Busy Hands!!

I know it has been a bit quiet over here, but I just wanted to pop in to share some of the works that have been keeping the kids busy.

                      Lacing alphabet beads

               Matching nuts and bolts

                    Painting with watercolors

                     Knobbed Cylinder Block

                Matching Geometric Solids to their bases

                            Metal Insets work

                             Color matching

                     Velcro dressing frame.                                                                                                           
                                                                         
                                                                                  

Blast Off!! Behind The Scenes

I haven't been blogging too much over here, the children still have been busy! I have been very busy too. Right now I am looking into an online certification to become a Montessori Guide. I am also in the process of looking for a school building. This process I hope will only take a year. I am very excited that I am finally going to take this big leap. I would like to use this space for documenting this process along the way. It may help others if they are wanting to pursue this type of career. I still have responsibilities to attend to, being a homeschool mom added a lot more to this! The children who attend are learning so much on their own, unfortunately I don't have any pictures to share. I thought I share how I am going to put together a theme based unit. Next week we are starting our Solar System unit. The preschoolers have been following my son around whenever he is doing something space related, so I thought this would be a perfect time to incorporate a theme that everyone could do.

Since I need to spend my time wisely , I decided to jumpstart my creativity with a boxed curriculum.

Here is a lesson plan book that is packed with great ideas, and also gives you a detailed break down for activities for twenty days. It also has a web that you can look at and get a good idea of what the children will be learning for the month.

                                                                                
Here is an example of a day bag. It is real straight forward! This day the children would be learning about stars. I will make more copies of the star sheet to have avaliable on the shelves for a coloring sheet. Next is a pictorial of how they will make a star craft(all the materials are included in the day bag). I will demonstrate how to do this . The craft will be avaliable on the shelf as a independent work choice,along with the pictorial direction sheet.

I also have some other resources that I will be pulling from. That have been tested by other children that they enjoyed doing.

I am also gathering Montessori materials to add to the shelves. This work was made and can found at CountingCoconuts.

The phases of the moon, Types of Clouds three part cards from Montessori Print Shop.

I really appreciated the Family Newsletter that came with the curriculum. Parents love to know what their kids are going to learn. The bonus is that it is even has the lyrics to the new songs that they will be singing.

First thing were going to do though is prepare our enviroment with lots of different Montessori inspired activities in all areas. I think the kids are going to love being a part of the developing process. Today we are going to hang up the planets!! And yes the kids will still be continuing with their three hour work period, they wouldn't have it any other way :)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Linking up MontessoriMonday.

Following Eli: Discovering Pine Cones

We have been enjoying the nice weather and to be frank we have been spending more time outside than inside. It is a time for me to prepare our outside classroom now that this is a space we will be on the days the weather will allow us.

Eli has discovered pine cones. Eli counts them and even has a place where he keeps them all, in hopes that they will still be there the next time he checks on them. The picture below shows Eli telling me he has found two more pine cones.

In anticipation of this event happening again I had a magnifying glass avaliable for him to have a closer look at his new interest.                                                                      

How To Use A Telescope: Observing Clouds

So much fun to be had this time of year!  For those who wanted to observe the clouds this afternoon I set up a telescope for them to be able to get a closer view.

Notice the step stool:) It is just one of the many things I learned to always look at since discovering the Montessori Method, things should be at a child's height. Step stools offer this outlet when other things can't be manipulated to fit the need. 

 They loved to practice zooming in and out.

 They paid close attention to my words when I said do not point the telescope at the sun!

 In the end they all felt like they were old pros at using the telescope.

We picture walked through this book before going outside, and finding the clouds talked about for ourselves.                                                                        

Learning With Maddux(Sensorial Works): Montessori Monday

Maddux's  latest interests are in the sensorial materials.

The Knobbed Cylinder Blocks maintain his concentration for hours. He has had presentations on all four blocks. Maddux loves to grade them all by sizes, mixes them up to put them all back in the proper places. The language he has acquired is outstanding, I enjoy to hear his voice say width( so cute).

 Maddux spends quite a bit of time with the Brown Stairs and Pink Towers. He knows how to get a crowd around his work, amazing designs he can come up with.

Maddux also spends a great amount of time with the Knoblesss Cylinders. His favorite color is yellow as of the moment so that is his favorite set to work with. Like the Brown Stairs and Pink Tower he comes up with many extensions of his own.

To see other children doing activities inspired by the Montessori Method please visit Living Montessori Now.                                                                          
                                                                                 
                    

Following The Child With The Right Materials(Jessica):Montessori Monday

It is no secret that quality Montessori Materials are EXPENSIVE. It is a difficult task to make a purchase and know your choosing the right materials for the childs' development, or interest. The first thing I take into consideration is what is the childs' interest. Sometimes I like to follow the scope and sequence, but we all know children can mix that up a bit:) If you want to find Jessica in the classroom, you can find her in the language area. Jessicas' initial interest was with the Sandpaper Letters. She was able to learn a few sounds, but once she learned to recognize the letters of her name she moved away from these lessons.

Jessica interest right now are with works that she can use her hands to focus on. In the picture above it is cutting on the lines.

In the picture above she starts out with coloring the picture and then precedes to form letters:)

Tracing the lines on this paper has allowed her to gain more control of the pen.

Pin punching has been an outlet for this interest as well..

There is no doubt in my mind that the Metal Insets is her favorite choice of work. Jessica has been working with the Metal Insets non stop! She prefers the Triangle Inset, and she is very comfortable working on the first presentation only. I have presented the second presentation, but she always goes back to this. I find this exciting! I am thrilled that I have purchased the Metal Insets, I can't wait to watch Jessica language works explode, because I know its' coming, and I am prepared. There are other things that I could offer Jessica like the Constructive Triangles, and The Blue Constructive Triangles to accent her interest, but for now I will follow her and when shes' ready, I am sure she will let me know:) To see other children inspired by the Montessori Method please visit Living Montessori Now for Montessori Monday.

Learning The Basics With Dr.Seuss

All the children kept busy with the works inspired by the wonderful Dr.Seuss. We weren't able to do the famous oobleck experiment. Fortunately this activity works well with a intro to physical science so we will do it next week:) Trust me the children want more Dr.Seuss.

Scissor practice. The printable is from Joyfully Weary.

Blending sounds this work came from the Dr.Seuss packet#1 at Living Life Intentionally

Lacing Cards

Tracing, this is also in the Dr.Seuss packet.

Coloring

Putting a puzzle together

Tons of reading!!