Literate Environments

When I was working on my child development degree, there was so much talk about "literate environments." Most of it made sense; but I have to admit, a good deal of it was so utterly contrived.

And then I met a little girl. She was this sweet little thing with something of an "uppity" attitude. The other teachers at the daycare were relatively annoyed with her, but they "put up with her". This sounds worse than it was; let's just say they didn't think much of her personality most of the time. She was 3 when I met her and 5 when I last saw her.

And now that I know many homeschoolers... she reminds me of homeschoolers!

NOT because of the "uppity-ness" which was mis-construed. In reality, it was a sign of normalization among children who were not normalized.

She reminds me of homeschoolers because she had a VOCABULARY. She didn't say "kitty and doggie" - she said "kitten and puppy" (and even those words she said in a sweet little voice that just made your heart melt!).

She used the word "persnickety" to describe another child's bristliness after nap-time. She was 3 1/2 at the time. And she was spot-on!

She could describe nuances of color to you - if it was gold, it was NOT yellow; and it wasn't just gold either: there could marigold, antique gold, tarnished gold, pyrite gold.... these were HER descriptors.

She loved play on words (sounds, rhyming, songs), was trying to start reading at age 5 (hindered by the environment we were in).

She had little interest in "pure fantasy." It truly turned her off (this is where part of the uppity label came in. She would say very politely, "This book just isn't for me; thank you."

Honestly, I can't believe the child didn't go to a Montessori environment.

But she did.


She had parents who developed an environment at home that centered on the following:

• observation of the child
• following her needs
• fulfilling those needs 
• respecting freedom and responsibility at appropriate times
• providing limited choices so she could take "safe risks"
• did not hand over all control to the child
• did not hold back all control from the child
• encouraged role-playing - not "fairies" but real-life-style situations. 

Included in all of that, as part and parcel: 

• They spoke to her in REAL LANGUAGE. They did not give her the birds and bees sort of talks, but they did speak to her as a real person with a real love for real language. 
• As she started having interest in reading and writing, her parents responded by playing labeling games at home. So things were not labeled already in the environment (as in a contrived literacy-based environment), but labeled at the time she would actually care - and get it. And she was part of it. 

So yes, she had a Montessori environment at home. And it was language-rich, and rich in so many ways, because it was an intentional environment that met her needs. 

Not because it was contrived. 

Now, her mom was an artist and her dad a musician. So, before we start worrying about lack of creativity because she didn't want anything to do with pure imagination, let's consider that she was still in the first plane of development where she's not supposed to be drawn into those things of her own accord; and that her parents certainly would have been encouraging creativity and imagination in appropriate ways. 

I wonder if they ended up homeschooling her.... :) 

So how do we create literate environments as Montessorians? 

• real language - BIG words; WIDE vocabulary - don't dumb down the language because a child is not yet speaking. 
• real-life situations
• lots of real-life role-playing (grace and courtesy comes in here; but also letting them be creative and play)
• solid foundation in reality
• oral language games starting very young (1, 2, 3 years old)
• continue oral languages games indefinitely
• invite writing skills when the child is interested and at the right sensitive period
• as they start with the movable alphabet, invite them to label items around the room
• invite reading skills when the child has been writing for a while and you see signs that they are on the verge
• now they can read labels and place them - with small objects, with items around the room, with items they need to illustrate themselves
• read-aloud to them every day
• have conversations with them
• have lots of experiences - occurrences they can TALK about, that they will want to WRITE about, that as they learn to read, they will want to READ about to expand their knowledge in that area and build into even more experiences. 
• Under experiences: garden, have pets, paint, listen to music, go for walks, go camping, travel on occasion, include the child on grocery store trips and other errands, visit family and friends
• TALK (just not during a presentation that needs few words and more gestures ;) ). 

Montessori School Supply Lists

It is back to school time and my input is usually sought right about now, so I thought I'd time this post to coincide. Also see my other post on back-to-school deals that fit with Montessori.

Now, all of this is just my experience and/or intuition - please share your own ideas here too!

Every Montessori school, just like any other school, has varying capabilities to offer their children the supplies needed. Most children receive a "supply list" before school starts of the items they will need to provide. For as many Montessori schools are out there, you have as many supply lists!

Typical items might include the following:
(everything listed is presumed "if the school does not already provide")

• lunch box/bag (for food from home); or dishes for communal lunch (if school provides food but not dishes); some sort of drink bottle, preferably re-usable
• personal grooming items: comb/brush, toothbrush
• outdoor supplies needed for your area and school environment
• some school ask the children to bring a small plant to care for in the classroom during the year
• indoor shoes or slippers

You might also consider: 

• personal supply of sunscreen and/or bug repellant
• wide-brimmed hat
• seeds of choice to plant in classroom garden (indoor garden if you're in cold winter climates)
• various donations towards classroom supplies (ie each child supplies a box of tissues, a ream of white paper, etc)

Most of the following is for elementary and adolescence, and presumes there is a classroom set of each item, as well as these individual items for quick access, and for use on Goings Out.

• notebooks - spiral or glued binding: quadrille paper, wide-lined notebooks, 2-3 small notepads for quick notes on Goings Outs
• pencil pouch
• set of colored pencils
• 2-3 writing pencils
• good sharpener
• good eraser
• assignment book: NOTE - this is best designed by each school for their particular program, and provided to the children

You might also put out a general donation list to each of the parents to see if they have access to items you're not aware of yet. 

• receipt tape
• banner paper
• newspaper ends
• wood-working skills
• other skills you'd like the children to learn/experience
• left-over yarn and threads and needles
• anything else in your classroom that you go through and use up
• donation of time to cut papers, restock supplies, etc. 

And if you are a homeschooler? Check all of the above :) I have previously posted on Target dollar rack deals. If anyone again sees the miniature globes they put out a few years ago, please DO let me know! I want to stock up!

Montessori and Life of Fred

We have not yet read through *all* the Life of Fred books, but here is what I can say for the ones that we have used and where they fit into our AMI Montessori albums:

(Updates have been made 9/11/15)

Fred = silly; this picture = silly;
so does Fred = this picture?
Formula:
a = c; b = c;
so does a really = b ??? ;) 

Elementary series of 10 books:

• Beginning in 1st grade, they can be used sequentially. 
• Beginning in 2nd-4th grade, still use them sequentially, but you might move through them faster. 
• 5th/6th grade: intend for them to be funny stories with light review, but there won't necessarily be anything "new" - still very funny, interesting, connects the various subjects in a fully interactive manner inviting a personal response of the child (cosmic education!)
• ADDing: There are an additional 3 books in an "intermediate" series between elementary and actual readiness for Fractions (which is FAR more than just fractions and starts the "Before High School" series).

Interestingly enough, these sets, along with the Fractions and Decimals/Percents books fill in just about all the "missing" mathematics components listed in state standards but not emphasized in Montessori. 

Before High School Mathematics - Fractions, Decimals & Percent, Elementary Physics, Pre-Algebra 1, Pre-Algebra 2:

• If you've been following the Montessori albums pretty closely, Fractions can start in 3rd or 4th year of Montessori elementary - OR whenever the child is ready and wanting. The author prefers children wait until 5th grade at least; and has authored 3 additional elementary books (deemed "Intermediate") to emphasize this position. The skills the author notes on the information page for use in fractions are learned by all lower elementary Montessori students following AMI albums.
• Decimals & Percents is solidly an upper elementary Montessori book. 
• Elementary Physics (or Pre-Algebra 0 with Physics, depending on the time of publicatino) AND Pre-Algebra with Biology would be ideal for a 11-13 year old in a Montessori setting. 
• Pre-Algebra with Economics would be ideal for a 12-14 year old in a Montessori setting. 

I can't yet speak for the high school texts. We will likely acquire them in a few years when my son is older, but not quite ready for them, to have time to peruse them at that time :) 

ETA2: We do have some of the high school books now. It will be interesting to see where they fit in with this Montessori child ;)
As a 3rd year elementary student, Legoboy really gets a lot out of Fractions but is not quite there with Decimals & Percents - he is only just now starting the decimal fraction Montessori material. Once he gets that under his belt, I think Decimals & Percents will take off.
With that said, he LOVES to read the high school books for the story line; the math does trickle in a bit even though he's not "there" yet with Calculus ;) 

ETA: I should point out for anyone for whom Life of Fred is a new idea: the books are silly beyond belief! The subtitle for the Fractions book is "As Serious As It Needs to Be" - and in this case, means hardly at all. It turns out math can be silly and fun and STILL be educational!

9/11/15 UPDATE: Now that Legoboy is a 6th year elementary student, he is on par with the above recommendations, he has completed Decimals & Percents and he will begin Pre-Algbra with Physics in the near future (he has other subjects to focus on just now).

:)

Calligraphy

It has now reached the time for my son to start calligraphy. It's just that age.

How did we get here?

He's been studying ancient civilizations for 2 1/2 years now, starting with Ancient Egypt and Old Testament peoples and branching out (and back and forth) from there.

He has also moved into the love of Medieval times: feudalism, knights, castles, magicians, dragons, valor, chivalry.

That was in history.

We incorporate art into all of our subjects, but he also does a program called "Christian Heritage Art" which has 6 lessons per "level" that are historically-based - recently he created his own coat of arms (and a few weeks later "updated" it to ensure it was an accurate portrayal of his life).

In language, we have recently reviewed the Great Lesson on the Story of Communication in Signs - he'd already been creating Hebrew, Egyptian, Greek and Chinese alphabets, among others.

Also in the area of language, his beautiful handwriting has become a bit... sloppy-ish. Yes, we Montessorians keep the children on lined paper longer than typically thought necessary because it helps to train the hand, but he was doing great with both types of paper...

but that is a sign.

It is all coming together (hint, hint: cosmic education - nothing is studied in isolation).


As part of his other studies, I finally pulled out the Book of Kells (we have two) for its historical value and for inspiration - and I purchased a book called "The Illuminated Alphabet: An Inspirational Introduction to Creating Decorative Calligraphy".
I also already have a calligraphy how-to set that I'm not altogether pleased with, but it does come with ink, pens with various nibs and markers.

I'll be honest - there is NO how-to calligraphy or how-to illumination book that is "perfect" - you'll have to find one or a small number that work for YOUR purposes. For my purposes I am in the process of creating calligraphy command cards similar to the Montessori geography command cards, biology command cards, etc. to take children through the process step-by-step - and then they have these other guides to expand or just provide some ideas for where their work can go.


And the child is inspired.

He is creating his own mini-version of the Book of Kells - and has been a boy on pristine behavior-run so that he can EARN the right to begin the early steps of calligraphy.

What BOY do you know wants to EARN the RIGHT to do calligraphy?

This is a Montessori child, through and through!


He has been studying the history of illumination (and has been allowed to "doodle" (embellish) his paper-works since he was 4), recognizes the similarities of European calligraphy with Chinese and other far-eastern cultures' writing styles, appreciates the historical "lack" of paper and how precious anything written was (not like today where you can buy a grocery bag of books at the library for $2), therefore appreciates calligraphy and illumination as the beautiful art-forms they are --- and he wants to participate in this long history.

Note on the sloppy hand-writing - it is generally sign, that if the other preparations have been made, the elementary child is ready to learn calligraphy as an historical "grown-up" form of writing. He is now participating with his ancestors. Not to mention that the first stages of calligraphy (shaded writing) require slow, careful control - so it brings more attention back to the hand and regular hand-writing should improve as well.

Top 25 Homeschooling Mom Blogs

My little blog was nominated! Wow! I am so humbled!

Come vote for my blog (and all the others you love so much! You can vote for more than one a day; and you can vote every single day!)


 


 Thank you! I'm in such lovely company!

Be sure to vote every day!!!

Adolescent Montessori Discussion Group - Erdkinder

With so much growth at the elementary level, we have more and more families looking to do Montessori at the adolescent ages at home as well. 


I am putting together a small online discussion group specifically for this age, with reading assignments on a suggested schedule, discussion topics and sharing of ideas and resources. Everything will be from a homeschool perspective, but classroom teachers are welcome and encouraged to join in as well. 


If you are part of our Keys of the Universe discussion board, you are already in! I will begin the official group June 21 in the adolescent section and Keys of the Universe participants have full access as part of their regular participation.


If you are not part of the Keys of the Universe discussion board, join us here:
Keys of the Universe Individual Album Support - Adolescent Montessori Discussion Group Access
One-time payment; life-time participation


We will begin June 21 in earnest; but join now so you're ready to go when I post the first discussion topic. 


The ideal participant:

• you have a child age 10-16 right now, with or without elementary Montessori experience
• you have an older child and would like to contribute from that perspective
• you have Montessori adolescent experience
• you have extensive other experience working with the adolescent group and you are familiar with Montessori principles; and want to apply those principles to the adolescent group

Anyone with any age child can be participate, but the earliest stages of this group will be better suited for someone in the field right now or very soon; or who has been there and can provide some insight, as we are going to share ideas, insights and develop resources as we go. 

If you are looking for something totally put together with all the answers handed to you - we're not there yet! This initial group is for those who want to explore and share, together. 

Goals - Main Topics:

• establish foundation of understanding of the adolescent age
• including their needs, tendencies; how to meet them
• difference between societal expectations and reality of needs and tendencies
• What if we provide all that Montessori suggested? What will happen?
• Compare our own experiences and work through personal barriers. 
• Establish the universal principles of an adolescent Montessori homeschool
• Lend support to filling in the specifics for each individual home
• Establish collection of resources for use by homeschooling families for this age

Already part of Keys of the Universe: no cost
Join separate from Keys of the Universe: $15 - permanent access




Outline of the discussion group is coming soon, but a general overview of each week follows: 

• Reading assignment will be posted to the group
• During your reading, note your reactions. 
• For the next day or so, observe around you and consider your past experiences - how do your experience match or contradict the reading? 
• Respond to the discussion board with whatever you are comfortable sharing. 
• Also respond with how you might respond to what you have explored in the reading and reflection. 
• Develop conversations on the adolescent age, such that we are working out the practical how-tos and what does it look like. 

Reading assignments: some will be posted on the group; and some will come from the book Childhood to Adolescence; other reading sources will be listed as soon as possible. You will want to purchase this book if at all possible. 

Come join us! 

Keys of the Universe Individual Album Support - Adolescent Montessori Discussion Group Access

See you there! 

Pollinator Week - Biology

Pollinator week is June 18-24 and we'll be doing what we can at our home. How about you?

We'll be continuing our balcony garden, as well as the gardening at our friend's home; and we'll be on a "Pollinator Hunt" all week to see what we discover. My son also wants to do some research to see what plants and insects/animals go together for pollination purposes.

He has already started our list for when we move into a house - he knows which plants he wants in order to attract certain butterflies for example ; )


Kids Discover
This great article has a list of resources for more information, as well as activities and background information.


When planning your pollinator-friendly garden, choose native plants whenever possible. The Pollinator Partnership has a native plant guide (http://pollinator.org/guides.htm) that tailors recommendations to your region. Plant a variety of species that will flower successively over the entire growing season.

Who Pollinates?

Lentils – bees and insects
Artichoke – bees
Figs – wasps
Honey – bees
Eggplant – bees
Onions – bees and flies
Garlic – bees and flies
Sesame Seed – bees, flies, wasps
Chili Peppers – bees
Sweet Potatoes – bees
Yellow Potatoes – bees
Garbanzo Beans – bees
Herbs – bees
Lettuce – bees and insects
Grapefruit – bees
Currant – bees
Avocados – bee, flies, and bats
Tomatoes – bees
Spinach – insects
Almonds – bees
Lemons – bees
Sugar Cane – bees
Cocoa – flies
Cherries – bees
Bananas – birds, bats
Vanilla – bees
Raspberries – bees
Strawberries – bees
Coffee – bees and flies
Tea – bees, insects, and flies
Cranberries – bees
Apples – bees
Tequila – bats
Oranges – bees

Find out more at Kids Discover 

Last Year in Lower Elementary - Singing the Blues

I am so happy - and so sad... My little boy is growing up!

He is entering into this last year of "lower elementary". While we use AMI albums and consider elementary a continuum from 6-12, there is a certain sense of moving forward in this next year that is the typical parental bittersweet moment ;)

For the first two years of lower elementary we have almost entirely just followed the Montessori albums, throwing in our own interests and my own requirements here and there. For the sake of our personal situation, I also have "traditional school" lesson plans on which we mark off accomplished skills and record attendance (our state only requires 180 days per school year of attendance). According to those plans, he finished 3rd grade back in January (of his normally 2nd grade year). Montessori just does that ;) And we have plenty of time to explore all his own interests! A year and a half of Ancient Egypt has been a bit much for me personally, but it has been GREAT for him!

For this third year, we'll have a bit more planning to do. I have pulled all the state standards for 3rd grade in our state. He is responsible, over the course of the next year, to ensure that he has all listed skills, knowledge and experience.

Occasionally items from this list might make it onto his weekly work plan, but mostly it will just be up to him every so often to check the list and decide how to proceed. If he knows something intuitively, he can just let it go, but knowing my son, he'll likely make a little booklet that demonstrates each skill listed on the standards. I will actually be surprised if this doesn't happen.

We're doing mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, art, and physical education (the last two only because he "wants" to - ok, fine ;) ).

Looking things over, the only areas he might be "missing" are contained within social studies, particularly local history. He will develop his own plan for going about the requirements, with my assistance. We'll head to the library for books and videos, then expand from there - he might make dioramas, art projects, timelines, charts, posters, lists, diagrams or who knows what. There are SO many ways to fulfill those requirements - and there is no one right way!

And for the record, it's not that local history is left out of the Montessori elementary albums - it is that local history MUST be developed by the local teacher and the students in conjunction with one another. Montessori history covers the framework within which to study history; and the details are left to personal research. Culture and all other aspects of social studies are covered in-depth.

As homeschoolers in our state, we do not HAVE to follow those standards; but I choose to follow the Montessori elementary albums in this regard; there is a focus on the local public school requirements in the 3rd year of lower and of upper elementary. I believe it will help to instill a sense of responsibility to and respect for local authorities, strengthen his work ethic, provide practice in a safe environment for the future when he has to do things he'd rather not do (without overwhelming him now), and set a sound pattern for a mature adulthood.


So here we are at a benchmark. Leaving behind the total freedom of primary; and the relative freedom of lower elementary; to embrace a year of outside requirements. Then we'll have two more years entirely to ourselves before we repeat at age 12 years.


Ok. Reality is that the public school requirements take an average of 5 minutes per week, if that! So this is just a mommy making a mountain of a molehill ;) Hehe.

A bit of a Break

We've been taking a bit of a break from homeschooling this week - but Montessori continues ;)

I have been assisting a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd formation course (in the same building where we have our co-op class during the school year, so most of our Montessori materials are there right now).

Between some review mathematics work (yep, even older kids need to review concepts like fractions equivalency once in a while ;) ) and atrium presentations, as well as helping me organize some of the materials, I guess it's not so much of a break from Montessori or homeschooling as much as it is a break from the "work plan" - there is no work plan for this week except to enjoy it ;)

Exercises of Practical Life in Infancy

An infants' focus is almost entirely on practical life and sensorial experiences. And almost everything requires NO materials.


In our home, we had the following material-required skills for the infant years - up to 12 months old.

• toothpicks into a jar wide mouth jar, then water bottle, then mounting onto salt shaker holes
• beginning to cut with scissors - at tray on booster seat with blunt-tipped scissors and narrow strips of paper on special tray that is indicated just for cutting
• using slots and holes (balls into holes; large poker chips into a slot on a coffee can lid --- start with objects that require no force to push through, then ones with more force required)
• feeding self

Mostly we focused on movement skills, language, reading, and being together. We had the mobiles, floor bed, long mirror, and lots of loved ones to provide love and attention. No specially purchased materials here:

• couch cushions for climbing and tumbling - remove cushions from couch to create a safe climbing and tumbling game
• can or heavy jar that rolls across the floor to encourage crawling
• stairs with a gate across the 4th or so step (move it up as the child is safely climbing up and down)
• textures of various fabrics

Above all else, focus on reality - and encourage baby to participate in his own way. Talk to him with whole language (yes, high-pitched motherese is fantastic for the youngest babies!), smile, interact - all those grace and courtesy lessons coming in a few years in primary. 

Everything is practical life and sensorial at this age! 

Infant Montessori is so easy in retrospect - it really IS a minimalist approach! 

Climbing the couch cushions for the first time
(look at the happy face!)

waiting for his new friend to join him

Adolescent Montessori - Homeschool - Can it be DONE!?

I have fielded more than a few questions on this topic.

The short answer is YES.

The long answer involves a lot of discussional points with those who say "No" and have extremely valid points.

Now, I do not personally have any training or orientation for the adolescent age. NAMTA and AMI are now offering an Orientation to Adolescents course that is great time-wise, but it is frankly more expensive per day than primary and elementary AMI training combined.
OUCH.

And they don't even "have all the answers." It's not a full training - the MES Fund does not consider it a training for scholarship purposes. It is simply an orientation. And it is geared for a group setting (which I am ok studying and practicing, then adapting for homeschool purposes).

It sounds LOVELY anyhow, but I cannot afford to attend :( I need to finish paying off primary and elementary first!

In the meantime, I have started consolidating all of the resources provided in both primary and elementary, along with the required reading list for the Orientation and other resources.

I am putting together a small online discussion group specifically for this age, with reading assignments on a suggested schedule, discussion topics and sharing of ideas and resources. Everything will be from a homeschool perspective.

If you are part of our Keys of the Universe discussion board, you are already in! I will begin the official group June 21 in the adolescent section and Keys of the Universe participants have full access as part of their regular participation.

If you are not part of the Keys of the Universe discussion board, join us here:
Keys of the Universe Individual Album Support - Adolescent Montessori Discussion Group Access
One-time payment; life-time participation

We will begin June 21 in earnest; but anyone can join at any time.

The ideal participant:

• you have a child age 10-16 right now, with or without elementary Montessori experience
• you have an older child and would like to contribute from that perspective
• you have Montessori adolescent experience
• you have extensive other experience working with the adolescent group and you are familiar with Montessori principles; and want to apply those principles to the adolescent group

Anyone with any age child can be participate, but the earliest stages will be better suited for someone in the field right now or very soon; or who has been there and can provide some insight. 

If you are looking for something totally put together with all the answers handed to you - we're not there yet! This initial group is for those who want to explore and share, together. 

Goals - Main Topics:

• establish foundation of understanding of the adolescent age
• including their needs, tendencies; how to meet them
• difference between societal expectations and reality of needs and tendencies
• What if we provide all that Montessori suggested? What will happen?
• Compare our own experiences and work through personal barriers. 
• Establish the universal principles of an adolescent Montessori homeschool
• Lend support to filling in the specifics for each individual home
• Establish collection of resources for use by homeschooling families for this age

Already part of Keys of the Universe: no cost
Join separate from Keys of the Universe: $15 - permanent access

Exercises of Practical Life in our Home - Toddler Years

Many of the simpler exercises of practical life can be done by toddlers; this frees up their primary years for deeper, more purposeful work. Included in our practical life was a lot of sensorial as well - for us the two areas overlapped a LOT in the toddler years.

In our home, we had the following for the toddler years - approximately ages 12 months to 3 years.

• continue cutting with scissors on thin strips - by age 2, using most of the primary cutting exercises
• mounting toothpicks into a mound of playdough
• continue other infant work as long as needed (see June 7 post)
• cutting banana and other very soft items with a butter-spreader
• opening and closing boxes, latches, etc. 
• twisting: caps on bottles, large nuts/bolts
• matching lids to pans (my son put this one together himself!)
• wiping up spills
• preliminary stages of getting self dressed
• how to wash hands
• walking on a wide line
• walking carrying items (such as porcelain statues)
• sweeping with a child-size broom
• safety rules (ie hold hands in parking lots)
• respect rules (ie do not touch visiting friend's keys on the table without asking)
• spooning grains (cereals in particular)
• pouring from small pitcher
• stringing large, then smaller beads
• using knobbed shape puzzles (large knobs, then smaller; all geometric shapes)
• using large eyedropper (a medicine dropper)
• matching shapes
• dressing frames as appropriate - dressing self as appropriate (shoes on)
• matching colors
• hanging loose items on a hanger
• completing work cycle of putting things away
• using spray bottles to clean windows and tables
• setting own place at the table (with an outlined place mat)
• putting away laundry and other household items

School Shopping!

School shopping season is coming up (at least in the US and Canada) and I thought I would put together a list for what items to be on the lookout for when you're stocking up:


Target Dollar Rack possibilities:

• miniature globes (for primary Montessori, get 3-6: sandpaper (land and water), continents, political, climates, oceans (you may want a larger one for the oceans), and a 6th topic I can't think of right now)
• flashcards - buy at least 2 copies of each; 2 sets creates 3-part cards with a control set and a cut set; 1 set creates flashcard games and/or classifying by type; 2 sets uncut could be matching games; 2 sets with one cut or uncut could be mounted onto cardstock and made into a booklet; you could overlap some of these ideas. 
• Flashcards for elementary - animals and plant images can be used for classification rather than hunting down and printing images or using magazines to cut up - usually one set is sufficient, unless you want to have a separate set for the information on them; or a third set so you have 2 to make a booklet and  a third set for the classification. 
• Small writing notebooks if they carry them this year

Any Back to School specials: 

• quadrille paper - either loose-leaf or in bound books - used for almost any subject in elementary (we prefer loose-leaf to create our own notebooks via binders or other binding)
• spiral notebooks for taking notes of various sorts - single subject: stock up on a lot; 3 or 5 subject, smaller quantity, but they will be used too (perhaps the whole notebook is on Ancient Egypt with each of the 5 sections being a particular theme)
• pack of loose-leaf notebook paper: wide-rule for primary and college rule for older elementary
• package of large erasers - the ones on pencils just aren't enough and the ones you add to the pencils have too much waste
• decent colored pencils in the basic colors (you might have a family set for everyone, but everyone should have their own set of basic-basic colors - prismacolor are my favorite)
• pencil pouch (better a thinner pouch than a large box - easier to transport when needed) - holds the eraser, a couple of pencils, a good sharpener (all metal is best), set of basic colored pencils, and perhaps a tiny notepad, you might have a pen in here too
• tiny notepads - they usually come in 3 packs and they are small - they are great for field notes, quick notes, short lists, and just anything that would otherwise waste a large sheet of paper -- easy to transport in a pencil pouch ;) 
• lunch bag and drink bottle - even homeschooled children can use a lunch bag and bottle for outings, trips, picnics, etc. And this is the best time to buy them. 

NOTE: For the most part, assignment books are the not best equipped to handle an elementary child's work plan or work contract; but if you find one that does work, post a link or image here!

PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN INSIGHTS HERE!

:) 

Exercises of Practical Life in Our Home - Primary

The Exercises of Practical Life are the oddest subject area in Montessori.

On the one hand, they can be entirely overlooked because it's not "academic" (it is academic and necessary for a child's development, but that's not the point to this post ;) ).

On the other hand, they are easiest to WAY OVER-DO - getting into areas that aren't, well, practical. This is where we start getting into the area of "independent learning activities" that aren't really Montessori. Useful, perhaps. Interesting, perhaps. Not going to harm your child, most likely. But NOT Montessori.
And can definitely over-burden a homeschool mom who "just wants to do it right" but sees everyone's ideas and thinks they are all necessary. No, they're not necessary - this is where you can have some creativity if you like, but it is NOT necessary!

Exercises of Practical Life: think practical. What is practical for YOUR life?

Montessori = Keys.

We actually started with old medicine droppers
at home - transitioned to glass ones later.
You can see our "supply shelf" in the back!

Home versus school = small available space.
(it could be argued that schools need to follow the same guidelines because they have more children who have less time with the materials than homeschoolers have, but I am writing about MY home right now :) ) .

Therefore, in our home, we stick with the practical exercises of the "Exercises of Practical Life" album.

At primary, that meant we had the following throughout our home - not all in one place:

Preliminary Exercises (any special materials introduced here are removed when the child is competent at the related activity)

How to Carry a Working Mat

How to Place a Pitcher

How to Carry a Tray

How to Roll a Working Mat

How to Put Down a Chair

How to Sit On a Chair at a Table

How to Fold Napkins - basic - styles added later in elementary

How to Pour Grain (dry pouring - something with weight - removed when competent with pouring)

How to Pour Water (wet pouring - removed when competent with own pitcher in the fridge)

How to Fold a Dust-cloth to Put Away (we just used the regular dust-cloths)

How to Fold a Dust-cloth to Dust (just used the regular dust-cloths) Transfer with Eyedropper - liquid from one bottle to another (related to polishing) Clothespin on edge of a jar (removed when starting to competently hang clothes in such manner)

Care of Self

How to Wash Hands

Snap Frame

Hook and Eye Frame

Button Frame

Buckle Frame

Zipper Frame

Bow Frame

Lacing Frame – V Pattern

Lacing Frame – X Pattern

Lacing Frame – Linear Pattern

Safety Pin Frame Combing Hair

Care of the Environment

How to Dust a Table

How to Use a Dustpan and Brush

How to Sweep with a Broom How to Vacuum (kid-sized vacuum)

How to Wipe Up a Spill

How to Dust Leaves

How to Polish Glass, Metal, Wood - I had separate trays, but the processes are streamlined for function within the home.

How to Care for Plants

How to Wash a Table AND counter

How to Wash Cloths

How to Iron

How to Arrange Flowers

How to Make Basic Food items (orange juice, fruit salads, pbj sandwiches)

How to Wash Fruits and Vegetables

How to Peel & Cut Various Fruits and Vegetables

How to Bake (a toaster oven is ideal; we did not, so he did everything EXCEPT when the over door was open - that part was my job) --- a primary aged child can help make almost anything from cookies and muffins to salads and sandwiches - even pizza!

Grace and Courtesy

How to Walk Around A Mat

How to Introduce Yourself

How to Apologize

How to Observe

How to Draw Attention

How to Accept a Compliment

How to Blow Your Nose

How to Sit on Upholstered Furniture appropriately (still working on that one!) How to answer the door

Control of Movement

Walking on the Line - rolled up ball of string - stretched out when ready to use

The Silence Activity

Visual Art

Rubbings (Exploration of Texture)

Cutting - Snipping

Cutting - Lines

Advanced Cutting

Contour Drawing with Crayon (Exploration of Line)

Drawing with Colored Pencils

Cutting and Gluing (Exploration of Space)

Painting (Exploration of Color)

Sculpting (Exploration of Form)

Beginning Sewing

Sewing a Button

Advanced Sewing – Running Stitch

Basic cross-stitch Exposure to crochet Others adapted for our home:  Grating soap "Guard" when Mama makes soap (have the vinegar and water buckets ready for accidents) Safety precautions around home-made soap Holding and carrying lit candles Other candle-care Cleaning the inside of a fridge or freezer Using tweezers to pick up small items - this was a novelty experience, but taught the use of the tweezers when needed for medical purposes. Other than medical or dissections, tweezers just aren't used here.  Rock sorting within a set of tackleboxes - this was very nonchalant - his work but not on a shelf of its own within "Montessori" work.  SPUR OF THE MOMENT activities that did not become permanent in our home: washing rocks, sorting shells Chores appropriate to age and ability Using other kitchen utensils - we just taught/learned as needed, not with a specific tray activity Stringing buttons - or any other activities that are not typically done ROUTINELY in real life. Something that is done once in a great while (ie stringing popcorn for Christmas decor), is taught at the time it is needed. There is NO need for a tray activity for such activities.  Art activities - again learning what is needed in the moment after he'd all the basic art lessons from the EPL album; including play-dough, clay, painting, drawing, gluing, etc. Beyond the basics I did NOT have a tray activity for everything. He knew where the supplies were (organized in a simple, Montessori-like manner) and he knew when he had free time to create as much art as he wanted.  Other games - we like to play lots of games here - so many things that some people put on trays and use as an independent learning activity, we just used as games. Repeatable, but not necessary to have on a tray and called "school".  "Inspired" unit studies that last for a time, but are not permanently on a tray or shelf.  Cultural experiences as appropriate - related to books being read, people visiting, videos watched, people or animals met. These were not permanently on display, but cycled back into our regular life (ie chopsticks are in the utensils drawer).

We did NOT have the following - either space or philosophy:

• polishing shoes (it is in the albums, but we just don't have shoes to be polished)
• anything with those little pom-pom, warm-fuzzy things. They have NO weight, so serve little purpose when applied to real life. We used cotton balls with polishing and these needed to be replenished, so there was plenty of work to do with carrying weight-less items. Activities that others have created are cute, but when do you ever spoon or tweeze soft weightless objects in real life? These activities are novelties; not harmful, but should be kept to a minimum (and Zero is an acceptable amount ;) ). 
• trays for EVERYTHING. It's just not necessary. Many things at home can and should be done in their proper context. Yes, sometimes a preliminary presentation is needed and that might be on a tray for a while; thereafter, the materials are kept where they belong (whisks belong in the utensil drawer) and are used at appropriate times. No tray needed :) 

Montessori Materials

SOAP-BOX ALERT! This post is about me and my reactions to current materials offered by Montessori companies. It is not about my son or his education, at least directly. It's about me and my emotions.

I will not be offended if you choose not to read this. I do not intend to offend anyone with the following words, but I feel certain that someone will think I have said something offensive.

Let me say here and NOW: each family must choose for themselves and I don't judge the "extras" that you choose. We have extras too. My soap-box has to do with the impression of Montessori in the public sphere because of these "extras".

Feel free to stop reading and join us tomorrow for our regular daily reports of Montessori elementary (or previous primary or infant/toddler) experiences.

Click the next line if you don't mind reading my soap-box ;)