Ongoing Montessori homeschooling thread? - Page 3

[green_momma2007]

Originally Posted by jenfl

Hi, velveeta! How great to see that a Montessori teacher chose homeschooling! Makes me feel like maybe we're not crazy to think we can make this work. Did you do 3-6 with your older one at home?



Hi, Neptune2! Do you think you'll still be doing Primary stuff with your 6 year old, or moving into Elementary?

Because Montessori is so child-driven, there really isn't a timeline laid out. But Gettman breaks things into "periods", so you can tell what your kid is likely to be working on at the same time. I know other people have used that to decide what to buy -- they can see what their kid is likely to use first, buy that, and buy piecemeal as they grow.

I've looked a little into New Child Montessori (http://www.newchildmontessori.com) which may be more what you're looking for. But that's mostly going to be useful for your younger child, not the older one. There's not quite so many resources out there for Elementary, and the material seems to be more expensive.

I'd buy Gettman now and at least read through the parts before he gets into activity details. That might help you know if you want to look deeper into theory (reading Maria Montessori's books) or into implementation (looking at albums online or into buying some).

Oh! And there's Karen Tyler's course (http://www.amontessorimarketplace.com)! I haven't taken it, but it seems to be very well-received on an email list I'm on. You get online classes and an album out of the deal. No certification, but if you're not looking to work in a classroom, that's not a big deal. And, again, it's for 3-6.

AFM -- DD seems to be having a rough day overall. So I'm going to blame a generally grumpy day for the poor first day we had, and not fault myself entirely. I'll post later with a bit more about how our first day went so maybe you can give me some insights. I think I'm really struggling with balancing being a mom (encouraging, goofy) with being a guide (stepping back, demonstrating taking the materials and environment seriously).

I'm probably going to be using newchildmontessori. But I'm not going to be starting until September, so I'm in the planning stages right now.

Do any of you ladies have a blog about your homeschooling? I'm going to be blogging about my preparation and what not. Are we allowed to post links to our blogs? If so, I'd love to have you ladies take a peek at what I'm doing and offer your constructive criticism.

[jenfl]

Originally Posted by green_momma2007

I'm probably going to be using newchildmontessori. But I'm not going to be starting until September, so I'm in the planning stages right now.

Do any of you ladies have a blog about your homeschooling? I'm going to be blogging about my preparation and what not. Are we allowed to post links to our blogs? If so, I'd love to have you ladies take a peek at what I'm doing and offer your constructive criticism.

I looked at New Child Montessori, too. But I didn't want to wait for Fall to start, and I didn't want to have to be shifting the curriculum around. I'm very curious about it, though, so I'd love to hear more when you get into it.

I love blogs; they're so helpful! I'd love to read more.

And I do have a Montessori homeschooling blog! You can find mine if you click on my username, then select to go to my homepage. The direct link is http://homemade-homeschool.blogspot.com.

AFM -- I calmed down a lot on day 2, and we had more fun. DD still isn't in the greatest mood, so there's still room to improve. But I don't feel nearly as frustrated. I'm feeling better about moving forward slowly.

[green_momma2007]

Originally Posted by jenfl

I looked at New Child Montessori, too. But I didn't want to wait for Fall to start, and I didn't want to have to be shifting the curriculum around. I'm very curious about it, though, so I'd love to hear more when you get into it.

I love blogs; they're so helpful! I'd love to read more.

And I do have a Montessori homeschooling blog! You can find mine if you click on my username, then select to go to my homepage. The direct link is http://homemade-homeschool.blogspot.com.

AFM -- I calmed down a lot on day 2, and we had more fun. DD still isn't in the greatest mood, so there's still room to improve. But I don't feel nearly as frustrated. I'm feeling better about moving forward slowly.

Jen, your blog looks great. I subscribed to it and hopefully when the kids are sleeping I'll be able to read through it.
Here's a link to mine: http://banyantreemama.blogspot.com/

I just started it last month so there's not much on there yet, and it has non homeschooling stuff as well.

[chekhovgirl]

Well, we're still in limbo here, but DS asked to use the continent puzzle map yesterday, so I took it out while the baby was sleeping and he loved working with it.

Don't worry about the rought start, everything takes getting used to- for the both of you.

[jenfl]

chekhovgirl, how old is your DS? I'm debating when to start the maps/continents with my DD.

[jenfl]

Well, I think our first week is probably done (midwives are coming tomorrow morning, and over the weekend DH sleeps during the day in our Montessori room/master bedroom). So, yea first week milestone!

Things have improved a lot. The first couple of days were rough mostly because DD was just in a terrible mood. Everything was a fight even out of the school area, so I'm just going to be amazed that we got ANYTHING done those days. That taught me that part of the joy of homeschooling is the flexibility, and I should have embraced that and just delayed things a day or two until I knew she was in a good mood.

She's tried everything in the room, and I think her favorites are the spooning, small containers, and extension where you line the Pink Tower and Brown Stair next to each other (she needs help building them individually, but the matching is something she can do on her own). I notice that she tells stories while doing most things -- the containers all hold small mice that make noise, and the spooning is her baking a sugarplum. It's quite amusing to overhear, and she concentrates a lot better while she's telling a story.

I've gotten a lot more relaxed in my approach -- gently steering her toward activities, sitting with her while she does them, and giving some assistance. It makes things more enjoyable for both of us, and I know I can always slowly step back as she gets more independent in her work.

Next week I think I'll add a few new Sensorial activities and change up most of the Practical Life. I might start slowly putting out the Botany and Zoology puzzles, too.

We had a lot of fun with a sink/float activity this morning, so I might try something else like that -- not totally Montessori, but something we could do together. I've had an idea for a treasure hunt through the house following different animal's tracks....

[chekhovgirl]

Originally Posted by jenfl

chekhovgirl, how old is your DS? I'm debating when to start the maps/continents with my DD.

He'll be 3 March 1st. He LOVES maps. He's always been drawn to them, so he loves doing the continent map. When my mom gave it to him for Christmas they made a continent book with one of the continents on each page where she wrote the name of the continent and something that you'd find on that continent.

I brought DS to check out a Montessori school and he was looking at a map with the teacher. I could tell she was very surprised that he told her lions live in Africa and penguins live in Antarctica If she seems interested and you think she can grasp the names of the continents, then go for it.

We finally got our sandpaper letters in the mail yesterday, but no box. I think my mom said she ordered the box, but I haven't been able to get her on the phone. I've seen schools that like to have all of the letters "out" and lined up for the children to see and use, but most classrooms don't have space. I'd love to put ours up on some kind of shelf that would hold them up if we have the wall space.

DS was trying to read the word "cat" in a book with DH, so I told him I would bring up some sandpaper letters for him and we could do some before bed. Unfortunately he wanted to grab a lot more that c, a and t and there was really no way for me to stop him, especially before bed time. I might have been more okay with it had he not picked d, b, f and t! Talk about letters that are confusing to do together...

I've just been following his lead and it's making me feel like I need to set up a Montessori space for him, pronto!

[craft_media_hero]

Hi, can I get in on this?

My girl is 6, and I'm just now learning about Montessori. She's right on the cusp of both age groups, so it's hard for me to know which way to go . . . like go back and do stuff from 3-6 or just start on the 6-9?

Anyway, I've wanted to create more of a Montessori approach with our homeschool for a while but just don't really know how to go about it.

We just got the New Child Montessori materials in the mail today, and I can't wait to start implementing some of it.

My biggest problem with the Montessori approach is that I feel like I need to start small but really don't know what is a priority to start with for us? I guess I also have trouble valuing things like practical/sensorial up there with language, even tho I KNOW IT IS just as important if not more . . . but I have this traditional value system with learning that is hard for me to let go of, like if we spend so much time dusting, we're going to get behind on math, you know? So I'm trying to let go of that.

Just at the beginning here and hoping for some inspiration and encouragement from this thread.

eta--I wish I had "discovered" Montessori when she was a lot younger.

[jenfl]

chekhovgirl -- Our kids are almost the same age! DD turns 3 on May 4. Any decision on the preschool?

Hi, craft_media_hero! That would be confusing, to come in between the two! I don't have any experience with 6-9, but I can share some thoughts from the 3-6 side.

I don't think, at 6, that you have to worry too much about Practical Life/Sensorial taking away from Language and Math. She's probably past the sensitive period for these things, and isn't really going to have an interest in pouring or spooning or building the Pink Tower. You might think instead about doing things in your home to help her be independent -- setting her up to make her own snack or lunch, getting appropriately sized cleaning tools, etc. Not having a 6 year old, I don't know if that's the point at which it's still fun and cool to help around the house, or if that's a chore. But maybe starting with fun things like food prep?

The focus for Language Arts in 3-6 is learning to read. If she's there... you're pretty much done with that area. Even if she's still working on it, there's so many different approaches in Montessori on how to do it that you're probably best sticking with whatever's working.

Math is a place that has some fun stuff! At that age, she'd probably be working with the bead materials, which I think are just so cool. Of course, it's also some of the most expensive Montessori materials. Especially things like the bead chains that kids get into in elementary.

Geography also has some fun stuff. There's the puzzle maps and the continent boxes -- although at 6, maybe she'd get more of a kick out of helping to assemble the continent boxes than just exploring ones that you make?

I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on New Child when you have a chance to look it over.

[chekhovgirl]

I'm pretty sure we'll be dong M at home, but there's a M school that I went to that offered to barter tuition for me teaching music. However, it's a bit of a drive and three days a week. I'm not sure how it would work out for us. I'm still waiting to hear on a final offer so it's why I'm holding off. I also have to figure out if I can enroll him in some music classes at a music school nearby. We applied for him for a preschool they have there and were supposed to hear back on Monday, but haven't heard anything. I'm waiting to get that acceptance to talk to them about options for other classes...argh. Just want to get whatever we're going to do in motion!!

[pbresolin]

Hi everyone!

I'm new here, and I'm not even sure if I'm posting this question in the right place (if you think I need to start a new thread just let me know!).

I have a 3.5 yo DS who has high functioning ASD and I'm leaning toward homeschooling him, at least for pre-school and K. I'm actually doing a few things with him now at home that have been made available to me through the NC TEACCH Center in Chapel Hill (Center for Autism run by UNC Hospitals - great program).

I've been spending quite a bit of time over at the Waldorf forum and doing lots of research on that but I'm not convinced it's going to be the right course for us... Anyway, if anyone could point me in the right direction in regards to learning about Montessori Homeschooling (books, website, blogs, etc., or just give any info that I might find useful! ) I would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

[jenfl]

Hi, pbresolin! Yeah, it can be harder to find Montessori homeschooling stuff online because, I think, there are fewer people that do it than Waldorf. Montessori usually involves a lot of materials that can be expensive to get or hard to make, and that means few of us do it.

There's my blog, where we're just starting out (click on my username, select to go to my homepage). I really like http://whatdidwedoallday.blogspot.com, and she has TONS of links on her sidebar to other blogs. I spent a few evenings going through and subscribing to any of those that are current.

Most of the info about Montessori school is going to be applicable to Montessori at home, so you can just do some searching online about Montessori theory in general to learn the basics.

If you have any specific questions, I'm sure we'd do our best to answer them!

[ItsAllGood]

Homeschooling Elementary

Hi, Anybody mont - homeschooling an elementary child??
First, Second, third graders.
Would love to help each other, co-plan, share experiences, resources, curriculum etc etc?

[pbresolin]

Originally Posted by jenfl

Hi, pbresolin! Yeah, it can be harder to find Montessori homeschooling stuff online because, I think, there are fewer people that do it than Waldorf. Montessori usually involves a lot of materials that can be expensive to get or hard to make, and that means few of us do it.

There's my blog, where we're just starting out (click on my username, select to go to my homepage). I really like http://whatdidwedoallday.blogspot.com, and she has TONS of links on her sidebar to other blogs. I spent a few evenings going through and subscribing to any of those that are current.

Most of the info about Montessori school is going to be applicable to Montessori at home, so you can just do some searching online about Montessori theory in general to learn the basics.

If you have any specific questions, I'm sure we'd do our best to answer them!

Thanks for the info and links to the blogs! I'm going to keep my eye on this thread.

[kittykat2481]

I just thought I'd share Corbin's new favorite activity at home. He has a toy hammer (looks just like a real one, but less heavy) although I'm sure if I tried I could find something better. We just happened to have the hammer. Then he hammers golf tees into styrofoam pieces. Here's video.

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...020810_001.flv

[craft_media_hero]

Originally Posted by jenfl

Hi, craft_media_hero! That would be confusing, to come in between the two! I don't have any experience with 6-9, but I can share some thoughts from the 3-6 side.

I don't think, at 6, that you have to worry too much about Practical Life/Sensorial taking away from Language and Math. She's probably past the sensitive period for these things, and isn't really going to have an interest in pouring or spooning or building the Pink Tower. You might think instead about doing things in your home to help her be independent -- setting her up to make her own snack or lunch, getting appropriately sized cleaning tools, etc. Not having a 6 year old, I don't know if that's the point at which it's still fun and cool to help around the house, or if that's a chore. But maybe starting with fun things like food prep?

The focus for Language Arts in 3-6 is learning to read. If she's there... you're pretty much done with that area. Even if she's still working on it, there's so many different approaches in Montessori on how to do it that you're probably best sticking with whatever's working.

Math is a place that has some fun stuff! At that age, she'd probably be working with the bead materials, which I think are just so cool. Of course, it's also some of the most expensive Montessori materials. Especially things like the bead chains that kids get into in elementary.

Geography also has some fun stuff. There's the puzzle maps and the continent boxes -- although at 6, maybe she'd get more of a kick out of helping to assemble the continent boxes than just exploring ones that you make?

I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on New Child when you have a chance to look it over.

Practical Life/Sensorial--helping her be more independent around the home, yes! Child-sized tools, yes! Now that it's warming up, we will be starting a garden, and I'd like to get a kiddie wood-working area outside as well as a "feel" table or just standing sand box--I think she'd enjoy that even tho she's a bit on the older side for it. I am thinking, how can I help her be more independent? She is a very needy child, and that's part of why I'm drawn to doing more Montessori-type activities with her. So maybe some cooking and having her own snack drawer?

Language/Learning to Read--she is "on grade level" for first, pushing into 2nd gr. reading, but just not comfortable with it? Living books seems to work better for her rather than phonics instruction which she finds tedious. I think she'd be on the "blue list" with maybe some green? Like she can figure out some "puzzle words". We did do the moveable alphabet to get her going at the beginning of the year (but she's "over it" now), and I think that she'd like the labeling stuff, but it seems like a lot of materials/space. So we'll probably just stick with the mishmash we've been doing. I'm interested in getting the grammar solids and one at a time talking about the parts of speech (it comes up since we're doing foreign languages).

Math--I love the Montessori math stuff, but it's kind of intimidating to me We have two great math programs that we use (Miquon and Singapore) "formally" but we do "living math" stuff, too. If we could get shelves set up, I think I could set up living math stations and she would dig that. She loves math, it is her fav!

Geography/Science--I think this is where we're going to follow most closely with the Montessori method. I'm trying to find the best deal on the continent puzzles (I just want to get the whole set, lol). She has really been asking a lot about the oceans and continents, so I think she's totally ready for that. I would like to set up about three or so different rotating botany/geo works for her to have free access to at all times--gotta get those shelves! Can't wait to set up water cycle and stuff like that.

About the NCM materials---I really like them! If you wanted to find just one activity to refer to, it may be a little hard to follow because it goes day by day, but each book has a nice index, and the "supplement" is pretty thorough on explaining the demonstrations, so you could just use that and go in your own order. But I think that the guides are great, there are a ton of songs and activity ideas, and it really describes in depth how to set up a lot of the "science" work, which I really like. So what I'm thinking is that we'll start now using some of the preliminary stuff from the Fall guide (coz it does the introductory lessons) combined with whatever I think we can use from Spring and then maybe switch over to Summer in June, going back to Fall in earnest when September hits.

Anyways, for now I think I'm going to start REALLLL slow, set up a yoga basket and demo a few poses a week, and start doing the silence game and stuff like that, one thing at a time. Also, work on getting lots of shelves around the house and out in our sun room; that would really make a huge difference.

*eta--my goal is to get us set up with a Montessori home environment by summer so that "summer homeschool" is pretty much all self-led. That would be great! Then we'll re-evaluate and see where we want to go for Fall. We're having a baby end of July, so I'd like her to really be able to follow her own interests and feel independent about her learning by then**

[jenfl]

Well, we're halfway through our second week. I'm not going to say it's getting any easier yet.

I've still got out just Practical Life and Sensorial. DD's favorite is the basket of small containers, even though she can only open and close about half of them. She spends most of her time telling stories about them while working with them. She doesn't have a lot of interest in the Sensorial materials (Pink Tower, Brown Stair, Cylinder Blocks), although I can entice her into them occasionally. She can do the Pink Tower and the Cylinders, but not the Brown Stair.

I'm thinking of starting to introduce some Language materials next week. Her interest is in rhymes right now, so I'm working on some rhyming cards. I'll also probably put out some beginning sound matching, although I'm pretty sure it won't be much of a challenge for her. I'd love to use miniatures, but I'm pretty sure that would degenerate into play nearly immediately.

I'd wanted to wait for a while until going into Language, but she doesn't seem to have a lot of interest in the Practical Life and Sensorial, and she's always loved doing Language work. I'm thinking I'll give it a shot, see how it goes over, and go from there.

[AllyRae]

Originally Posted by jenfl

I looked at New Child Montessori, too. But I didn't want to wait for Fall to start, and I didn't want to have to be shifting the curriculum around. I'm very curious about it, though, so I'd love to hear more when you get into it.

I love blogs; they're so helpful! I'd love to read more.

And I do have a Montessori homeschooling blog! You can find mine if you click on my username, then select to go to my homepage. The direct link is http://homemade-homeschool.blogspot.com.

AFM -- I calmed down a lot on day 2, and we had more fun. DD still isn't in the greatest mood, so there's still room to improve. But I don't feel nearly as frustrated. I'm feeling better about moving forward slowly.

I didn't know that was you! I have been following your blog in my feed reader for a long time.

[AllyRae]

We haven't really started anything formal yet--still waiting for that tax return. But Jocelyn just turned 3 last week, and as part of her gift, we completely outfitted her with kitchen supplies of her own--spreaders, mixing bowls, towels, sponges, wooden spoons, sifters, colanders, a small pitcher and little glasses, etc. She loves to pour her own drinks each day and yesterday she made brownies and washed her dishes (with a little help from me of course...but she did all the pouring, mixing, and washing. ) She absolutely *loves* being independent in the kitchen!

[jenfl]

Originally Posted by AllyRae

We haven't really started anything formal yet--still waiting for that tax return. But Jocelyn just turned 3 last week, and as part of her gift, we completely outfitted her with kitchen supplies of her own--spreaders, mixing bowls, towels, sponges, wooden spoons, sifters, colanders, a small pitcher and little glasses, etc. She loves to pour her own drinks each day and yesterday she made brownies and washed her dishes (with a little help from me of course...but she did all the pouring, mixing, and washing. ) She absolutely *loves* being independent in the kitchen!

That is SO CUTE. Where did you get the supplies? For Small Hands?

I need to start doing more with DD like that. I'm not a neat-and-tidy person, but for some reason I just can't step back in the kitchen as much as I'd like. She helps me make muffins, though, and sometimes dinner (last night she helped with spices and mixing the sauce -- she LOVES spices!). I need to get her into the cleaning part of it!