To The Pumpkin Patch

Every year we visit the Pumpkin Patch and this year was no exception.

Before we visit the children explore and learn about pumpkins and Fall, through crafts.

 Hands on fun are a must. Good books too!!

It was very chilly visiting the Pumpkin Patch.

 The weather didn't stop them from enjoying a good old fashion hayride and picking a pumpkin of their own.
                                                                   

 After the hayride they were given the choice to paint their pumpkin or make necklaces. They all chose that popular practical life work, making necklaces:)                                                                                  
                                                                       

If You Can't Beat Them.......

then you must join them!!

This is just my observation with the children that I observe. I am not challenging any philosophies I am just sharing:) Since I am a home based preschool it sometimes is a challenge to offer Montessori inspired activities. Some challenges I face are children coming while some children are leaving. Some children actually spend all of their daylight hours with me. Parents are always wanting some sort of educational experience for their children. Unfortunately, most are herebecause their parents work. The parent's main focus sometimes has to be can I care for the child during set hours, which are not always traditional hours for school time. I have to be be able to bend the rules a little!! A child who has been here all day, really doesn't want to do the traditional Montessori activities all day. I can, but they can't. I have been slowly following the child in thinking out of the box. Which leads me to bending the rules:)

Maddux everyday wants to hang up his coat, because he loves order. He sees all of the other coats neatly hung, and he wants to follow along.

 Maddux is now successful with this task after being shown how. Boy,did he practice!!

He did not like the traditional way of showing a child how to hang up their coat and he definitely didn't like standing at the coat rack doing this work. I used Maddux's love for Firefighters and created a successful work for him 

 There are hooks lower, but Maddux is challenging himself with this work now.

    He has turned the Firefighter jacket into a dressing frame. Mastering those clasp!!                                                                        

 I am not endorsing dress up in a Montessori setting, I am just sharing what has worked for Maddux.                                                                        
                                                                          
                                                          

Meet Avi

                Welcome Avi!!

 As soon as another child put the scissor work back on the shelf.  Avi made a mad dash to retrieve it. She really wasn't paying attention to my presentation, just determined to get those scissors in her hand!! I asked an older child to sit with her and cut alongside her. Avi liked this idea and had fun getting to know another friend that she wouldn't let out of her sight for the rest of the day. Avi is two years old. Today was her first day and she fit right in. Looking forward to getting to know you Avi.                                                                

It All Started With The Metal Insets

Mia(4) started working with the Mental Insets some time ago. Today she decided to add another element to it. She asked me if  I would write the name of the shape for her on the paper next to her drawing. The next thing she did was start writing! Mia spelled out the word Mom and then wrote her dad's name.

   
Just another reason why I love the Metal Insets.

Linking this post to We Don't Know No Education where you can find the Write to Read, Read to Learn language linky                                                                       

Whisking

One things for sure young children thrive off of routines and repetition. This expectation that they have for me makes my job a little easier. When it came time to add in some new seasonal works I decided to first put out familiar works.

The whisking bubbles activity is just as popular as it was last year.

It is so much fun!!  Have you tried this activity with your children?                                  

                                       

GIVEAWAY WINNER!!

Thank you to all who entered! I had so much fun reading the comments, and I loved when you shared your favorite post. You can expect to read those type of postings in the near future.

                                                                       
                                        THE WINNER
                         #56  Jess
You can also see the announcement of the winner on the Giveaway post.  Jess you have 24 hours to contact me so I can send the package to you.
                                                               

Mother Goose Time: Day 6

Our topic for Day 6 is Apples! Mother Goose has included a lot of great activities for this day.

The children will be making a Johnny Appleseed Craft.

                     

 I have placed the stencils on the shelf so they can continue to make one using construction paper, this promotes some creativity and get some fine motor skills in play.

I will also be telling the story of Johnny Appleseed through storytelling pieces, and a script that was provided.

A file folder game was suggested for this day and also provided that I decided to make it a shelf only activity. I like to keep Circle Time short and sweet. 

 The child sorts the words and pictures according to sound. The letters are "a", "o", and "r". There is a control of error that is built in, the words and pictures are color coded according to the fruit growing on the trees.

 On the back of the file folder I placed a library pocket to hold the game pieces.

The kids here love file folder games so I just put it where we keep the other file folder games.

There is a lot more to do on Day 6, like playing the rotten apple game where the game pieces are provided. Also journal writing in their Little Journals. We will do these activities just on a different day.

*** DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY***