For their Montessori Papa

WE MISS YOU Papa!
(My husband is finishing his Masters and taking his formal Montessori Elementary Training this summer. I am so proud of him!)
I took this photo Montessori Papa's last day here. We went for ice cream in town and the boys let me take a photo of all three of them at the same time! This is unheard of you see. I really like this picture. I hope he does too.

To all of YOU:
# 1.) My hat is off to single parents everywhere! I have no idea how you do this day after day. I am very blessed and I know that. I wish I lived closer to you so that I could offer to care for your kiddos so you could have a break!
# 2.) Thank you ALL for all the sweet comments and emails I've been receiving lately. They always make me smile. I try so hard to write to you, to answer questions etc. But unfortunately often things get lost in the shuffle around here.
Please keep writing and I'll keep trying.
In PEACE,
Montessori Mama

Supporting Toddler Play

Play is the central activity of childhood. For toddlers, play is the way they learn about themselves and their world. It is also the way they begin to master many fundamental physical, social, and intellectual skills and concepts.

Recently my nine year old pointed out to my two year old, that HE didn't even know what a 'play date' was. My two year old's retort (because he was clearly offended) was: blowing a raspberry.

No seriously, of course he knows what a play date is. It's his life's work after all. But this back seat conversation between brothers and a recent successful toddler play date for Little One and his best girl pal Miss S, inspired me to write about the importance of toddler play and how we as parents and caregivers can support it.

Being a supportive adult means responding to a toddler's initiations in play and by expanding the scope of play while still allowing the toddler to take the lead. It takes time to learn how to do this successfully. Caregivers who tailor their behavior to the toddler's activity and then respond thoughtfully and appropriately will help the child to move ahead in all areas of their development.

The following are a list of suggestions; ways we can be supportive caregivers in a Montessori toddler classroom (OR home environment/playgroup):

*Prepare the environment and have a plan. (more about that later)
*Observe children’s play (this can not be said enough: Observe, Observe, Observe! You will learn so much. Toddler’s are valuable teachers of teachers.)
*Allow the children to be as independent as they are able.
*Avoid interrupting children’s play unless absolutely necessary for a scheduled routine such as lunch or nap (in which case warning should be given ie. the turn of the rain stick sounded, a musical chime is struck, etc)
*Let the children know that you are interested in what they do by encouraging them to talk about their play.
*Be available to assist children when your help is needed.
*Encourage the children to explore and experiment with open ended materials in their own ways with the least amount of direction.
*Reserve the word “No” for messages about safety; instead encourage your toddler(s) to use the materials in a different way. Model the behavior you desire.
*Avoid needless conversation with other adults.

When caring for a group of toddlers it will only benefit you and the children you care for, if you prepare the environment ahead. Have many of the items you foresee being popular (ex: balls, blocks, shovels in the sand box). And now,
about that plan…

Like Mary Poppins with her carpet bag, you’ve got to come prepared.
Any Barney fans out there? Remember “Looking in my Barney Bag, to see what I can see…” Every seasoned teacher knows to bring a bag of tricks along when caring for a group of toddlers.
Here are a few of my personal favorites:
Puppets
Bubbles
Musical instruments
Paint
Water
Balls
and card board boxes

Despite all the convincing evidence out there that toddlers learn best through play, many caregivers still enforce large group lessons (in my opinion this can be similar to herding cats). And the result is a lot of adult directed time and squirmy toddlers. A group of toddlers cannot be expected to learn the same thing, the same way, at the same time. It is better if groups form spontaneously and if you’ve ever worked with a group of two year olds, you know they will! Your game plan should be:
"Go with the flow" Of course, have your ‘bag of tricks’ ready and waiting and pull from it what you see the children need as they need it. Follow their lead.

Setting aside a specific part of your toddler’s day for “lesson giving” is an idea full of good intentions but it is also often unrealistic. The reason being that every moment of a toddler’s day lessons are being given, valuable information received, learning is always taking place and just because you may be ready and willing the children you are caring for may not be. You've gotta be flexible and patient. That’s why your role is so important. You are your child’s guide. They take their cues from you and you have the power to peek their interest and to nurture their discoveries and exploration.

My suggested guidelines for planned activities:

1.) Allow the children to do for themselves as much as possible, avoid the temptation to make the activity easier for the adult by doing it for the children.
2.) Introduce activities and materials with enthusiasm, model how you want the materials to be used.
3.) Allow children to make mistakes and trust in them to problem solve (Don't jump in to save the day!)
4.) Be prepared to drop your plans and instead follow the children's lead, by expanding on the play they are already involved in.
5.) Prepare the materials you may need ahead of time.
6.) To prevent frustration,learn the developmentally appropriate expectations of your children.
*Source: Young Children Mag. March 1985

Most of all enjoy your time together,toddlers are ever learning at this age and at the same time they are so wise beyond their years! Pay attention, close attention, they have so much knowledge to impart. And if you haven't in a while, get down on the floor and PLAY.
Build a castle, a puzzle, a pile of pillows!
Smoosh some playdough, some berries, a wet sponge!
Have fun!
PEACE
~MM

Every Child

Dr. Tze of the Global Child Health Society" asked Raffi to write a song for the health of the world's children qand Raffi responded with this song:

Every child, every child, is a child of the universe
Here to sing, here to sing, a song of beauty and grace
Here to love, here to love, like a flower out to bloom
Every boy and girl a blessing and a joy

Every child, every child, of man and woman born
Fed with love, fed with love, in the milk that's mother's own
A healthy child, healthy child, as the dance of life unfolds
Every child in the family, safe and warm

Dreams of children free to fly
Free of hunger, and war
Clean flowing water and air to share
With dolphins and elephants and whales all around

Every child, every child, dreams of peace in this world
Wants a home, wants a home, and a gentle hand to hold
To provide, to provide, room to grow and to belong
In the loving village of human kindness

~From the album: Raffi Radio 1995

Don't you just adore that? I love it. I don't much care for the rest of the album but highly recommend this particular song.
In PEACE
Montessori Mama

Frustrated...grumble..grumble

Hi Everyone,
As you may have observed, my blog is having some technical difficulties and it is very annoying for me. I am working it out but not without stomping away from the desk in total frustration, several times now.
I hope to get it all worked out soon.
Wish me luck.
PEACE to all of you,
as always thank you for visiting me.
Montessori Mama

Artist Baskets

A few years ago it became a goal of mine to create Artist Baskets. The contents of these baskets would share with young children about the lives and creations of some of the world's more famous artists. They would be introduced at circle by me, the story of the artist would be shared, the materials presented. Next the basket would return to it's spot on the shelf accompanied by prints of the artist's work (if available), books about the artist, and any related items that might inspire my classroom of young artists to create!

A few famous names came to mind right away: Van Gogh, Matisse, Renoir, Picasso, Monet, Jackson Pollack, and I realized that they were ALL men. Talented artists who I love and adore but still, ALL men, and there are little girls who are artists! And so I began searching out some more talented artists (who happened to be female) to balance my collection. Easier said than done...

Should you want to enrich your classrooms or homes with Artist Baskets of your own, these are the female artists I added to my list:

• Mary Cassatt
• Georgia O'Keeffe
• Grandma Moses
• Frida Kahlo
• Beatrix Potter

Here is a sample of one of my more simple Artist Baskets:

Artist: Georgia O'Keeffe

Materials: Flower fabric (not shown)

Georgia O’Keeffe doll representation(s)

Small easel with several small prints of her paintings

Silk flower

Presentation:

"Watch where I go to get today’s story."

Unfold the flower fabric. As you smooth out the wrinkles say . . .

"What could this be? Are these flowers? I like flowers; I wonder if the artist we are going to learn about today enjoyed flowers? Let’s see what else we have in this Artist’s basket."

Set up the small easel incorrectly at first, as though you had never seen one before, then right it, nod and look in the basket for a painting to display on it. As you do say things like . . .

"I think I recognize this, it is so colorful, yes, I think I’ve seen this picture before."

Place the Georgia O’Keeffe doll on the flower fabric.

"This is the Artist who painted these pictures. Her name is Georgia O’Keeffe.

Let me share with you, the story of her life."

Place the small Georgia doll on the rug.

"This girl is Georgia. She became a famous artist when she grew up, but when she was just a small child she was already an artist. She drew pictures every day. She wore flowers in her hair.

Pause. Pick up the silk flower and tuck it over your ear or in your hair (if possible).

She loved nature and drawing and painting the things that were around her.

I know of children who enjoy doing that."

Smile at the children and look around the classroom at their artwork admiringly.

"Georgia wanted so much to see more of this world, and to paint what she saw."

Place your hand to your forehead and slowly look high and low and all around..

"When she grew older she left home and traveled to New York City. While in the city first she painted the city."

Pause to show a painting of a city scape done by O'Keeffe

"Do you remember what Georgia liked to put in her hair?"

"Flowers! Yes, flowers. Are there fields of flowers growing in a city? No...and Georgia missed the flowers."

So she had an idea."

Place the city scape painting back into the basket and slowly reveal a painting of a flower by O'Keeffe

She would paint flowers SO BIG that the busy people who lived in the city would STOP being busy to enjoy something beautiful, even if just for a moment."

Pause to admire the painting, take the flower from your hair and lay it next to the easel.

"Georgia longed to see more places and more beautiful things; so she packed up her paints and moved West.

This time she lived by a desert. She painted landscapes and cactus flowers."

Pause to show another painting of O'Keeffe's

"Georgia painted every day. She almost always wore black and white

and she always wore something special in her hair."

Pick up the silk flower and place it again in your hair.

"Do you know what that special something Georgia wore was?

Yes, you're right, a flower!"

~~~end~~~

I followed the presentation of this Artist's Basket with an art project. Flower prints. Using a shallow pan the children dipped their chosen flowers in the paint and then placed them on to paper to make a print.

For more information about creating O'Keeffe type art projects with your children please visit: KinderArt

Thank you for reading!

In PEACE,

Montessori Mama

Reflection Cards

My Aunt Elizabeth inspired this idea...
For her birthday I gave her a set of the Reflection Cards I make. She has been sharing with me (via email) the words she has chosen. This gave me the idea to chose a card from my own set and to share it with all of you.
Today's word was:
In PEACE,
Montessori Mama

Gaining Perspective

I know transitions can be trying. I think all parents and teachers know this. But sometimes I forget it. School has ended, and summer has begun...so too have my 'Middle Man's' transition woes. Today is the first day of summer camp at Cornerspring! I am hopeful all will go well; yet I worry this additional transition might result in total melt down come bed time.

Sunday morning by 7:30am I needed to take the two younger boys OUT of the house. Dad was sleeping (after working the night shift) and 'Taller Than Me' was too.
Thing one and Thing Two however, were bouncing off the walls, having eaten b'fast and gotten dressed by 6:15am! (YES! You read that correctly) Both boys were ready to go somewhere. Now please understand something, we live in the woods.
A beautiful forest actually, and truly and there are more than enough wonderful stimulating things surrounding this tiny house in the woods, for two small boys to have fun for HOURS.
But NO, this is not what was to happen. 'Middle Man' was outside maybe 3 minutes and returned frustrated with the 'BUGS'. I looked out the window and saw 'Little One' happy and filling his wagon with sticks...but I had hoped my ten year old could look after my two year old while I finished my cup of tea and watched them from the sofa in front of the bay window. But NO, apparently not.

So...because we are blessed to live on the coast, I piled them into the car and drove to the beach. It was low tide!

(The above photo was taken last year not yesterday morning because to have brought my camera would have required more thought than I had at that moment. Also the above photo is not of the beach we visited but I really loved the sunlight)

"LOW"and "TIDE" are a coastal Mama's two favorite words at 7:30 in the morning. I sat down in the sand with my newspaper and my now cold mug of tea...
Thing One and Thing Two EXPLORED.
Ahhhhh.......
It was lovely. 'Little One' could have stayed for hours...
'Middle Man' had to use the bathroom about 15 minutes into our coastal escape. Then he cut his finger on a rock(?) I'm still not exactly sure how it happened but thankfully it was a small injury. Small but in need of a hug and a band aid.

We got back into the car. Home again jigity jog...
This was the daily calendar's picture:
Sometimes, I forget. I forget how hard it is to be an almost ten year old Spirited child, who isn't sure what will happen next. When we returned home 'Middle Man's' finger was magically mended, TLC and a small band aid was all it took. Little One added his two sea shells, four rocks and one very large piece of drift wood to our nature shelf and sat down to a pile of board books.

It had been a FULL morning and all BEFORE 9am.
Every time I think it is difficult to be 'Middle Man's' Mom I remind myself how difficult it must be to be 'Middle Man'. Especially during transition times.

Thanks for reading this...
PEACE
MM

Happy Solstice!

"I told the Sun that I was glad, I'm sure I don't know why; Somehow the pleasant way he had Of shining in the sky, Just put a notion in my head That wouldn't it be fun If, walking on the hill, I said "I'm happy" to the Sun."
~John Drinkwater, "The Sun"

Last night's Solstice Celebration didn't go exactly as I had planned...it was raining. Oh well. We need rain, and without it we would not appreciate the Sun!:)
So how do you celebrate Summer Solstice?
The following is a list of ideas of ways to celebrate Summer Solstice with your families:
(I collected these ideas from various sources over the years, forgive me for not giving credit where credit is due!)

• Have a Summer Solstice potluck dinner or lunch that features seasonal fruits and veggies and dishes that are the color or shape of the sun.
• Sing: "This Little Light of Mine"
• Watch the sun set with your family in silence, invite your children to paint or draw the sunset with you.
• Sleep outside!
• Eat outside (but of course)
• Take a Nature Walk~stop to study the plants and flowers in bloom. Notice the shapes, colors, and textures.
• Do the yoga "Salute to the Sun"
• Shoot off fireworks (or light sparklers which is tamer :)
• Make sun catchers with colored cellophane.
• Fill a jar with yellow and orange marbles and water, ask your children to pick wild flowers to put in the jar; this vase will grace your table.
• Fill your bird feeders
• If possible: take a walk along the beach.
• Build a bonfire at sunset and dance all around it!
• Use sidewalk chalk.
• Create paper plate mandalas.
• Use only candles to light your evening activities
• Make your own Sun symbols like wreaths, spheres, disks, medallions or mandalas, using readily available materials such as gold foil, yellow, orange, white, and gold ribbons, flowers, herbs, fabric, paper, and/or pipe cleaners.
• Research the sun-reverencing peoples of our world by joining in their prayer (this is a nice way to include a geography lesson).
• Mow the lawn for someone in your neighborhood who can't do it themselves
• Cook your best dish and give it to an overworked mother with young children....if this is YOU, ask your children to cook dinner for you tonight! (*with another adult's help).
  
• Play music or sing for someone in need of visitors
• Make a specific resolution for tomorrow...
• Make a salad sprinkled with edible flowers
• Are there any berries ripe where you are? Go berry picking!
• Hike a hill to be closer to the Sun!
• Lie in the sun. Close your eyes, relax your muscles one by one, and feel the healing rays of the Sun *USE SUNSCREEN!
• Play a game outside!
• Play They Might Be Giant's song: "Why Does the Sun Shine?"
• Teach your children the words to the Beatles' song: "Here Comes the Sun"
  
• Create a spiral using the Montessori red rods and walk it with bare feet!

So there you have my Summer Solstice Celebration List (a day late!)
Please share your ideas with me.
Blessed Be Our Glorious Sun!
PEACE
Montessori Mama

Thursday's Center-PEACE

Tonight I was a the person who chose the items for our Center PEACE I picked these items:
A pine cone
A Magic Box (more about that later)
A card recently sent to me by my niece and nephew (whom I adore! Thank you guys)
A jar of grape jam given to me by a family who attended my ART+PLAY class as a thank you.
(They made the jam!)
It is sad for me, that ART+PLAY has come to an end, but the experience was wonderful and I learned so much about myself as a teacher. I will always be grateful for my time at Waterfall Arts.
In PEACE
MM

When You're Two Everything is New

Rain puddles, slugs, day lily flowers, ice cream cones, sandbox adventuring, the ocean's waves tickling your toes, throwing a ball, spreading pizza sauce and tearing lettuce leaves, rainbow colored Duplo blocks that fit together....

Here Little One discovers a slug.
I believe children are spiritual beings who can bring us adults to that joyous place of wonder.
IF we pay attention that is. It is very easy to get lost in the stresses of our adult lives, isn't it?

"Wonder is an exceedingly important stimulus for the human spirit. It can arise only from an attentive observation of reality. Education to wonder is correlative with an education that helps us to go always more deeply into reality. If we skim over things we will never be surprised by them. Wonder is not an emotion of superficial people; it strikes root only in the person whose mind is able to settle and rest in things; in the person who is capable of stopping and looking." Sofia Cavalletti

And so a small orange/brownish slug that I might have stepped over (or possibly accidentally stepped on) became a catalyst of my education.

"Pause a while, ponder a moment and then begin again." ~ my Mama used to say
What will your children teach you today?
PEACE~~MM