The Montessori Nuggets blog page has been updated to reflect newer resources and updated links for Montessori albums and guides available to homeschoolers.
Please visit Montessori Nuggets: Montessori Albums and Guides to check out the options.
Please do let me know if anything should be added or updated!
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Family Tragedy
A tragedy has struck our family.
I struggle to see the good that will come from all this evil; my deepest core knows it is there, somewhere.
Please pray for my family; that the next 18 months will not only go by quickly but may be drastically shortened. That we will continue to grow together as a family through this tragedy and after it. That our family home businesses will not be out of date when this tragedy is over - and that enough residual income will continue to support my son during this time.
I struggle to see the good that will come from all this evil; my deepest core knows it is there, somewhere.
Please pray for my family; that the next 18 months will not only go by quickly but may be drastically shortened. That we will continue to grow together as a family through this tragedy and after it. That our family home businesses will not be out of date when this tragedy is over - and that enough residual income will continue to support my son during this time.
Friday, December 29, 2017
Keys of the World and Keys of the Universe
Legoboy and I have been working on some new projects!
New websites and some new structure on the current sites:
**Products are being added daily to each of the new sites**
New Site for Garden of Francis:
The familiar site for Garden of Francis:
Upcoming changes:
New websites and some new structure on the current sites:
**Products are being added daily to each of the new sites**
Garden of Francis
(new site is in-progress - once all products have been transferred over, the old store will close and the new store will replace the current site; for the time-being purchases are accessible through both sites)New Site for Garden of Francis:
- All of the offerings from both Keys of the World and Keys of the Universe in distinct purchase options:
- Mentoring via Albums/guides
- Mentoring via Videos
- Mentoring via Online Support
- Certificate of Completion payment and instructions
- Materials (download and physical)
- Home Goods
- Soap
- Cloth items
- Christian Formation
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd materials
- modified Godly Play materials
- Prayer table and family altar cloths
- Liturgical Celebrations
- Organized by the liturgical season
- Crocheted rosaries
The familiar site for Garden of Francis:
- All current offerings (no changes)
- Soap
- wood cutting
- custom orders
- downloads for Montessori mentoring
- liturgical seasons
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Keys of the Universe
No changes have been made to the outward offerings.Upcoming changes:
- Mentoring via Videos will be a separate purchase, with the current prices set as a combined price separated to lower amounts.
- Those people who already have video access will continue to access it in the same place as now AND will be able to access the videos in their new homes on the online support.
- Mentoring via Albums
- complete albums continue to be offered.
- Mentoring via Online Support
- online support continues to be offered.
Keys of the Universe Montessori
All Keys of the Universe elementary Montessori offerings in distinct purchase options:- Mentoring via Albums/guides
- Mentoring via Videos
- Mentoring via Online Support
- Certificate of Completion payment and instructions
- Materials (download and physical)
Keys of the World
All Keys of the World Primary (ages 2.5-6) Montessori offerings in distinct purchase options:- Mentoring via Albums/guides
- Mentoring via Videos
- Mentoring via Online Support
- Certificate of Completion payment and instructions
- Materials (download and physical)
The Shepherd and the Vine
All of our religious-based offerings from Garden of Francis, separated to their own site as well.- Christian Formation
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd materials
- modified Godly Play materials
- Prayer table and family altar cloths
- Liturgical Celebrations
- Organized by the liturgical season
- Crocheted rosaries
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Crazy Times - Some are Awesome - and A NEW WEBSITE!
Life is crazy - and has so many curveballs, some awesome, some so far beyond painful I can't even share them, and some downright heart-wrenching as the strength of my supportive friends and family is proven second after crazy heart-breaking second.
First the awesome news!
I get to babysit my newborn nephew for two weeks 💖
And I spent the bits of downtime putting together three new websites. The first one is now live and active!
Keys of the World Montessori Resources
The listings for access to mentoring via albums, videos and online support are all up - I will be adding materials over the course of the next week, while working on the other two websites to be updated: Garden of Francis and Keys of the Universe are both getting a complete overhaul, with a similar format to the new Keys of the World site.
For the weekend I am focusing on some craft projects:
The baby's older sisters are learning to latch-hook. I helped them find a way to organize their colors and their pieces. The youngest is 4 and is just practicing putting the colors on - not following the pattern just yet.
And I am starting on Christmas stockings for each of my family members. Won't all be done in time for St. Nicholas Day, but my son and I are the only ones who officially celebrate that one. Everyone else fills their stocking on Christmas Eve.
And the adolescent-Montessori-homeschooled boy is continuing his studies in history, Minecraft and computer coding and the book of Proverbs - when he's not snuggling on my lap.
First the awesome news!
I get to babysit my newborn nephew for two weeks 💖
 |
| The oldest of my mother's grandsons with the youngest of her grandsons. |
 |
| Brotherly cousin love ;) |
And I spent the bits of downtime putting together three new websites. The first one is now live and active!
Keys of the World Montessori Resources
 |
| The Mobile Site |
 |
| The Desktop Site |
The listings for access to mentoring via albums, videos and online support are all up - I will be adding materials over the course of the next week, while working on the other two websites to be updated: Garden of Francis and Keys of the Universe are both getting a complete overhaul, with a similar format to the new Keys of the World site.
For the weekend I am focusing on some craft projects:
The baby's older sisters are learning to latch-hook. I helped them find a way to organize their colors and their pieces. The youngest is 4 and is just practicing putting the colors on - not following the pattern just yet.
And the adolescent-Montessori-homeschooled boy is continuing his studies in history, Minecraft and computer coding and the book of Proverbs - when he's not snuggling on my lap.
Sunday, July 30, 2017
REVIEW POST: Montessori Kiwi Elementary Montessori Boot Camps
There is not one thing I do not love about Montessori Kiwi's Bootcamps for Reading, Writing and Great Lessons!
I was privileged to access all three of them and, while I was asked for a review on just one, well, I can't do that. I truly appreciate the content of all three of them and can't pick a favorite.
As a homeschool mom years ago, just starting out; or as a newly trained Montessori teacher just going into my student teaching and even my first full-on teaching experiences, I would have loved Lisa's concise, focused, *practical* guides that she provides here. Even with my own studies, full training and many successful experiences in the classroom and at home, these boot camps provide a down-to-earth perspective that makes it all feel possible!
She includes ideas for "what if this doesn't work", shares experiences from her own teaching,
Each half-hour video is a slideshow presentation with Lisa's voice-over. A pdf of the slides is included with each video as well; the writing portion has a writing template.
Great Lessons:
She includes specifics on what can be done before, during and after the Great Lessons. Typically with such resources there is always something that makes me cringe a bit or think "that doesn't quite fit with my reading of Montessori's work" or similar. But NOT this time! Spot on, 100% agreement! I gleaned some new ideas/tweaks as well; which just goes to show that collaboration does indeed help us adults go deeper!
Writing:
Lisa includes information on the Inquiry approach which is very much in line with the Montessori approach, but (as she states) was not created for a Montessori environment - so some of the details are somewhat "givens" (such as freedom to go back and review a concept at any time). The way she organized and presents about the writing prompts, inquiry, and all else is very intuitive, very practical - and very much needed reminders about how straight-forward we can be with the children!
Reading:
In this boot camp, what she describes as happening in primary/casa/other-name (ages 3-6) includes a variation on the pink/blue/green series, that not all Montessori approaches utilize. I find reading to be the one area that different Montessorians really take different approaches. I love how Lisa works through this area in a way that honors any of the approaches.
She also offers supportive downloads in a variety of areas. Take a look!
I was privileged to access all three of them and, while I was asked for a review on just one, well, I can't do that. I truly appreciate the content of all three of them and can't pick a favorite.
As a homeschool mom years ago, just starting out; or as a newly trained Montessori teacher just going into my student teaching and even my first full-on teaching experiences, I would have loved Lisa's concise, focused, *practical* guides that she provides here. Even with my own studies, full training and many successful experiences in the classroom and at home, these boot camps provide a down-to-earth perspective that makes it all feel possible!
She includes ideas for "what if this doesn't work", shares experiences from her own teaching,
Each half-hour video is a slideshow presentation with Lisa's voice-over. A pdf of the slides is included with each video as well; the writing portion has a writing template.
Great Lessons:
She includes specifics on what can be done before, during and after the Great Lessons. Typically with such resources there is always something that makes me cringe a bit or think "that doesn't quite fit with my reading of Montessori's work" or similar. But NOT this time! Spot on, 100% agreement! I gleaned some new ideas/tweaks as well; which just goes to show that collaboration does indeed help us adults go deeper!
Writing:
Lisa includes information on the Inquiry approach which is very much in line with the Montessori approach, but (as she states) was not created for a Montessori environment - so some of the details are somewhat "givens" (such as freedom to go back and review a concept at any time). The way she organized and presents about the writing prompts, inquiry, and all else is very intuitive, very practical - and very much needed reminders about how straight-forward we can be with the children!
Reading:
In this boot camp, what she describes as happening in primary/casa/other-name (ages 3-6) includes a variation on the pink/blue/green series, that not all Montessori approaches utilize. I find reading to be the one area that different Montessorians really take different approaches. I love how Lisa works through this area in a way that honors any of the approaches.
She also offers supportive downloads in a variety of areas. Take a look!
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Planning my presentations
This post isn't about planning the children's *work* - it is about planning my presentations.
Mostly for the little ones: infant, toddler, and primary. While I am not showing the infant and toddler portion, it is the same principles.
The general overview of the intervals is at this Montessori Nuggets post on Organizing Primary Presentations. What I have in my notebook is the detailed version which tells me the specific names of exercises to be worked on in each interval. This is available at Garden of Francis or is included free with the Keys of the World Primary Montessori albums online support.
At this first interval, as long as I am reading books with the child, providing lots of real life experiences and having lots of conversations, I am looking at 1-2 "new" presentations a week. This number fluctuates between 1-2 up to 5-6 for some intervals (essentially a daily new presentation).
This does NOT dictate the child's work choices. Simply my presentations of new material.
Each week, I look over the list, consider the needs of my children and select which are the most appropriate.
I might note the date I give the presentation, or check it off, or I might write it on a calendar of some sort. Since I have had a wider variety of children in my home other than my own, I have used a calendar to note what plans and outcomes rather than print out this document for each child.
See this post for more information and pictures - Planning in the Montessori Homeschool
Mostly for the little ones: infant, toddler, and primary. While I am not showing the infant and toddler portion, it is the same principles.
The general overview of the intervals is at this Montessori Nuggets post on Organizing Primary Presentations. What I have in my notebook is the detailed version which tells me the specific names of exercises to be worked on in each interval. This is available at Garden of Francis or is included free with the Keys of the World Primary Montessori albums online support.
Just a simple three-prong folder. I drew in some lines to separate the areas for me visually. Each interval covers about 6 months if I start with a 2 1/2 year old. Older than that, I still let the children move at their own pace (slower or faster), but I consider the fact they may be in need of something appropriate to their age-interval, while still wanting to get in these preliminary foundation experiences.
At this first interval, as long as I am reading books with the child, providing lots of real life experiences and having lots of conversations, I am looking at 1-2 "new" presentations a week. This number fluctuates between 1-2 up to 5-6 for some intervals (essentially a daily new presentation).
This does NOT dictate the child's work choices. Simply my presentations of new material.
Each week, I look over the list, consider the needs of my children and select which are the most appropriate.
I might note the date I give the presentation, or check it off, or I might write it on a calendar of some sort. Since I have had a wider variety of children in my home other than my own, I have used a calendar to note what plans and outcomes rather than print out this document for each child.
I might make a list of materials for the interval I am focusing on - things I need to check on or purchase or locate. When making purchases, I might look 2-3 intervals ahead to try to save on shipping and time.
See this post for more information and pictures - Planning in the Montessori Homeschool
For those looking for
elementary Montessori homeschool planning:
|
Friday, June 30, 2017
Financial Learning
Legoboy is now 13 - he has started investing !!!! And I have been fielding many questions about what led to such an occurrence with a 13 year old.
Well, it certainly wasn't planned! It just happened.
Meaning - I laid a foundation, knowing the results should be good, but not knowing the details.
I wrote about some of our history here:
April 2014: Personal Finances and Montessori - Go read this one for our history! So I can just build on it here!
and here:
April 2014 - School Days - this really just notes that we continued playing the Act Your Wage game ;)
We are about to dive into the Middle School edition of Foundations in Personal Finance and with all the investing questions, I thought it is time for some updates!
Your Business Math - and Day to Day Operations at Home
Legoboy finished up the Your Business Math, using the Pet Store option. LOVED it. Then he went through and did it all again, running different numbers and different mock orders. We honestly could probably do it again and I could add some cards to make it more complex, but we have the FPU course coming up, he is helping with more of our real business operations at home (Garden of Francis and Keys of the Universe) and taking on more involvement in the daily home finances, that I think we're probably good!
Day to Day Operations at Home
I recently pulled out the Dave Ramsey baby steps again. We had been working on them, but got distracted by the fact that when we were finally debt-free, I shifted into savings mode. It came time to teach all the older children in my care some financial skills, and slow down my own spending on them.
I pulled out the Dave Ramsey baby steps and talked through them with the older children.
Each older child (ages 11, 12, 14 at the time) received a prepaid Bluebird card through American Express. They were each given a base allowance of $150. Of this money, a certain amount could go into a savings account I set up for each of them, a certain amount was spending money on whatever, and a certain amount was intended to cover their own toiletries and clothing. Activities we would discuss on a case-by-case basis. This didn't mean I wasn't ever going to provide any clothing or treats or the like, but they were no longer to ask me for money. They had their own; if I so chose to offer a treat, it was on me. The "certain amount" was discussed individually with each child after budgeting for their "needs" and their "wants" and their future needs/wants.
We had a variety of experiences with this, from awesome savings after frivolous spending, to "let's go steal someone else's card and claim it was lost at the Reds game, thus someone else must have spent all that money at all the places I typically spend money at." Um. Yeah. Good learning experiences there too! All the children set some aside each month into savings.
Shortly thereafter, the children were removed from my home, due to lies and DCS covering their own past mistakes and putting them on me - but that is another story. Please pray for the children, their families, for DCS, the judge, the court system, the local prosecuting attorneys and all those who I met during the worst 5 days of my life in May.
Just before the children left, I received our tax return for the year and finally got started on retirement. The program we are using allowed me to set up separate accounts - not necessarily belonging to the children (they can't have investments accounts of their own), but labeled with their name and only using their money. This is what got Legoboy started. He was looking at it, looking at the differences between Aggressive, Conservative, Moderate - what are stocks, what are bonds - no guarantee of higher earnings, but wow the typical difference between that and his regular savings account!!! Yeah, he was interested! The 14-turned-15 year old chose to split her savings money between regular savings and investment savings, but following whatever plan Legoboy chose. The 11-turned-12 year old chose to keep her money in her regular savings.
Act Your Wage
We played this game with our older bonus children. It was frustrating and beneficial all at once. Afterward, the oldest (who complained about it the loudest) wanted to play again. Sadly, that time hasn't yet come, but it did get her thinking about finances in a more healthy manner.
Foundations in Personal Finance
Dave Ramsey now has a middle school edition of his FPU resources and we are about to give a try!
We'll update more soon!
Update: 7/7/2017 - Lesson 1 talks about teens having $500 in an emergency fund. Legoboy's response: Um. No. If I am being financially wise, I would set myself up as if I have some adult responsibilities so that I can be better prepared when I am 18 and an actual adult. What am I supposed to do? Turn 18 and have to put another $500 in the emergency fund immediately? What about the fully funded? This is my time right now to build that up, while I have no debt already.
(they may cover all this later)
7/8/2017 - BORING! I know all this.
(he does indeed answer all the questions in the workbook before watching the DVD lesson; he talks back to each person with more information. Perhaps he is too well trained ;) We are only on the second unit, so more material to cover yet!)
Well, it certainly wasn't planned! It just happened.
Meaning - I laid a foundation, knowing the results should be good, but not knowing the details.
I wrote about some of our history here:
April 2014: Personal Finances and Montessori - Go read this one for our history! So I can just build on it here!
and here:
April 2014 - School Days - this really just notes that we continued playing the Act Your Wage game ;)
We are about to dive into the Middle School edition of Foundations in Personal Finance and with all the investing questions, I thought it is time for some updates!
Your Business Math - and Day to Day Operations at Home
Legoboy finished up the Your Business Math, using the Pet Store option. LOVED it. Then he went through and did it all again, running different numbers and different mock orders. We honestly could probably do it again and I could add some cards to make it more complex, but we have the FPU course coming up, he is helping with more of our real business operations at home (Garden of Francis and Keys of the Universe) and taking on more involvement in the daily home finances, that I think we're probably good!
Day to Day Operations at Home
I recently pulled out the Dave Ramsey baby steps again. We had been working on them, but got distracted by the fact that when we were finally debt-free, I shifted into savings mode. It came time to teach all the older children in my care some financial skills, and slow down my own spending on them.I pulled out the Dave Ramsey baby steps and talked through them with the older children.
Each older child (ages 11, 12, 14 at the time) received a prepaid Bluebird card through American Express. They were each given a base allowance of $150. Of this money, a certain amount could go into a savings account I set up for each of them, a certain amount was spending money on whatever, and a certain amount was intended to cover their own toiletries and clothing. Activities we would discuss on a case-by-case basis. This didn't mean I wasn't ever going to provide any clothing or treats or the like, but they were no longer to ask me for money. They had their own; if I so chose to offer a treat, it was on me. The "certain amount" was discussed individually with each child after budgeting for their "needs" and their "wants" and their future needs/wants.
We had a variety of experiences with this, from awesome savings after frivolous spending, to "let's go steal someone else's card and claim it was lost at the Reds game, thus someone else must have spent all that money at all the places I typically spend money at." Um. Yeah. Good learning experiences there too! All the children set some aside each month into savings.
Shortly thereafter, the children were removed from my home, due to lies and DCS covering their own past mistakes and putting them on me - but that is another story. Please pray for the children, their families, for DCS, the judge, the court system, the local prosecuting attorneys and all those who I met during the worst 5 days of my life in May.
Just before the children left, I received our tax return for the year and finally got started on retirement. The program we are using allowed me to set up separate accounts - not necessarily belonging to the children (they can't have investments accounts of their own), but labeled with their name and only using their money. This is what got Legoboy started. He was looking at it, looking at the differences between Aggressive, Conservative, Moderate - what are stocks, what are bonds - no guarantee of higher earnings, but wow the typical difference between that and his regular savings account!!! Yeah, he was interested! The 14-turned-15 year old chose to split her savings money between regular savings and investment savings, but following whatever plan Legoboy chose. The 11-turned-12 year old chose to keep her money in her regular savings.
Act Your Wage
We played this game with our older bonus children. It was frustrating and beneficial all at once. Afterward, the oldest (who complained about it the loudest) wanted to play again. Sadly, that time hasn't yet come, but it did get her thinking about finances in a more healthy manner.
Foundations in Personal Finance
Dave Ramsey now has a middle school edition of his FPU resources and we are about to give a try!
We'll update more soon!
Update: 7/7/2017 - Lesson 1 talks about teens having $500 in an emergency fund. Legoboy's response: Um. No. If I am being financially wise, I would set myself up as if I have some adult responsibilities so that I can be better prepared when I am 18 and an actual adult. What am I supposed to do? Turn 18 and have to put another $500 in the emergency fund immediately? What about the fully funded? This is my time right now to build that up, while I have no debt already.
(they may cover all this later)
7/8/2017 - BORING! I know all this.
(he does indeed answer all the questions in the workbook before watching the DVD lesson; he talks back to each person with more information. Perhaps he is too well trained ;) We are only on the second unit, so more material to cover yet!)
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Family Gardening in Our Home
 |
| Time to move these plants outside! |
This year, with 5 children instead of 1, we are going for a modification of square foot gardening. Each child will have their own space to plan within.
(Technically we had 5 children last summer too - but we started the growing season with 1 child and 1 adult and added from there - and our garden FAILED last year. Utter Failure.)
Mama:
- Pumpkins
- Tomatoes
- Rhubarb
- In the yard: add more lilac bushes, landscaping refreshed, plant some berry bushes for the future
Miss 14:
- Watermelons
- Strawberries
- Purple Trailing Petunias
Mister 13:
- Pumpkins (more)
- Cucumbers
- Watermelon
- Cantalope
Miss 12:
- Corn
- Strawberries
- Coleus
Miss 4:
- Carrots
- Sunflowers
Mister 3:
- Flower mix
- Sunflowers
Not as much variety as I would like to see, but we've had a late start in planning. We'll see what happens in the coming weeks!
The children will be responsible for their own area. With the particular needs we have in our mix of children, it is best for them not to share duties with the others, although Legoboy (Mr 13) and I will provide reminders and guidance for the others when needed. Miss 14 has never grown anything, ever. 12, 4 and 3 had a garden in their previous home but didn't get to see everything grow - they were provided some of their vegetable produced as it was harvested, but didn't get to pick it themselves.
This should be an interesting year to say the least ;)
Previous gardening related posts:
Lazy Gardening
Pollinator Week - Planning for our new home and garden
Nature in Montessori Education
Almost on the Farm
Vermi-Composting: WORMS!
Gardening in an Apartment
KidzHerbs Garden Kit: Review Post
Musings on the Elementary Scientific Classification Material
Herb Love - Review Post of Herb Fairies
Other Posts in the Series:
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Friday, September 9, 2016
Fractions Videos !!!
The fractions videos are finally being uploaded - I truly thought they were already up!
Here is a teaser!
This is from the fractions chapter in the elementary Montessori mathematics album - for Keys of the Universe that is "chapter 5".
All the others are available at Keys of the Universe!
And all the reality of how the Montessori approach is SO suited to the meet the needs of children with special needs and coming from traumatic situations.
I am in love with the Montessori approach more and more every single day. Even more so the days I don't approach things in this respectful, needs-based way - and go the way of the world - and everything literally falls apart.
More to come!
I'm hungry!
Cuz we can't be serious ;)
Here is a teaser!
This is from the fractions chapter in the elementary Montessori mathematics album - for Keys of the Universe that is "chapter 5".
All the others are available at Keys of the Universe!
And hopefully I will get caught up posting all my draft posts from... APRIL !? Ouch. We have had 2 boys come and go (to their permanent home), 2 older girls move in, then 2 little siblings move in. Addressing the needs of traumatized kids in the public school system. Family vacations.
And all the reality of how the Montessori approach is SO suited to the meet the needs of children with special needs and coming from traumatic situations.
I am in love with the Montessori approach more and more every single day. Even more so the days I don't approach things in this respectful, needs-based way - and go the way of the world - and everything literally falls apart.
More to come!
BLOOPERS!
How many times was that!?
I'm hungry!
Cuz we can't be serious ;)
Monday, March 28, 2016
Snake Game Videos!!!
Montessori Snake Game videos are now posted at Keys of the Universe.
For the elementary negative snake game, see the usual place for videos - on the course site (keysoftheuniverse.com/elementary) in Mathematics. For right now, the snake game is the only video in chapter 9 (the others will follow!).
For the addition snake game and the subtraction snake game, please see the discussion community itself - I have posted both videos in both the primary level section (where all the primary videos will be) and in the elementary section in a pinned post under mathematics. While this work is primarily for 5-6 year olds in the primary environment, some lower elementary children can still benefit from it, especially as a build-up to the elementary negative snake game.
There are no videos for the following snake games, because they are redundant - already included in the other snake games!!!
For the elementary negative snake game, see the usual place for videos - on the course site (keysoftheuniverse.com/elementary) in Mathematics. For right now, the snake game is the only video in chapter 9 (the others will follow!).
For the addition snake game and the subtraction snake game, please see the discussion community itself - I have posted both videos in both the primary level section (where all the primary videos will be) and in the elementary section in a pinned post under mathematics. While this work is primarily for 5-6 year olds in the primary environment, some lower elementary children can still benefit from it, especially as a build-up to the elementary negative snake game.
There are no videos for the following snake games, because they are redundant - already included in the other snake games!!!
- Negative Snake Game (that has 5 boxes)
- Multiplication Snake Game (already included as a verification stage within the Addition Snake Game)
More Snake Game information:
Some of our cutest snake game bloopers:
Other videos and samples are being added at our family business's Vimeo page.
Screen-name:
5-year-old:
Rolling the mat:
Leaving Runescape:
Awkward Box Lids:
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Montessori Essentials Course
Montessori Essentials Course for all Montessori adults!
Montessori Homeschoolers
Montessori Classroom Assistants
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd *assistants*
June 6 8a-5p
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Lafayette, Indiana
Learn the basics of Montessori that apply to all environments, along with the following:
- History of Montessori
- Exercises of Practical Life - preliminary skills, care of the environment, care of self and more
- Grace and Courtesy lessons
- Walking on the Line
- Silence Game/Activity
- Basic art lessons
$50 for the day (evening-before lodging available only as space permits)
NB: This Montessori Essentials course is one-day of a full 10-day course on the religious potential of children aged 2.5 through their 6th year. While the focus of the whole course is on the religious potential of the child as seen through a Montessori whole-child perspective, this first day will primarily focus on the universal aspects of the Montessori approach to life; thus anyone of any faith background who wants to utilize or learn more about the Montessori approach will benefit.
If you are interested in the full Catechesis of the Good Shepherd course, please see the post 3, 2, 1, Atrium at Seeking the Plan of God.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Making Montessori Materials: Bead Chain Arrows
I got tired of the paper/cardstock arrows. So thin, they slip around, hard to pick up when the focus should be on counting. They get *lost*.
The file I original used has two of the colors switched; I was able to change them (after I'd already printed the wrong arrows), then ran out of ink so had to wait. One thing leads to another, years have passed and the children are just making their own arrows out of paper for those two colors. I tried to print them again, but lost the modified file and don't have Adobe that lets me modify things anymore (and don't want to pay for it). Yeah. Craziness.
I kept saying I was going to switch to popsicle sticks.
Well, I started making the Keys of the Universe elementary Montessori mathematics videos - and my mission is to work on the corresponding materials as I get to the videos that need them. So there you go - or there I go. A simple project that became a big deal when it sat in my living room for months ;)
This material is indeed very easy.
What do you need?
- A package of normal size popsicle sticks
- A package of tongue depressors
- White very-fine-tip paint marker (for writing on darker colors)
- Black very-fine-tip paint marker (for writing on most of the colors)
- Paint in each of the bead cabinet colors (for "gold", I kept the sticks natural)
- I also used a gold paint marker to outline the wide stick that represents the cube of the number.
- Note: I did not do the initial counting up at the beginning - these ones I will do in cardstock to keep them narrow. Easy enough to replace those for primary use (elementary students don't use them)
TIME: These took less time to make than printing, laminating and cutting the cardstock arrows.... Just saying.
I chose to paint just one end - just on one side at first; but I found it was easier to sort them and use them with the bead chains when the color was on both sides. So the *number* is currently only on one side (could be on both).
I chose to paint just one end - just on one side at first; but I found it was easier to sort them and use them with the bead chains when the color was on both sides. So the *number* is currently only on one side (could be on both).
The numbers are written so the arrows are placed below the bead chain; I really could have, should have written them so the numbers are placed on the far side of the bead chain from the child, yet readable. Wasn't thinking much at the time. ;)
They still work for elementary. Will have to test for primary.
A video from elementary:
A video from elementary:
Friday, February 5, 2016
A Day in the Life of a Montessori Homeschool Boy
Our days have been looking more unschoolish as Legoboy gets older. Not just unschoolish - but more "practical". Like making popcorn - daily. ;)
Some previous "Life in the Montessori Homeschool" posts - just a sampling of what Montessori life can look like:
Final Upper Elementary Work Plan
LegoBoy's Doings: June 2015
Montessori Homeschooling Week - February 2015 - this post has the links for each day of the week
A Week in the Life of Legoboy 2014 - this post has the links for each day of the week
A Day in the Life of Legoboy
Elementary - Sample of Our Day - 2012 - towards end of lower elementary
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
REVIEW POST: Montessori House Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers
Montessori House has been on my radar for a while. The author and I are in the same Montessori "team" on Etsy - and I have had to defend her right to utilize the team tag "TeamMontessori" on her albums.
The author has AMI training and has organized her AMI albums for use by parents and teachers. What she offers is authentic - with some caveats.
I do have fundamental disagreements with a few areas of Montessori House:
- The primary - or second half of the first plane of development - ages 2.5-6 is to be kept together. No child progresses perfectly in sync in all areas nor in sync with any other child ever. Thus it makes no sense to split up the albums for ages 2.5-6 into 4 different levels.
- Primary only goes through kindergarten - not grade 1. Grade 1 (or first grade) should be the first year of elementary, the child has a different mind (a reasoning mind) and is need of the Great Lessons, not being held back into primary.
- The author says on the main website that the primary albums at least are a compilation "of the best exercises and presentations". Well, in one sense, AMI provides the keys, thus the "best" are all of them; so this could mean all of them. But I am not so sure on that, looking over the table of contents.
- There are related blogs and newsletters, but none seem to be producing new content of late. What is there is good however!
- The groupings of how to purchase which albums is odd configurations as well, which leads to confusion of "what am I suposed to get for which age/experience". But this is minor.
Still - what is there, should be quality.
Last week, I finally purchased the infant and toddler binders for my own use.
Some of my own Montessori background:
- Before I had my son, I had spent many days at a then-local AMI Montessori school - I had no training, I didn't even barely know about Montessori when I first walked in. But I fell in love from the first 5 minutes! (it took 4 1/2 minutes to get used to the idea of "just sit in this chair and observe for a little while to get a feel for the environment here" ;) ).
- At that school, I spent most of my time with the infants and toddlers; second-most time in before/after care, third in elementary (6-9 and 9-12 at this school) and lastly in primary (3-6).
- I loved every moment - even when I was overwhelmed with confusion about what on earth was happening! Children excited about studying grammar!? Children ready to leave who spend 5 minutes picking well more than half of their "mess" from playing with a friend because that is what is done to be respectful to one another!? Respect!?
Wow. - In the meantime, I have had an awesome son, went to AMI training for primary Montessori (ages 2.5-6) and elementary Montessori (ages 6-12), subbed at a slew of schools, spent more time with infants and toddlers (and all the other ages, including now a limited time with adolescents) - and run an in-home daycare based on Montessori principles.
No Assistance to Infancy training is on my horizon at this time --- and the resources I have accessed have been much less than stellar (ahem - Montessori from the Start - I will post a review on that book soon - I don't recommend it anymore! I only used to recommend it with caveats.). I did use Montessori from the Start but set aside so much from it - and felt guilty for doing so (more in the upcoming post).
I have been loving my recent discovery: Susan Stephenson's book The Joyful Child for children ages 0-3. I have a review post coming forth on that one too - I will only say here that my only caveat is the lack of some material descriptions.
I started to write my own guide based on my own observations, readings, experiences, etc. It would have been awesome; but The Joyful Child takes care of a good deal of what I wanted to put together - and the remaining bits could be gleaned from Montessori from the Start, but still the separation of wheat and chaff was hurting me.
Thus, I took a chance on the Montessori House Infant and Toddler binders. Spent $80-something after shipping. Then I read some reviews from others in a Facebook group, posted right after I ordered. I was doubting my purchase. Very concerned about the wasted money. There was one good review but she said she didn't want a lot of background/theory (and that portion is needed!).
My verdict?
YES! Just enough theory/background to get across the points without being overwhelming and spending hours upon hours of reading. And straight-forward material descriptions.
And the emphasis on OBSERVATION! Phenomenal! Even places to record dates, notes, reactions, etc!
Not a downside or a caveat - but just a point of interest: These albums are written pretty much without emotion; there is little in the way of wordy explanations. It is very much "here is the idea, here is why it works, go observe!" Some people may be put off by that, but just read it as a factual document and all is well!
One issue noted by the Facebook group reviews: a lack of structure, finding some of it "vague and disjointed" - I have that part covered below ;)
Of course I have my own personal caveats - personal to me, but also from my professional perspective. I thoroughly stand behind the infant album (up to 18 months). In the toddler album (18 months to 2.5 years), here are some of my tips:
- page 83: When a child shows interest in letters at this age, Montessori House says to use sandpaper letters, DON'T. That is not the most accurate match for the child's self-construction. When the child is interested in letters and words, be sure you are playing the *sound games* instead. Separately, if a child asks about a word or a letter, give the word or give the letter *sound* (not the name).
- The math section: Counting - YES! Making counters out of clay for the fun of it - YES!
But please don't do sandpaper numbers at this point or do the numbers & counters activity. These come after a child has had the number rods experience later. - For math, keeping going with patterning, oral counting, one to one correspondence and the like.
Overall, these two Montessori House binders, taken together with Susan Stephenson's lovely, parent-friendly gentle book The Joyful Child, will provide all that you need for an awesome Montessori infant and toddler home experience! What the one lacks, the over fills in!
These two resources for infancy and toddler - transition readily into Keys of the World for 2.5-6 and Keys of the Universe for ages 6-12.
:)
:)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)