori Primary child's day, she or he may choose to set up a snack for the rest of the class. Here, a child pours pretzels into a bowl while another washes grapes.
Then, they work together to take the washed grapes off the vine to make snack time easier for their friends.
It takes some children longer than others to hang up their coats and hats, to change their shoes, and to place their lunch boxes on the shelf. Sometimes this can take up most of the first 30 minutes!
As 8:30 rolls around, the classroom becomes abuzz with action. Children get settled and begin their work while the Directress gives lessons and the Aide helps others. There is a bit more noise now, and everyone is focused on the work they have chosen. The dynamic of the classroom slowly shifts; the lights are turned out in the coat room, there is less socializing and more concentration. By 8:35, children are hard at work.
Thank you, Heather, for giving us a peek into the very important, very early part of the day. It is a pleasure to see these little minds blooming and thriving!
Ms. Sophie so patiently guided two children through the long process of making apple dumplings to share with one classroom, while the other classroom prepared a feast for their classmates. Four of the third-year students took it upon themselves to organize. They formed a committee, encouraged children to sign up and bring in different dishes, and executed the whole thing without a hitch. It was really impressive to watch them negotiate, work through so many different issues and steps along the way, and finally pull together the lunchtime feast.
They moved tables around a bit before deciding on the best way to present the food.
Many children lingered as the food was slowly brought out — it all looked so tempting!
While the four children were working to pull together the main event, Ms. Schwind played several rounds of "21 Questions" with the rest of the class. Their deductive reasoning skills are so impressive!
In case you were wondering, the answer to the round above was the South Asian country of Bhutan, which Ms. Schwind pointed out is the happiest country in Asia, and one of the happiest countries in the world. And I believe the children guessed correctly, but it took them all 21 questions to get there!
The children who put on this feast not only set it up and organized, but also served every one of their classmates before serving themselves. They thought of everything, even putting numbers on or near each food item recommending the quantity each person should take so there would be enough for everyone.
And they had plenty! Below, some of the very full plates:
There was plenty of ham...We are so thankful for Villa di Maria! The people who make this place what it is, the hard work they put into each day, the patience, empathy, and love they show our children — it is all part of what makes this place so special. Our hearts are full. Happy Thanksgiving, both to and from Villa!
From left: conch, Tibetan trumpet, and bull horn
The children gathered outside in some pretty bright November sunshine to listen to the Jostleins talk about the history and use of each horn, followed by a demonstration of the sounds they produce. Also, a good sense of humor is always appreciated!
Two students counted the protrusions on the conch shell to see if they corresponded with a Fibonacci sequence (they do correspond with the golden ratio) and also noted that the inner spiral of a conch is in fact included in the 
… And what a beautiful sound it makes!
The grand finale was the assembly and discussion about the Alphorn, named from the region of the world from where it hails (the Alps). The children enjoyed the BIG sound, and noted that they could feel the vibrations from the Alphorns through the ground where they sat. It was a lovely show on a beautiful November afternoon. The whole afternoon was really special, and the Upper Elementary students have made a big impression on the Third Years!
Thank you, Tricia and Thomas, for taking time out of your day to spend it with us!
Megan Eilers, Lower Elementary Directress, invites us into her classroom at the end of the school day to see what "jobs" time looks like. She has organized a chart for the children, and is experimenting with the best amount of time for them to really master their jobs: "We're thinking of moving to two-week periods for the children to have the same job. Otherwise, it seems at the end of the one-week time period, they have just learned to do the job well and have to go do a different one."
And there are so many jobs to master! This classroom divides up the work into the following jobs: dusting and straightening all the shelves, sharpening pencils, washing dishes, caring for pets and plants, doing laundry, straightening cubbies, collecting trash and recycling, putting up chairs, vacuuming, lunch set-up, cleaning tables, chairs, and cubbies, and there's even a job inspector to keep everyone on task and up-to-date.
The job inspector, hard at work
Doing classroom jobs on a daily basis not only teaches responsibility for one's environment and community, it also teaches respect and appreciation for each other and the surroundings they need to be neat and clean. This is one skill that can carry over into the home life in a very helpful way… at least, we can hope!
Thanksgiving with Me, by Margaret Willey, illustrated by Lloyd BloomA heartwarming, joyous story about the anticipation a little girl feels as she anxiously awaits the arrival of her six uncles. To pass the time, the little girl asks her mother to tell her a story about each uncle. This story is about getting past the "what to wear" and "what to make" surface issues of Thanksgiving and back to the cherished family stories, which is what brings the most joy.
The Thanksgiving Door, by Debby AttwellThis is a cross-generational celebration that honors inclusion and tolerance of those different from ourselves. When an older couple burn their own Thanksgiving dinner, they head out to eat for the holiday and come across an open door. Inside, they meet an immigrant family celebrating their own version of Thanksgiving. A wonderful read for those who want to share open hearts and open minds with their children. Though this book is now out of print, many libraries still keep a copy or two.
Gratitude Soup, by Olivia RosewoodThis story has such a wonderful message! It teaches children that they can carry gratitude in their hearts at all times. Violet the Purple Fairy, the main character, makes gratitude soup by conjuring up all of the people, places, things, and experiences she is grateful for, then puts them into an imaginary pot of soup. The book incorporates pretend play and catchy rhymes for young children. The mixed collage and watercolor art in this book are a beautiful bonus.
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. SeussA tale of all of those who are less fortunate, but still full of plenty of the silliness characterized by Dr. Seuss, this book is another good one for practicing perspective-taking and empathy for others. This story takes the idea that if you're having a bad day, remember that it could always be worse, and lifts it to a whole new level!
An Awesome Book of Thanks, by Dallas ClaytonThis is an awe-inspiring book full of thank-you's to things, places, people, and phenomena that you've never imagined or considered thanking before. It is the biggest thank you with some pretty great illustrations. Great for any age. 
The Thankful Book, by Todd ParrThis is the perfect book for the very young child to recognize the feeling of gratitude. From Todd Parr himself: "There are lots of things to be thankful for. Try to remember some of them every day!"Happy reading!
The children absolutely love folding and putting away the Children's House laundry. Every day, someone (and sometimes more than one child) takes it upon himself to fold all of the drying cloths, cloth place mats, and cloth napkins which are used throughout the day each and every day. They take such pride in completing the task, which includes many steps.
Robyn Milos, former Children's House Directress and current Education Director at Villa di Maria, shares with us another similar process:"Other classroom cloths, such as polishing cloths and dusting cloths, go through our laundry cycle in another wonderful manner. They are used to polish or dust, then are placed in the basket for cloth washing. When another child chooses cloth washing, the cloths are lathered up on the scrub board and hung to line dry. The next day, those cloths are ironed by yet another child and returned to their place on the supply shelf. The care of the environment that is bestowed on the Children's House, by the children, gives them such a sense of ownership!"
Each cloth is color-coordinated, making it easy for a child to remember where each cloth goes. Above, a child gives cloths to Cristina, the Children's House Assistant, to place high on a shelf where they belong. The remaining cloths are all within the child's reach, such as on low shelves or in baskets along the floor."He does it with his hands, by experience, first in play and then through work. The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence." - The Absorbent Mind, p. 25Thank you, Jessie, for this peek into the early morning workings of a Primary Classroom!
The open-ended play that results from loose parts — the sticks and logs and things found in nature, provided by nature itself, allows for deep creative experimentation: the crucial element being the children's freedom to adapt the materials in a large variety of ways. These logs can become structures, machines, vehicles, absolutely anything a child (or group of children) decides.
The power of loose parts lies in its infinite possibilities. It does not dictate a story or purpose; the child does so.
If you are interested in creating more loose parts play for your child, consider the following in your back yard: stones of varying size, slices of wood rounds, sticks, pinecones, sand, wood chips, chalk, gravel, acorns, planks, tubes, and wheels.For indoors: popsicle sticks, dominos, wood blocks, felt balls, yarn, pipe cleaners, marbles, cardboard tubes, washers, buttons, shells, magnetic building tiles, strips of fabric (silk, wool, cotton), and even dried seeds or beans!Happy playing!
Pouring, mixing (with her hands, with a whisk, and with a spoon or rubber scraper) 
Peeling using fingers (egg, garlic, mandarin orange) or using a peeler 
Cutting and chopping (*make sure your child is using knives and other sharp tools properly, putting her hand in the right place. Remind her again and again that no fingers should be on the cutting board) 
Grating, kneeding, scooping, egg cracking (be sure to have a full carton of eggs to sacrifice the first day your child tries this… and plan to have a crunchy omelet to eat that day!), spreading, and shelling peas 
Washing vegetables, washing dishes, washing table 
And, the best part: using the senses in the kitchen: tasting, touching, and smelling!Now for the recipe! Sophie has shared a typical easy French recipe: Carottes Vichy (Vichy Carrots). This recipe uses many skills: peeling with fingers and with a peeler, washing, cutting leaves, chopping, cutting, pouring, and mixing.
Vichy CarrotsNo specific proportions here, just prepare according to your own taste: parsley, garlic, carrots, salt, ground pepper, and olive oil.First, make a "persillade," (chop together parsley and garlic). Next, cut carrots into rounds. Mix everything, then sauté in a pan with olive oil, salt, and pepper.Et voila! Bon appetit!Thank you, Sophie, for inspiring us all to include our children in the kitchen — such a wonderful thing to do together as a family! 
