tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66037857769103904472012-02-16T12:41:48.176-05:00our adventures in homeschool preschool the Montessori way<br>(with a little Charlotte Mason thrown in for good measure)Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.comBlogger791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-81776954299802978092011-11-25T16:00:00.001-05:002011-11-25T16:09:32.593-05:00

Just hanging out and relaxing in my pajamas when I stumbled upon this e-book that came out today. Apparently, for today only you can purchase it for $2.99 (after today it will be $4.99).  So I just had to share. It's done advent calendar style with 24 days of scripture reading and ornament making. She gives you a supply list and templates necessary for all crafts (if you have little ones, you

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-18633147521817969062011-11-09T10:09:00.002-05:002011-11-09T10:09:52.021-05:00

I get to see just a little bit of how a regular Montessori classroom might operate since my daughter (3) has joined us in our Montessori endeavors. Today I walked in on my son giving her the 3-period lesson on the Geometric Solids. "Can you hand me the sphere?" he asked her in a voice slightly mimicking my own. Love.

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-54458428696366786162011-10-10T08:37:00.000-04:002011-10-10T08:37:00.257-04:00

The jars are available for download as a jpeg here.

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-68750362219784249892011-10-08T22:45:00.000-04:002011-10-08T22:46:09.526-04:00

Kingdom of the Pink Princesses has done a wonderful job of describing the Dwyer method. Take a quiet moment, get something to snack on, and read all she has to say here.

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-21177708943095558442011-10-05T12:09:00.000-04:002011-10-11T07:59:30.409-04:00

I didn't have it in me to make color box 3 in the same fashion as I did color box 1 and 2. So here's how I did mine. The paint swatch cards came from Wal-Mart. I like these because they have 7 swatches of each color like the proper color box 3. I laminated the swatch cards to put up with the abuse of clothespins. My plan is for them to put the clothespin on the swatch card in the proper order,

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-38865200909372615782011-09-30T12:30:00.001-04:002011-09-30T12:31:57.271-04:00

The Mr. recently acquired 2 kids tables like this (without the stools) for $5 each! Guidecraft Nordic Table Set We really didn't need these tables, but because they were pretty solid, in such great shape, and the price was right, he couldn't turn them down. What would you do with them? We have this fantastic table for the kids right now that is used for homeschool and play (which I highly

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-25865076143465017012011-09-28T16:37:00.001-04:002011-09-28T17:00:56.583-04:00

Well, we're a month into our new school year and I thought perhaps I should get these pics that I took on the 2nd day of school up...better late than never. E working on her first go at Cylinder Block A. She moved on quickly from this to doing 3 at a time. W enjoys doing this work. Here he is sliding his finger down to check whether this is an odd or even number. He pushes the even

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-77012829059389748602011-09-14T15:43:00.000-04:002011-09-14T15:43:18.383-04:00

We do not use the pink/green/blue (are those the correct colors?) scheme in teaching reading and opt instead for Muriel Dwyer's reading scheme. We're quite along in the process and I just wanted to check-in and reiterate how much we LOVE this scheme. It all seems so natural and intuitive. And I cannot stress the importance of first playing the sound game (I-Spy to some)thoroughly before moving

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-47549248215343646322011-09-10T00:36:00.001-04:002011-09-14T15:51:36.169-04:00

then haven't. Camera problems are to blame. As well as a busy life. But I wanted to check in and share a quick story with you. I was clearing off the table last week after dinner, when W said, "Hey mommy! There are 2 pieces of pizza left. If we cut them in half, we'll have 4 pieces and we can all have a piece!" So I replied that he was correct and that we could say it as "Mommy and daddy are

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-80877344352700329242011-07-25T11:30:00.000-04:002011-07-25T11:30:09.093-04:00

This is the question my kids have been asking lately. With the exception of some practical life and smidgens of biology (that stem from zoo trips or outdoor walks), I dubbed this summer school free. It was slightly selfish on my part. With 2 years of OT and PT therapies for my 4yo finally coming to an end, a 6 month old baby, potty training, 2 birthdays within a week of each other, summer

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-24524413854158190892011-07-05T23:05:00.000-04:002011-07-05T23:05:25.528-04:00

Even with all the DIY-ing around these parts, there are times when I just have to order things. I had to place a significant size order and was shaking in my boots to do it. While I may bathe in champagne and use hundred dollar bills as kindling in my dreams, my reality is that I have a set budget and it ain't gonna budge. So I had to find the best deal for my dollar but it was difficult when I

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-25645548319926131362011-06-27T11:43:00.000-04:002011-06-27T11:43:39.991-04:00

I acquired this movable alphabet some time ago but had no box to store it in. It lived in a gallon sized Ziploc bag for the time being. I had planned on building a box, but living in a small home I needed something with a smaller footprint. This is what I came up with. I purchased a piece of light grey vinyl ($2) from Joann's clearance fabric and sewed on clear vinyl that I already had on hand.

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-31872807537059480532011-06-23T13:11:00.001-04:002011-06-23T13:40:47.552-04:00

image from here as my camera batteries are charging I received these beauties in the mail today and I couldn't be happier! I purchased them off of ebay from the seller GrandpasMontessori for a song. I admit I was a bit nervous making such a purchase off of ebay, but I'm glad I did. These Knobbed Cylinders are AWESOME. The quality is quite remarkable. I fully expected them to have some issues

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-48478592350912351072011-06-13T12:36:00.001-04:002011-06-13T19:06:56.407-04:00

I've been meaning to share these for a while but was waiting for some action shots. Well, I can't seem to get it together to take those pics so I'll just post the finished products. Tens & Teens Boards: masonite base square dowel separators glued down to base (used wood glue) numbers printed on sticky paper The tray came from Hobby Lobby. It was $2 during a 1/2 off sale. I used some scrap

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-24566547459978984152011-04-27T10:03:00.005-04:002011-05-15T18:52:03.848-04:00

I know I've been absent for quite some time, but three little ones have certainly changed how things are done around here (but in the sweetest, cheekiest way). Anyway, we have been working hard behind the scenes and I've been doing a lot of fretting thinking. I've made the official call to the school district to inform them that W will be homeschooled. And it is that call that has sent me into a

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-58622572814467500612011-03-24T16:51:00.002-04:002011-03-24T16:53:58.578-04:00

Find a solution here.Love this idea.

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-82078765801936442022011-02-23T14:37:00.001-05:002011-02-23T14:39:45.117-05:00

but such is life with a newborn ;)Hopefully, I'll be back to posting soon enough, but I wanted to let you know about the giveaways happening over at Mommy Moment. And there's sure to be more this week!

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-4872649199410661052010-10-10T01:09:00.002-04:002010-10-10T01:14:35.528-04:00

Coming out of pregnancy hiding (32 weeks!) to ask a question.We recently acquired this display shelf for free:It's 60" tall, 25" wide and is made of all wood. Each shelf is approximately 22 x 11 inches. I don't know if you can tell, but the shelves have a slant to them. It was a retail display shelf, I believe. The top portion where the posts stick up, has slits for a placard to be placed.I know

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-13737278529430184252010-09-01T13:39:00.000-04:002010-09-01T13:40:01.267-04:00

Details here. Go sign up!

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-3700575573003879062010-08-25T14:38:00.002-04:002010-08-25T14:43:21.768-04:00

Been busy with bdays, last days of warm weather, pregnancy, skinned knees, canning, and ice cream, so the posts are lacking but are on their way back.I wanted to share this article that the Mr. recently had me read. He emailed it home to me with the subject line reading, "Let's Homeschool." I will warn you that I cried like a baby--of course it could be the hormones of having one in my tummy ;-)

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-20937673945331169232010-08-14T10:40:00.000-04:002010-08-16T23:28:56.141-04:00

These series of lectures were more instructional than most, but still full of great information. Because of this, I didn't go too in depth with the note taking as it would just be giving you presentations. Be sure to watch the videos on these--they are rather short.Selected notes and thoughts...The Sense of TouchActivities for Refining the Sense of Touch--Be sure to have child wash hands and

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-4174795241473683552010-08-13T11:59:00.001-04:002010-08-16T19:29:26.877-04:00

Whew! This was a lot to watch but very informative. After watching these videos, the Geometric Cabinet, which I have waffled on for quite some time, really does seem worth the purchase. And if you're staying with Montessori beyond the preschool years (which we will definitely be doing for a while in mathematics) it is revisited and used in Geometry.The following are selected notes and

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-9838237267604285252010-08-12T09:18:00.000-04:002010-08-15T23:35:22.666-04:00

Selected notes & thoughts on this series of lectures...Criteria for Quality Educational Materials--Materials are not chosen for accelerating intelligence, but rather for achieving the child's potential. If a child achieves his potential he will be intelligent. **YES! I believe this is such a grounding statement and needs to be repeated whenever we get caught up in the hoopla of what other

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-60788720828504643352010-08-11T10:44:00.001-04:002011-03-23T10:07:04.910-04:00

Selected notes & thoughts on this series of lectures...Introduction to Dimension through the Knobbed Cylinders--There is a lack of color in the Knobbed Cylinders (KC) so that the child can concentrate on size; other qualities are neutralized by its natural plain state--Manipulatives/materials aid in size recognition because you cannot use speech exclusively to describe size--You should keep the

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-53169489077762881832010-08-03T07:08:00.003-04:002010-08-03T07:13:23.141-04:00

My scheduled posts never showed up! I know it was user error, but in trying to fix it I deleted them all (insert groan/moan/cry here).I do not have time to rewrite and post this week as we have company coming to stay for a few days and that is my priority right now. So...I will be changing the second portion of the schedule (Teaching Children to Read) to start the week following next (Aug 16).

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-63570316354649742192010-07-26T21:24:00.003-04:002010-07-26T21:41:21.060-04:00

Sorry for the delay in this posting. I thought I had it scheduled to post Monday morning, but I had it schedule for Wednesday morning and just found my mistake this evening.- - - - - - Boy, this intro was CHOCK FULL, wasn't it? Margaret Homfray doesn't mince words either--I found her to be direct, easy to understand, and very thoughtful. The following are just some of the notes I took:--a child

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-67458754343954207682010-07-23T11:27:00.002-04:002010-07-23T11:35:10.749-04:00

Right now Target is offering their Pocket Charts in the One Spot (where most everything is priced at $1.00). I purchased 2 last year and decided to pick up a few this time around as well. I thought it would be nice to link to some ideas on what to do with these charts. If you have any links or ideas please add them:

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-34902216457905380342010-07-23T10:32:00.003-04:002010-07-23T10:58:55.356-04:00

It's been pretty popular these days in blogland to show a bit more of the not-so-pretty side of a blogger's daily life. So, I thought I'd join in...I cut some masonite to make sandpaper numbers similar to my sandpaper letters. I only had one sheet left of the sandpaper from the letters so I decided to use my Dollar Tree sandpaper. BIG MISTAKE. I sanded, painted, cut , and glued. All was well and

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-35167767075665995452010-07-22T08:29:00.002-04:002010-07-22T08:32:13.436-04:00

Today starts the beginning of the viewing schedule. Be sure to watch the Introduction video and we'll start discussion on it on Monday, July 26. Once again, there is no pressure. Join in when you want and when it's convenient.I'm excited, hope you are too!

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-64254880049132623172010-07-19T08:21:00.008-04:002011-06-28T06:27:15.244-04:00

I've been watching the Margaret Homfray videos here and there but not with any regularity or in their entirety. But they are such a wealth of information that I've decided to buckled down and watch them all. As I made this decision I thought I might invite you to watch them along with me and have a discussion about them as we watch. You can find them here and here. **UPDATE** I created a

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-20278991619960742732010-07-14T08:00:00.002-04:002010-07-14T08:00:07.983-04:00

One of the first works W's Occupational Therapist did with him was a color matching activity using a Stegosaurus template. She had 4 Stegosaurus (without the plates on back) cut out in green, blue, yellow, and red laminated cardstock. He had to match the color to clothespins which became the plates on the back. He loved this activity.Recently, I decided to recreate this exercise for Es, but used

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-56098604370189846562010-07-13T08:00:00.000-04:002010-07-13T08:00:02.662-04:00

When we moved into our house 4 years ago, the previous owners had left a fair amount of 2x4 lumber in the garage. We put it away to be used at a later date. When I was deciding what Montessori materials I could make vs. buy, that wood was a big deciding factor. I very much like to use what I have before buying (not just finished pieces, but also supplies) and so, the Pink Tower, Brown Stair, Red

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-52784117826907004472010-07-12T11:27:00.004-04:002010-07-14T20:58:58.472-04:00

First, I must direct your attention here. Why was I not doing this all last week during our major heat wave?! Though, it might've been dangerous. If my car smelled like fresh baked cookies I'd be tempted to take a bite to the steering wheel or a nibble to the seats ;)Secondly, but not as tasty, what are your thoughts on buying the Muriel Dwyer reading scheme pamphlet? The total with shipping is

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-86125380445473200932010-06-28T13:12:00.005-04:002010-06-28T14:33:57.922-04:00

Saturday, we ventured out in the rain and went cherry picking!Good times were had by all. They had these awesome mini buckets for the kids and I put them down on my mental list to try to fashion similar ones at a later date. W enjoyed picking the cherries, counting the cherries, noticing the different values of the colors of cherries...and all pretty self-directed as I had to keep an eagle eye on

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-23512313005384177372010-06-22T14:30:00.003-04:002010-07-14T21:07:25.485-04:00

Doing a search for The Burgess Bird Book for Children, I happened upon these cards:You can find them here. These are a great tool for both Montessori and Charlotte Mason homeschoolers.

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-72187979686434395982010-06-22T09:20:00.000-04:002010-06-22T09:20:13.838-04:00

I realized that I have made a fair amount of our Montessori materials but have failed to share a good number of them. Some of them seem rather simple and self-explanatory, but sometimes we just need the idea put out there to encourage us. So I'm hoping to add more of my "making" on here to aid you in your Montessori endeavors. I know how many fellow bloggers out there have definitely helped me!

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-26587338584686527292010-06-17T08:33:00.002-04:002010-06-17T08:55:59.506-04:00

I've been setting up a few "table works" for Es (23 months) to do at the table while she waits for her meals. As soon as she realizes you're cooking, she immediately asks to sit in her booster seat and wait for dinner. This can be problem when dinner is going to take more than 5 minutes to complete (which it usually does) as she also wants to be entertained while you cook.Here are some ideas that

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-67297044821556033082010-06-01T09:50:00.004-04:002010-06-01T10:01:10.094-04:00

After seeing this alternative to the flower puzzle on one of my favorite blogs, I decided to make up some files for the flower, tree, and leaf puzzle for a friend. And then, since I had the files all done and just sitting on my computer, it made sense to share it with you bloggy friends. You can download the files here.You are seeing a tiny sampling of the flower puzzle and it's parts (sorry for

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-69773724624369658422010-05-29T08:07:00.005-04:002010-05-29T08:15:28.568-04:00

My son has some fine motor skill issues and sees an occupational therapist twice a week. He still has an immature pencil grasp and it's just not comfortable for him. Broken crayons, chubby pencils, etc. aren't working for him right now either.I believe he is ready to begin reading lessons as he started breaking up words and doing initial letter sounds on his own without associating it with a

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-36683121892190578922010-05-12T15:49:00.004-04:002010-05-13T10:55:41.408-04:00

*cough* *cough* Ahem...It's been a long while folks, but I've been around and haven't forgotten about this little ole place on the web. I've just been busy growing baby #3 in my tummy, working on getting our house ready to put on the market (due to baby #3), having visitors from faraway places (the southwestern part of the country to be more exact), sewing, sewing, sewing (for baby #3 and the

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-36521409715629618262010-02-09T12:45:00.005-05:002010-02-09T13:16:35.814-05:00

A challenge I think a good number of homeschooling families face is what to do with the other child(ren).When my little E just turned one, I could still keep her confined to the living room or bedroom to frolic and play. This was good because in our tiny house where space is a commodity, I simply had "school" in the kitchen. I had an Expedit with my son W's work on it and a child size table and

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-56529311255231612092010-01-11T14:54:00.005-05:002010-01-11T15:12:16.406-05:00

I'm always thinking frugally in all areas of my life, but I am also a sucker for good design and aesthetics. I wasn't going to attempt to make the sandpaper letters because I didn't think I could make them look good. However, after much hemming and hawing over purchasing a set, I decided to give it a try...I don't think they look too shabby.To make the letters, I purchased one sheet of masonite (

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-21132104666523257952009-10-12T20:56:00.004-04:002009-10-12T21:06:55.565-04:00

We've been working on some fine motor skills lately. We had some corrugated cardboard pieces that were perfectly cut into these rectangles that the Mr. brought home from work. I simply took a sharpie marker and drew circles randomly on each card. The stickers were leftovers from a yard sale last summer. Peeling stickers and placing them aids in fine motor skills while adding the circles also

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-51767238720603623722009-10-01T15:31:00.002-04:002009-10-01T15:34:24.707-04:00

I've had my eye on Little Acorn Learning for a good while now, but can't quite commit to trying it out. Anyone out there use it in conjunction with your Montessori schooling? Or perhaps you have another suggestion of a nature curriculum to supplement? It does seem to be nicely laid out with little guesswork on my part...

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-86067270975588847302009-09-16T09:22:00.003-04:002009-09-16T13:03:25.295-04:00

We've been busy. Really busy. I don't know if I see the rest at the end of the tunnel just yet, but I thought I'd check in with something that's been on my mind.This Summer we had W evaluated for physical/sensory concerns. He is growing at a faster rate than most (to be expected as dad is 6'8") and is having some issues getting comfortable with his body and space. In addition to getting a

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-56429716536412570042009-07-24T11:07:00.002-04:002009-07-24T11:11:52.469-04:00

Though I'm sure it can be tweaked for the younger ages. Go take a look over here: FieldworkFrom the site:Welcome to Fieldwork, my blog for sharing hands-on science courses from our homeschool. Since we are just beginning here, you won’t find much on the home page yet, but I invite you to browse through the tabs at the top of the page and take a look at our syllabus, and lesson plans (still a work

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-33070518942197557492009-07-15T10:28:00.004-04:002009-07-15T13:19:13.551-04:00

W really enjoys working puzzles. However, it occurred to me that he only paid attention to the shapes of the puzzle pieces and not the image itself to aid in putting one together. Every time I tried to show him how to match up pieces using color and pattern as a guide, he would resort back to using the shapes of the pieces alone. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I wanted him to see how

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-64373574353970461812009-07-09T07:33:00.000-04:002009-07-09T07:33:00.754-04:00

I believe I got the idea here but I know it's shown up other places since I saw it on her blog. I now understand why everyone is doing it. It's sooooooo awesome to see how many colors there really are in nature once you look beyond the green (not that the green's too shabby either). W had loads of fun with this one and we'll be revisiting this activity again and again.A word of caution: I didn't

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-50518529938546167332009-07-08T12:37:00.007-04:002009-07-08T21:23:27.961-04:00

On a family outing to the local Target (known to W as the place with dinosaurs) I happened upon this schedule thingy in the One Spot. After bemoaning the fact that it was not even July (at the time) and school supplies were already on display, I picked up two.I took the red one and stitched 7 equal lengths (fortunately the width of the pockets was 14" and made for easy calculating) through all

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-86107370622698327302009-07-08T07:52:00.001-04:002009-07-08T21:12:02.275-04:00

We finally got around to making some playdough. This recipe is so easy and I didn't have to buy anything except food coloring.Adding salt to the flour. (Well, the secret is out. Yes, Batman is my son. Actually, this is a top to a pajama set one his grandmas gave him. He doesn't even know who Batman is, but it has a velcro cape so he loves to wear it.)Using the pastry blender to mix it all

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-15453071781582257032009-07-07T08:44:00.002-04:002009-07-07T09:02:12.008-04:00

We haven't "officially" begun Montessori homeschooling, but W has been doing some M trays here and there. I usually set out 4 trays at a time (one is almost always a puzzle) in his tiny area for him to choose from whenever he wants throughout the day.Here are three he's been working on (Note: he's not doing these activities on his bday, he just really likes this shirt!):One to one relationship

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-3452509858333011242009-07-01T19:37:00.002-04:002009-07-01T19:41:44.799-04:00

What do you do for your one to three year olds?

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-87893768983135734712009-06-27T11:18:00.008-04:002009-07-01T14:42:08.582-04:00

A Catholic Montessori school near the Mr.'s workplace is in the process of closing its doors (which is truly sad as they were reaching a very low economic demographic and doing wonderfully, but alas, as is the usual problem in these times, money was tight and there were no other viable options).What this meant for us is that the Mr. was allowed to take a look and purchase some of their materials.

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-51357371793830983792009-06-08T13:33:00.003-04:002009-06-08T13:44:28.775-04:00

While we haven't started any "formal" schooling yet, I've been giving W some activities to do here and there. I finally decided to make 4 separate activities available at all times this morning. I had 3 ready to go--color wheel matching, animal families grouping cards, and a new wooden puzzle. I didn't have much time to think of another activity so I just grabbed 10 red, yellow, and blue poker

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-4581855490282204812009-05-27T12:28:00.002-04:002009-05-27T12:38:47.549-04:00

I was perusing the ole interwebs when I found the Preschool Activities in a Bag site. Now, I'm sure I'm very late in discovering these and it's probably on its way out...but, what do you think of these?It's seems very Montessori-ish. Substitute trays for bags and they are very similar. I do like that they are in a bag (though I might use a zipper school pouches in lieu of Ziplocs) and pretty

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-64854505118458686032009-05-26T15:02:00.002-04:002009-05-26T15:12:32.990-04:00

I wanted to share a recent purchase in case anyone else could benefit from it. I was strolling the aisles of Joann's looking for nothing in particular when I came across their papier mache boxes. I was looking them over when what to my wonderful surprise did I find? A box with 6 lidded cylinders inside. The set was priced at $2.99 and, fortunately for me, I had 2 coupons with me (one from the

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-70148921437201992052009-05-26T14:19:00.002-04:002009-05-26T14:58:17.429-04:00

**Click on any images below to enlarge**Our little guy or gal, rather, has made an appearance! You can see the tiny hole from which she emerged. Unfortunately, we did not realize she was making her debut and missed it completely. However, I found her shortly after leaving her cocoon while she stumbled through the grass looking for a place to perch and send fluid to her wings.She's was really

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-51158481717726372862009-05-24T08:03:00.005-04:002009-05-26T09:48:39.804-04:00

**UPDATE: Thank you to the secret of childhood for pointing me to the new location for Shu-Chen Jenny Yen's Album pages. They can now be found here.**- - - - - -Anyone know what happened to Yen's Montessori album pages? My links aren't working anymore. They all send me to a NOT FOUND page. Is this most invaluable resource gone or is this simply temporary?

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-28508695699595145342009-05-06T19:56:00.006-04:002009-05-07T19:20:27.701-04:00

Well, it's been a while (a whole month, actually) but when Spring finally comes to a place that is used to winter two-thirds of the year, we spend as much time as we can enjoying it out of doors. During that time away, the Mr. was doing some lawn maintenance which required cutting down a tree that had started to grow too close to our garage foundation. He intended to cut it up for firewood but

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-40198996111261594872009-05-05T17:27:00.003-04:002009-05-05T17:30:53.377-04:00

over at Montessori Book Club. We will be reading the Absorbent Mind and discussing. So, if you haven't gotten around to cracking it open, let this be your motivation!

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-21962198533562139192009-04-06T08:32:00.002-04:002009-04-06T08:40:35.265-04:00

I've been busy coordinating our first Montessori Homeschool Group meeting!! The ad on Craigslist worked!!!!!! If any of you ever hesitated to do such a thing, hesistate no longer. Each email I received mentioned how they had been wanting such an opportunity--and one even found my ad because she was getting ready to post her own! Ha!Well, must go, busy week ahead, just wanted to check in. I'll be

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-60541932225440176232009-04-06T08:00:00.000-04:002009-04-06T23:52:21.093-04:00

PERIOD 3 :: PRACTICAL LIFEPouring water from a jugPouring water through a funnelBows, laces, and other difficult dressing framesAdvanced braiding, then plaiting hairTying a tieSimple cooking choresIroningMaking beds

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-5129959181286794122009-03-31T13:49:00.003-04:002009-03-31T14:01:56.943-04:00

There are a few Homeschool Groups in my area so I decided to contact them for info, connections, and resources. However, wouldn't you know, that no one uses Montessori AND only one person (that I can figure) homeschools preschool. Hoping to correct this, I ended up putting an "ad" in my local Craigslist for others interested in starting a Montessori homeschool group. Wish me luck!Also, I have

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-85923220144193221762009-03-26T22:40:00.003-04:002009-03-26T23:13:14.278-04:00

I was browsing around on Oriental Trading Company and spotted these bug tongs. They seemed to have gotten mixed reviews but at only $3.99 for a set of 6, I'm wondering if they're worth a try. They seem perfect since we'll be living outdoors once the warm weather decides to come (please decide to come!). Of course, I found some other goodies that seem like a good deal, but I'm just not sure (I

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-69303767417499515532009-03-26T16:31:00.005-04:002009-03-27T08:32:57.639-04:00

the blog stylings of Lapaz Home Learning. You can view all her Montessori tagged posts here. However, you'll want to read her blog in its entirety it's so good. Great ideas, great attitude, and great resources.And here's a sneak peek of what I've been working on...more details to come!

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-29978363305051175292009-03-23T09:41:00.000-04:002009-03-23T09:41:00.593-04:00

Look at these wonderfully sweet vintage sewing cards! They are a free download from the ever generous Bella Dia (who also runs the crafty crow). I think these are nicer than most lacing cards out there since they embellish the picture rather just outlining it. They also increase in difficulty and the illustration guides the sewer as to where the thread should go as a control of error. To make

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-67410567553594370742009-03-19T09:01:00.001-04:002009-03-27T08:33:51.076-04:00

I want to point out that the links to album pages may not correspond exactly to Gettman's Sequence of Work, but are great starting points for many of the works. Also, when a particular exercise number is indicated, e.g. Classified Pictures exercises (3) & (4), it is making reference to the exercise in the book Basic Montessori: Learning Activities for Under-Fives.

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-44965375283550044432009-03-19T09:00:00.002-04:002009-03-19T09:00:01.486-04:00

PERIOD 2 :: LANGUAGEClassified Pictures exercises (3) & (4)Stage (4) of IspyExercise (1) with the single-letter Sandpaper LettersMetal InsetsFrequent speech questioningPERIOD 2 :: MATHNonePERIOD 2 :: CULTURELand and Water exercisesFirst Maps"Places" Classified PicturesPreliminary work for classification by leaf

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-29870704001342573322009-03-18T11:01:00.004-04:002009-03-18T12:26:51.217-04:00

This is blowing my mind right now. I know there's gotta be a way to turn this into a Geography lesson. Perhaps a little advanced for the 3 year-old, but worth taking note of for the future.

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-20920587784394275082009-03-18T09:04:00.005-04:002009-03-18T10:02:48.892-04:00

PERIOD 2 :: SENSORIALAdvanced Cylinder Block excersisesBrown StairRed RodsBoxes 2 & 3 of the Color TabletsGeometeric Cabinet excercises (1) through (4)Binomial CubeBlindfoldTactile TabletsLater Geometric Solids presentationsStereognostic Bags exercisesSorting grainsSound BoxesPreliminary presentation of the Bells3-Stage Lessons on the names of Sensorial qualities

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-32668055485551417022009-03-16T14:26:00.002-04:002009-03-16T15:26:24.419-04:00

That's where I found this diamond in the rough. I know just what I'm going to do with it. Stay tuned...

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-31968800575698684262009-03-16T09:30:00.000-04:002009-03-16T09:30:01.364-04:00

PERIOD 2 :: PRACTICAL LIFEPouring water from a jugMedium difficulty dressing framesSimple braiding of rope or yarnLaying a table for a mealPolishing brass, glass surfaces, shoes, or furnitureWashing handsWashing clothsScrubbing a tabletopSweeping sawdustBrushing clothesFolding clothesHanging clothes on a hangerHandling a bookAsking for and receiving scissorsGreeting peopleKindness to

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-88346282350409655862009-03-13T09:24:00.000-04:002009-03-12T21:40:20.861-04:00

From Wikipedia: The language curriculum, especially in the early years, involves everything from vocabulary development to writing to reading...They begin constructing words before they can actually read words...PERIOD 1 :: LANGUAGEClassified Pictures, excersises (1) & (2)Speech stages (1), (2), & (3) of ISpyBook Corner & LibraryFrom Wikipedia: [In Math] children go from a very solid

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-77259353395289799192009-03-12T09:12:00.009-04:002009-03-12T21:24:07.629-04:00

From Wikipedia: All learning first comes to us through the senses. By isolating something that is being taught, the child can more easily focus on it.PERIOD 1 :: SENSORIALCylinder BlocksPink TowerBox 1 of Color TabletsPresentation Tray of Geometric CabinetSensitizing the FingersTouch BoardsPresentation of Geometric SolidsStereognostic Bags Presentation

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-80719740412656987222009-03-12T09:00:00.000-04:002009-03-12T14:52:53.432-04:00

From Wikipedia: [Practical Life] is designed to help students develop a care for themselves, the environment, and each other...it also presumes to prepare the child for more: The activities may build a child's concentration as well as being designed in many cases to prepare the child for writing.Gettmanprovides sequencing of work in each of the five subjects (Practical Life, Sensorial, Language,

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-57463866047633819592009-03-11T09:16:00.004-04:002009-03-11T20:07:51.463-04:00

Alright, I'm working on Basic Montessori: Learning Activities For Under-Fivesby David Gettman, and now we're getting down to the nitty gritty. Acutally, I need to go out and buy this book asap because there is so much good stuff in here that I need to highlight, write in the margin, and dog-ear. While Montessori doesn't work off a curriculum, per se, Gettman gets us started in the right direction

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-28848850048971515172009-03-10T09:55:00.000-04:002009-03-10T10:14:50.920-04:00

During my research, I have found myself checking books out of the library on a weekly basis to decide whether or not they would be a wise purchase. I've decided to give you my reviews and recommendations as I finish them.Most recently, I have read The Essential Montessoriand Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Pre-School Yearsboth by Elizabeth Hainstock. I enjoyed them immensely and highly

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-85622145087802389302009-03-10T09:30:00.000-04:002009-03-10T09:49:05.881-04:00

Materials can be a bit on the pricey side so I thought I’d try my hand at making some manipulatives. We've done the math, and I could probably outfit the entire homeschool with beginning (period 1 & 2) materials for the price of preschool tuition for one year. However, I would like to purchase materials only when necessary (which means only when I can't DIY it) to cut costs and not feel guilty

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603785776910390447.post-52235604033191613252009-03-08T22:53:00.000-04:002009-03-09T14:10:04.837-04:00

"The mother is qualified," says Pestalozzi, "and qualified by the Creator Himself, to become the principal agent in the development of her child; ... and what is demanded of her is––a thinking love ... God has given to the child all the faculties of our nature, but the grand point remains undecided––how shall this heart, this head, these hands be employed? to whose service shall they be dedicated

Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10253481685566828717noreply@blogger.com0