Sunday, July 18, 2010

How to Keep a Munchkin Busy

We are leaving in a couple of days to go on a HUGE road trip.  Although E is a pretty good little traveler, I'm a bit nervous about being in the car for long 6-8 hour days.  We're planning on making lots of stops to run around, but she needs something to occupy her in the car, too!  I picked up a couple of backissues of Living Crafts from my favorite yarn store for me to peruse in the car, but I couldn't wait.  I found the cutest little drawstring backpack, and I knew I had to make one for E.  She chose the fabric from my embarrassingly large fabric stash.

Then, what to fill it with?  We decided that she would bring some of her finger puppets and some of her castle dolls.  I am going to surprise her with a magnetic storyboard and an I-Spy pouch.  And of course, a 400 page coloring book and new crayons for my little artist!


Other than the coloring book, it all fits inside quite nicely!

Hopefully when we return, our internet will be working properly again, and I will be able to resume normal posting.  See you all in August!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Montessori Monday


I'm still having internet issues, so Montessori Monday is up on Tuesday.  Oh, well.  The issues probably won't get resolved until August, so bear with me!  This week, I had one stubborn 2 1/2 year old and one 3 1/2 year old monkey in school.  Isn't that fun?!?  E is reacting, I think, to the fact that I am spending time working with K instead of solely with her.  And K just has a fantastic imagination.  This week he pretended to be Curious George.  He did work, and worked well for the most part - just pretended to be a monkey the whole time!  I am debating on whether I should run with this, and create a few monkey works for him - how about a monkey/ape sorting activity - or downplay the whole thing so he doesn't get out of hand. 

Sensorial:
E worked on geometric solids.  She worked on matching them to their face cards again.  I finally got around to getting the cards from Montessori for Everyone, so hopefully we can work with those this week.  E really likes the ovoid shape.  She put everything else away, but wanted to carry that one around to do her other work.

I presented the circle and rectangle drawers from the geometric cabinet to E.  She enjoyed them and wanted to do more drawers, so I guess I know what's on the agenda for this week!

K worked with the yellow and green cylinders, matching them up together.

I also presented the brown stair to him.

Practical Life:
E and K both got to cut bananas for snack.

K's favorite activity is STILL sorting the fruit!

We did a little spooning and pouring, I think I need to change out those activities so they'll be more interested.

Language:
Both kids have been interested in the sandpaper letters and alphabet drawers.  And I've been scouring my home, trying to find small objects to put into the alphabet drawers!  I had K do a sort between two drawers, then of course E wanted to do it too!  I do have a few more drawers available now, so that made it more fun.  They loved finding new objects!

K worked with sandpaper letters and the sand tray.  He loves this and wants to do the whole alphabet!!  I think I'll start him on some more pre-reading skills, and pull out the moveable alphabet for him.

Math:
K worked more with the counting sticks.  He asked me to make more for the rest of the numbers. (Mine only go to 5).  I don't think more stones will fit on the sticks, so I guess it's time for cards and counters!

E loves to work with the sandpaper numbers.  She traces them (sometimes even correctly!) and names them.  Sometimes we work on putting them all in order.  She wants to be like K and write the numbers in the sand tray, but usually we just end up making shapes and pictures instead.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Good and Bad

Good:  We've been doing a lot of Montessori work the past week!

Bad: My internet has been acting up and my computer somehow lost the posts I wrote for Tot School and Montessori Monday!!

Good:  I still have the pictures from the week . . .

Bad:  But I don't have an extra hour right now to re-write the posts.  They'll have to wait until next weekend.

Good:  I have a whole bunch of new materials printed out from Montessori for Everyone - knobbless cylinder extensions, and beginning sound card sorting.

Bad:  I'm out of laminator pouches, so we can't use them until we get to the store!

Good:  I received the sunshine award from Martianne at Training Happy Hearts!!

Bad:  There IS no bad!  I get to pass the award on!  :)

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blog world.  And, the rules for accepting this award are:

  • Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
  • Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
  • Link the nominees within your post.
  • Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
  • Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.
I am passing on the bloggy love to:

I hope you'll check out their blogs and maybe find a new source of inspiration for yourself!!