Saying Goodbye

I know you probably won't remember me.
But I don't mind.

I'm going to miss you terribly but I'm happy for you too. It's amazing to me, how much a person can grow in just 10 months! Where did the months go? My how much you've changed since September! When we first met, you thought you might like me...time passed and you decided I was safe. Now I feel like you love me as much as I loved you that first day. And the idea of not seeing you each day makes me teary. It's hard to imagine you along side "the big kids" at "the big school". But I know in my heart you'll be better than fine and I feel proud. It's comforting for me, to know the people you will join:

some of your future classmates who were once my students too, and your future teachers and care givers who are some of my dearest and most trusted friends.

And of course, you are ready to go. It's time to leave the Nest.

Your parents are so blessed and we all know it too, there's never been, and there will never be again, a child just like you.

Thank you for choosing me, for feeling safe and free. Watching you grow has taught me so much you'll never know.

And even though you may not remember me,
I'll never ever forget you ~ each one of you ~
and you'll always be with me. In my heart.

Thank you for a wonderful school year: Ella Bea, Maddie, Josie, Marley, Jane, Adler, Scarlett, Dana, Amelia, Oliver, Quinn, James, and Cole.

With love and in PEACE,
Miss Jennifer

So you say it's your birthday?

Little One is three!
Ah...happiness is a birthday walk celebrations with your school friends, followed by a family pizza party in the park, with some of your big brother's friends and your very favorite (also three years old) girl Stella, ice cream cake and plenty of room to run!

Thank you to all who sent birthday wishes and love our way! Little One had a perfectly wonderful third birthday. We are both blessed.
I can't believe it's been three whole years since he came to be.



My little sunshine. Happy Birthday Little One.

Dressing and Undressing: Practical Life

I found this Mouse, I call him Henry, at Job Lot (a dollar store) for $1.99.
His clothes are removable. And he's the new hit of our classroom. I introduced him at Circle [sans rain gear] on a rainy day. I explained that Henry loves to jump in puddles and without the proper outerwear his Mom and Dad won't let him. So because he is a small mouse he needs the children's help to put his things on before he can go out to play. The more he practices putting them on and off, the better he will get at doing it himself.

I've gotta say, my three year old students are helping Henry out! The two year old friends are challenged and welcome the help of an older friend, who as we all know, are the BEST teachers!

I highly recommend adding a dress-up mouse (or doll) to your practical life shelves!
In PEACE
Jennifer

Salt in the Sensory Table

In December I introduced the sand tray....the next day I removed it from the shelf. Sand on a shallow tray with 10 toddlers? What was I thinking?

In January I introduced the corn meal tray...hoping for better results....this new work became more about getting to use the super cool carpet-sweeper than the corn meal tray itself, and when the corn meal was gone, so too was the tray.

I decided perhaps this work could wait until Spring.

Any-who, I reintroduced the concept today by putting just a little bit of salt in our sensory table. Just enough to practice letter formation. We've been using our sand paper letters all year; I began today's lesson by passing the letter "O" around our circle, then demonstrating how to make the letter in salt (using a small red tray with salt) I then lead the children to the sensory table, and dramatically removed the cover for the big reveal: Salt in the sensory table! "oo"s and "ah"s followed and many little hands began making circles in the salt.



I will share that, also within moments, the plug had been removed and salt poured onto the floor beneath. After MUCH sweeping, more salt writing took place. Moments later salt was being sprinkled into other people's hair by one over excited fellow and one child (yes, my child) even ATE the salt.

Good times.

But, all in all, I think the majority enjoyed the idea and I will present it again tomorrow also. I love when I can find a way to link toddlers to traditional Montessori materials.

As always, thanks for reading.
PS: I the photos you may have noticed that there are Q-tips in the salt table. This is because sometimes children prefer to 'make their mark' without using their hands, so the Q-tips work like a writing utensil. *If you have a sensory sensitive child in your home or classroom giving them a tool to avoid touching the undesirable material; can often be helpful.
PEACE
Jennifer

What's Happening In the Nest?

Sorting key tags
After removing the metal key ring, I colored a different image on two groups of ten. One group: a blue star, the other: a pink flower. This nifty blue dish was a yard sale find, but I've seen them since at the Family Dollar Store. I think it's actually a condiment server.

This little girl has taken to doing works on her lap. She is very fond of the classroom's little blue couch and doesn't want anyone else to get her spot. The light was great so I took the photo. However, I am working with her to share the blue couch as well as giving gentle reminders about how/where we use the materials and why. But sometimes the best lesson is in the experience; right after I took this photo, another child sat next to this little girl, accidentally knocking her 'lap' tray to the floor. All her hard sorting work fell to the floor. As I helped her clean up the key tags, I asked some wondering questions aloud:

"I wonder why your work fell?" "I wonder, if the tray had been on the floor on a work rug, would the tags have fallen?" "I wonder if your friend meant to knock your work or were they just sitting down?"

I have found through asking & answering these types of open ended wonder questions both the teacher and child care grow and learn together.




Two Little Black Birds (felt story)
I made these quick rhyming story props from felt, but you could just as easily use paper or objects if you had them. The toddlers LOVE this work.
"Fly away Jack." "Fly away Jill"....



Continent Bean Bag Map (with color matching dots added) and a basket with top (found by Paula~thank you Paula) for the animals to be stored in. This work is used EVERY day. I'm so happy they like it.



I get by with a little help from my friends.
Zipper Expert and "big girl" at three years old, helps out her younger friend with his coat zipper.
I like to call this one, "Watch and Learn".
;) Accidentally caught on film, this photo makes me smile!

PEACE to all,
Happy Wednesday everybody.
Only, one more day until Mother's Day Tea Toddler Style!
PEACE
Jennifer

On the PL Shelves This Week....

"Peaceful Feet" This isn't so much a Practical Life work as much as a Grace and Courtesy or community building activity but in our room it was born out of necessity for busy twos! Running is a common trend among toddlers; they can help themselves! So I put this work together to encourage slower movements and to bring a focus on deliberate and purposeful walking. I simply traced a shoe of Little one's and cut out felt foot prints (about 10) included in the basket are a peace dove (Christmas ornament) and a Tibetan bell with a pipe cleaner handle. The idea is the children set out the foot prints (to tread lightly and slowly upon) and carry either the dove or the bell as they walk peacefully along. a younger child would carry the dove, an older child the bell, being careful not to make it ring. This could be done along a tape line or around a circle rug or anywhere really.



This bunny was a candy box. I used sharpie markers to color in the dishes to match with corresponding color pom-poms. Include wooden tongs and this tweezing activity can simply be tweezing to transfer OR a more challenging color matching activity.



The next two photos are of another color matching work I created using playdough container covers (the color circles) and a dollar store storage jug with a twist off top. I cut a hole in the handle of the top and used the tape to cover any possible sharp plastic. I realize the dark tape takes away from the presentation but it doesn't seem to deter from the toddlers wanting to do this activity. They LOVE this, from the twist off top they can do themselves, to the "curplunk" sound the lids make as they fall in. This is a big hit (and it cost just under $3 to pull together). If these types of playdough lids are not available to you, milk container lids would work also. They don't come in bright colors but you could cover them or paint them or even affix an image to them to create matching pairs.




What's most important is to have fun! Use what's available, during these tough times, we all need to spend less money and to re~use materials when possible.
Happy Spring!
In PEACE ~ Jennifer

A Little Bird Told Me...

How to make a nest from a paper bag! So we did. You roll the bag from the top to the bottom curling it under as you go, next fill your nests with glue and all sorts of fun nesting materials: yarn, pipe~cleaner 'twigs', & pom-pom 'eggs'.



This was a quick and easy toddler Spring art activity. Every child wanted to participate and left carrying their very own nest. I heard some parents mention the Easter Bunny might even visit and leave something IN their nest!
Got paper bags? Then you've got bird nests to build!
Happy nesting...
In PEACE
Jennifer

Photos from this week....

~Yoga~ Stretching like starfish....















Chasing bubbles....












Exploring a new work...





It's been a long week and it's only Wednesday night. Yesterday my town experienced some flooding due to heavy rain. Our driveway was washed away and there was left a four foot drop from the pavement. It has been repaired since, thank Goodness! School was closed due to the flooding and many streets were also closed. I stayed home (obviously we couldn't GO anywhere) but I was sick, so I stayed in bed.

Today it was back to school, business as usual. Busy toddlers exploring their world.
The children are getting excited about Spring and flowers and MUDD! The playground has been a ton o' fun since the rain came....she types with a smile and a wink. These photos are from Monday and today. They LOVE Yoga! And I am so very happy they do. There have been some restless bodies lately, as you know, "Spring Fever" is most likely the cause. Although from this tired teacher's point of view there is nothing more exasperating than one toddler readying the troops with a call like, "Come on everybody, let's RUN!" INSIDE! Someone ALWAYS gets knocked down or falls and tears follow. Running inside is not okay. Today's response: "But Miss Jennifer, we can't run outside because of the MUD!" She has a point...a toddler needs to RUN.

In other news...
Taller Than Me shined during a recent school music concert and Middle Man got the part of the Tin Man in our local children's theater's production of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! And Little One is still coughing but getting better each day.
His favorite phrase: "Will you play with me?"
PEACE to all of you~I've gotta go play.
Jennifer

Small Hands and Small Spaces

Hi All, I'm home today with Little One due to his cold, ear infection, wheeze~cough~possible asthma and chapped lips (which out of the four, bothers him the most). He told me this morning in toddler speak:
"Me no go to school today Mama, me chapped lips."
"Well yes, of course, stay home my dear."

And my wonderful director Paula thoughtfully arranged things to accommodate my need to be Mommy to just my little one today. THANK YOU PAULA! And Thank you Mallory, and thank you Sarah and anyone else who rearranged their day for me to be with Little One. I truly appreciate it. Sometimes a kiddo just needs their Mama.

My plan for today: Lay low and cuddle, drink lots of liquids and get plenty of rest!
Of course those of you who follow this blog know me; and you know that translates to:
Cuddle yes but ALSO, do 15 loads of laundry, wash a sink full of dishes, vacuum and post a blog entry!

The title of this one: 'Small Hands'
Is in reference to a toddler friend of mine who has small hands that fit just right (she told me) in my great big hands. Yesterday at nap time, I lay on the floor next to my small hands friend and sang a lullaby. She smiled through the whole song, occasionally blinking her tired and heavy eyelids but stayed awake to tell me,
"You don't sing like my Mommy, but I still like you."

She then told me she couldn't sleep and when I asked her what I could do to help, and she said:
"Hold my hand?"
So of course I did and she fell to sleep.

But as I lay there I thought about just how small her hand was. Just how little these beings are. Each day I spend my day with them and sometimes I forget how BIG this world must be for them.
Lately the children have been finding small spaces to hide away in, in the classroom (under the tables, behind the curtain we use as a closet door etc.) This has been a bit frustrating on a few levels because sometimes this can lead to exclusionary strategies on the part of some children and because small spaces only fit small bodies and so helping children get out of these small spaces can be a challenge when you are big.

But their recent behavior has taught me that these kiddos are in need of places at school that allow them to feel BIG in size. I've been working so hard to provide opportunities for our children to practice their developing independence and practical life skill building but have I been preparing an environment that nurtures their need to feel big?

This weekend I made some changes to the classroom environment that I hope will do just that! I created a number of spaces using the shelves to create three sided nooks, next I put a comfy rug or several pillows in the spaces to make them cozy. I recently framed a collection of mono-prints that the toddlers made, so I hung the two frames low so they could be admired by all. Yesterday two out of the ten toddlers told me they liked the new spaces, without me asking them. I'm taking that as a success! Time will tell but I think it feels better now.

Do any of you have suggestions, things you do at home or in your classrooms to provide small spaces for small hands? Please share.
Be healthy and hug the one you're with.
PEACE
Jennifer

I've Got Rhythm...Sticks

Do you? Banging sticks rules! My two's LOVE these sticks. "Circle Round for some music together friends, it's time for rhythm sticks." I say this and instantly 10 toddlers are sitting on circle rugs awaiting two painted sticks to bang together. You gotta love magic like this. Making noise is fun, making noise together with your friends? Even more fun! Now making MUSIC with sticks? This is altogether too cool for school. Seriously folks, if you don't have them, invest.

"Tap, tap, tap your sticks, tap your sticks together"
"Roll, roll, roll your sticks roll your sticks together"
"Drum, drum, drum your sticks, drum your sticks together"
see how many ideas they can come up with.

My most recent favorite toddler idea: "Hammer, hammer, hammer your sticks, hammer your sticks together." The child who came up with this idea is the son of a carpenter. One stick is the nail, the other, yep you guessed it, the hammer. They love these sticks! And obviously I do too. Enjoy.
Most importantly: Enjoy your time making music together, if not with sticks then with pots and wooden spoons. Get creative.
PEACE
Jennifer

Spreading Jam

Such fun! On our recent trip to NO I saved away this itty bitty jam jar, with this work in mind. My toddler friends loved getting sticky and sharing snacks with their friends. It was a success!
More to follow....
PEACE to you all on this beautiful Spring day
MM

Strawberries were on sale...

My Little One has been hungry allot lately, so to meet the constant begging for food throughout the morning from him, I created a food prep activity: cutting and serving strawberries! Plus strawberries were on sale. *Note: Little One eats a good b'fast and is in no way actually HUNGRY he just loves to eat. It's comforting, as is often the case for many growing bodies, but I just want to be clear: he is not actually suffering in any way, shape or form.

The set up (pictured) shows a purple vest (with the contact paper strawberry), the vest was for the person preparing the strawberries for serving. As a visual cue for the other children waiting. This was a very popular activity! WOW! I'm going to have to create more food prep. works. We went through TWO containers of berries today!
What do you do in your classrooms? Ideas are welcomed, thank you.
In PEACE,
Montessori Mama

Ball Tube

I made this ball tube from a poster mailer (UPS store), color duct tape, and a basket of ping pong balls. My kiddos LOVE it. I used the back side of a shelf that has a dry erase board on it. [a safe surface to attach the strong tape to]

I simply taped the tube at an angle and provided the balls with a basket to catch them in. There are ten balls by the by and when I introduced this material to the children I counted each ball before sending it down the tube. I have to smile when I notice a two year old friend counting each ball before she sends it down the tube.

*This work could be created using smaller tubes (paper towel rolls) if your children are older and the objects that fit threw are not at risk of being eaten.

What are you waiting for? Get the ball rolling :)
~PEACE
Jennifer

This Little Light of Mine...

Have I mentioned that I LOVE our new Goodwill Store? While searching for containers for potential Montessori works, I discovered this flashlight for .59cents. Can't beat that!

Anyway, add some D batteries and a tray and you have a flashlight work for under $5.00. One little boy in the group is lovin' this work! He likes to build, put things together AND to take things apart. The flash light work is his new favorite material.

This month we've been talking about candles, the sun, light, shiny and dull, bright and dark etc; so this work has found a home on our shelves not a moment to soon.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
PEACE
~MM

Yoga With Toddlers

Before nap, we stretch like cats.



We curl up and make our bodies small and still like pebbles on the beach.


We feel peaceful and we go to sleep.

Well not every day....and not every child. My son, pictured here, refuses to nap on a regular basis, yoga or no yoga. But he likes the yoga.
We are finding that most of the children really enjoy it and are quickly learning the positions. Do any of you use yoga with toddlers?
PEACE
~MM

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