Montessori Mom

Here are some free reading cards about metamorphosis for younger readers. It’s a great way to learn about science while learning new words.

You can help Haiti after this devastating earthquake by donating to the Mennonite Central Committee. They serve the needs of people around the world with their peaceful ways.
They already have their workers in Haiti. Even during Hurricane Katrina they were some of the first people on the ground to help. You can’t find a better organization that uses their money and resources for those they serve. You won’t find high paid CEO’s with this organization.

Metamorphosis is a profound change in an organism’s life. A caterpillar turning into a butterfly or a tadpole turning into a frog captures your imagination.
You can learn more with these two newsletters about the life cycle of metamorphosis. Check out the free printouts and make 3 part cards for science and reading.
Frog Life Cycle Newsletter
Butterfly Life Cycle Newsletter

Counting is an important math skill. Montessori classrooms use the pink tower stacking blocks to each the first concrete steps for counting. Here is a newsletter with free printouts and lesson ideas to use with your child. There is even a printout in Spanish.

If you don’t have a pink or natural tower you can use nesting blocks or other stacking blocks. You can find them at toy departments or stores.

Here is an example of one:

Montessori classrooms don’t use lined paper for teaching early penmanship. In the beginning, it is more important to lean how to write the letter. Also, children are taught only cursive letters for writing. Teaching children how to write one way, and then another way is very confusing and frustrating for grade school children.
Here is a free printout of the Montessori sandpaper cursive letters we used for penmanship.
Miss Homfray has a great video lesson about teaching writing in the Montessori classroom.

The best time to introduce reading readiness is when your child is an infant and absorbing language. Just reading books and talking to your preschool children helps them understand vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure and the overall patterns of language.

We found that introducing the sounds of the alphabet and the moveable alphabet worked best at ages 3 1/2 to 4. Children who learn much earlier than this may get burned out before they have the maturity to read more advanced material. Young children, especially boys, who can read at a very young age, don’t always comprehend what they are reading. The worst thing we can do is force self-reading on children who are too young.

Miss Homfray shows in this video how to introduce the moveable alphabet activity to your child.
She also explains why Montessori schools don’t use lined paper for beginning writers. Students touch the sandpaper letters and write them unrestrained.

Miss Homfray has a wonderful lecture about the complexities of reading. It’s important for young children to have good sensorial and practical life skills in order to read later on. Pushing reading too early can actually turn your child off to reading.
She has great insight about when to introduce fantasy books to children.
Check out this Montessori lecture here.

Here is another book about Maria Montessori that is free read online. If you are interested in her life and influence, Maria Montessori Her Life and Work by E.M. Standing is fascinating.

You can now read a free online copy of Spontaneous Activity in Education by Maria Montessori. I enjoyed reading Montessori’s insights, and it is much easier to read than some of her earlier works!

I’ve been busy studying wildflowers this year. The fields of flowers were amazing this year after a very wet summer. Here is a newsletter with free nomenclature or 3 part cards of wildflowers. Life is beautiful.

Montessori World Blog has a great overview of Montessori phonics lessons. It is somewhat complicated in English compared to many other languages. Here is a Montessori word list for spelling, reading and writing.

Here are some reading cards about different types of roots.

Snails and slugs are fun to watch and learn about. Here is a Montessori newsletter about snails with free nomenclature cards.

Montessori Primary Guide has a new forum for parents and teachers. It’s a place to share Montessori ideas and information.

My friends and I always share cuttings from our houseplants. Cut about 3 inches from a healthy plant stem, place in a jar of water and wait for the stem to sprout roots. Some of the easiest plants to root from stem clippings are Coleus, Impatiens, Geraniums and Begonias. Plant the rooted stems in a pot and enjoy!

Here is a helpful how-to video.

I remember playing Kick the Can, Spud and other great outdoor games as a child. The long summer days were perfect for hours of fun with my friends. Sometimes outdoor games can get a little rough, so I would have adults play too.

Here are some links that may give you some ideas for outdoor games:
Kids Games
Racing Games
Inside and Outside Games
Relay Games
More Relay Games

Keep in mind the ages of the children participating, their skill level and most of all, consider safety first.
Happy playing!

Chris Dunmire has a 10 step plan to get your child ready to create beautiful sidewalk art. You can find a recipe for sidewalk chalk here.

In Montessori classrooms you introduce everything to your students. We introduced playdough to the children very similar to this. Grab some playdough, roll it into a snake. Coil the snake into a circle. Make a pancake. It’s great therapy!

I wish I could make this furniture for myself! How to Make Styrofoam Egg Carton Doll Furniture has great directions and photos for this fun doll furniture.

Egg Carton Critters has some cute ideas for your recycled egg cartons.
Here are some more links-
Egg Carton Animals
Egg Carton Animal Disguises
Crazy Crawlers
Egg Carton Lady Bugs (Lady Birds)
Egg Carton Crab
Egg Carton Snake
Egg Carton Allegator
Egg Carton Ant
Egg Carton Tulips
Egg Carton Flower Wreath
Egg Carton Daffodil
Egg Carton Flowers