Free the Child's Potential

Ground Rules for Presentations

2011-06-14T10:46:00.001-04:00

Even ground rules for the presentations themselves you ask? Yep! I’ll be honest here. I need a little refresher on this myself and need to do a better job of following these ground rules for presentations. These came from Sister Anthonita Porta, O.P. She was an amazing woman and a true “Montessorian”.

Ground Rules for Presentations

1.) Starting on the first day of school the teacher demonstrates a ground rule. Each day another rule is demonstrated. Begin at the top of your list and move to the end. When the end is reached move back to the top. Everyday the teacher demonstrates one. (I do not necessarily follow this one exactly as it is written because we do go over all of the ground rules several times during that first week of school. Demonstrating one every day after that is something I do need to do better at!)

*This continues for two to three months.

2.) Around November or December choose a child each day to demonstrate a rule from the list. You tell the child to demonstrate how to carry a rug, etc. Be sure you choose a child who knows. Again move down the list one rule a day and then back up to the top.

*About two or three months

3.) Around March the teacher verbalizes a ground rule each day from list.

4.) Around April or May the children are called on to verbalize the rule. This goes on until the last day of school.

Ground Rules for Montessori Teachers

2011-06-12T21:52:00.000-04:00

We all have rules wherever we go and in a Montessori classroom even the teacher is not immune to these. They do say that actions speak louder than words. If we want the children to be respectful workers then we must also be this way too! :)

Ground Rules for Teachers

1.) Ground rules presented with each presentation.
    a.) order-left to right and top to bottom
    b.) state if this activity is done on
        1.) floor-only
        2.) table-only
        3.) either floor or table
    c.) state if this activity is for:
        1.) one person
        2.) more than one person (state specific amount)
   d.) show how to return the work in order
    e.) handle the work respectfully (the child will notice)
    f.) name the activity and the shelf on which it belongs (practical life,
        math, sensorial, language, etc.)
2.) Teacher models all the ground rules:
        a.) uses a low voice
       b.) walks slowly
       c.) uses calm, slow movements
       d.) gets down to child’s level to interact
       e.) has a pleasant expression
3.) Teachers use positive language mirroring whenever possible.

The Simple Things

2011-06-09T08:18:00.001-04:00

This post has been a long time coming and is a bit different from my usual, but hey it is summer after all …

As I was camping several weekends ago with my Joe and my Molly at Lee State Park, it occurred to me how it is the simple things that matter most. The everyday ins and outs make life so meaningful. Things like spending time with loved ones, long walks, napping, being out in nature... Too many times people are looking for the next best thing, when the next best "thing" is already there. So here are some of the simple things my family enjoyed on our mini vacation to celebrate mine and Joe’s seventh year anniversary:

This was our campsite at Lee County State Park. We borrowed Joe’s parents’ camper. Usually we tent camp, but decided against it this time so Molly wouldn’t wake everyone in the campground. (No, she is not sleeping through the night and no, it doesn’t mean she isn’t a “good” baby.)

Molly’s toys for the weekend: her push car, pine cones, pine straw, sticks, and dirt

Molly wasn’t too keen on the canoe trip, but I think it was because she was getting tired. We thought we might get to see an alligator or even a beaver, but not on this trip. Prior to getting in the canoe, we did spot a King snake. He was after some lunch though so we waited on him to leave and then the park ranger helped us get ready for our excursion.

We had a great time walking the trails and finding the artesian wells at the park.

We’re hoping to visit Edisto Beach State Park this summer and enjoy some more of the simple pleasures that camping brings, but until then we’ll just keep enjoying the simple things in our daily lives.

Montessori Classroom Ground Rules

2011-06-08T19:45:00.001-04:00

As I said in a previous post, there is this huge misconception that Montessori means that the children are free to do whatever they choose and that the class is not structured. This is not the case at all! That would be complete chaos and how would anything get accomplished that way?! It really comes down to those ground rules!

The children are free to choose the work that they do as long as they are following the ground rules and there is structure created by these ground rules.

From my training I received ground rules for the classroom, ground rules for presentations, and even ground rules for teachers. I have mine laminated and posted in my room for myself, my assistant, our children, and any visitors.    I think these are wonderful guidelines in creating a peaceful and respectful Montessori classroom. Below are our class ground rules. (I will post the teacher ground rules and ground rules for presentation at a later time).

Montessori Classroom Ground Rules

1.) Walk slowly and speak softly.

2.) Use two hands to carry all materials.

3.) Use a rug for all floor activities:

    a.) all materials stay on the rug

    b.) sit next to the rug

    c.) walk around rugs

    d.) roll rug and put away when finished

    e.) carry rug safely (hug to body)

4.) Carry tray with two hands, holding it close to your body.

5.) Push in chair whenever you leave your table (before picking up your materials).

6.) Clean up your own work and your own messes.

7.) You may join a child’s work only when you ask and if the child says “yes”.

8.) Wash your hands:

    a.) before snack

    b.) before preparing food

    c.) after using the bathroom

   d.) after blowing/wiping your nose

9.) When you hear the rain stick, put all materials away quietly, come to the line, and sit in silence.

10.) When the lights go out, or you hear the chime, stop everything, freeze your body and listen for the teacher’s instructions.

11.) When you need a teacher, walk over to her, touch her shoulder and wait for her to respond (one finger up means hold on and an open palm up means seek assistance elsewhere).

The Montessori Cult

2011-05-28T12:11:00.001-04:00

Not! There is not a Montessori cult ( that I know of)! There are a LOT of people that strongly believe in the philosophy and some who may seem a little too enamored. I believe a big part of it is that finding out about the philosophy and experiencing it firsthand is like a light bulb coming on. It just makes sense to a lot of people and they want to share it.

Some people like my husband may joke around about there being a cult because he knows how much I enjoy being a Montessori teacher and that I have some great teacher pals that are also involved in Montessori. Maybe from there people hear that tossed around and really believe it is true. I really have no idea why people believe there is a Montessori cult. If there was a cult what would we teach the children to do- read, write, learn place value at three or four? So you know that I’m not a member of the supposed Montessori cult, I’ll tell you some issues in Montessori. Surely a cult member wouldn’t admit to this!

A big "problem" with Montessori is that any school can claim to be one. So then we have bad apples making the whole tree appear rotten! I'm not saying that Montessori is the only way or best way of educating children, but I can say that I have seen amazing things happen in Montessori.

There is also the misconception about Montessori that the children are free to do whatever they choose. This is most definitely not the case. Montessori classrooms have ground rules that provide structure. Everyone, including teachers, is expected to follow these ground rules.

Speaking of ground rules...So this post will be clearer, I will try to have a list of some for my next blog.

Math Lessons

2011-05-21T17:47:00.001-04:00

Here is an easy to put together lesson for teaching greater than, less than, and the same as. Using word or some other software (or even writing by hand), make several labels stating each of those things. (You may want to do the phrases on different colors to make it easier for clean up. I plan on re-doing my labels for that reason.) Add in a deck of cards and you have a new lesson for your shelf. You could also use the red and blue rods (more concrete for the child) or even the sandpaper numerals, instead of playing cards.

This one is called the exchange game. I’m not sure if this is a standard lesson in Montessori training or not, so I’m just sharing. The aim of this lesson is to show that the highest number of ones you can have is nine because when you get ten ones, you have to exchange it for a ten bar. This lesson is for two or more students. Each child takes a turn rolling the die, adding to their pile until he or she gets ten ones. When this occurs he or she must exchange the ones for a ten bar. The exchange game continues until all of the ten bars (10) are gone. The teacher shares at the end of the lesson that when all of the bars are put together they make 100 (ten tens equals 100).

This lesson shows children the various ways to make amounts in money. To make this lesson you need a pen, index cards or some other paper, money stickers or printouts, and either pretend money or actual coins. For my set, I made the amounts of one cent, five cents, ten cents, twenty-five cents, and fifty cents. At the top of the card I have the various ways of writing each (with a cents sign, with a dollar sign, and in words). My children really enjoy this lesson and hopefully yours will too!

This lesson teaches children about non-standard measurement. I gathered together an assortment of objects to measure and added in two containers of things to measure them with-paper clips and blocks. You could also have the children record their measurements on paper. I find that this lesson helps students get ready to use a ruler because of the emphasis placed on lining things up end to end.

Language Lessons

2011-05-18T17:26:00.001-04:00

Nouns: This one comes from a mentor teacher named Cheryl Spencer. She may have seen it somewhere else herself. Teachers are such “thieves” anyways, right? This lesson is pretty self explanatory, very easy to make, and the children love it.

Syllables: I made this work a couple of years ago based upon something I saw in a catalog. You can easily do this with pictures or even objects. Find a clipart of clapping hands and copy and paste several times, print, and you have a new lesson. I say the word and then show the child how to clap it out for syllables. This helps when children are stretching out sounds when writing, either by using the moveable alphabet or putting words on paper.

Contractions: I made this work by laminating and cutting apart a contractions chart that I got from the teacher store. I read the contractions lists with the child. As an extension I made up a label matching exercise, having the child match the two words that make up the contraction to the actual contraction itself.

Where Has the Concentration Gone?!

2011-05-17T21:06:00.000-04:00

As the end of the school year quickly approaches, I find myself doing a lot of chin scratching and hair pulling. Ok, not really pulling my hair out but wanting too! I consider myself to be a pretty patient teacher and I'm often complimented on this by visitors, but I guess the end of the year is affecting me some too. Who are these children and what have they done with my focused, hardworking students?! Am I the only one going through this?

As we wade through the last few weeks (sorry if I'm being pessimistic; just being realistic) here is my "attack plan":
*keeping to our routine as much as possible
*reviewing ground rules at line time
*having a daily goal of a ground rule that our class needs to work on
*having shorter line times
*keeping them busy learning
*rotating out lessons, especially if they are not being used meaningfully

I know the concentration will come back and that we ALL need some R&R, so until then we'll just keep doing the best we can do.

-Upcoming: lessons ideas

Just Sharing Some Ideas

2011-05-13T16:04:00.001-04:00

If you’re like me then surely you are constantly looking for some lesson ideas and extensions for your classroom. Here are some! Maybe you’ve seen them. Maybe you haven’t. Hopefully you can find something to use.

Making the bead stair out of felt circles

Weaving using a sink mat and ribbons

Combination lock work for practical life

Seeds matching cards-Adhere some seeds out of the packets and laminate. Voila!

Not a Member of the Montessori Cult and Not a Perfect Parent Either

2011-05-10T18:40:00.001-04:00

Follow the child was Maria Montessori's mantra and while I firmly believe in it, I've had to add an addendum as a fairly new parent. Follow the child and your parenting instinct.

When my husband and I first started trying for our little Molly, who is almost ten months old, I was avid that we had to be the “perfect” Montessori parents. At least, I wanted to try! Surely, two teachers (one traditional 5th grade and one primary Montessori) could pull this off.

I printed off pages from the Michael Olaf catalog, ordered more books about the Montessori philosophy in the home, and constantly kept my eye on the Montessori by hand blog (which I love!). Molly's room was equipped with a floor bed and toys at her level on shelves. I made a sensory basket of materials for her to explore. Yada yada...

Molly has not slept one wink on that floor bed. She loves to play on it and stare at herself in the mirror behind it. Her toys are most definitely not all wooden and/or made from natural materials. While she does feed herself solids sometimes, I also feed her too.

Do I ever doubt my parenting choices? Certainly! What parent doesn’t? Awhile ago my husband said that I was becoming a member of the Montessori cult (inside joke), but obviously that is not true or I wouldn’t be writing this post. I’m trying really hard to follow Molly, but I also have to follow myself and that natural parenting instinct.

Truly Blessed

2011-05-08T10:58:00.000-04:00

FYI- this was not intended to be my first post. I have another piece that is incomplete and was intended to set the tone of this blog. Oh well! As I was laying beside this sweet slumbering baby with a melting heart, reading posts on the July 2010 Birthclub Board on Babycenter, I felt compelled to write. It is Mother's Day after all and so the topic is...

Dear Little One,
There are not enough words or even the right ones to express how much I love you. But even so I will try. You are my greatest accomplishment. The best thing I ever did. A blessing from God above. And so I say to you on this Mother's Day, thank you for being you. I love to love you and I have learned so much from you already. I can't wait to continue this journey with you and your daddy.
Love,
Mommy

Happy Mother's Day!