Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Helpful Garden: Basic Practical Life Trays

The Helpful Garden: Basic Practical Life Trays: Today's post is all about our classroom's Practical Life Trays. I am creating this post because I want teachers and homeschooling families...

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Hurry Hurry Hurry!!!

GIVEAWAY!

Montessori Print Shop Primary Teaching Manuals Bundle

from my favorite Montessori Materials shop!

MPS is giving away the Primary teaching manual bundle. The Primary Teaching Manuals Bundle includes 4 Montessori Teaching Manuals – Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, and Math. The manuals are based on AMI principles from Jennifer’s AMI training through the Foundation of Montessori Education (Toronto, ON). The courses were taught and guided by Renilde Montessori in 1993/94.

The presentations and lessons included are for children who are approximately 2½ to 6 years of age. This, of course, depends on the individual child, and many activities also work well for 7- and 8 year olds. (Note: In Montessori education, primary is generally ages 2½-6 or 3-6 with elementary at ages 6-12.)

Each lesson includes:

materials list
material photo(s)
detailed step-by-step instructions
notes to the teacher
purpose of activity
points of interest
control of error
suggested age for presentation

Montessori Print Shop Primary Teaching Manuals

"Unless you’re already an AMI-trained teacher and have your own AMI-based albums, these are the ideal teaching manuals to have along with any other Montessori materials you already own. It’s easiest to add ideas and personalize your own unique way of teaching Montessori when you have a solid foundation to return to whenever needed."

-Living Montessori Now

What You Will Win:

2 very lucky winners will receive full sets of Montessori Print Shop teaching manuals available by download! Here’s what each Montessori Print Shop Primary Teaching Manuals Bundle is valued at:

	Practical Life Teaching Manual (Theory + 75 lessons)	15.99
	Sensorial Teaching Manual (Theory + 45 lessons)	17.99
	Language Teaching Manual (Theory + 30 lessons)	21.99
	Math Teaching Manual (Theory + 52 lessons)	21.99
	Total if purchased individually	$77.96
	Save 15% on the Bundle	11.69
	Price for the Primary Teaching Manuals Bundle	$66.27

If you don’t win, this is still an amazing deal and well worth it!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

BIG BIG BIG GIVEAWAY!!!

Awaits those who join the BIG BIG Giveaway hosted by Living Montessori!

Montessori Printshop one of my go to for beautifully made Montessori Printable Materials is giving 2 grand prizes of 1122 beautiful printable Montessori materials in digital file format! That’s all the Montessori Print Shop PDF files, including new 6-9 Grammar Boxes/Filling Boxes!!!

But wait...

There’s even a second-place prize of a $100 MPS in-store coupon! This is perfect for school or home use for children ages 18 months to age 7 or 8 (grammar to age 9)!

Head over to Living Montessori Now!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Movement indoors and outdoors

Other than keeping students calm and restful during naptime, movement is important for our students. We need to incorporate movement in our lessons. Montessori talks about sensitive period. at the Preschool age she talks about refinement/coordination of movement being from 2.5 to 4.5 years of age. According to Montessori "this is when the child may start using both hands in coordination of fine movements, being able to hold small items with pincer grip and release voluntary. Gross motor can be coordination of walking, running, balancing while carrying a jug of water and jumping. The child acquires this coordination through repetition of purposeful motor activity. Model to your students how to use hoops, cones, balls, bean bag in different activities or games.

This picture shows students after being shown how to use hoops ala hopscotch or obstcle course over a period of time initiated this activity by involving their classmates. Playtime started by me giving themhoops to play with. I didn't tell them what to do. I left it up to them how they would use the hoops. Some used it as a hula hoop, others used it as wheels to roll. The older students wanted to use it for an obstacle course. The only rule was that they can use the hoop if the one using the hoop gives it to them. After a few minutes I saw around seven hoops and a long line.

They invited everyone to play with them and even the younger kids joined in. I love Montessori.

A well loved and well used movement activity inside a Montessori classroom is walking the line. Between the ages of 3 to 6, the child needs to practice, perfect, and consolidate the body’s movements. For this reason, Dr. Montessori began using the “Walking on the Line” as a Practical Life exercise. This exercise helps the child control his body, develop balance and perfect equilibrium, as well as to strengthen the mind’s control of its body’s movements. The “line” used during this exercise is a continuous and permanent shape in the environment. (from Montessori Primary Guide)

I changed the line into a crooked line from one end to the other end of the classroom.

Walking at the same time balancing a bean bag pillow on the head.

Crawling on the line.

Hopping on the line.

I will be thinking of other movement and walking the line activities that are purposeful and controlled. Having them practice controlling their movements will discipline them in how they carry themselves. I like the bean bag on the head. The students really were careful and controlled their movments all throughout the line.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Living Montessori Now is having giveaway!

and check out this giveaway!

iPad 2 Giveaway Sponsored by Montessori Compass!

Check out Montessori Compass

MC was designed to help bridge the gap between home and school. MC's goal is to simplify the day-to-day administrative chores for Montessori educators while providing a convenient way for busy parents to remain actively engaged with the school community. The end result is a more personalized connection with the classroom for all stakeholders in a child's education.

MC is a web-based system from the ground up that addressed the unique needs of the entire Montessori school community - including Montessori record-keeping, school management, parent communication and much more.

MC is a software solution for the classroom.

-Montessori Compass Webpage

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Montessori Services Practical Life Activities Giveaway!

It’s Montessori Education Week, a perfect time for a giveaway of $52 worth of practical life materials from Montessori Services!

Deb at LivingMontessoriNow is having a giveaway sponsored by Montessori Services. Visit Living Montessori Now to see how to enter the giveaway. Giveaway ends March 8... Hurry!!!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Happy Day... Valentines Day

Valentine Boxes using to-go boxes ... c/o one of the teachers. Each student painted using their color/s of choice, stickers and hearts of all sizes and colors.

Valentine exchange

Valentine loot!!!

Lots of sweet temptation...Hid the boxes away from little hands.

February Cutting exercise. Hit with the 4 year olds. thanks to doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com

Valentine card writing work also a hit. thanks to montessori journey.
Math cutting work - cut and glue numbers 1-10 another idea I read from montessori journey to add to the Feb theme I used valentine colors so pretty. Will let them try 1-20 this week.