4Real Forums: Buying Montessori Materials $100 ??

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Nurturing the Years of Wonder
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Topic: Buying Montessori Materials $100 ??

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Meredith
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Posted: April 24 2007 at 3:17pm \| IP Logged

OK ladies, here's the $100 question!!

If you were given $100 for Montessori Materials, what would you buy, what's the best place to shop online, would you spend it all at once, or parcel it out, AND, what age group would you spend it for??

Mine are 11 (today!) 8, 5, and just 2!!

Thanks, and can't wait for you to help me SHOP

I've also posted a Wish List at my blog, but maybe these aren't what I really need...

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Meredith
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Angel
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Posted: April 24 2007 at 3:40pm \| IP Logged

I'm going to come back to this, but...Montessori Services would probably be my first stop. I think I'd probably try to split it up a bit between the 8,5, and 2 yo. (And btw, those real kid tools you have on your wishlist are great. The ones built for ages 6 and up are sturdier and my 4 yo can use them all right. They're necessities around here.)

--Angela
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Mackfam
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Posted: April 25 2007 at 2:56pm \| IP Logged

I second the recommendation of Montessori Services. I love them, and they seem to stretch my dwindling homeschool $$.

I had to prioritize like you. I decided to make my list based on "weak areas" rather than ages. For example, my 6 yo ds has some trouble with fine motor skills (I'm pretty sure that's fairly normal for a little boy) so I focused a lot of my energy and $$ there. Still, my dd (who is quite gifted motor skill wise) LOVES to participate in the activities along with the boys.

Is there a particular child that really needs some hands-on help in a particular area? That may help focus you more and possibly weed out those items that look so appealing, but won't provide help in a weak area.

I did want to mention that I found a number of REALLY GREAT bargains on serious montessori items (like knobbed cylinders which I sooooo long for) on ebay. That might be an option to look into.

The really great thing about Montessori is the ageless-ness of the activities - so I don't think you'll really go wrong with anything on your list. How's that for validation

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Meredith
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Posted: April 25 2007 at 4:41pm \| IP Logged

Thanks Jennifer, you're a girl after my own heart!!

I appreciate the suggestions and am off to shop! I've also made a few things in the last couple of days I hoep to post about on my blog later this week!!

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Meredith
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Maryan
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Posted: April 25 2007 at 8:58pm \| IP Logged

Meredith - I like all your suggestions! I've been pondering your post for two days! I don't feel like the experience to recommend something, but...

I have a friend who ordered what was in her budget from Montessori Services, but then used the catalog (you can request one for free or it may come with an order)as a reference for "the practical life" activities. And then found her own items at AC Moore, dollar stores, etc.

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Mary G
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Posted: April 25 2007 at 9:06pm \| IP Logged

Here's the link to Montessori Services -- for some reason, ladies, your link was coming up with an "i" in the middle....

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MaryG
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Angel
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Posted: April 26 2007 at 5:34am \| IP Logged

Oops.

Thanks, Mary, for fixing the link.

Btw, I agree that their catalog is great for providing pictures of how to put together trays.

--Angela
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ShawnaB
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Posted: April 26 2007 at 8:59am \| IP Logged

Meredith, how's the shopping going? You probably already know this, but when I find something in the Montessori catelogue that I love, I then check Discount School Supply, Rainbow Resource, and then Ebay, to check for better prices. Sometime I can find the exact item.

Have fun!

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Rebecca
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Posted: April 26 2007 at 12:17pm \| IP Logged

Meredith, I like Montessori n Such for catalog shopping. They do have some online items but the catalog is more extensive. Montessori for Everyone is also a favorite of mine. Everything there is purchased as a downloadable file which you then print on cardstock.

Meredith
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Posted: April 26 2007 at 1:12pm \| IP Logged

Thanks again everyone I LOVE all the catalogs and drool over them regularly, and I have made up many of my own trays by looking at all their offerings, A pic is worth a thousand $$ IMHO

I have a few more items I would like for Math, and I do so love all the parts of animal/bird/plant puzles. Maybe for Christmas, if I can wait that long!!

Appreciate all the links!

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Meredith
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AndreaG
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Posted: April 26 2007 at 7:04pm \| IP Logged

I second all the above recommendations- I also like Montessori Concepts and Alison's Montessori which offers a homeschool discount. They both often have sales also. These are good for getting things like the pink tower (my daughter's favorite) and cylinder blocks.
-Andrea
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Meredith
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Posted: April 27 2007 at 10:28am \| IP Logged

Thank yo for these links AndreaG, I hadn't seen these ones yet, aagh!! There's too many choices!

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Meredith
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montmom
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Posted: April 28 2007 at 1:52pm \| IP Logged

I also love looking at catalogs and just received mine from Alison's Montessori (www.alisonsmontessori.com). I ordered the pressure cylinders and the nuts and bolts exercise for under $50.

I live in NY and was able to pick up the materials from their warehouse, but their shipping rates do seem to be reasonable.

HTH-

Montmom

Meredith
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Posted: April 28 2007 at 2:25pm \| IP Logged

I did look extensively at the ALlison's site, it's very nice!! I think they are pretty reasonable pricewise too. I just LOVE Little City Kids that Elizabeth mentions quite a it on her blog!! They are a little higher priced, but such nice materials!!

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Meredith
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lapazfarm
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Posted: May 02 2007 at 9:46pm \| IP Logged

So...what did you end up getting???

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Theresa
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Meredith
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Posted: May 03 2007 at 3:39pm \| IP Logged

Oh gosh, I'm still trying to spend part of it

But here's a few things I picked up and am VERY happy with:

Melissa & Doug See & Spell
Melissa & Doug Bead Sequencing & Stacking

And I found some great inexpensive kids yard tools at Home Depot and a local toy store

Thanks for asking!!

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Meredith
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lapazfarm
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Posted: May 03 2007 at 4:10pm \| IP Logged

Oh, I'd love to have both of those! AND the yard tools! Great choices!

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Theresa
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