From this week...

What's in the mail today, what's in the mail today?
Inspired by the Bear in the Big Blue House song, I made this Christmas cookie tin mailbox into our new favorite language activity! Each week I fill the mailbox with items that begin with a different letter sound. There are enough items for every child at circle. We take turns singing the song & opening the mailbox. The child then names the object and passes the mailbox to a friend, this continues until every item has been removed, named and returned. The mailbox then lives on the language shelf. Tons o'fun! They really enjoy this activity and even though I do not expect them to remember all the letter sounds, I do feel it is valuable to expose toddlers to the sand paper letters and the sounds letters make, before they are two years old.

 

1-to-5 Math sorting with winter items. I think the biggest appeal about this work is the tray, however the raised number cards are also a big draw. This work is used every day at school.

 

I made this number line using sticky-back red felt and poster board. The numbers are a bit too close to one another but it is being used properly as a guide for the movable number cards so it's all good.

 

It's a bit hard to see in this photo but the idea is they match the moons to the moon shapes on the tray and count along. The children seem to really enjoy these half moons that a coworker picked up at a yard sale this summer! Amazing find huh? I think they are intended to be used for beading crafts? They make a nice sound when all together in the container and have been used many different ways.

 

Well, that's all I have time to share about presently. I hope you are all having a wonderful week! In PEACE,
Montessori Mama

Attention: Stained Glass Art Lovers

My childhood friend has her own web page and every time I visit, I fall in love with her all over again. She is a gem, a talented artist and loyal friend. Please visit when time allows you; it's sooooo worth the trip.
Beauty for the eye to behold.
I love you T.
PEACE
J

Silent Saturday

 

A Week in Reflection

"The first three years of life are the most important. Observations prove that small children are endowed with special psychic powers, and point to new ways of drawing them out, literally 'educating by cooperating with nature.' So here begins the new path, wherein it will not be the professor who teaches the child, but the child who teaches the professor."
Education for a New World-Dr. Maria Montessori

Sometimes I think, I've got things pretty well figured out. Sometimes. I mean I've been working with children and families for over 16 years and so I assume because of those many years of experience, that I should know a thing or two. And I suppose by comparison I do. But after a week like this one, I welcome this quote from Dr. Montessori. It's soooooooooooo true isn't it?

Right now I should be cleaning my house, I should be preparing for a Zodiworks meeting I have today in Blue Hill, I should be doing allot of things. But here I sit typing. My two youngest boys are playing a game with their Daddy and the oldest is still sleeping so...I'm afforded a few blogging minutes.

This week:
This week I watched a two year old help an eighteen month old zipper his coat. I watched 9 children share 4 dress up hats swimmingly! And I was TOLD (by a child who doesn't often speak), that just because the red heart headband I put on his head for the Valentine photos I was trying to take, would look "super cute and sweet" in MY opinion, that HE would rather wear a green hat. And I listened.

Sometimes it takes me a while but eventually I catch on.
Thank you kiddos! You are the best educators a teacher could hope for.
PEACE,
J

December/January

Gingerbread people decorate our walls this month. No two are alike, just like the children who made them. From foam gingerbread people, felt and ribbon scraps and stars left over from a spooning work.

 

Baby dolls in need of washing. Warm water and soap suds fill the sensory table and the care of self, identifying body parts and sing begin. Do your toddler friends sing while they enjoy water play?

 

Here this adorable little guy uses a color pencil and metal inset to form a circle. He's just 18 months old and daily he blows my socks off! Look at his hand placement! Never underestimate a toddler!

 

 

Here is the "how to" for the Gingerbread people:
For older twos they can apply their own glue as needed. Younger friends may find squeexing the glue a very difficult task. Helping these friends by spreading the glue on to the surface of the gingerbread person will allow them to be successful when decorating their person. And yes, those are recycled apple sauce containers.
So much more to share...so little time.
In PEACE
J

Better Late Than Never...

Forgive me readers for I have been absent, it's been 2 weeks since my last post.
(..ha-ha...a shout out to my Catholic up~bringing, sorry to make fun Mom)
But seriously, I can't believe I haven't posted ANYTHING in two weeks! Where have I been? What have I been up to? Good questions.
Of course I will answer with photos because a picture is worth 1000 words, or so the saying goes. WITH narration of course ;) But first my annual New Year Post:

Once upon a time there was a Montessori teacher who became a children's book author and than an illustrator, than she started her own publishing business and began designing a Montessori focused Toddler Curriculum. All the while she continued teaching 40+ hours a week and caring for her family (one amazing husband, 3 terrific sons, 2 sweet cats, and the occasional mouse).

And so....Montessori Mama is left with very little time to blog. But I'm addicted and I can't give it up. So even though it some times takes me weeks to post something, I'm still here.

I hope you are too.

So it's 2010. Can you believe it? When I was little I can remember thinking life would be like the Jettsons when I was 35...now here we are and unfortunately I still have to cook dinner, the car doesn't drive itself and my waist is much larger that Judy's ever was....it's resolution time again.

First there are the yearly promises: Loose weight, give up caffeine, spend more time with my family.

Followed by the original and interesting:
Try cooking one new recipe a week.
Read a non-fiction monthly.
Drive slower (I'm guilty of speeding on occasion)
write more cards and letters to loved ones.

Then there are the resolutions that are completely unrealistic and I make but have allot of trouble keeping for more than one week:
Refrain from using swear words(never in front of children of course)
Go one week without wearing the color black.

So far...so good...ummm...okay I do have black on today, and I did swear while driving to and from school yesterday (but I think the car is exempt from the no-swear resolution, I'm from Massachusetts after all). I have yet to cook something new so I guess I missed that one....I started a non-fiction about home repairs but honestly, I didn't get past chapter two, YET. I haven't lost any weight but I haven't gained any either so I'm feeling PROUD of that one. I have managed to get through the caffeine headaches and have not caved which I am extremely PROUD of myself for because I have REALLY REALLY REALLY (emphasis on the REALLY) wanted to have some this week! I don't think I made it one day without speeding and friends and relatives shouldn't hold their breath for cards anytime soon...sorry. I love you I really do, there just are not enough hours in my day.

Photos will follow soon...with narration of course.
Thank as always for reading my rambles. And HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours.
In PEACE,
Jennifer