I Love You More by Laura Duksta, is a touching children's book about a mother and her son's love for each other. It begins with the boy asking, "mommy, just how much do you love me?" The mother answers using things from nature to explain her love, for example. "I love you mightier than the mightiest wind ever blew, I love you fuller than the fullest moon you ever knew".
A neat thing about about this book is it's a flip-sided book! Simply flip it over and you have the son telling his mom just how much he loves her. The rhyming text and beautiful, colorful illustrations will keep young children engaged in this sweet story.
I read this book to my 5 year old daughter at bedtime. She loved it and thought is was so cool that we could flip the book and the story continues! After I read the story to her she looked at me at said "mom I love you all the way to Jupiter!" We then had our own little discussion about how much we love each other. Priceless!
Visit: http://www.lauraduksta.com/default.asp for more information.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Setting up you a Montessori Home Environment
Setting up a Montessori area in your home for can seem like a daunting task at first. There are so many wonderful Montessori materials, how do you choose the best ones for your 3-6 year old? Here is a list to help you set up a Montessori area with the essentials:
Setting up the room/area:
* Lots of shelves
* Child sized table and chairs
* Display art work at child's eye level (change frequently)
* A pet to care for
*Live plants
*Art easel with paint and smock all out and available for your child as he/she wishes
Language area:
*Age appropriate Books
*Sand Paper Letters
*Movable Alphabet
Math:
*Baskets with objects to sort and classify and count
*Sand Paper Numbers
*Spindle Boxes
Sensorial:
*Smell Jars
*Color tablets
*Pink Tower
*Feely bags (different textures in a bag)
Practical Life:
*Child sized duster, broom, sponge
*pouring work
Setting up the room/area:
* Lots of shelves
* Child sized table and chairs
* Display art work at child's eye level (change frequently)
* A pet to care for
*Live plants
*Art easel with paint and smock all out and available for your child as he/she wishes
Language area:
*Age appropriate Books
*Sand Paper Letters
*Movable Alphabet
Math:
*Baskets with objects to sort and classify and count
*Sand Paper Numbers
*Spindle Boxes
Sensorial:
*Smell Jars
*Color tablets
*Pink Tower
*Feely bags (different textures in a bag)
Practical Life:
*Child sized duster, broom, sponge
*pouring work
Friday, October 12, 2007
Montessori Halloween activities
Here are some fun Montessori based Halloween activities to do with your preschooler!
Math:
Pumpkin Seed Counting: After carving a pumpkin, rinse and dry the seeds. Take 20 index cards and number each one (1-20). Have your preschooler count and place the correct number of pumpkin seeds to match the numbered index card. Example: If your child is working are on the index card with the # 3 on it, then the child should count out 3 pumpkin seeds and place them on the card.
Ghost Matching: Make 10-12 ghosts out of white felt or construction paper. Draw the same face on every two of the ghosts (ex: 2 happy ghosts, 2 mad ghost, 2 sad ghosts). Have your child match the ghosts by facial expressions.
Sensory:
Halloween Sensory Box:
Place small pumpkins, gourds, acorn squash, Indian corn and other Halloween items you can buy at your local pumpkin patch in a large box. Place a blind fold on your preschool and ask him/her to reach into the box and feel an object. Have your child describe the object and guess what it is they are holding.
Black Cat Touch cards: Cut out a cat shape out of cardboard. Buy black satin, fake fur, cotton and other textured fabrics from your local craft or fabric store. Glue the different fabric to your cardboard cats. Your child can "pet" the cats and feel the different textures.
Practical Life:
Cooking Pumpkin seeds: Let your child help prepare pumpkin seeds to be cooked. Your child can wash, dry and salt the seeds.
Art:
Painting: Provide Halloween paint colors at the easel.
Pumpkin Paper Plate: Have your preschooler paint a paper plate orange. Let the paint dry as your child cuts out eyes, nose and mouth out of black construction paper and a stem out of brown or green paper. Let child glue the face on when paint is completely dry.
Science:
Life Cycle of a Pumpkin: Montessori for Everyone offers a wonderful (and free) download of the life cycle of a pumpkin.
Reading:
Read several Halloween themed books: Avoid scary Halloween books. Read to your preschooler every day and place several Halloween/fall themed books in your childs reading corner basket so she can sit and look at the books as she pleases.
Math:
Pumpkin Seed Counting: After carving a pumpkin, rinse and dry the seeds. Take 20 index cards and number each one (1-20). Have your preschooler count and place the correct number of pumpkin seeds to match the numbered index card. Example: If your child is working are on the index card with the # 3 on it, then the child should count out 3 pumpkin seeds and place them on the card.
Ghost Matching: Make 10-12 ghosts out of white felt or construction paper. Draw the same face on every two of the ghosts (ex: 2 happy ghosts, 2 mad ghost, 2 sad ghosts). Have your child match the ghosts by facial expressions.
Sensory:
Halloween Sensory Box:
Place small pumpkins, gourds, acorn squash, Indian corn and other Halloween items you can buy at your local pumpkin patch in a large box. Place a blind fold on your preschool and ask him/her to reach into the box and feel an object. Have your child describe the object and guess what it is they are holding.
Black Cat Touch cards: Cut out a cat shape out of cardboard. Buy black satin, fake fur, cotton and other textured fabrics from your local craft or fabric store. Glue the different fabric to your cardboard cats. Your child can "pet" the cats and feel the different textures.
Practical Life:
Cooking Pumpkin seeds: Let your child help prepare pumpkin seeds to be cooked. Your child can wash, dry and salt the seeds.
Art:
Painting: Provide Halloween paint colors at the easel.
Pumpkin Paper Plate: Have your preschooler paint a paper plate orange. Let the paint dry as your child cuts out eyes, nose and mouth out of black construction paper and a stem out of brown or green paper. Let child glue the face on when paint is completely dry.
Science:
Life Cycle of a Pumpkin: Montessori for Everyone offers a wonderful (and free) download of the life cycle of a pumpkin.
Reading:
Read several Halloween themed books: Avoid scary Halloween books. Read to your preschooler every day and place several Halloween/fall themed books in your childs reading corner basket so she can sit and look at the books as she pleases.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
A Basic Montessori list of supplies for Preschoolers
If you are just starting out in Montessori you may be overwhelmed by the cost of supplies. Here is a list of the essentials to get you by while you build your Preschool Montessori supply closet (some you may already have):
Sand Paper Letters and Numbers
Pink Tower
Wooden puzzles
Lacing cards
Play dishes- perfect for practical life activities- pouring, setting tables etc..
Baskets of nature items (rocks, sea shells) for classifying
Sensory Touch boards (satin, wool, cotton, wood)
Start with these basics as you continue to add to your Montessori shelves.
Leaf projects
Fall is the perfect time of year to go on a nature walk with your children. While taking your walk give your child a bag to from nature such as leaves, acorns, pine cones, flowers, and rocks. Once you are home, here are a few activities to do with your preschool ages child for fun.
Leaf Rubbings Art:
1. Go on a nature walk and collect leaves.
2. Put leaves on table with, vein side up and cover with a sheet of paper
3. Peel wrapping of off crayon
4. Rub the long side of the crayon over the paper
This creates a pretty shape of the leaf on the paper.
Art Collage:
1. Take a piece of contact paper and tape it on a table sticky side up.
2. Have your preschooler pick out some of the flat nature items he/she picked on the walk (leaves in different colors, flowers)
3. Have child place nature items on the sticky contact paper.
4. Cut a another piece of contact paper and place it over the collage (sticky side down).
You will have a beautiful nature collage!
Leaf Classification:
1. Make Leaf flash cards by printing out pictures of different type of leaves from trees found in your area (oak, maple, willow, ect.) and glue them on note cards.
2. Help child identify what type of leaves she found from the walk using the pictures as a reference.
leaf pressing:
An easy was to press leaves
1. Put leaves between pieces of newspaper
2. Place several heavy books on top of the nespaper
3. Let dry for two- three weeks
Once your leaves are pressed there are several art projects you and your preschooler can do with them.
Some ides- 1. Make a scrap book together and use the leaves as decoration
2. Make fall cards to send to loved ones who live far away
3. Make a leaf book
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Discovery Bottles
What are Discovery Bottles?
Discovery Bottles are plastic water or pop bottles filled with different colorful materials.
Purpose of Discovery Bottles: To encourage observation skills, scientific concept
Discovery Bottle Ideas:
Wave Bottle: Turn this bottle on its side and watch as "waves" roll.
To Make: Fill 1/2 the bottle with cooking oil ( you can also use baby oil). The add water until the bottle is full. Add blue food coloring and hot glue the cap shut and you're finished!
Glitter Bottle: Shake the bottle and watch the pretty glitter move through out the bottle.
To Make: Fill the bottle with water. Add food coloring (your choice of color). Then add glitter. Hot Glue the cap shut.
Autumn Bottle: fall inspired bottle
To Make:Fill bottle with fall nature items (acorns, leaves, pumpkin seeds). Hot Glue cap to seal.
.
Calm Bottle: Watching the glitter slowly float in the bottle.
To Make: Add glitter then fill the bottle about 1/2 full with clear corn syrup. Hot glue cap to seal.
Estimation Bottle: Child has to estimate how many items are in the bottle.
To Make: Fill bottle with several items (such as rocks, or sea shells) Be sure to count how many of the item you add so you can tell your child how close their estimation was.
Place the finished bottle on a low shelf so your child can observe the bottles as they wish.
Discovery Bottles are plastic water or pop bottles filled with different colorful materials.
Purpose of Discovery Bottles: To encourage observation skills, scientific concept
Discovery Bottle Ideas:
Wave Bottle: Turn this bottle on its side and watch as "waves" roll.
To Make: Fill 1/2 the bottle with cooking oil ( you can also use baby oil). The add water until the bottle is full. Add blue food coloring and hot glue the cap shut and you're finished!
Glitter Bottle: Shake the bottle and watch the pretty glitter move through out the bottle.
To Make: Fill the bottle with water. Add food coloring (your choice of color). Then add glitter. Hot Glue the cap shut.
Autumn Bottle: fall inspired bottle
To Make:Fill bottle with fall nature items (acorns, leaves, pumpkin seeds). Hot Glue cap to seal.
.
Calm Bottle: Watching the glitter slowly float in the bottle.
To Make: Add glitter then fill the bottle about 1/2 full with clear corn syrup. Hot glue cap to seal.
Estimation Bottle: Child has to estimate how many items are in the bottle.
To Make: Fill bottle with several items (such as rocks, or sea shells) Be sure to count how many of the item you add so you can tell your child how close their estimation was.
Place the finished bottle on a low shelf so your child can observe the bottles as they wish.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Online Montessori class
I am very excited I found an online Montessori class! The class begins October 1st and I am hoping to receive lots of great curriculum ideas from Karen, who has over 20 years experience in teaching.
If you are interested in Montessori and would like to sign up for the class, visit A Montessori Market Place for more info.
If you are interested in Montessori and would like to sign up for the class, visit A Montessori Market Place for more info.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Fall Sensory Box
A Sensory Box is a great sensorial activity for your preschooler!
How to use a sensory box: The child places her hand in the opening of the box and feels an object. She must describe the object and guess what it is by touching but not looking.
Why use a sensory box: It helps children with their tactile perception. Also improves language skills by describing the object.
How to make a fall sensory box:
1. Take a shoe box and cut a hole just large enough for the child's hand.
2. Place nature objects in the box- acorns, leaves, pine cones, nuts, twigs, rocks
3. Have child place hand in the box and describe what she feels. Then ask her to take a guess on what the object is.
Your preschooler will love this game!
How to use a sensory box: The child places her hand in the opening of the box and feels an object. She must describe the object and guess what it is by touching but not looking.
Why use a sensory box: It helps children with their tactile perception. Also improves language skills by describing the object.
How to make a fall sensory box:
1. Take a shoe box and cut a hole just large enough for the child's hand.
2. Place nature objects in the box- acorns, leaves, pine cones, nuts, twigs, rocks
3. Have child place hand in the box and describe what she feels. Then ask her to take a guess on what the object is.
Your preschooler will love this game!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
This week
Lessons for the week:
Tuesday:
Math: *Read We Love Counting! book.
Language: *Learn phone #
*Read several books
Practical Life: Help prepare dinner. We made Tacos and my daughter helped by rinsing and chopping (with supervision of course) the lettuce.
Wednesday:
Language: *Read Leaves Leaves leaves
*Practice Phone number
Science: *Go on a nature walk- collect leaves
Art: *Draw pictures of leaves and trees.
*Leaf rubbings
*Begin process of pressing the leaves to make a leave book (more on that process later).
Sensorial: Fall Nature fell and guess box
Practical Life: *Wash the windows
Thursday:
Math: *Pattern game
Language: *Practice writing letters and full name
Art: *Nature collage
Science: Talk about fall- weather changes, bird migration
Sensorial: *Grab and feel bag: Alphabet
Practical Life: *Help prepare dinner
Friday:
Math: *Practice counting to 40
Language: *Practice phone #
*Read several books on fall
Art: Paint
Practical Life: Help fold clothes
Tuesday:
Math: *Read We Love Counting! book.
Language: *Learn phone #
*Read several books
Practical Life: Help prepare dinner. We made Tacos and my daughter helped by rinsing and chopping (with supervision of course) the lettuce.
Wednesday:
Language: *Read Leaves Leaves leaves
*Practice Phone number
Science: *Go on a nature walk- collect leaves
Art: *Draw pictures of leaves and trees.
*Leaf rubbings
*Begin process of pressing the leaves to make a leave book (more on that process later).
Sensorial: Fall Nature fell and guess box
Practical Life: *Wash the windows
Thursday:
Math: *Pattern game
Language: *Practice writing letters and full name
Art: *Nature collage
Science: Talk about fall- weather changes, bird migration
Sensorial: *Grab and feel bag: Alphabet
Practical Life: *Help prepare dinner
Friday:
Math: *Practice counting to 40
Language: *Practice phone #
*Read several books on fall
Art: Paint
Practical Life: Help fold clothes
Tag
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Mommie Moments Rules:
(please include rules)
1. Share 1-3 FAMILY FRIENDLY Mommie Moments you had recently (funny, brag, cute, loving, etc.)
2. A link back to the Mom who tagged you.
3. You MUST be a MOM to participate.
4. Tag at least 3 other Mommies
5. Mommies Coffee Break is the MeMe originator. (active link appreciated! ;))
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Brag- My 4 year old came up to me the other day and showed me a paper she was practicing her letters on. She had written out the whole alphabet all by herself! She's so smart :)
Tagging:
1. http://passthechocolate.blogspot.com/
2. http://www.slacker-moms-r-us.com/
3. http://starryskyranch.typepad.com/starry_sky_ranch/
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Why Montessori
Once my daughter turned 3 years old I decided to start introducing preschool learning activities on a regular basis. I read up on all the different methods of homeschooling a preschooler. I read about Charlotte Mason, Classical, etc..but when I read about the Montessori methods, I knew this was the approach I wanted to take with teaching my child.
Dr. Maria Montessori believes that children learn and experience their world though their senses, by seeing, touching, hearing and smelling. Hands on learning is encouraged and this is why I chose a Montessori education for my daughter.
Dr. Maria Montessori believes that children learn and experience their world though their senses, by seeing, touching, hearing and smelling. Hands on learning is encouraged and this is why I chose a Montessori education for my daughter.
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