Instituted to satisfy the hordes of angry dads, jealous of the annual Friendship Montessori Mother’s Day Tea and demanding equal treatment, Dad’s Day is, as the name suggests, a day for dads. Today was Dad’s Day. And, being a dad, I went. There’s nothing quite as nice as spending a couple of hours with your best girl.

Dad’s Day is fairly low-key – Alden and I basically hung out together at her school. She took me by the hand and walked me through the sorts of things she does on the average day.

Our first stop was the “quiet corner.” Following strict protocol, we both wore badges of quiet while in the corner.

In addition to looking awesome and featuring a jolly jack o’lantern, the badge of quiet reminds the wearer of the solemn importance of maintaining a low volume. Twice as I was reading Alden a book in the quiet corner I was chided for over-noisy speech. Apparently, the power of the badge was lost on me

Next, Alden headed to the desk where the kindergardeners sit each morning to practice their writing.

A great deal of careful writing (and furious erasing) later…

…we were entirely ready to get busy.

But first, Alden shared her writing with Holli, who offered a few helpful suggestions.

Next, Alden chose a “teacher work” to do with Lea. The task, to learn the names and characteristics of a handful of three-dimensional shapes.

Part of the lesson was finding another sphere somewhere else in the classroom.

Easily done.

Next up was cone.

If not a cone, this funnel was at least cone-like.

Next up was the square-based pyramid.

The exploration continued.

Eventually all the shapes had been identified.

The next challenge involved a blindfold.

And a bag.

Alden was to reach in, take out a shape, and identify it by touch.

Apparently, a cube is a cube, regardless of whether or not you can see it.

Next we moved on to the art project. Which was to bake an apple turnover.

Edible art is my favorite kind.

Alden did some chopping.

Some scooping.

And some folding. And lo! We had two turnovers. Inscribed with an A, of course, for easy identification.

Next, Alden got out some pencils.

And some shape forms.

And some paper.

We took the forms.

Placed them on the paper.

And traced.

I felt like I was in kindergarten again. In a good way.

I decided to have a bit of fun with my shapes.

And my colored pencils.

And Alden decided to have a bit of fun with hers.

She made a whole stack of drawings, the point being to have enough to “staple into a booklet” at the end. That’s my girl, already making books.

Then it was time for a kindergarten lesson. The “primary” classroom, of which Alden is a part, includes 3, 4, 5, and 6-year-olds. The Montessori philosophy thrives on mixing ages and encouraging the older kids to help the younger ones learn. But the biggest kids regularly get together for special, accelerated lessons.

Today’s had to do with cardinal directions and how to use a compass.

Holli showed a number of maps.

And asked kids to use their compasses to figure out which direction was which.

After kindergarten time, it was time to eat pie.

Alden was kind enough to bring me a beverage. Friends help friends at FMS.

The pie? Delicious. The company? Even better.

This is how my kid spends her mornings. She doesn’t know how lucky she is, but this dad feels lucky enough for both of us.