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Mackfam Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006 Location: Alabama
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Posted: May 30 2007 at 8:34pm | IP Logged
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Ok - I've decided what I really want to get for my 2yo, 6yo, and 10yo for next year. I feel pretty comfortable with my list...but...yikes...the total$$$ is scary.
Here's my list so far - to be edited and revised as I pray and decide what will actually stay in my cart:
1. Knobbed Cylinders
2. Knobless Cylinders
3. Binomial Cube
4. Introduction to decimals (golden beads)
5. Addition snake game
I'm on the fence on this one:
6. Geometric cabinet - I'd really like it, but it adds so much to the total.
What have you guys got on your final lists????
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Meredith Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: May 30 2007 at 9:02pm | IP Logged
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Ooh, I know what you mean Jennifer, it is scary, and I really like the Geometric Cabinet, I really think it's a must have for my bunch as they will all use it in different ways!
My list is so long it's rather embarassing, but here's the immediate "in-the-cart" items I'm going for:
1) Knobbed & Knobless Cylinders
2) Golden Beads (not sure exactly what quantity yet )
3) Colored Bead Material in the form of the Decanomial Box (that gives me 55 of each numeral beads 1-10)
4) Red Rods
5) Red and Blue Number Rods w/ cards
6) Pink Tower
7) Geometric Solids either the natural or blue, we'll see
8) Sandpaper letters and Numbers
9) Stamp Game
10) Addition/Subtraction Strip Boards
Oh my dear, my list is SOOO LONG
I really want the Seguin Tens and Teens Boards too, but may make mine initially from paper and laminate.
I will probably make the b/w bead stairs, the gray bars and the negative bead bars, but I'm inclined to just buy them and be done with it if I can
Allright, ladies, let's see what you've got, thanks so much for getting the ball rolling here Jennifer, it'll keep us all accountable (no pun intended )
Maybe we should just start a Montessori school and band all our goods together!!
__________________ Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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AndreaG Forum Pro
Joined: March 25 2007
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Posted: May 30 2007 at 10:29pm | IP Logged
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Fun! Here's my wish list for my kids 8, 5, 3 and 9 months:
Blue geometric solids and booklets
grammar solids
Lots of printables from Montessori for Everyone:
History research guides
Plant and animal research guides
160 math equation cards (for golden beads)
Continent kits (I really want to make continent boxes like Theresa!)
plant kingdom chart
animal kingdom chart
Maybe I will make plant and animal boxes too- and I am really excited about organizing my cards ala Theresa's system!
I won't be able to buy all this right away, my dear hubby prefers me to evenly distribute my spending throughout the year. Fortunately those downloads are perfect for that, since there is no shipping fee and I will only have time to laminate and cut a few at a time anyway.
__________________ Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
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Posted: May 30 2007 at 10:43pm | IP Logged
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Oh, boy. I'm embarrassed because though we normally could never afford any of this, we are getting a lump sum of money from the state (from our adoption) to put towards JBug's education and I am using it for Montessori supplies. So my list is very long. But, boy have I sweated over it!
Language:
metal insets and stands
tracing tray (for insets)
I am printing up all the free language online materials
Math:
Golden beads intro to decimals
additional wooden thousands cubes
100 and 1000 chains
Large number cards (1-9000)
small number cards (2 sets)
stamp game
addition and subtraction strip boards
fraction stacker
Sensorial:
Color box 3
Knobbed and knobless cylinders
Geometric cabinet and cards
Science:
Botany puzzles(4)
Zoology puzzles (5)
insect puzzles (5)
Geography:
Puzzle maps of world, 7 continents, and oceans
world globe
I think that is it, though there may be a few more things. It comes out to around 1500 dollars, which is an unreal amount to me, but since the state offered we will graciously accept.
Plus I will be able to use it with my grandsons as well.
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Angel Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 7:25am | IP Logged
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A couple of years ago I bought many of the items I thought we would need, but I'll probably add to it this year. Dh gets a large portion of his salary once a year in October as a lump sum, so I either save my curriculum lists until around then or I kind of space the purchases out over the year.
Here's what I'm pretty sure I'll order:
Geometry cabinet
botany puzzles
parts of the animal/botany cards
R&D math and grammar manuals
Native American cards from Montessori Services (since the older kids are interested now)
rubbing plates from Montessori n Such
mass kit and Moira's albums
Here's what I'm still on the fence about:
Decanomial
knobless cylinders
R&D science manuals
some of the hammering activities from Montessori Services (I know that dh could make some of this stuff, but he's awfully busy)
Here's what I would love to have but haven't really thought about yet:
continent puzzles (oh, would I love those!!)
I imagine I'll have to make a checkerboard soon, and once I get science figured out, there is probably material I'll be ordering from Montessori for Everyone.
I'd really like to make more materials, but with all the little ones and a new one coming, I think I may have to sacrifice money to make up for a serious lack of time.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Mackfam Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006 Location: Alabama
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 7:48am | IP Logged
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Don't be embarrassed Theresa! Your list really helps me! I was on the fence about the color box, but I feel a little validated that it's on your list too. I thought this would be so easy to make, but I fear my time is slipping away from me, and my dh reminded me that my time is valuable too. So I think I'm putting it back in my basket. And I soooooooo want to keep the Geometry cabinet in there. I'm convinced of its usefulness. I see all 3 of my kids really benefitting from it. Are any of you getting the (edited - I used the wrong wording here - sorry)presentation tray - I know it's needed for initial presentations. How necessary do you guys think it is? I'm inclined to leave it out? Any thoughts? I'm going to see how it flies with my dh.
One more thing to add to my list:
This wooden kitchen. I know I'm ambitious requesting this on top of everything else, and I'm prepared for it be cut, but I have been wishing for it for some time. I saw those neat felt foods that MichelleQ posted on another thread, and thought those would be great for dd and I to make. It would be awesome to have - a girl can dream right?
I agree Meredith - we ought to band together and form our own school - between all of us you think we could come up with a couple of Montessori brain cells??
OH! Update - I just broke all the news to my dh - he's really interested in all of the Montessori stuff on my list! Says those are probably all keepers, not sure about my little kitchen though. Well, I was prepared for that. He wants to think/pray about it today and talk more tonight.
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 8:23am | IP Logged
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That kitchen looks really cute!
My parents got JBug a kitchen for Christmas or it would have been on the top of my list. She uses it every day, as did both my grandsons when they were here. Definitely worth it.
Here is the one we have:Kidcraft play kitchen
It is wooden and seems very well constructed. Dh did have to put it together, though, which was a real pain.
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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AndreaG Forum Pro
Joined: March 25 2007
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 8:24am | IP Logged
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Jennifer,
About the presentation tray for the Geometry Cabinet- I don't think it is necesary, you can take the circle, equilateral triangle, and square from the big cabinet for the first presentation. I just put them on a regular tray, and put that on top of the cabinet.
And I think the color box is definitely worth buying- I tried to make it but my kiddos like the bought one much better. Of course you probably shouldn't listen to me I think all montessori stuff is worth buying!
I can't wait to see what all these great montessori homeschools look like in the fall!
__________________ Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
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Meredith Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 8:57am | IP Logged
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OH NO, now there are more things I think we need after looking at all your lists
I forgot about the Botany and Zoology Puzzles, I LOVE those and the color box and the Geography Puzzles, whew. I'm going to have to re-visit my Cart today for sure And thank you so much for the referral to Kids Advance, they DO have better prices than alot of the Alison's items
Great lists, ladies, your dc will be so excited to learn with such wonderful materials
Blessings!
__________________ Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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Mackfam Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006 Location: Alabama
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 9:00am | IP Logged
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Theresa - thanks for the validation on the kitchen! You know it all comes back to making an investment in our children. I love surrounding my children with beauty - I'm a firm believer in it! I want their memories and their imaginations to be filled with beauty! I really liked your little kitchen - I even looked at it seriously for a while. In the end I really wanted to support a small family owned business, and I just fell in love with the look of natural wood. I kept saying "you know, if I could dream, if I could buy them the best, I'd get this little kitchen." I kept going back to it again and again. Finally, I decided you know, I'm just going to ask for it. My kids deserve something beautiful like this. Maybe it'll wait til Christmas? Whatever my dh decides will be for the best, but I'm glad I asked for it because even if he says not right now, it's on his radar.
Andrea - thank you so much for your take on the presentation tray. I was thinking that might be the case after reading the presentation through several times, but I was really hoping for someone's opinion. Thank you!! And 1000 thank you's for the color box validation. I put it back in my cart and it was on my final list when I presented it to dh. I'm so glad I put it back in after your advice!!! I know I could make it, but would I? And, I already had several ideas for how to use it with all of the kids.
The last few threads posted here have been so very informative. I'm so comforted that I can go through this with all of you. It helps when making these decisions to hear what you're going through - your rationale - and it helps so much to hear from those of you in the trenches already. I really love gleaning from your posts!! Thanks everybody!
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Genevieve Forum All-Star
Joined: April 02 2005
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 11:20am | IP Logged
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Too late Meredith! I already have. A good subsitution for the geography puzzles are these from Timberdoodle.
__________________ Genevieve
The Good Within
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Maryan Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 4:27pm | IP Logged
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Oh man... these are great lists! But I have to get shelves before I can get more...
But then:
More Geography Puzzles (4 yo. LOVES them, 5 yo. too)
Lacing stuff (4 yo., 2 yo.)
A Bell
Botany Puzzles (4 yo., 5 yo.)
More Geometric solids (have 11)
Musical instruments (percussion and MAYBE a Melody Harp)
FOR CGS I'm definitely getting:
A statue of the Good Shepherd (recommendations anyone??)
Moira's 3 -5
A Monstrance (maybe)
A Ciborium
Otherwise, I'm restraining myself from reading your lists too many times, because my shelves may not happen this summer!!
__________________ Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Mackfam Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006 Location: Alabama
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 4:41pm | IP Logged
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Maryan,
You may already have something in mind for shelves, but just in case you're looking for something affordable - I found some that work great and were very inexpensive. I found a picture of them on my blog. They are shoe storage units, you find them in the closet organizer section of Target or Walmart. $10 each! I have 4 sets (they stack one right on top of the other) in our school room and they are awesome. I'm trying to decide if I want to get more of these for our storage/off season closet or if I want to make something I already have work. But I do love these shelves!!!! Their shallow shelf depth is ideal for Montessori. Don't know if this is helpful to you at all, but I thought I'd do my part in enabling more Montessori purchases for your dear littles
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Maryan Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 4:58pm | IP Logged
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I had another idea, but I think it would be more expensive and have the same result!!! Thanks Jennifer -- it's perfect... I may be able to add to my list sooner than I think!!
__________________ Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 5:54pm | IP Logged
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Jennifer, those look perfect!
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Meredith Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 5:54pm | IP Logged
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I really like how your shelves turned out Jennifer!! I have never seen any this nice at Target, I'll have to keep my eyes open!
__________________ Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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Cheryl Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: May 31 2007 at 5:59pm | IP Logged
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Jennifer, I love your shelves.
I haven't had too much computer time, but I'm liking all these Montessori threads. I look forward to reading them again in a couple of weeks. Thanks everyone!
__________________ Cheryl
Wife to Bob ('97)
Mom to Matthew 13, Joseph 11, Sarah 10, Rachel 6, Hannah almost 4 and Mary 1
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
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Posted: June 01 2007 at 4:22pm | IP Logged
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Just a heads up. I ordered a bunch of stuff from Montessori Outlet and it wasn't until the day after I placed the order that I found out many of the items are on back order and won't be shipped until July. This includes the knobbed and knobless cylinders, metal insets , and geometric cabinet. No big deal for me, but if you want things quickly, you may want to call them (they were very helpful) and see if they are back-order items or not.
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Mackfam Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006 Location: Alabama
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Posted: June 01 2007 at 6:58pm | IP Logged
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Whew!!! My computer and credit card are smoking!! I finished my ordering today. I'm excited about the new materials. I spent the day emptying out the big closet under the stairs (it was full of about 3 seasons worth of jackets and coats from the kids and dh must have had about 5 different coats in there ) We went to Target last night and got 4 more sets of the shoe shelves I used in my learning room. Dd assembled and we made a storage zone in the closet that's just awesome!!! It was great to get some of the materials into the storage zone and out of reach of the 2yo while leaving some things out for him - true Montessori - freedom within limits!! Now that I have the storage area set up, I'm turning into a laminating queen!!! Can't wait to see the FedEx man roll up!3
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Meredith Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: June 01 2007 at 7:27pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
Whew!!! My computer and credit card are smoking!! I finished my ordering today. I'm excited about the new materials. I spent the day emptying out the big closet under the stairs (it was full of about 3 seasons worth of jackets and coats from the kids and dh must have had about 5 different coats in there ) We went to Target last night and got 4 more sets of the shoe shelves I used in my learning room. Dd assembled and we made a storage zone in the closet that's just awesome!!! It was great to get some of the materials into the storage zone and out of reach of the 2yo while leaving some things out for him - true Montessori - freedom within limits!! Now that I have the storage area set up, I'm turning into a laminating queen!!! Can't wait to see the FedEx man roll up!3 |
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Oh boy do I know what you mean!! How exciting!! My dh husband comes home tonight and I'm going to pour him a nice glass of wine , and then present him with my, ahem, list I'm so ready to place my order before I add anything else to it
Thanks for sharing, and your new closet sounds wonderful! Bravo indeed
__________________ Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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