Pizza, Pizza Father's Day Picnic!

In honor of father's day this year we are having a pizza picnic for our toddler class. To make the invitations the children traced the circle metal inset and then using a glue stick they glued down scraps of red, yellow and black paper, to create a pizza pie. Inside the invitations read:
Please join me for a piece of pizza on ..................................




In the classroom we've been pretending with a velcro pizza set (I happened upon at Toy R Us, I think).



We will be making REAL pizzas for the pizza picnic, so this is wonderful practice. :)




Yum ~ Yum Pizza is Fun!!!
Lately in the classroom we've been singing:
(to the tune of Row-Row-Row Your Boat)
Roll, roll, roll your dough
and toss it in the air,
pepperoni, cheese and sauce
Pizza we can share!

Another fun idea:
Pizza is a very easy first cooking projecting. If photographed, this process would make wonderful sequence cards....say I think I'll try that and post them later!
PEACE to all, I hope it is as beautiful where you are as it is here!
Jennifer

Good Life Wellness Fest ~ Belfast Maine~2010

What a wonderful opportunity we had to take part in the first Good Life Fest (hopefully first of many)! Here are just a few quick shots of our booth and of course Little One with his face painting Montessori Mama style! Thank you Anne for inviting us and making this special event happen. I had fun painting faces and sharing about our school. We offered face painting, sunflower seed planting, a hand craft of sewing a fox tail and instruments to play! It was such a lovely time.

In PEACE,
MM

Never Under Estimate a Two Year Old

So, we've been learning about birds all year at 'The Nest' (what we affectionately call our classroom of ten toddlers and two grown ups). Thursday, this little girl told me, using full on complete sentences mind you:

"This is my nest. I am sitting on my eggs."

When she stood up there were two beach nutshells under her. Well, okay then. I snapped a photo to preserve the moment. Another moment to add to my mental file entitled, "Never Under Estimate a Two Year Old". It grows thicker with each passing day.



Here another two year old friend completes a pattern that was started by an older three year old friend. All the while naming the colors,

"Pink. Brown. Pink. Brown"

I wasn't near by when the older child was first building so I'm not sure if the language was something that was modeled or something this Little One just started on his own. Either way, I snapped a photo.
Moment # 200,000,000,000,000......................
I am reminded WHY I do this work.

Hugs to all you Toddler Teachers out there! (I mean the two year old teachers ;)

PEACE
~MM

Little Man Turns FOUR!

I can't believe it. My Little One is already four? How did this happen?


Dear Little One,
You were born on Mother's Day weekend Little One. You stole my heart away in a moment. You have yet to return it to me. Who are you now? At four years old you are full of energy! You LOVE to be outdoors and to move your body. Dancing, running and swimming are your three most favorite activities. You enjoy reading stories and playing imaginary games too. You are a joyful boy and take very little seriously. You make me laugh every day. This past year you completely potty trained yourself, learned how to write your name and your Montessori teachers tell me you have absorbed the classroom ground rules! And that you help them to remind other children when they are forgotten.

I'm hopeful by the end of this year you will have given up your pacifier; although I am doubtful since you have extreme binki love. You have graduated from a floor bed to a twin bed and are very excited about this! Your Daddy and I are so proud of you and your communication skills. You see a speech therapist twice a week and seem to enjoy the sessions. We have noticed a big difference in your pronunciation and your friends are able to understand you much better too!



Thank you for being you my little man. Happy Birthday to my courageous, funny, beautiful, bright four year old boy! I love and adore you :)
~Mama

What Can I Say....I'm a Sucker for Pom-poms!

This simple pom-pom push game was pulled together out of a moment of desperation. We've all been there haven't we? Cut a paper towel roll in thirds + colorful pom-poms to push through and voila! The under two year olds in your life are now happy.


























PEACE~MM

Links and People that are Inspiration

Here is a SHORT list of People and organizations inspiring me right now:

The mission statement and difference that Educare WILL make in our country.

The dedication of the teens involved in Free the children

The beautiful voice and lullabies from the lovely and talented Amy Robbins Wilson.

EcoArt for kids from "Growing Up Creating"!

These people!!!!

to name just a few.....
Who is inspiring you?
In PEACE,
Jennifer

Up and Running....sort of

So Little One is fighting sickness once again this winter. It's hard not to have a defeatist attitude. It's a hard time right now for my spirit and soul. I miss my family and feel guilty I can't visit with them more (it's a 300+ mile trip which works out to be a 6 hour + car drive). I know my parents miss me and wish I had never moved myself and their three grandsons so far away. As we all age it becomes that much harder for us all to travel.
Between car repairs, sickness and the different schedules of the five of us in this family...it is very difficult for me to jump in the mini-van and head south.

It doesn't mean I don't think of them every day.
So many times this week I thought of my Mom and Dad:



When I woke up before the boys and watched the sunrise and turn the sky pink, I thought of my Dad and how he used to tell me, "Pink skies/sailors beware".
When my youngest son made me stop and see the green tips of crocus peeking up, I thought of my Mom's love of Spring.



And just this morning when Little One found a photo of my Mom (taken when she was in HER thirties) and he held up the photo and said, "Mama, YOU are so beautiful."

I love and miss you Mom and dad. I hope you know that.
I know I am always busy and fail in so many ways as your daughter but I hope you know it is none of it is intentional.

Recently a friend of mine said, "You know Jennifer, you don't have to be perfect at everything."
I started crying. I don't? Oh thank goodness! I'm exhausted.
I wrote her words down on a piece of paper and keep it with me now. If I had a locket I would wear it around my neck.

How often do we beat ourselves up for not being "good enough"? I am guilty of this regularly. Even though I know it is in the mistake making that we achieve our greatest learning (to quote Dr. Montessori).

I've got to remind myself to pay closer attention to the children.



Children are so wise. The small people I spend my days with bring me so much joy but more than that they educate me daily. If I'm, paying attention.
This week I danced like a kangaroo, I didn't even know kangaroos liked to dance.
Well, I've gotta hop friends, peace and love to you.
PS: When time allows you stop by and visit our new web site zodiworks.com!
Jennifer

Thoughtful Thursday...

"Preventing conflicts is the work of politicians; establishing peace is the work of education."

- Maria Montessori

A Day Without Shoes

Tomorrow is A Day Without Shoes.

From the Day without Shoes web page:
We are asking people to go the day, part of the day or even just a few minutes, barefoot, to experience a life without shoes first-hand, and to help spread awareness of the impact a simple pair of shoes can bring to a child's life.

Through everyday encounters with domestic poverty, we are reminded to appreciate having food and shelter, but most of us all but forget about our feet. Food, shelter, AND shoes facilitate life’s fundamentals. Imagine a life without shoes; constantly aware of the ground in front of you, suffering regular cuts and scrapes, tending to infection after each walk, and enduring not only terrain, but heat and cold.
The problem is large, but the solution is simple. Wearing shoes and practicing basic hygiene can prevent both infection and disease due to unsafe roads and contaminated soil. By imagining a life barefoot, we can all contribute to the awareness of these conditions. On April 8th, communities, campuses, organizations, and individuals are banding together to walk barefoot for One Day Without Shoes.
Take a walk with us on April 8th, 2010.

--In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.

--Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.

--Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.

--In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.

--Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.

Will you join me? Tomorrow: No Shoes. Start a conversation. Inspire another person. Make a difference.

PEACE
Jennifer