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ozlouise
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| Posted: July 07 2007 at 6:46am | IP Logged
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Thankyou. That does help a lot. I would love these!
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Meredith
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| Posted: July 07 2007 at 11:07am | IP Logged
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Angel wrote:
I guess this isn't to say that pursuing an education that takes into account freedom within limits, a harmonious environment, respect for the child, and the child's need to move from the concrete to the abstract won't be easier if the Montessori materials and presentations *are* used (after all, it is much easier not to have to constantly reinvent the wheel), but I'm not sure that *flexibility* is really emphasized in many other places. And, as we all know, home environments are so different than schools that we, as home educators, *have* to do things differently. (And should, IMO. I don't really want to replicate even the best school in my house.)
Anyway, I should probably print out this paragraph and paste it up some place. It will help me when I'm feeling guilty that we don't do things *exactly* the way they're "supposed" to be done. |
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This is one of the reasons I LOVE this book so much is that we get a sneak peek into the *realities* of her classroom, and frankly it's not perfect in any way. She deals with MANY distractions and her own *life* that she journals about in the back (are you there yet  ) and how it affects her teaching as well. I am thrilled that I can teach within the confines of my own four walls knowing that I am making it *real* for my dc everyday! This is what makes Montessori (and More) Real Learning for a home educator! The materials are just the extension, and just like you mention, why reinvent the wheel! When my dc make connections after they have worked with a material repeatedly it's not only joyous for them, it's like a rite of passage into their next level or learning. This is a point she makes sublty throughout the book that I truly appreciate!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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Meredith
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Another favorite of mine: Page 41, Oct 16; "There are more and more days that I really feel good about now. This was a typical good day. When the children came in, they seemed to take a while to choose their work. I was tempted to intervene. What is it in our culture that makes us feel uneasy if we are not constantly busy and teaching our children to be constantly busy as well? Why shouldn't children take a while to make their choice of work in the morning? I really don't trust yet that they will be able to make a choice eventually.
They did settle themselves quite nicely, however. When I looked and the clock, it was only 8:20."
This was very refreshing for me to read. As it was only about a month into her school year, she was honest about her feelings of not trusting the children quite yet. Are we trusting of our own children, or do we sometimes forget that they will be able to do something or choose something appropriate if we just *let* them. Give them space to make their decision without prodding. This is how I hope to have things happen naturally, but is was good to read that there is definately a *break-in* period!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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Celeste
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Jumping in late here--Theresa, our library has this book under its orginial title--Children Learning: A Teacher's Classroom Diary. Maybe yours does, too? From things discussed here already, it sounds like the innards of the book haven't changed. 
Celeste
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: July 08 2007 at 4:48pm | IP Logged
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Celeste wrote:
Jumping in late here--Theresa, our library has this book under its orginial title--Children Learning: A Teacher's Classroom Diary. Maybe yours does, too? From things discussed here already, it sounds like the innards of the book haven't changed.
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I don't THINK they have...I think it is the same...someone correct me if I am wrong. I have the original title.
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc 
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God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 08 2007 at 6:45pm | IP Logged
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Meredith wrote:
I was tempted to intervene. What is it in our culture that makes us feel uneasy if we are not constantly busy and teaching our children to be constantly busy as well? Why shouldn't children take a while to make their choice of work in the morning? I really don't trust yet that they will be able to make a choice eventually.
Are we trusting of our own children, or do we sometimes forget that they will be able to do something or choose something appropriate if we just *let* them. Give them space to make their decision without prodding. This is how I hope to have things happen naturally, but is was good to read that there is definately a *break-in* period! |
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Yep! This was good to read. Definitely an issue I have to work on! There seems to be such a fine line of providing direction if the child is floundering, and letting them choose on their own. I was glad to see she struggle with this too! I have to constantly pray to relax and let my children lead.
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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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SeaStar
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I noticed that in addition to the Montessori math chains and beads (which make much more sense to me now after reading about them), the teacher also makes sure the children know how to use the Cuisenaire Rods. She says that they are necessary for the first grade work the children will be doing the next year. I was very glad to read that since I have a set and am kind of attached to them. I wonder if the children found switching between the math materials confusing?
Also, I thought it was very, very interesting that the children accomplished so much and developed so much throughout the year, and yet the kindergarten was only *half* day. Around here, a few years ago, even, parents could choose half or full day kindy, but now it is all full day. When the author mentions how some of the work really tires the children, it makes me wonder how the kids in the all day program hold up. The hours for public school K here are 7:30 to 3:00. The little five year olds wait out in the dark for the school bus at 6:45 in the mornings. It just seems like too much. How can they have the energy for learning?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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ozlouise
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SeaStar wrote:
| Also, I thought it was very, very interesting that the children accomplished so much and developed so much throughout the year, and yet the kindergarten was only *half* day. Around here, a few years ago, even, parents could choose half or full day kindy, but now it is all full day. When the author mentions how some of the work really tires the children, it makes me wonder how the kids in the all day program hold up. |
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I have a friend who teaches 4yo kindy. It used to be 4 half days but there was always a push to change it to 2 half days (mostly to make it easier for parents who work, parents who have a couple of kids at school etc). She resisted this change for quite a while for this reason. The kids got tired. She thought that they didn't get that much more done in a whole day than a half day.
They have now gone to whole days because of a school decision.
Louise
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 08 2007 at 8:32pm | IP Logged
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I have a question. I notice that Lillard constantly refers to the children making an inset booklet, or a continent booklet, or some other booklet. I'm going to purchase inset paper, and at first I thought of just a small quantity, but now I'm thinking of this inset paper collection because of all the little booklet potential. I know I'll have some larger paper for some geography materials, but what are you guys doing? Will you be providing regular paper for inset booklets, or continent booklets? Or something smaller like the inset paper? I'm blown away by all the little booklets her class is constantly making, and the smaller paper is really appealing because it seems so much more manageable for a wide variety of hands!
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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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AndreaG
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Yes- I love inset paper for booklets, my cousins went to montessori school and they would make booklets out of a long strip of paper folded accordian style. I have the inset paper from Montessori Services and the plastic booklet rings they sell.
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Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
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Meredith
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Me too! I bought a pack from Montessori Outlet which is where I purchased my Metal Insets, stands, and tray. The paper is fairly thin though and I'm wondering if it's not 20#, I'll check.
Anyhoo, I can't wait to make all these little booklets, it will really cement the information and personalize the learning IMO for my dc  I think the booklet rings are a great idea too, and the bookelts can even be laminated when complete for durability
I keep learning more and more, I love this book!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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Angel
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I got a package of plain white inset paper from Montessori Services, but I haven't used it yet. (Need to see if most of my plastic insets really *were* lost when we moved about 2 years ago.  ) All the little booklets Lillard mentions finally sank in this time, and I think I'll be encouraging/making a lot more of them this year.
In the past I've made phonogram booklets and Spanish word booklets using index cards and rings. Right now my 8 yo is working through some multiplication flip books I made using index cards. I stapled them at the top so the covers flip up. I think their small size makes them attractive. My 8 yo also writes little picture books using index cards stapled together, but they can't take much text.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Land O' Cotton
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Just wanted to say that I'm getting started in this book, but I can see that I'm going to go slowly and savor all the wisdom she shares. There is so much that I want to sink in from even the Introduction! I can't wait to get into this book further. I'm anxious to hear how it's going for everyone else.
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Vicki
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Land O' Cotton
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| Posted: July 25 2007 at 7:35pm | IP Logged
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Just bringing this back up to the top again, since I'm further into the book...
I logged in to ask about the booklets, and I'm just reading back over everyone's posts and discovering that ya'll are interested in the same thing. She does keep mentioning the booklets that the children make, and I wondered if they were something premade that the children wrote in or something they made themselves. I still don't have enough Montessori background to know what she means by that. So it looks like all of you will be making your own booklets, is that right? I just didn't know if there was a set of questions or whatever that should be included in the phonogram booklet, subtraction booklet, etc.
One more thing...
I think it really hit home with me this morning that the time the story is written about is a time that is pre-internet, pre-computers, pre-VCR,DVD,CD, and probably even pre-cable TV. She mentions about a child bringing in a picture from the newspaper and how they all were interested to look at it and the learning experience it became. In today's world everything is so on-demand that I'm guessing most children (and I don't mean to make sweeping generalizations here) would have either seen something on TV or could easily read about it online. It almost hearkens back to an age of innocence, and I'm not sure how to re-create that here in my own home.
Also I am constantly amazed at the things these children are learning! I have been hesitant about using some of the materials with my 6 y/o (almost 7), but after reading about her kindergarten class it seems we're almost behind! I can really see that I've got lots to cover for this school year!
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Vicki
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Meredith
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| Posted: July 26 2007 at 10:37am | IP Logged
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Land O' Cotton wrote:
| I think it really hit home with me this morning that the time the story is written about is a time that is pre-internet, pre-computers, pre-VCR,DVD,CD, and probably even pre-cable TV. She mentions about a child bringing in a picture from the newspaper and how they all were interested to look at it and the learning experience it became. In today's world everything is so on-demand that I'm guessing most children (and I don't mean to make sweeping generalizations here) would have either seen something on TV or could easily read about it online. It almost hearkens back to an age of innocence, and I'm not sure how to re-create that here in my own home. |
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Vicki, I agree with you here! I think that one of the beauties of home education (w/any method) gives us the ability to have control over the dc's environment and we can keep the TV off and offer only the best materials for their listening/watching opportunities.
We will be making the little books from either the inset paper, or just pre-cut construction or copy paper. We love to use old magazines, like Ranger Rick, National Geo's, Audobon, etc for making collages and books.
Thanks for bumping this back up
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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marianne
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Just wanting to discuss some more. Last night, I got to the part where she says Madan is "driving her crazy" (loved that part, actually) and she wants him to be his own motor. I've been brainstorming ways to encourage my kids to be their own motors, which is a huge skill and very important. "I'm bored, I'm bored" is not what we want to hear, and I've heard it this summer.
What have y'all done to encourage this? I have some ideas but I don't want to go first if no one wants to talk about it! Feel free to discuss anything from the book actually, it's all so good!
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Meredith
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I love this book too, although haven't has as much reading time lately as I would have liked  I really appreciated how honest she was about the children, especially the ones who seemed to need so much attention.
Thankfully we haven't had much I'm bored here this summer, but I have *sensed* that it is definately TIME to get back on it, IYKWIM
Looking forward to hearing others thoughts!! Go Marianne!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Montessori in the classroom- discussion?
