I've been given an award! Thanks Shannon :)
Here's what I've gotta do:
The rules are:
- List six things that inspire my creativity
- Pass the award on to 6 more kreativ bloggers
- Link back to the person who gave you the award
- Link to the people you are passing it on to and leave them a comment to let them know.

Here goes:
Six things that inspire my creativity:
1.) classical guitar music (I used to play, I miss it.)
2.)the blueberry field by my home (it is my church, my sanctuary)
3.)other people's creativity!
4.) black and white photography
5.)Middle Man

So, I am passing the Kreativ blogger award onto SOME of the creative Mamas I know in Blog land: A bit of This and A Bit of That, Walk Beside Me, Creative Kismet, Writing Grandma's Book, The Moveable Alphabet, A Thousand Joys,

You're Too Kind!

I've been given an award! Thanks Shannon :)
Here's what I've gotta do:
The rules are:
- List six things that inspire my creativity
- Pass the award on to 6 more kreativ bloggers
- Link back to the person who gave you the award
- Link to the people you are passing it on to and leave them a comment to let them know.

Here goes:
Six things that inspire my creativity:
1.) classical guitar music (I used to play, I miss it.)
2.)the blueberry field by my home (it is my church, my sanctuary)
3.)other people's creativity!
4.) black and white photography
5.)Middle Man

So, I am passing the Kreativ blogger award onto SOME of the creative Mamas I know in Blog land: A bit of This and A Bit of That, Walk Beside Me, Creative Kismet, Writing Grandma's Book, The Moveable Alphabet, A Thousand Joys,

I Went Walking (a story basket)

Using the board book: I Went Walking by Sue Williams, I created this story extension for the toddler language shelf; I didn't intend for it to be used right there on the shelf but so be it. The kiddos really enjoy this book, much like Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear. They like to hear it read again and again and are very knowledgeable about the order in which the animals appear. It was a fun and easy language work for me to pull together (once I found the animals). I happened to find the animals needed at our local toy store, but you could draw or color copy the illustrations, laminate them and use those too. Happy crafting.
So far my holiday creations have been limited to felt wreaths and birds...I will post photos soon. What are you making?
PEACE to all,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Montessori Mama

Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy

Here are some photos from my Stone Fruit Salad lesson. They seemed to enjoy the story although it was a bit long to hold their attention. We followed up the story with a craft of gluing fruit shapes onto a bowl. These are now on display as you walk into the classroom with the characters of the story. A note to parents went home yesterday with the children saying what fruit they offered to bring in on Monday. Mallory and I will bring in some fruit, yogurt and granola also and of course the STONE. A special stone fruit salad feast will take place (just like in the story). The children will prepare the fruit for the salad: they will slice bananas and cut apples, pull and wash grapes, drain and rinse the canned peaches, they will set the tables and fold the cloth napkins.(and I will share the photos!)
Thanks for reading as always!
PEACE to you all, Montessori Mama

Caps for Babies

Knit One Save One
Every winter I try and do something for our world's children. I mostly do this because I had a wonderful role model in my own mother and I long to be that for my children. I participate in this particular effort because of Save the Children. If you don't know about this amazing organization please visit their web page and introduce yourself.
To be part of 'Knit One Save One' on a large scale you can do the following:
Write up a brief letter to your school families and share with them what your goal is. Last time I did this I said my goal was to collect 100 caps; I ended up collecting 121 caps! Share with them your goal and how they can help. Do they knit? Would they like to learn? Visit your local yarn shop and ask them to hang up a poster for you with where to mail donations. Get your church congregation involved and spread the word to the older generation. Knitting a small infant cap takes no time at all for the seasoned knitter. Next, set a dead line (when you want the caps collected by) and remember to check in with people closer to the collection date so that they can have time to buy one if they have not yet started knitting.
Happy Knitting Everyone!
PS: FYI, I don't know how to knit. I just collect the caps and send them on their way. Every bit helps and I'm doing what I can. Someday though, I'd love to learn how to knit. Maybe this winter?
If you want to contribute a cap visit: Save the Children
or contact me directly at spirals@gwi.net
In PEACE
Montessori Mama

I Went Walking (a story basket)

Using the board book: I Went Walking by Sue Williams, I created this story extension for the toddler language shelf; I didn't intend for it to be used right there on the shelf but so be it. The kiddos really enjoy this book, much like Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear. They like to hear it read again and again and are very knowledgeable about the order in which the animals appear. It was a fun and easy language work for me to pull together (once I found the animals). I happened to find the animals needed at our local toy store, but you could draw or color copy the illustrations, laminate them and use those too. Happy crafting.
So far my holiday creations have been limited to felt wreaths and birds...I will post photos soon. What are you making?
PEACE to all,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Montessori Mama

Fall Window Hangings

The children seemed to enjoy making these pretty window decorations, both the process and the end result. (Which is odd for such process oriented beings) They were very interested in which one they made and in the telling of that very important fact to others. It's really very sweet and I'm happy they like them. I anticipate we will be working with clear contact paper allot this school year.
So this is how we did it:
We (teachers) cut pieces of contact paper into various shapes and placed them sticky side UP on the table in front of each child. Then we provided them with cut paper scraps, flowers and leaves. The children chose which objects to stick on their paper and where they wanted everything to go. Once they were done with their creations we covered them with another piece of contact paper, then punched holes in the top and added yarn to hang from a stick. (*The child collected the flowers and leaves and even the sticks!) They seemed to really enjoy the project and the end result was beautiful! Almost every parent has commented on how pretty they are hanging in the window.
I try and do this project every season, using various materials: pine needles, dry leaves, beach sand, brushed wool...the list is endless!
*Remember to include the child's name some where, we wrote them on a leaf shaped piece of paper that they added to their almost finished creations.
Happy Collecting!
Montessori Mama

Many Thanks!

So many of you have been emailing me lately and I'm having trouble keeping up with responding! I really appreciate receiving your notes and questions please know that I WILL write you back.

So, I wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU and to share with you a sweet thank you card I received from friends of mine recently.
The image was created using magazine clippings and a glue stick. My Middle Man saw it and wanted to make one too!
It's lots of fun using the rich colors found in magazine photos to create a completely new image.
Thank you Jasmine for the inspiration!

Lovin' Ed Emberley

Middle Man has always loved Ed Emberley but lately he has become quite the enthusiast! He is so proud of this drawings. Here's one: I'm happy something interests him that doesn't require too many supplies and is also portable! This book is one of the many Ed Emberly books available and it is so much fun.
PEACE
MM

Classroom Affirmations

My end of the year gifts to teachers are complete! Phew, finished and ready to be wrapped then delivered. I made each teacher a 25 card set of Affirmations to share with their future students at morning circle (or whenever).

Together Middle Man and I thought up the sentences and I encourage you to write your own with your children. That, on it's own, was a creative and learning experience for us both.
I brought a set with me to church this weekend and even the older children (ages 11-14) wanted to pick one and seemed to enjoy sharing with the others the card they chose. It's fun and a nice was to connect as a group.

I am selling these sets with bowl/dish for $20 locally. If you live in the area and would like to purchase a set please contact me via email spirals@gwi.net if you want to buy a set and do not live locally still contact me and HOPEFULLY I can get paypal up and running and complete some order requests.

But, I will say this is an easy project to do on your own and with your children; I encourage you to try it yourself and enjoy the process most of all.
In PEACE
Montessori Mama

Lost and Found

While shopping at our brand new Goodwill store I made a wonderful discovery! I found a copy of Nature Crafts for Kids by Gwen Diehn and Terry Krautwurst, a book I had once owned and treasured. I lost my copy years ago when we moved to Maine and have longed for it every summer because of the wonderful nature crafts it possessed. And yesterday I found it! Stuck between some children's stories and only $0.99!!
Some of the craft ideas it instructs with beautiful photos and easy to follow step by step instructions, are:

• How to make paper with inlaid leaves
• Walnut printing
• turnip lanterns
• Mushroom spore prints
• Making nature kaleidoscopes
• How to make sun prints
• Wild Flower candle making
• constructing a cement bird bath

...and the list goes on....
I highly recommend this book for parent/teachers working with elementary age children.
~~MM

Skipping school...to build a town!

Okay so no one is really sick, well I'm recovering, but my nine year old who missed the bus this morning, he's not sick. He is however home from school today. Little One is overjoyed and yes, we've been having fun. Taking a moment to celebrate my son, he IS very talented. I wish I could afford to nurture his creativity more than I do here at home. Board and restless, he came up with the idea to create our town in a 3D map! Why not?
Using poster board (and math) he cut the buildings and taped them together. He also drew on them, recreating his favorite shops and places to visit in town. When he was finished he said,
"I only wish there were tiny little people to walk down the street."
Maybe we will make them the next time he misses the bus?


I'm still recovering and it's slow going, but today I read Goodnight Moon to Little One and he was so happy! I'm glad so many of you enjoyed my last post and I want you to know if you have any questions, please ask them and I'll try and answer with a post. There was more to the workshop including a resource list which I will post soon. I'm glad you found it helpful!
~~MM