Big Drinks

Little man R is about 10 months old we have been work on drinking from a cup, usually I have to hold it so he can take a drink...   Today he made a big leap, he held the cup tilt his head back.  Now he didn't do this without spilling but who doesn't at one time or another.   

For the record:  I don't just leave it on the tray for him ( that would be even more messy)  I sign him drink and give it to him.

Montessori Beginnings:Practical Life: Grasp

During the summer and fall I introduced R and T to using the baster to transfer water.  They both did not have a strong enough grasp.  I learned about introducing this to the girls from Montessori At Home!   John has a whole page on grasp.  Here is a sample page  from his book on it.  This is one of those e-books I had to have printed.  I refer to it a lot. It has helped me the most in making my program Montessori Inspired.

I have since reintroduced it to R in the bath tube. I know it wouldn't be as messy and it might be more exciting.  She now has it down.  I may even let her do it at the table.  

The bath tube may be a place for to introduce some of the more messy stuff to the girls.  This will keep it contained and give the older ones some time without the girls in their work.  

What are you working on with your 1 -2 year old?

R is 22 months

Family Child Care: Learning Goals

I began to think of the curriculum I wanted for the kids.  There are so many things I want to teach them and I feel like I have had not a plan to go off of.  So I thought about the goals C brought home from preschool and   the Montessori activities I wanted them to know.  This is what I can up with.

Everyday Life Activities:

Pouring

Washing: self, dishing, clothes, toys, and chores 

Tying shoes

Dressing

Folding

Cooking

* There are so many more that we will be working on I will add as I think of them.  

Math:

Count, recognize, and math numbers 1-30

Classifying items by color, shape, and size

Terms: more, less, over, under, above, and below

Shapes: square, circle, triangle, rectangle, oval, diamond

Colors: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Black, Brown

Basic adding and subtracting 

Reading:

Picture sequence to tell a story

Prediction about stories from the title and pictures

Print and recognize thier name

Letter sound 

Calendar use

Writing:

Print name

invent spelling 

Science:

Textures 

Senses

Weight

Measurement

Water

Seasons

Weather

Physical: 

Body Parts, their function and caring for our bodies

Run, jump, hop, gallop, skip, and dance

I will try to link them from this page to the page in my blog.  I am just learning all this cool blog stuff so stay with me while I figure this out.  

Do you use a theme when when you teach or just mix it up?

Contract and Handbook in the making

Been busy writing and editing my contract and handbook.  The handbook is 13 pages and may add more.  I just want to make sure the parents of the kids know what we do all day.  I don't just watch them.  We learn, explore, and have a great time.  My contract will go into effect the first of year and be reviewed annually.


When do you do yours?




When it is done I may post it.  I know I like to see what others have put in theirs.  If you want to see it before I post it send me a message.

Lunch-able made at home

 My kids love the Kraft Lunchables.  It is a bit costly if I would get it for all the kids and they always want more.  Here is our version: I let them cut the cheese.  This was the first time they did this.  They did not want to stop we did two bricks of cheese while they were learning.  It was a great time.  The older kids cut some and gave to the younger ones.

C was singing a song about how yummy this was.  They made sandwiches and mixed in the veggies.

I did let them pick out of the veggies we had, its always different, but they eat them better when they are in sticks.

 I have even served it with a juice box for the added excitement.

Exploring the great outdoors

Learning to walk with hundreds of acorns all over.

How should we get in the creek?

Waking in the creek. Dry creek that is and listening to leaves.

Now how do I get out?

Getting the " alligators". Their favorite game to play lately.

Checking out the leaves. The had a great time throwing them in the air and jumping with them.

More exploring.

Getting Started: The Activity Cycle

Implementing the Activity Cycle has really helped the kids know that the activity they are working with is going to start. They are going to learn and explore something new. This also keeps them organized.

Mr. Bowman speaks in his book Montessori at Home about how doing the Activity Cycle opens pathways for more information to be learned. This is at its peak around three and by six or seven they have been formed. He talks about a process called "pruning", that happens when the path ways are not activated by experience are no longer there.

So doing the Activity Cycle they are building the pathways and connections that will stick with them the rest of their lives.

This is what this process looks like at our house:

1. They bring the floor rug or mat to create their work space. ( We use carpet squares donated by the local flooring store)

2. They bring the activity from the shelf to that work space and work on it for as long as they please.

3. They clean up and put the activity back on the shelf.

4. They put the rug or mat back where it is stored.

Note: This does not all ways go like this. There are times they are fighting over the rug or they get excited and forget the rug. I just remind them and move on.

What does it look like at your home or center?

Montessori Beginnings- outside

While looking for ideas on Montessori outside. I came across North American Montessori Center. They have a post on Outside Play for Preschools . Its worth taking a look.

In the post they talk about how unstructured or lightly supervised play can lead to more aggressive play along with some behavior problems. This is something I have begun to see with C and F.

Do you see that same thing with your little ones? I see it when he has too much free time.
What kinds of things do you do outside?

Montessori Beginnings- Demonstrating

Demonstration of the activity is difficult to do at my house. C is so anxious to get started and thinks he already knows how to do it. It is also difficult because the younger girls are into it. But it is a very important part of the Montessori way of learning.

Demonstrating allows you to show them how special this activity is and acts as a guide for your child on how it should be done. I have to be careful and show that I respect these materials or they end up scattered around like their toys.

I am still working on slowing down and not talking a lot when I demonstrate the activity. I feel like they don't get it all if I don't talk through it.

Also when demonstrating I am sure to include a mistake, this shows them how to correct it. When demonstrating show them how to do it from the beginning to the end. Remember to demonstrate putting it back on the shelf.

I have struggled with how to demonstrate with more than one child. What I have come to is to do it during a circle type time. I present the new activity with everyone in front of me. It is covered up so no one can see it. I build up the excitement of a new activity and how cool and excited that they are able to explore and learn with it. Along with how we need to respect it. We talk again about how we respect our things. Talking with Mr. Bowman from Montessori At Home! has help me with my demonstration.

I am still working on putting together videos. So stay with me they are to come.

What do demonstrations look at when do them?

Montessori Beginnings- Pad locks

Today I got out a new tray. First they got their carpet square. Then brought their tray to it.

I put two pad locks and the tray with keys on a ring. I did not show them how to do this one. They are four so I thought they would enjoy figuring it out. Almost like a puzzle.

C was done with in no time. Good thing I had another tray ready, small, medium, and large.

F took a little longer. She kept trying to pull it open, asking for help ( kept telling her to keep at it, she will get it). She was trying to open it with the small dots on top. She really worked at it for a while.. Then all of a sudden she turned it over and she said with an excited voice, "I think the key goes in here!" I love it when you can hear and see that little light go on in their heads. She did it over and over.

While all this is going on the little ones are in their way. Grabbing and pulling at them as they work. I think it would better if I could keep them occupied long enough to show the older what to do and then go back to them. Okay that is my plan for this week. This can be done.

Montessori Beginnings- Roll the ball

Balls were a favorite for C when he was one.  R has taken a liking to babies and stuffed animals.  However, she recently learned how to throw. It is pretty funny as she throws with her arm off to the side.  C has a great arm and has since he was her age.

What you can do is have them sit across from you with their legs open like a V. Practice rolling the ball back and forth.  We have done this with all of them just make a circle and have everyone open their legs so they are touching the next persons foot. When rolling it around  we talk about sharing and taking turns.  "It is R's turn, T roll it R." "F isn't it nice that they are sharing".  I think this reinforces it when they are pointed out the nice things they do are doing.

  

Montessori Beginnings-room

I have finally got the room done. Well it has been done for a little while but I have gotten pictures taken.

This is the reading area. I plan to add more pillows just have to be careful the vent is right there. I add more books and I was thinking a tape player or Cd player so they listen to books also ( thanks Sarah for those).

I tried to set up the room into little areas. This is for the younger ones. Trays that are safe for them. They like to just stand there and work. Very cute. They have animal and shape puzzles on there today. Notice the camera in the window I am going to video them doing their activities and they won't notice.

Here is an extra area to work and the calendar /song area.

This area will hold tray activities and extends into the older kids area.

This is a desk for them to work at if they want. They can also go to that other table.


So there it is... Expect to see more pictures and videos in this room.

Montessori Beginnings- pad locks

A few weeks ago I gave F and C some pad locks to use. They got them figured quickly. Today while I was getting things ready R picked up the tray with the locks on it. I just let her as I wanted to get things done before the others woke up.

She worked at it for a while trying different keys and watching it open. I don't know if she completely understood that the keys were different. She just kept working.
We will be playing with these again.

Montessori Beginnings-Drinking from a cup

We have been drinking from cup for about a week. They spill once in a while when they get in a hurry.

I try to remind them to use two hands.

We are using votive candle holders and I only fill it up half way. I got them at Dollar Tree.

The older kids are drinking from juice glasses. I do worry that they are not getting the same amount of liquid as they were when drinking from a Sippy cup. So they are able to get a drink of water when they want and have been drinking from a straw.

Montessori Beginnings- practical life

I have put together a list of practical life activities I have in mind. As we work in it I will post how it is going. Is there anything I missed?

Drinking from a cup with out a lid

Drinking from a straw

Clearing their eating spot

Setting the table

Serving themselves food

Washing dishes

Washing hands

Washing hair and body

Folding clothes

Cleaning a spill

Potty training

Wiping their nose

Pushing their chairs in

Putting their things away

Montessori Beginnings- Rolling dough

With these warm days. We have been spending the mornings outside and afternoons inside. We decided to make cookies. I had a box of Funfetti cake mix. C had a friend over who suggested we make cookies. I have never made Funfetti cookies, it was easy and we will do again.

We make the dough. Recipe is on the side of the box.

As you know I have been a having a difficult time with working with each age group. Making cookies went great. Everyone was rolling their dough by themselves.

Look how proud she is that she can do it.

They never seem to do it play dough. Maybe this worked because there is a purpose.

Each of us took turns flattening the balls. She was concentrating so hard as she did it.

Cookies came out YUMMY. They frosted them with star sprinkles.

Learning/exploring room

I have decided to make a room for learning, exploring, and play. Thinking that I maybe able to contain some of the randomness and keep us all focused. I find them wandering around looking for something to do. If I give them something or we start playing then I wander off to work on house work.. This will keep all of us in the same spot for a while to learn.

So here is my issue-- This is the layout I was thinking about a corner for older and younger. A corner for reading. A wall for the calendar stuff. But where do I put the tables and shelves. I was thinking about a table under a window so they can sit and look outside at the birds. I just want the all to see.

Or does it not matter. Just get it set up. This is where I am heading and if it doesn't work or I don't like it then change it.

The kids and even M ( my dear hubby) are looking forward to this room.. So I ready to get started.

This room was R but I moved her stuff in with C and they like it. Thank Goodness. Loving it!

Montessori Beginnings-preschool

Today we got out the Legos. While everyone was building and playing I began to make patterns. I started talking about the pattern and singing. Soon F was right there with me finding the next block. C was watching from a distance still flying and crashing but would stop to watch. R came and sat on my lap and T next to us. I think I found my way to get them involved when they don't want to. We made an AB and ABB pattern today.

Now to figure out how to keep me interested.

Montessori Beginning- toddler/ preschool

While the older ones where working on their stamping we did a transfer with the young girls. I Gave them a spoon, egg cartons, and Lima beans. They did great. F wanted to get in on the action and T didn't want to work long. R stayed with it for a long time. She did not use the spoon the whole time though changed and used hands. Then laid them on the table. Almost in a line

We are getting there. More to come. I am making a plan. Thinking about posting it so you can and tell me what you think too!

Montessori Beginnings -preschool

Thinking I am really going to write down my plan, the time comes for our activities and I have forgotten what I had planned and seem so rushed. I wonder if I shouldn't change the time we do our exploring/ learning. I have it set after snack around 10. That way we have had a chance to go out for a little bit.

Well here is what I came up with.

I quickly drew some lines on a paper like a grid. Grabbed some stamps I has sitting and had them put a stamp in all the spots. F really got into it. She figured out how to do two at a time. C went really fast just wanted to get done. Guess that's the difference between boys and girls.