While not all ideas are new ideas (this philosophy has been around over 100 years!), I feel compelled to share a little bit about handwriting in Primary/3-6/Early Childhood. I'm glad to share about writing, since our (Massachusetts) state is on of the last to keep it in the frameworks. Throughout my undergraduate work, Montessori Training, Graduate work, and with professional development, I've been to every possible "out of box" handwriting program the world has created for us. But guess what?  Not all children require the same tools to gain skills.  Ugh.  Is that new?  Nope!   I don't use any of those.   From where I sit, I don't think workbooks have any place in a preschool class or a Montessori 3-6.  The steps listed below can be used in whatever order the child needs. Before I share what happens in my class, please read these two blog posts about what comes FIRST.  These skills and strengths are necessary before trying to write or learn ...

We are so very into construction right now, as our street is expanding for more homes.  The twins watch the big machines with wild wonder all day, and at night we say goodnight to the machines once the workers go home.  It's our favorite pre-dinner walk.  We love to touch the snorts :) Here's a little list of our favorite books about construction, or construction machines (they never leave our shelf rotation): Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site How A House Is Built Are You My Mother? (This is where we get the word snort) If you'd like to create some nomenclature work on construction vehicles, here's two that we love: Montessori Print Shop's Construction Vehicles Construction Equipment Cards "That's a big wheel"

 A new collection of Magnetic and Non-Magnetic for our house, gathered by the girls.  It's got a little Valentine's theme with the box and the cookie cutter! Why do I teach them cursive in this world of print, computers, and type?  Dr. Montessori found that cursive had gentle curved lines are a natural extension of the hand.  I tend to be a little 'old school' about Dr. Montessori's writings at my home, and lead my children by her old lectures.  Plus, there are far less letter and sound reversals (b,d,p,q,g) when the child learns the sounds with cursive first, or alongside print letters.  I have found the transition to print very easy for my girls, since they were so very interested in letter formation by the time they had a good amount of time with cursive.  Give it a shot! "Must one begin with strokes? The logical answer is “No.” These require too much effort on the part of the child to make them. If he is to begin wit...

This week we actually got a lot of work time in.  I forgot how nice it is to work when no one is sick!  Even with afternoons booked with appointments and errands, we spent many evenings with the materials.   Peanut does this work every day.  She loves that binomial cube!  For a view of the lesson, check this older post-   A Look At The Binomial Cube I brought some of my work home this week.  I needed to make new Botany Cabinet Cards, so I took the cabinet home to trace my own.  I did find another option at Montessori Print Shop , that matched our school's Neinhuis cabinet.  Bean and Pumpkin were busy making sure all the cards when back in order. LISTEN, Mom!  It MATCHES !!!!!  She's using the Sound Cylinders, finding matches. Mid process, work time :) Bean working on the letter Mm in cursive!  Sandpaper, chalkboard, then paper.  She   is extremely interested in cursive writing, so she got the c...

This week was our vacation week, and it was full of relaxation.  The girls had mild pneumonia and ear infections, so we kept the week calm.  I didn't take too many photos, since someone was always in my arms.   Happy New Year to all!  May 2012 bring peace, health, and joy! Peanut Plays in her room while sister naps Pumpkin LOVES mud.  Real girls do, you know. Our pencils, sharpened by the girls This is first thing in the morning, see the sun just poking in?  Bean couldn't wait to attack the cursive sandpaper letters. Peanut adores the mini knobbed cylinders.  She was concentrating so hard, she didn't even notice me.  

This is very exciting!  Deb Chitwood and John Bowman have collected a bunch of ideas from Mom Bloggers for Montessori, and they included this blog!  Click the button for a free ebook!! What a wonderful collection of Moms who love Montessori :)

Please visit Mommy Moment, for a view of our Holiday Sets Basket !  It's been a daily favorite :) This week, we made Gingerbread Play Dough.  I got the idea from Pinterest, but changed it to the spices that we love most.  We also ground each spice by hand.  The girls did all the measuring and mixing.  They packed some for their classrooms, since the twins are in the middle of a Jan Brett unit at school.  Today they read Gingerbread Baby.  Tis the season! Bean, age 5.5 reads her new book to Peanut, age 3.5 at bedtime.  Bean is really into being the big sister, and takes her job very seriously.  Especially where books are involved.   Mortar and Pestle for Clove & Nutmeg Grinding Counting and Grinding Whole Cloves Great Gingerbread Playdough Recipe  from Pinterest Our first batch!  It smells like a dream. Busy hands and cooperation Peanut is beaming with pride here. ...

Sometimes I giggle about this blog, because we are so different:  we have a Montessori home, with Montessori Philosophy and Materials available 24/7 for traditionally schooled children.  So, the work we do is a little different than a Montessori School or a Homeschool.  We afterschool ?  Is that a word?  I guess so!!   Water Transferring with Eye Dropper, this is SO challenging.  Great for 5 year olds. Pumpkin exploring some Pink Tower & Brown Stair Extensions After baking, we used our mortar and pestle for crushing egg shells.  They LOVED this! Crushing Eggs and Filling Muffin Tins with batter. Bean comes home from a FULL DAY at K and still wants to work!  This is her sensitive period for writing, and reading.  She's taking full advantage of the movable alphabet. Bean spelled all types of things, with objects and through her imagination.  After all that work, she still w...

I have been reviewing book lately, and my most recent review was for Elizabeth Pantley , of the great No-Cry Solution parenting books.  She kindly sent me an extra copy to share with one of my blog readers.  Simply comment below and follow this blog on either Facebook, Twitter, or Google Friend Connect to enter.  Each daily comment will be counted in the random drawing, scheduled on Sunday, October 31 at 8pm.  The book is amazing, and it has some healthy recipes for children to create--- think Food Prep, Montessorians!  For more interest on the book, The No-Cry Picky Eater Solution , see my recent review here . And onto my little ones... This week was back to normal, back to health-  full of good work and constant art.  We have a variety of art materials available at any time, for any purpose.  It has become a place of retreat, our little den full of child treasures.  With a few rainy days, we found ourselves snuggling, reading a ton ...