Montessori homeschooling thread 2010

[jenfl]

Welcome to the Montessori homeschooling thread for 2010!

This thread is intended for families who are using Montessori in their home, have used it, or are thinking about using it. We welcome anyone who uses Montessori as their sole homeschooling philosophy, uses it in conjunction with other homeschooling methods, or makes a Montessori-like home environment for kids who are educated outside of the home. Families with all ages (Infant/Toddler 0-3, Primary 3-6, Elementary, and above) are invited to participate!

The original thread can be found here:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1184103

Shall we re-introduce ourselves and say a little something about where we are in our journey?

[jenfl]

I'm Jen, I have a nearly 3-year old daughter and a son due any day. I've taken the NAMC online training for 3-6, but have no formal experience. We're learning together! We just started formally doing Montessori lessons at the beginning of February, although we've been doing Practical Life activities (chores and some tray-based) for a year or so.

We have a small Montessori area in our master bedroom set up with a number of official Montessori materials. We try to get into the room 3-4 times a week for an hour, but that's cut off as I've gotten further in my pregnancy. Hopefully we'll get back into a routine once we've gotten through the newborn months.

I blog about our Montessori time; check my profile!

[LoveToBeMom]

Hi jenfl... I'm wondering if you've had your baby?!

Please share the news (if there IS news!) when you feel like you have a little time and energy for the Montessori Homeschool thread!

[jenfl]

Originally Posted by LoveToBeMom

Hi jenfl... I'm wondering if you've had your baby?!

Still waiting! Agh! 2 days overdue....

[craft_media_hero]

We started doing "real" Montessori!

We've been rocking through the math presentations since our number cards showed up in the mail (we already had a nice wooden base ten set that we've been using). I'm happy with the hs math programs we use, but I think that the Montessori presentations are really helping, especially with solidifying place value/decimal system.

We are adapting stuff, of course, coz we're at home, and I'm learning along with her, and we don't have all of the materials. But I really like the method a lot and am trying to do a presentation a day in different subject areas.

We got the puzzle maps, too, and started with the hemisphere/continents map. I can totally see why you start with the land/water globe, then the continent globe, then the hemispheres map. I would like to make the land/water globe so it makes more sense to her---she was a little confused that the colored areas were land and the blue is water. I think that if we had the globes and done those presentations first, it wouldn't be an issue. But alas! This is our home, and we are adapting and doing the best we can with what we have.

Question--what is the protocol on "sitting" for the presentations? My girl is wiggling all over and rolling on the ground and sitting on the work rug and materials, it's driving me crazy! I want things to stay positive and don't want to curb her enthusiasm, but I have this expectation of her paying attention and being respectful while I'm taking the time to go through the presentation. She is a super wiggly kid, though. She wants to lay on the blanket that we've been using as a work rug.

Oh, also made our version of "digraph booklets" ala "Teaching Montessori in the Home: School Years" and then digraph lists from which she did some free writing. I just used the word lists in Phonics Pathways as I feel I must redeem that book as usable since it's teaching style grates on me so much that I don't use the program, just the word families.

Also been more aware of opportunities for "practical life" and demonstrating the steps in a way she can grasp, and I'm already noticing some leaps in independence and desire to help around the house. Pretty cool!

Anyways, all successes lately with our exploration of Montessori homeschool! I especially think that the language and Math stuff is really going to contribute a lot.

Thanks for this thread! I know most of your kids are younger than my 6yo, but it seems like you mamas are more experienced in the methods than me, and I learn a lot from your posts!

[jenfl]

Originally Posted by jenfl

Still waiting! Agh! 2 days overdue....

Sprout arrived in a great homebirth on Wednesday morning.

However, complications after delivery have us in the NICU for a few days. I have the story in a thread in the April DDC. We could use lots of good thoughts for going home as soon as possible.

[craft_media_hero]

Congrats on the birth of your baby! Hoping you all are home together ASAP!

[green_momma2007]

I'm Dalila and I plan on homeschooling my 4 year old starting this Fall. Right now I'm just reading up on Montessori and other methods I plan to use, and getting my supplies in order. I finally got around to making the sandpaper letters. Here's a link with photos of the letters:
http://banyantreemama.blogspot.com/

[craft_media_hero]

I've been thinking about making Greek sandpaper letters. DD really digs her Greek studies! I've found a supplier online that sells wooden "moveable alphabet" style Greek letters (intended for frats and sororities), but they are kinda expensive. BUT it would be cool to have them as manipulatives and play "find the delta" etc. So I am thinking about it. She has Greek magnet letters that kind of function like a moveable alphabet. I'd like to have a Montessori-style foreign language station that she could just go to and pick up---I am thinking about making some 3-part cards for the FLA stuff, like picture of "pig" and it says "porcus" type thing. I wish we had "the farm"!! The one in the Michael Olaf catalog is sooo beautiful, and we could use it for a lot of language (english and second) activities. Out of our price range right now, though.

How's everybody's M experiences going lately? We've been really taking it easy on the hs stuff this week. Although our work with the digraph booklets (ala "teaching M at home, elementary years") has been really productive. I'm so glad we are incorporating M philosophy and approaches!

The Three Part Lesson rocks!

[chekhovgirl]

Originally Posted by jenfl

Sprout arrived in a great homebirth on Wednesday morning.

However, complications after delivery have us in the NICU for a few days. I have the story in a thread in the April DDC. We could use lots of good thoughts for going home as soon as possible.

Congratulations! Hope everyone comes home healthy and soon

I'm checking in here because we just found out today that we're going to be able to send DS1 to a M school in the fall, but we've always had a "Montessori home" and I will also have DS2 at home, so I'll be doing toddler stuff with him! I also want to do some things with DS1 starting now- he's interested in numbers but hasn't quite gotten them yet for some reason, so I'm thinking of ordering a few materials. DS2 will be 15 months in the fall.

[Rose-Roget]

Hello all! I don't homeschool at the moment, but the thought has been twirling around in my head for next year. Ds didn't get into the public M and we can't really afford the private anymore. He'll be in first grade. Any advice on how to get started? What materials would I need for the lower el.?

[operamommy]

Hi everyone!

I've been doing Montessori with my 4-year-old for about a year now. I started doing mini Montessori-type lessons with my 2-year-old a few months ago.

We use "Basic Montessori" as our guide and also read a lot of great Montessori blogs for inspiration. We have a Montessori space set up in a corner of our basement and I try to do lessons with my older son at least a few times a week during his brother's naptime. I work with my toddler at any time that he seems ready to sit down (which is rare...lol).

My blog is http://onehookwonder.blogspot.com if anyone wants to check it out. There is a Montessori category as well as a Toddler category. Looking forward to getting to know everyone here!

[earthmama369]

I have two kiddos -- my girlchild is 5 and my boychild will be 4 in a couple months. We're largely unschooling, but I find Montessori to be a positive influence on the ideas and tools I introduce with them. I have a lot of fun poking around the For Small Hands website (and then often finding similar toys and tools at Ikea at less cost). I really love all the children's books I've found at various Montessori websites about peace & nonviolence and other cultures, and I think the idea of giving children access to real tools sized to their hands and the opportunity to do real, effective jobs around the house and yard makes so much sense.

Of course, we play with the idea a little.

The kids' current favorite is washing the kitchen floor. I pour some boiling water and vinegar on the kitchen floor and do a quick mop. Then I take old pairs of my socks, insert sponges into the feet, and put them on the kids' feet. They "skate" around the kitchen floor and soak up the now-cooled water and vinegar solution and polish the kitchen floor to a shine.

[Brownie~]

Jen, congrats on your baby. Hope all is well.

We just started a mom and tot Montessori class once a week. Last week was DS's first time, and he did really well. I feel like once a week is a long time to go in between Montessori-ing, though. Any ideas on how to perhaps integrate some of it throughout the week at home?

I bought him a string mop from Michael Olaf and a chopper so he can cut food. He's pretty good at pouring and can pour his own juice, milk from a pitcher etc. He dry pours the birdseed into the feeder outside.

We don't have a Montessori area of the house, but he has a cabinet where he can get his own cup, plate, utensils, placemats, etc; most of his toys are put away (ie he doesn't have a million choices at once), he can get to his own shirts, underwear, socks etc. He has a low bed he can get in and out of himself.

The thing is, if I try to do a "lesson" with him, he won't sit and be patient for it. Basically anything I ask him to do he wants to do the opposite of. Starts singing, tipping his chair, running around, etc.

Is it that I need to just have the lesson sitting out and wait for him to choose it?
Thanks for reading this. Any insight would be great!

[aydinsmama]

Hi Guys! I have a 4 1/2 year old and will be homeschooling her full time in the Fall.

I am a former Montessori teacher and have been doing Montessori in the home from birth but will do a more structured class in the fall and will actually be starting a meetup of local moms to join us.

I am glad to see this thread and look forward to learning more about your process, ideas, kids


-eb
http://www.mamassori.blogspot.com/

[zebaby]

I am currently planning on homeschooling my 3 yo ds. My heart lies in Montessori, but don't think I will find an affordable option at the time. I've done many Montessori-type activities with ds from birth (without even knowing it!). It seems very natural to me and would love to recreate it as best as I can at home.

Currently, I'm participating in a Spanish co-op with a few other mamas and have been trying to develop "stations" in the Montessori style for the kids. My struggle at the moment is making the sandpaper letters. I am fortunate enough to work at a school that has a letter punch so I was able to finish that aspect of the project. However, I have been searching for affordable balsa to mount the letters with no luck. I know many people suggest posterboard, but I was hoping to find a more durable alternative, especially since others may be using the set as well.

I'm also looking for any suggestions on how to incorporate a bilingual curriculum into Montessori (particularly in the home).

Thanks!

[tankgirl73]

DD is now almost 3-and-a-half. We haven't done anything like formal presentations in awhile, but she still has all her Montessori 'stuff' set up in a more-or-less Montessori style in her room.

We've started RightStart Math level A with her... we're up to about lesson 12 or so. We don't do it every day, of course... just move on to the next lesson when I think she's ready for it. This is WAY early I know, so there's no rush at all... she's just very keen on it and she enjoys it! It's not 'strict' Montessori, but it is Montessori-based.

And of course even if we're not doing Montessori activities much right now, we still are greatly influenced by the basic philosophies of letting her direct her own activities, letting her try things on her own, not interfering and not 'helping' until she asks for it. As a result, she is so very strong and independent and CAPABLE. Confident in her own abilities and loves (insists!) on doing everything HERSELF heh. She still helps with cooking, serving food, uses 'real' dishes, etc etc.

I've recently been incorporating some Waldorf elements into our hsing, and she seems to enjoy that too -- nature stuff and Waldorf-style painting, for instance.

My blog is at www.motherbynature.ca if folks want to check it out

[aydinsmama]

tank girl... we also use waldorf materials in our school room. I am just in love with the beauty and colors of so many toys inspired by them.

I am actually browsing through some links from your blog, now =)

[jenfl]

Still hands-full and sleep deprived thanks to the little 3-week old, but I just wanted to pop over and say "hi" to all the new people who've found our thread! I'm really excited to get back here in a few weeks.

DD visited the school area a few times by herself in the beginning, but has left it alone recently. I haven't done ANYTHING in there -- all my Easter PL activities are still out. Once DS is napping on his own and for a decent length of time, I'd like to get back in there with DD. Not just for learning purposes, but because it was nice to have some dedicated Mommy-daughter time where I could focus on her. That'll be even nicer now.

Oh, man, I miss planning the PL stuff and making new activities!

[jenfl]

DD came into the room while I was nursing DS this morning and headed over to the Montessori stuff. I couldn't see her, but when I got up, I saw that she had one of the phonics I Spy books out. A bit later, I heard her changing activities, then heard a quiet, "Rrrrrrr-attlesnake. Rrrrrr." She had gotten out the animal beginning sounds activity.

She later popped over and asked, "Mommy, can you make me another animal activity sometime?" How can I resist that? So, I think I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things with her. It'll be slowly at first, and probably less time than we spent before, but I think this'll be a nice thing.