Yesterday was Dad’s Day. Not Father’s Day. But Dad’s Day, the day in which dads are invited to Friendship Montessori to check out the various happenings.

Because it was my day, I helped Alden get dressed. There is no other explanation for the outfit that emerged from our efforts.

Once we got to school, we found out that it was apple pie day. That is, the kids would be making apple pie to share with their dads. But the road from here to pie was long and complicated. First step, washing apples.

Scratch that. First step: washing hands.

Second step: put on apron.

Third step: wash apples. First put water in bowl.

Then gently scrub.

Next came peeling, which is not my strong suit. Fortunately, Bob had joined us for Dad’s Day, and he instructed Alden in the fine art of apple skin removal.

After peeling came chopping.

Then (an essential step in making any apple pie) mugging with chopped apples.

Next: pressing crust into cupcake form.

Insert apples.

Add (lots of) brown sugar and (generous quantities of) cinnamon.

And then, it was time to slide our pies into the oven. While they baked, Alden gave us a tour around the school.

Here is an activity (called a “work” in the Montessori world), in which Alden pours colored liquid from a pitcher into a small bowl and then back again using a funnel.

Next, Alden wanted to do a puzzle. So she put a mat on the floor. 

Dumped out the pieces and made her puzzle.

Then rolled her mat back up and put it away. Montessori does great work to encourage self sufficiency.

Then Alden worked with her teacher Holli on the “movable alphabet.”

First, Alden chose an object from a box full of objects. Options included a lamp, a map, a flag, a bottle, and…a bed.

The idea is to choose an object and then spell its name using a tray full of letters.

Alden chose “bed.”And so…

…one letter, one sound at a time…

…her word emerged.

Once she had spelled bed with her letters, she wrote out the word on a piece of paper, tracing letters that Holli had inked in with a series of dots.

Next up was egg, and then flag.

And then lamp. For each word, Holli helped Alden work through the sounds involved in forming the word. Rather than talk about letters in terms of their names, they are referred to by their sounds. Instead of F, Alden is to look for a “fuh.” Instead of an L, she’s looking for a “luh.”

Once she identifies the sound, she looks for the related letter.

It seems to be a great way to learn how to read, and how to write. It’s incremental. And it’s fun. The rule of thumb at Friendship Montessori is to always do as many words as a kid is years old. Alden, who is four, did four words.

When we were done with the movable alphabet, the pies were still not done. So Alden did a few more works.

I would not be good at this one, which seems to require patience and precision. Clearly, I need to go back to Montessori.

And suddenly, the pies were done. Before one eats…

Look at these pies! And though she had a bit of guidance, Alden made them herself. Amazing. And empowering. Kids can do so much if we let them.

Alas, one can only admire a well-made pie for so long before honoring it, one bite at a time.

As with all good things, the pie came to an end.

As did my visit to Friendship Montessori.

Dad’s Day was a grand day. I’m always a dad, but every once in a while, it’s nice to be reminded exactly what it means.