Stick With Me:)

I have been really focused on our Practical Life area since reading the classroom manual that I have received for my training.  What I have learned so far( I still need to reread the manuals and study) is that I was definitely wrong about the group of children that I work with being normalized. For the most part many of them are in the second phase of normalization. They will choose activities all work period, but choosing to go in depth with one material at a time they are not doing. That is O.K, because I can do something about it.

One of the blessings of going through training is having a album that I can understand. We haven't nearly scratched the surface of practical life activities. They really still do need these activities to help foster their independence, deepen their concentrations skills, and strengthen those fine muscles that indirectly prepare for all areas of environment. 

While checking my inventory with the suggested activities in the album I was really discouraged. It isn't that I haven't acquired these items, there not in top notch shape as they should be. My goal is to have activities available that follow the interest of the child, and are so beautiful that they want to touch it. Beauty that calls them back for more!

I would love to be able to go online and order all of the beautiful Montessori Practical Life materials that are available, but that is not economically possible. I have found really good sales at Home Goods, World Market and Target that if prepared well can do the job too.

                            
 What's in the basket?

• A napkin ring for 99 cents from Target
• child size fork, spoon, knife, spreader and whisk from World Market all for $4.00
• Package of four linen napkins for $5.00 at Home Goods
• A table mat for $1.78 at Target
• Mortar/Pestle for $3.99
• Two charger plates for 99 cents a piece from Target

I have somewhat of an idea what I will use them for, but I will share later once the mission is complete:)

Cups and saucers for the snack table just $12.99 from World Market. I love that they are color coded, it allows for me to assign a color to a child until washing dishes is done correctly by all of the children.

            Hand washing set I put together for just $15.00 at Home Goods.

If you went online and compared the prices from the popular Montessori Sellers you can see that I saved big time, not including the shipping fees. See having a Montessori environment doesn't have to be expensive to set up, just prepared!

I hope you will feel inspired to create and share some practical life fun with the children in your life!!

I am going to be documenting my training along the way. You may not see children in the pictures as much as you have in the past, but if you follow along you will be able to see the process it takes to have an Montessori inspired environment from the perspective of a student going through Montessori teacher training.

                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                 

The Gift that Keeps on Giving!!

I received my first component training materials on Friday. What a wealth of information!!

Happy Holidays!!

Vertebrates

I used the card material from The Helpful Garden to discuss the classes of vertebrates with a small group of children ranging from three to eleven. We had a blast with this lesson!!

 They were really intrigued by this new work on the shelves.

 This material actually belongs to my son who has studied these Animal X Rays extensively. You can learn more about them and see what work this inspired him to do here

                            
 Many of them enjoyed matching the pictures to the X-Rays, others became occupied with identifying the classes of vertebrates.                                                                          

    The older ones really took to making their own little booklets also available from The Helpful Garden.                                                                

Hanukkah

One of the things that I aim to do whenever possible is to expose the children to the diversity of our world. Since its Christmas time it is a great time to learn more about Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. This week I added a few Hanukkah related works that will definitely get them to ask me questions.

Today I will like to share the practical life works.

                                                             The Menorah Tray

                           
             This is how it looks when completed.

                    Folding Napkins with the Star of David.

                         Spooning symbols of Hanukkah.

I added this too because of the colors white and blue. Blue and White are the colors of the Tallit(prayer shawl) and the Israeli flag.

I have quite a few books that I will be reading to them as well. The symbols will be discussed and lots of geography and cultural studies will be done.

Linking to Montessori Monday