4Real Forums: elementary workplan

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Nurturing the Years of Wonder
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Topic: elementary workplan

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mumsrea
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Posted: May 29 2008 at 1:29pm \| IP Logged

So I plan to rely heavily on the Montessori for everyone workplans in my hsing. (Thanks lori, your blog continues to bless me (us) in so many ways.)

Has anyone flushed out a workplan beyond december, instead of letting the child do it himself? (not sure i'm thrilled with that idea, although i may come around.)

Lori, would you be willing to design workplans that go beyond for those who feel they need them?

cheers.
MR

montessori_lori
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Posted: May 30 2008 at 6:06pm \| IP Logged

You know, once when I sent out my email newsletter, I asked if anyone had elementary workplans for Jan - May and if so, would they be willing to share them so I could put them up. I know that a couple hundred of my customers are elementary teachers, but no one offered :(

I don't have the time to do it now, but surely someone could, based on the Comprehensive List 6-9, do it pretty easily?

ETA: I know this sounds a little subversive, but part of me doesn't want to do them. I don't want people to rely on them so heavily - they're really for the kids, not the teacher. The teacher's albums should be the foundation for the presentations. That's just me :)

Also, the kids need to learn (at some point) to make free choices and not just go by the workplan. I always saw a huge jump in maturity and creativity when we segued to a blank workplan in January.

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mumsrea
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Posted: May 30 2008 at 6:17pm \| IP Logged

Thanks lori.

MR

AndreaG
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Posted: May 31 2008 at 8:28am \| IP Logged

I'm thinking about using these for my 1st grader.
Lori, when you say they are for the kids not the teacher, do you mean that the teacher should be presenting more than what is on the list, and that is just a minimum? Does the child use the workplan and ask for the presentations, or does he just check them off as the teacher presents them?
I guess I'm wondering how you would (or do!) use these workplans in your montessori homeschooling?

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Andrea
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montessori_lori
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Posted: May 31 2008 at 9:01am \| IP Logged

Do you mean that the teacher should be presenting more than what is on the list, and that is just a minimum?

Yes, this is it exactly. The teacher plans what to show which day, and sometimes it's things that aren't on the workplan. Sometimes the child has interests that go in a different direction, or needs more repetition than you originally realized for a certain work.

We use the workplan as a reminder if the child just *can't* think of any work to choose. "Please look at your workplan!" if they're wandering around aimlessly, etc.

When I was teaching, every day I'd make up a little index card of the things I wanted to present to each level (first, second, and third grade). Usually they were items off the workplan, but not always.

Many times, I did cultural presentations that had no written component. For instance, I made up a poster about comets and we talked about them, but it wasn't on the workplan because there were no "comet cards" or anything for the kids to do beyond the presentation.

That's what I mean by the workplan just being a jumping off point, not set in stone.

AndreaG
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Posted: May 31 2008 at 9:03am \| IP Logged

Thanks Lori, that is very helpful!

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