| Author | |
mumsrea
Forum Rookie
Joined: May 09 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 98
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 6:24pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
So although i would RATHER not spend money unwisely, i do have a fair sum of money available to contribute to the homeschooling now that we have freed up the tuition money. Having said that, ease of use and proper sequence are my main issues. I note that in the boards the NAMC manuals get kudos for ease of use but there seem to be problems with the sequence? can anyone elaborate on that?
also has anyone got any idea how the black line masters at namc relate to the manuals - are they all the printed material the kids need, corresponding to the manuals?
i also note though that the R&D manuals seem to be paired with materials too. i wonder if those are the complete system as need for each manual (excepting of course where proper materials are needed.)
i am also finding the r&d manuals to be intimidating. As i go through the tables of contents i'm thinking that they seem, well, ADVANCED.
I am also noticing that my almost 6 year old is in now way finished the reading process that is the foundation for the lower elementary language IN EITHER set of manuals. Is this normal? I know that montessori goes with the child, but really i'm surprised that he is not ready for grade one montessori in this regard.
I think it is probably true of his penmanship too. He is still calling letters by their 'sound' name and learning to form cursive capitals....
Should i not be starting with the elementary curriculum at all? or should i go with the one that seems closer to where he is, in whatever area (ie, language)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
montessori_lori
Forum Pro
Joined: June 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 322
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 6:30pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Much better than either R & D or NAMC are Sister Mary Motz's albums - available at Nienhuis. Just go there and do a search for "mary motz". I won't link because Nienhuis changes their links all the time :)
I am also noticing that my almost 6 year old is in now way finished the reading process that is the foundation for the lower elementary language IN EITHER set of manuals. Is this normal? I know that montessori goes with the child, but really i'm surprised that he is not ready for grade one montessori in this regard.
Totally normal...there's a lot of overlap between 3-6 and 6-9. "Meet them where they're at", that's what we always say. Don't worry too much about grade levels, etc.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mumsrea
Forum Rookie
Joined: May 09 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 98
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 6:32pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Lori, that is helpful!!!
MR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 7:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
montessori_lori wrote:
| Much better than either R & D or NAMC are Sister Mary Motz's albums - available at Nienhuis. Just go there and do a search for "mary motz". I won't link because Nienhuis changes their links all the time :) |
|
|
I remember when Elizabeth had recommended the Montessori Matters on her old website.
Would you be able to explain the differences between the updated edition from the originals?
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
montessori_lori
Forum Pro
Joined: June 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 322
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 8:10pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
As far as I know, the content doesn't change. In the newer editions, they correct typos, that sort of thing. We spotted a few during our training :)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 8:18pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Lori,
Could you elaborate a little on why you prefer these albums to R&D or NAMC? They're certainly affordable.  I know you're a little biased  , but why do you like them? Neinhuis offers 4: Montessori Matters, Montessori Matters Language, Montessori Matters Math, Montessori Matters History. What is the general MM about? It says its just general presentations...are they for the sensorial materials? practical life? Are there only the 4? or are there more?
I'm glad you asked this question mumsrea - Angela (Angel on the boards) and I have been pm-ing each other back and forth discussing this same issue. I know she much prefers the NAMC to the R&D manuals.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
montessori_lori
Forum Pro
Joined: June 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 322
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 8:33pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
These are generally for elementary (a few might say 3-9, but I feel like they're more for elementary). So no, they don't include Sensorial or Practical Life - those are separate curricular areas and are only in 3-6. You'd need albums from somewhere else for those. Sister Mary is an elementary expert :)
I like them because Sister Mary gives the "why" and the "behind-the-scenes" of the materials. They cover all the pertinent materials for each curricular area, with detailed presentations (step-by-step) as well as many drawings. But it's more than that - she talks about what concepts the materials are covering and how they aim to do that.
In our training, we received manuals from Sister Mary in the following areas: Math, Language, History, Botany/Zoology, Geometry, and Geography. However, I have only ever seen those 4 on Nienhuis.
The albums used in our training were authored by Sister Mary but are not specifically from Montessori Matters. Montessori Matters is a company put together by the Sisters Notre Dame de Namur, in Ohio, which is where Sister Mary was for awhile.
A few years ago, the Sisters sold MM to Ann Villela. I've spoken to Ann on the phone and she is as nice as pie. However, she hasn't updated the business and has no website. She's the one who provides the manuals to Nienhuis to re-sell. Those 4 are the only ones she offers.
ETA: I take back the part about not having Practical Life or Sensorial; it's possible that the general Montessori Matters does have those lessons. I honestly don't know, since we were using slightly different albums in our training. We were never given the general one. I think I'll buy it right now just so I can add it to my collection :)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 9:06pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
They really sound ideal, Lori. I do wish I could find a copy of her geometry and geography albums. Any ideas on where I could find them? Or are they completely out of print and likely to be so treasured that no one gives them up?
Would you, if you weren't a trained Montessori teacher, find them useable, straightforward and easy to use? I was glad to hear your mention of the drawings, and particularly the "behind the scenes" of materials. I think these would be very helpful for me.
Thank you once again for offering this suggestion, Lori. I'm going to hunt around the web for these albums a bit to see if I can't find geometry and geography! Those would be really, really helpful to me.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
montessori_lori
Forum Pro
Joined: June 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 322
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 9:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Those other albums aren't available for sale anywhere - they're printed just for the training center where I went.
The only way you could find copies is if someone who took the training at the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center were selling them, like on eBay or something.
I'm not trying to burst your bubble - I just don't want you to spend time hunting for something that's unavailable.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 9:22pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Good to know. I'm having trouble even finding her other albums anywhere else besides Nienhuis. Thank you again!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 9:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
montessori_lori wrote:
| The albums used in our training were authored by Sister Mary but are not specifically from Montessori Matters. Montessori Matters is a company put together by the Sisters Notre Dame de Namur, in Ohio, which is where Sister Mary was for awhile. |
|
|
Okay, because I've been curious about this for years. I have two of the books, and they list several authors. Is Sister Mary no longer a Notre Dame de Namur? Is she still a sister? In a different order? Same order, just stationed somewhere else? Enquiring minds want to know...
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
montessori_lori
Forum Pro
Joined: June 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 322
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 9:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Yes, she's still a Sister, although she prefers that everyone call her "Mary" (including the kids). There was no way I could keep myself from calling her "Sister Mary", though!
She lives in a convent in Chicago. I don't know if it's the same order as Notre Dame de Namur; I would think it is, but I don't know that much about it.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 9:57pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I found her here still training when I was looking around.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
montessori_lori
Forum Pro
Joined: June 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 322
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 10:02pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Yes, that's where I went. C'mon, here's a picture of me (in white socks and shorts on a yellow chair at the back of the room) at their website! The pic was taken during our training, but that's the same classroom where I interned with her for a year.
She used to do most of the training - now they have other instructors and she does the supervising and some training the second summer. I am so glad I took the training in time to have her!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 10:15pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
montessori_lori wrote:
Yes, that's where I went. C'mon, here's a picture of me (in white socks and shorts on a yellow chair at the back of the room) at their website! The pic was taken during our training, but that's the same classroom where I interned with her for a year.
She used to do most of the training - now they have other instructors and she does the supervising and some training the second summer. I am so glad I took the training in time to have her! |
|
|
 How funny! That's no fair that you're in the back of the room looking normal. Isn't it a rule or something that if a picture of you is published you should be sporting some terribly trendy (um...by trendy I mean it was trendy 20 years ago) and large fluffy hairdo with completely embarrassing wardrobe reminiscent of an old Styx video? No fair that you look normal!!!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
montessori_lori
Forum Pro
Joined: June 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 322
|
| Posted: May 30 2008 at 10:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Let's see - that was summer of '97. I look pretty much the same as I do now! Here's another pic from the training, practicing a presentation. Here's me this past year. I've never been very trendy :)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: May 31 2008 at 7:38am | IP Logged
|
|
|
 about the pics... In 1997, I think I just looked tired. I had a one year old who never slept.
Lori, you said the books have drawings. How detailed are the drawings? Are there drawings for every presentation? I feel like I'm paying out the nose simply for NAMC's visuals, but I *need* them. (The most time I've ever spent in a Montessori school was about thirty minutes in a daycare where we decided not to send our then 3 year old.)
IMO, NAMC is over-priced, but. I do prefer them over R&D, simply because I can use them. (If you do not need pictures, R&D is probably fine, although the albums do contain A LOT of information that must be waded through and pieced together.)
I have some of the blackline masters for NAMC. Some are better than others. For instance, the History blackline CD has a Timeline of Life, Clock of the Eras... the stuff you need, really. But the Elementary Math blackline Masters -- which I have just dug into -- is disappointing. It doesn't have any materials, really, except for the geometry nomenclature cards. The problem-solving cards it contains might also be useful. Otherwise, it's just stuff you could print for free from various places on the net... or make up yourself.
Frustrating! 
--Angela
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
montessori_lori
Forum Pro
Joined: June 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 322
|
| Posted: May 31 2008 at 8:48am | IP Logged
|
|
|
The drawings, when there are some, are just sketches to help you know how to present the material. They are not meant to be used as materials in any way. I'm not familiar with the blackline masters from NAMC, but that's different from their albums, right? I would never look to NAMC for materials.
During the training, we draw our own pictures on the left-hand side of the pages, with colored pencils, so that we see exactly what the trainers are showing us. That's what makes the albums so valuable. I'd grab mine in case of a fire :)
The math album probably has the most drawings, but the others wouldn't have many. The idea is that you see the materials presented during the training and draw your own pictures.
ETA: When you think about it, the math album is really the one you need drawings for. You don't need picture after picture of how to present the botany nomenclature cards, for instance. So that's why there's not as many pictures in the language and cultural albums.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
AndreaG
Forum Pro
Joined: March 25 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 326
|
| Posted: May 31 2008 at 9:02am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Lori,
SO do you have any of the Montessori Matter albums from Nienhuis? I'd be interested in a description of the contents of each one. If anyone gets them do share!
__________________
Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Donna Marie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2530
|
| Posted: May 31 2008 at 12:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
AndreaG wrote:
Lori,
SO do you have any of the Montessori Matter albums from Nienhuis? I'd be interested in a description of the contents of each one. If anyone gets them do share! |
|
|
I also have some of these...I am running around like a nut today...so if I don't post by tomorrow, please nudge me!
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc +one more due 10/08!
__________________
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: more on the namc vs r&d debate
