Montessori Monday

Our montessori work has been very exciting to the children. They come to school ready to explore works and see if there is anything new on the shelf. Our latin greetings are still being used everyday and we are ready to learn new words.  We as a whole have made progress over the past months. I had a quite a few children absent last week. It may be to your surprise but school starts for us next Monday. So this week we will spend more time outdoors if the weather permits, while Miss R and I make materials and plans for our new school year.                                                                Practical Life

Creating paperchains. Scrubbing a table. Pouring water with a funnel.

Sensorial

  Working with red knobless cylinders to build a tower.

 Mathematics

                              

      

Using rocks with cards and counters. Insect/Bug count and sort.

Language

Matching upper and lowercase letters.

Botany

Working with flower puzzle. Art or Botany, painting a flower.

Thank you so much for stopping by and seeing what the children have been doing. To see what other children have been doing using the montessori method visit One Hook Wonder.

Meet Squidy

My kids thought they knew everything there was to know about the experiment "Sink or Float" so this week I added a new concept for them to explore. The classic experiment the Cartesian Diver. Its' named for the Frenchman, Rene Descartes who made huge contributions to science, math and philosophy.

Squidy

 The kids call "squidy" their new pet. On command Squidy will dive to the bottom or swim to the top of the soda bottle.

                

To make Squidy work you have to use a pipette, a hex nut. You have to build  the diver(pipette) by squeezing just enough water in the pipette and then you must test float it to make sure it works. Then you fill a soda bottle all the way to the brim. Put Squidy in the bottle and squeeze the bottle with both hands and tell Squidy to swim or dive.

Swim.

Dive.

 The original Cartesian Divers were made out of glass medicine droppers or delicate glass ampules. My kids love this experiment all week they were independently doing this experiment, trying really hard to get the water levels right to command Squidy to swim or dive. I am happy for this experiment because I saw them actually using the scientific method every step of the way, and now they know "Sink or Float " is still an experiment to explore at deeper levels.To see other science activities that children are doing go visit Adventures In Mommydom.

Metamorphosis!!

                                                                                   

This week the weather was just right to let our butterflies free. The children still were not ready to part with their new friends, but I explained to them what all  livings things need to live and that helped them to understand why we had to free the butterflies.

Here are some activities that they did this week with our butterfly unit.

This activity the child chose what butterfly they liked the best from our butterfly three part classified cards and colored a butterfly just like the picture on the cards.

Exploring how insects see.

 Looking at butterflies, discovering patterns.

                                             
                        What I learned is how important it is to learn using all the senses. With our butterfly unit the children did just that.  All the children now know the lifecycle of the butterfly. The goal of this unit was just that, some children learned much more than what was expected. Some children still are working with the materials, its' been a lot of fun!

Observing the butterfly once released.

                                                          

Appreciation

                                   Over the weekend  I went over this blog to look at the various things that I have post about, I then realized  I had never post about the lady that makes my day !! Meet "Miss R". Miss R is my assistant who brings a lot to the table. She arrives on time and ready to work with a smile everyday.  Miss R has been with us for a year now. She has in every way helped with the implementation of the montessori method with the children. Miss R is our infant and early toddler teacher. They love her and adore her personality, and her quick responses to their needs. Miss R also shares a passion for the montessori method she has even started homeschooling her son using the montessori method. She has promised  to allow me to take pictures of her sons' (Eli) learning space at home. During the childrens' naptime we discuss our observations and make the necessary steps to achieve success. We are totally on the same page.The parents respect her suggestions and always ask her about their childs' day, they enjoy her remarks and very descriptive details. I really appreciate her patience with the children and myself . I know I can take people on roller coaster rides from time to time with all of my new bright ideas(lol). She is one lovely and funny lady that I am grateful to be able to spend my day with.

Popular Works

                          I thought I share some popular works that are on the shelves that the children have chosen to work with over and over. Not all works that I create always go over well. I hit the jackpot with these activities.                                        
                                               

Open and Close.

                                                             

Tonging strawberries.

Pouring water with a funnel.

Nuts and Bolts.

Paperchains. These are really cool all you have to do is dip one end of the paper in the water and they stick together very easily. I purchased this from Montessori Services.

Fast /Slow sorting.

The Storytelling Box. Inside it has miniature objects, that the children use to create a story and share it orally with me or each other. I have had to write plenty of stories dictacted to me lately. This is fun, fun, fun!!

Embroidery work. I saw this on many blogs had to try it, the children love it and I now need more material!

 The scissors on this tray never get a rest.

They have used nametags to wait to use the dry erase work. I placed some sight words on the tray to encourage those who can read these words to also try to write them. The cards have been great copywork for others. What I like about this dry erase board is that one side has lines,and the other side is blank.

                                                                   The children here are very comfortable now learning the montessori  way. The new way of learning has taken time for all of us to adjust to.  I have some schoolagers that will be attending full time during the summer. Luckily all of them have been with me throughout the school year and since they were preschoolers. I have been reading, reviewing presentations, ordering materials, making materials we will continue our work periods during the summer. Since I am a daycare provider my children still attend on a regular basis. I know I am still in the state of trial and error, but the way the children are embracing the enviroment it is worth it. By the way the montessori curriculum for 3- 6 years is very much the same to our public school system for kindergarten through fifth grade. This statement alone is enough to blow me away.  The Montessori Method is one of the best changes we ever made here and we are all loving it!

Count The Legs

                                                                   

                                     Today during our circle time we were reading a book aloud that talked about bugs and insects. The children were having a difficult time telling me the common difference between the two. So  I came up with a new count and sort work that I  hope will help some what . I call it "Count the Legs ".  It is good counting practice for early counters because they only have to count up to six. For older counters well it depends on the bug. The aim of this activity  is to sort the insects from bugs.

                                                            This is how the tray is set up.
                                                          

Here is an example of how the child would complete the work.

 I had fun putting this work together. I really love it  when you can tie in math and science.

I also wanted to share that I have found a lot of great creative math ideas at  Joyful Learner , if you haven't already I think you should visit and take a look.  It will be a nice surprise.

                                                             

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.