Toddler Tuesday

          The toddlers have been making great improvements with using the materials laid out for them. Socially they have in my opinion proved that yes, at two you can show compassion and consideration for others. They use the words "excuse me", "thank you", and "please" very often. There are plenty of times when you can still hear the words "mine"  being spoken, but if I didn't hear these words I would have to question their birth certificates. Take a look at them working with so much confidence!!!
                      
                                                                   Practical Life

Scissor practice with playdoh. Scissor practice completing work cycle. Transferring water using a baster. Pouring water in a ice cube tray. Clothespin work to help with pincer grasp.

Language

 Looking at pictures in books. Working with opposite cards.

Art

                                                                
                                                                    Collaging a butterfly.
                                                      
                                              Sensorial

                                              
                              Sorting beads by color. Sorting pictures by color.

                                                         Mathematics

Matching object to pictures.

They are really working hard on finding their own works to do, with much success the works have been matching skill levels.  To see what other toddlers have been learning , go visit One Hook Wonder forToddler Tuesday.

        

Montessori Monday

            Last week was a week full of presentations, the children wanted me to show them some new things. I managed to put together some new works. Also last week was a four day week for us, some children while waiting on new presentations took it upon themselves to do some review work, it was  awesome to see how far they have come. Our  work period is still about two hours, I think if I did a little rescheduling of our day we could possibly reach to a three hour work period. I am still not worried about our work periods because the most important thing is that they are actually working now. I had a few new children start,  it was a realgood feeling to watch the oldies introduce the new children to our school enviroment here some pictures of the children working.

                                                    Practical Life
                                                        

 Sewing for the first time. Scissor practice.

Language

 Independently reading with Zodiworks. Practicing writing sight words.

Mathematics

  On Tuesday "Tie-Tie"  did on his own the ultimate math review. He did the number rods, sandpaper numbers, spindle box, cards and counters, and the teen board all with mastery. I asked him " Did he want me show him anything new"? when he was sitting down without anything in front of him. He said " No, I just was in a math mood, I think I am done for now."  My heart was just smiling when I heard his words.

Geography

                                                    
                                    This is our new classmate "C" working with the talking globe. "C" worked with this until the batteries ran out.  "Lil" working with the continent map for the first time. " Mariah"sorting land, air,water pictures by animal. "Gian" is working on a lesson introducing her to maps. "C" is also interested in butterflies and engaged himself with the butterfly puzzle over and over.

                                            Well this is somewhat of what our montessori week looked like. Giving presentations kinda prevented me from taking as many pictures as I usually do, but it was worth it. The classroom  materials were being used. Children were happy, and their was still laughter to be heard. Now, go pop over to One Hook Wonder and Mommy Moment to see how other children learned using the montessori method.

Birds

            This week DJ worked on birds all by himself. I supplied him the materials and then he got busy.

                                    Here DJ is working with the parts of the bird cards.

Classified bird cards. He is pointing to his favorite bird the Toucan.

Working with bird pizzles.

I gave Dj an owl pellet so he could get a better understanding of what a bird skeleton looks like.

 Now he has found all of the bones, and trying to  put the skeeton together.

                                           
            While DJ was putting the skeleton together he asked me "Where did I get the owl pellet"?
            I told him that a owl eats their prey in large pieces and then they regurgitate their meal". I then explained what regurgitates means. Dj was really disgusted for a minute, then I told him that this was a man made pellet it wasn't the real thing."Oh" he said and started smiling,and laughing. To see other children learning about science visit  Adventures In Mommydom for Science Sunday.
                                        

From Pupa To Butterfly!!

 The childrens' excitement about our butterfly unit is growing more and more everyday. They ask a new question about butterflies every hour. I had a quite a bit of activities set up for them . Here are some photos.



                                         Our butterflies emerged this week from their chrysalis. The children prepared their habitat. They were just glowing with joy as they watched all four chrysalis transform into butterflies one by one right before their eyes.

                                          
                                                       "Z"  pin punching a butterfly.

                                                                  
                                                 Butterfly classified three part cards in action.

 "Gian" completing a stamp lifecycle of the butterfly wheel.

Using  books as references.

 When the kids got a chance to hand feed the butterflies, I could really see that they were feeling proud of themselves, and bonding with the butterflies was taking place. The children begin to give the butterflies names. One child asked me "Do we really have to let them go"? Hmmmm.

                                                      

Focused!!

  One of the unique qualities about the montessori method is how the child if giving the freedom of choice of works, and uninterrupted work time they become more focused and absorbed in the task at hand. On one of the shelves this week is a collage work. Some children have not been returning the work to the shelf  ready for the next child. "Mariah" chose the work from the shelf. Before she began doing this work she spent an hour cleaning the glue bottle, creating glue balls and even removed the price label that I had forgotten to remove. She was so focused and absorbed in doing this that she had tuned out all the sound in the room and was working in her own zone. She didn't even notice me taking this picture. Who would of thought that cleaning the glue bottle would have been such an wonderful work for a child.? Maria Montessori.

                                                                      

Making Connections

Warning!!  What you are about to see is not what is considered  the "proper" use of montessori materials. The child that you are going to see in the following pictures did not feel he was doing anything wrong or did I make him feel that he was doing anything wrong. Take a breathe, now please read on.



                                                   Remember "Dre" sweeping the stairs.

                                                  

                                      Today "Dre" went into the sensorial area . He was working all by himself. As  I was walking around. I found "Dre" doing this.

When "Dre" saw me he smiled and said " Ms.T  I am doing the brown stairs". I was very happy for him. This was the first time that " Dre" has worked with the brown stairs with perfect order. He kept saying " stairs, stairs".

Here is another picture of why I believe he was able to complete the brown stair work.

"Dre" walking on the brown stairs helped him to connect to the stairs he walks down everyday. I cannot with 100% certainty say that  "Dre" would not have been able to properly order the brown stairs without walking on them. I can say that following "Dre" and observing him did contribute to his success. First "Dre" wanted to sweep the steps, and was able to do that.  Next "Dre" wanted to work with the brown stairs and completed that. My next step with "Dre" with the brown stairs is to use the correct language such as width, and encourage other extensions and connections that would encourage proper use. 

There is "no child left behind" using the montessori method!!

                                                          


                                                

ToddlerTuesday

 They are little people with great big plans. I think sometimes their plans are to see how busy they can keep me, and that is all good !!  I mean I get so many good laughs being around them , life would not be as fun if they weren't around.  They are the only people that I don't get confused about why they just walked away while I was in mid sentence. I just say to myself "they weren't  interested, or I am talking way too much". Honest human beings , I just love my "co-workers". Well here is a look at our montessori work last week.

                                                           Practical Life

dDry pouring with a funnel. Andrew told me "let me do it. I'll clean it up."  Spooning rice. Pincer grasp work with pennies and coin bank.

Language

Looking at and talking about pictures in books. Working with letter puzzles. Coloring.

Sensorial

Working with the sound boxes.

Culture/Geography

 Working with our talking globe, this globe interacts with the child in a kid voice asking them to find locations or animals on the globe.

Mathematics

                                          

Exploring the sandpaper numbers.

  Last week was  a wonderful week. I pray that we can always get a few days a week like this all time. To see what other toddlers have been doing pop over to One Hook Wonder.