The Joy of Learning

We bought a 2002 Kia Sedona

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:19:00 PDT

We found the mini van on craiglist and drove down to Oak Park in Chicago to view it last week. Then we got the mechanic to inspect it this Wed. The mechanic confirmed that there is no evident mechanical problem with the car. We just need to replace some parts as schedule .and they are not expensive as Ferrari parts! After T signed the papers and paid the seller with a cashier check. I drove the Toyota Camry and T drove this baby home!

It was 50 miles one way to go down to Oak Park. Driving home on highway I-88 was rather stressful and tiring I have not driven much on highways with fast moving commuters. The commuters crowd just got off work and the highways were quite packed, though the traffics was nothing like the kind of bumper to bumper traffics in KL/PJ!

Busy unpacking boxes

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:09:00 PDT

Have been very busy in the last few months. Went for driver test and got my driver license in the spring and have been busy with selling at flea market and garage sales.
We also just moved to a new apartment. We spent a few weeks packing before the move and the last two weeks unpacking! There are still boxes lying around waiting to be unpacked! We have to rent a truck during the move and two male friends came to help to move the chunky and heavy pieces like the love seat, dryer, washer and shelves.
T has been excited about going to yard sales or garage sales to hunt for used furniture and decorative items. I don't mind getting lamps and small area rugs, but more big chunky monster pieces of furniture will mean more headache and backache during the next move!

Moved to a new apartment

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:23:00 PDT

We decided to delay the house buying for another year or two, but moved out of the 100 years old house we lived two weeks ago. The apartment we moved into is newer and have modern facilities. I don't care whether they are gold plated toilet seat or Danze faucets, but having no kitchen cabinet and not enough closet rooms at the old place is a constant pain in the butt.

The two bedroom apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen, central air and heating and lots of closets! T and I are sold on the Walk-in closet, never have that in our entire existence. :-)

Ecology and the rationale of introducing ecology to young children

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:49:00 PST

One of the subjects that young children in the Montessori classroom are introduced to is the study of ecology. It is an introduction that aims to help the children learn to value the earth around them as they become increasingly aware of what is needed to maintain the balance of nature.
The most important role as parents and educators is to model the kind of respect for our living world. We need to develop creative ways to utilize resources, so the children will develop the consciousness that they are the caretakers of the earth of tomorrow!

Ecology
General – Introduction
Recycle in the Classroom
Food Preparation
Pollution vs. Clean
Sky – Ground – Water
Littering
Littering Extension – Mini Litter Environment
Introduction – Natural Resources
Garbage Can Garbage
Air
Introduction – Clouds, Fog & Smoke
Air Contaminant Collection
Fresh Water
Introduction – Drinking Fresh Water
Oceans
Introduction – Salt Water Experience
Biodegradable
What is Biodegradable?
Wildlife
Introduction – Preventing Danger
Feed the Birds
Food Chains/Ecosystems
Introduction – Everything is Connected
Erosion - Wind
Introduction – Experiment
Erosion - Water
Introduction – Experiment
Contour Farming
Introduction – Experiment
Ice
Introduction – Experiment

Child malnutrition

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:45:00 PST

If you're raising a picky eater, you may worry that your child isn't getting the nutrients necessary for proper growth and development. But you probably don't need to worry unless your doctor tells you that your child isn't growing at the normal rate for that age range or prescribe supplement like pediasure. Over time, most finicky eaters do get enough calories and nutrients to meet their needs.
However, someone can become malnourished for other reasons that have nothing to do with hunger. Even people who have plenty to eat may be malnourished if they don't eat food that provides the right nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. S

Some diseases and conditions can prevent people from digesting or absorbing their food properly. For example, someone with Celiac disease who has intestinal problems that are triggered by a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats. Children with cystic fibrosis have trouble absorbing nutrients because the disease affects the pancreas, an organ that normally produces enzymes necessary for digestion. Children who are lactose intolerant have difficulty digesting milk and other dairy products.

Cosmetic stitches leave Invisible scars

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:39:00 PST

I was at the gynecologist's office for routine check up few weeks ago. Since this is my first visit to the doctor's office in America, he took my medical history and photocopy some of the medical reports I brought from Malaysia. He also asked a lot questions about my past surgery.
When I showed him the scars from my last open surgery, he commented that the previous gynecologist did a good job with the stitches.
Yes, my previous gynecologist is an experienced doctor, he actually did some cosmetic stitches to make the scar looks neat and tidy. :-) He may not be a plastic surgeon, but the stitches leave hardly any visible scar, done just like those at Denver Plastic Surgery!!

Zoology in Montessori classroom - introduction

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:58:00 PST

Materials:
A Zoology Control Tray containing:
(1) small container of food
(1) small container with lid holding air
(1) small container with lid holding water
(1) small basket holding a small baby figure (human or
animal)

Preparation:
1. The teacher needs to make a Zoology Control Tray by taking a tray and dividing it into fourths using masking tape.

2. Place a small container of soil in the first section of the tray and adhere the label food to the tray.

3. Place a small lidded container holding air in the second section of the tray and adhere the label air to the tray.

4. Place a small lidded container holding water in the third section of the tray and adhere the label water to the tray.

5. Place a small basket with a small baby figure in the fourth section of the tray and adhere the label reproduce to the tray.

6. The Zoology Control Tray is ready for presentation.

Presentation:
1. Invite the children to join you for a circle presentation.

2. The teacher should sit down with the children and the Zoology Control Tray.

3. Explain to the children that you have something special that you want to share with them today.

4. The teacher should explain to the children that they are going to start a special unit of study about Zoology.

5. The teacher should continue by saying, “Zoology is the study of animals.”

6. Continue to tell them that animals are alive. The teacher should say, “All living things have 4
characteristics in common.”

7. Take the Animal Control Tray and point to the first label and read the word “food”. Now point to the small container of food and say “food”. Pick up the food and say, “Animals are alive and all living things need food.”

8. The teacher replaces the food on the Zoology Control Tray.

9. Now the teacher points to the second label and reads the word “air”. Now point to the container of air and say “air”. Pick up the container of air and say, “Animals are alive and all living things need air.”

10. The teacher replaces the container of air on the Zoology Control Tray.

11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 with the third section and then the fourth section of the Zoology Control Tray.

12. Show the children where the Zoology Control Tray is kept on the shelf.

13. Return the tray to where it belongs on the shelf.

Variations and Extensions:
1. Introduce a live animal at the end of the presentation and say, “This is a living animal. It needs food, air and water. It can reproduce (make another like itself).”

Points of Interest:
1. How every living thing has at least 4 characteristics in common.

Control of Error:
1. The teacher has set up the tray correctly

Aims:
To be introduced to Zoology as the study of animals in a concrete way.

Age:
2 ½ and up

Language:
Zoology, animals, living, food, air, water, reproduce, etc.

Ecology in Montessori classroom - Garbage Can Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:47:00 PST

Materials:
Various items to illustrate your conversation below with the children:

Basket holding several paper bags waiting for someone to re-use them.
- A cloth bag
- A washcloth
- A roll of paper towels
- Wax Paper
- Foil
- Plastic container
- Glass container

Presentation:
1. During Circle Time, discuss with the children about our natural resources. A natural resource is any material that is supplied by the earth naturally.

2. Explain that biodegradable means a material that breaks down by nature.

3. Talk about having to make choices everyday (i.e. whether to ask for the grocer to use plastic bags or paper bags).

4. Talk about avoiding wasting any paper products (i.e. whether you use paper plates everyday).

5. Talk about wood pulp and how paper products can be recycled into new paper products (i.e. you can purchase recycled
computer paper).

Ecology in Montessori classroom - littering

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:35:00 PST

Materials:
Set up a container sorting area. Label (words and pictures) the baskets (i.e. small plastic baskets that you can set on a counter):
- Newspapers
- Glass
- Tin Cans
- Aluminum Cans
- Colored Paper etc.
(Optional) If space doesn’t allow for this, set up a tray with mini objects to sort or pictures of items on cards to sort into labeled (words and pictures) baskets.

Presentation:
1. During Circle Time, explain to the children about littering. Littering is what we as human beings do to pollute the earth.

2. Invite the children to say the word littering.

3. Bring out the baskets and introduce each one and explain what you would put in that basket.

4. Show the children where the baskets will be kept.

5. Invite the children to recycle on their own.

Recycle in the classroom - practical life

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:33:00 PST

Materials:
Replace the dry pouring with a recycled item (i.e. pop tops).

Presentation:
1. During Circle Time, remind the children about what recycling means.

2. Show the children where you have replaced the dry pouring with pop tops.

3. Talk about what kind of things can be recycled in practical life.

4. Take a tour of the classroom with the children to see what other activities could be replaced with a recycled item.

Recycle in the classroom - math area

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 09:30:00 PST

Materials:
Replace the counters (i.e. numerals and counters) in a math activity with bag closures, etc.

Presentation:
1. During Circle Time, remind the children about what recycling means.

2. Show the children where you have replaced the counters in a math activity with bag closures.

3. Talk about what kind of things can be recycled in math.

4. Show the children where you have set up an area for them to make their own numerals and counters. Demonstrate how to make the numeral cards.

Recycle in the classroom -food preparation

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 08:27:00 PST

Materials:
Set up a compost container by the food preparation area.
Set up an area in the garden to return the compost to the earth.

Presentation:
1. During Circle Time, remind the children about what recycling means.

2. Show the children where you have set up a compost container by the food preparation area.

3. Talk about what can be put in the compost container.

4. Talk about how the compost can be worked into the soil in your garden, and therefore returned to the Earth.

5. Demonstrate how to use the compost container and how to work the compost into the earth.

Recycle in the classroom

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:25:00 PST

Materials:
Set up a basket in the art area for recycling materials.
Set up a recycle art project (i.e. collage).

Presentation:
1. During Circle Time, explain to the children about recycling. That to recycle something is to reuse it again in the same way or in a different way.

2. Invite the children to say the word recycle.

3. Show the children where you have set up a basket in the art area for recycling materials.

4. Talk about what kind of things can be recycled in art.

5. Show the children where you have set up an art project that uses scraps from the recycle basket.

6. Demonstrate how to make the art project.

Make your own Montessori sandpaper letters

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:59:00 PST

You can make the Sandpaper numbers easily at home using fine grade sandpaper and card board.
Here is what I did :
First, I choose a font, typed out in a word processor, choose font size of 400 and printed off the letters. I only printed the outline of the numbers than filled to save on ink!

I cut the rough outlines of each letter before pasted them back to back to the sandpaper.

Then I cut out each letter by following the outlines, there is no shortcut for this one, you' got to cut each individual number.

I pasted the sandpaper numbers on the card board, and a set of sandpaper numbers is made.

You may want to check out the link for lessons on Montessori Sandpaper numbers

Extension cards for Montessori Knobless Cylinders

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:22:00 PDT

Extension cards for Montessori Knobless Cylinders for more lessons on knobless cylinders.

Looking for a starter job

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:58:00 PDT

We are hoping that my green card and SS card will come in the mail in next two weeks. So I can get a driver license and start looking for a job. At first we thought I might need to go back to school to get an IL teaching credential in order to teach in the public school system. So I have checked out the website of the local university and a university that offers online degree.

However, we found out from a woman who used to be a math instructor at the local university and community college that I should be able to teach at the local university and community college with my foreign masters degree.

I checked out the employment page of the local university and community college, they are not currently advertising any vacancies for math instructors. They do have clerical and secretarial jobs available. Though it may be a little "beneath" my qualifications and work experience, it will be a good "US working experience" to add to the resume.

*This blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Teach your child with the three period lessons

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:37:00 PDT

Teach your child new concepts and names of objects using the "Three period lesson" approach.

You can show your child the concepts you wish to teach, such as: big-small, tall-short, wide-narrow, light-heavy, smooth-rough, soft-hard-etc., with deliberate and exaggerate movement and appropriate word choice.

For example to teach the concept of big and small use a small object and a big object i.e. shoes, ball.

Step One: Point to the large object and say slowly and distinctly, “This is big.” Repeat until the child understands the concept. Point to the small object and say, “This is small.” Again, repeat until your child understands. (recognizes new object, concept, or idea)

Step Two: Ask the child, “Can you give me the big one?” “Can you give me the small one?” If your child can do this go to step three, if not, go back to step one. (recognizes the differences at a concrete level)

Step Three: Point to the object and ask, “Which one is this?” Again if your child has difficulty, go back to step two. (Recognizes the differences at an abstract level)

This is a very positive and non-critical way to teach your child. Use this approach to teaching the name of colors, animals, number symbols, concepts and any idea.

Can Montessori ideas use for school age children?

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:15:00 PDT

The child is learning all of the time, from the environment and from the adults in the environment. It is better to put energy into enriching the environment and becoming good models than in teaching the child.

Follow the child. Aside from requirements, if the child's choice are respected and facilitated she will learn at a level that can amaze parents.Children learn what they love. Anything forced will probably be detested, or forgotten.

Most children must know why they have to learn a required subject. A child needs help in learning to schedule time, develop enjoyable methods, and become responsible for meeting deadlines. Montessori work usually takes no more than two or three hours a day.

New immigrant looking for a job

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:11:00 PDT

We know it may not be easy to find a job in this economy downtime. It's possible that it will take more than six months to get a decent job, even though I am prepared to take job that's "beneath" my qualifications and work experience.
Even when the job market is good, it is not easy for new immigrants to find a job without any US working experience. Many will just take any jobs that come along as a start, so they get the "US working experience" on their resumes.
Some may have to go back to school for one or two years in order to practice their professions. The Chinese woman we met at the International Cafe had to go to school to get an accounting degree and sit for CPA though she was an experienced accountant working for one of the big four audit firms in China. The other Japanese woman had to enroll in a beauty school like one of those beauty schools in tennessee though she used to own and run a successful beauty parlor and saloon in japan. A friend with a PhD in Physics decided to substitute teaching after having no luck in her search for tech jobs.

The environment changes

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:07:00 PDT

As a child grows and changes, the environment will change to reflect his needs, not only the physical environment but in the intellectual, social, and emotional environments. The child constantly grows in independence and responsibility, and it is a challenge to keep up with this growth.

Parents who learn to observe their children will be able to tell if a toy is still appropriate, or if furniture is still of the correct size for the growing child. They will recognize when the child is ready for the next step in participation with the life and work of the family.

As adults who are trying to learn about the needs of our children, we do so because we care, but no matter how much we all try to be perfect we must learn to be easy on ourselves, to not waste time wishing we "had only known," but must learn to laugh, to pick up the pieces, and to begin again.

Looking for pre-seasoned cast iron pan

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:07:00 PDT

Went down to Target to look for a cast iron pan. I found the Lodge pre-seasoned cast iron pan online, but at the store, they were running out of stock for the size that we were looking for. The one size available which is 12" is too heavy for me. So decided not to buy.

As a kitchen ware junkie, did look at all the newest kitchen gadgets, pots and pans. So tempted to get this beautiful paella pan though I don't cook Spanish food. :-)

Applying Montessori philosophy at home

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:48:00 PDT

Yes, you can use Montessori principles of child development and education at home.Look at your home through your child's eyes. Children need a sense of belonging and of being needed. They get it by participating fully in the routines of everyday life. "Help me do it by myself" is the life theme of the preschooler. Can you find ways for your child to participate in meal preparation, cleaning, gardening, caring for clothes, shoes, and toys? Providing opportunities for independence is the surest way to build your child's self-esteem.

First of all each child is unique, and there can be no easy recipes for how to treat her. Intellectual recipe advice is abundant and contradictory in every area of the child's life. The most important advice is from Dr. Montessori herself- "Follow the child". Her methods have always been based on direct observation of children, rather than from the intellect or in imitation of the philosophies of various social groups.

Uninterrupted 3 hour work cycle in Montessori schools

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:25:00 PDT

Before we were relocated to this small town outside Chicago, I was hoping to find a job as classroom assistant in a Montessori school. There is a Montessori school operated in a Church building, right at the end of street where we live! However, after checking the website of the school and looking around, I was not sure it's a genuine Montessori school!
What I found missing from the school is an uninterrupted 3-hour work cycle. For under the age of six, Montessori schools would have one or two 3-hour, uninterrupted, work periods each day, not broken up by required group lessons. Adults and children respect concentration and do not interrupt someone who is busy at a task. Groups form spontaneously or are arranged ahead by special appointment. They almost never take precedence over self-selected work. But, this school has too many scheduled enrichment activities that break up the 3-hour period!!

Quiet retreat near the lake

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:16:00 PDT

Though we couldn't afford to go on Mediterranean cruises, we planned to go for a quiet retreat or vacation near the lake. Maybe we will rent a cabin or a bed and breakfast inn.

However, with the holiday season approaching, it may not be possible for him to get time off from work. We may have to do that after the holidays.

Moms and baseball

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:45:00 PDT

Baseball is the favorite sport in America. Most people have played the sport as a young child., whether they were good at it or not is another matter all together .:-) It' has always been fascinating to watch the mothers who are almost omnipotent at children baseball practices or games.
Moms have always been a major part of a child's baseball experience. For all of their lives, moms are always there to help them play the games. They are the ones who pick up the batting gloves, drive the kids to the field, put band-aids on their knees, and console them when they fail. Most of them are willing to make this worthwhile investment with their time because they believe the team sport helps in molding character, developing love and trust and help instilling a solid value system.

This contribution of baseball moms is an immeasurable act that leading the cheers and caring for the youngsters of the family. The many hours of getting them to the ball park in time for practice and car pooling to ensure all players got to the game on time can be hectic. However, most of he baseball moms are so lovingly provided the support needed without grumblings.