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chickpea
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 7:39am | IP Logged
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Hello ladies!
I've been lurking in this forum for a while, and have now come out of hiding to join (and ask questions, LOL).
Anyway, my DH and I have just decided to convert a room in our house to a learning/play room, and so we're just getting started setting that up - haven't bought the shelves yet, but we went shopping over the weekend and got some good ideas.
So we both really like Montessori - we have lots of books already, and have both been reading them. I have also seen TONS of posts in this forum by all you wonderful ladies, looked at your blogs, seen your learning room pictures, studied Montessori activities on the blogs, etc.
Now my problem is that I'm just feeling overwhelmed with the multitudes of information! I don't want to go overboard and overwhelm myself (or my kids) with lots right away - but at the same time I feel a little lost on where to start.
I think right now I'll just ask a few basic questions that I have on my mind, and go from there.
1) concerning the *presentation* of materials - I want to "get it right", meaning: know what the material is supposed to teach, and know how to present it. I've seen several "albums" out there (and mentioned on blog posts) - do I go that route, or do I just start with Elizabeth Hainstock's "Montessori in the Home: the Preschool years" (which I have) and use that as my guide?
2) also, (potentially covered before), what are some absolute "must buys" for starting out, in your opinion? Keeping in mind that I'd like to get started soon (DD is 4.5) and will also be making things along the way (I've already made sound cylinders) - but also would like to stock up the shelves with some quality stuff too.
3) do you use anything else in conjunction with Montessori? (I think I read on Gray Family Circus that she uses Little Saints.....I really like how that looks and am considering that, too)
Whew! If you read the whole post - thanks for listening to my babbling! I have so many questions swirling around in my head, and also feel a little pressure to get started soon, so that makes me "run on" a bit  .
BTW, I've been following a lot of your posts, and reading your blogs, and you ladies are such an inspiration, and have such wonderful ideas! Thanks!
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montessori_lori
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 2:13pm | IP Logged
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I think you can probably start with the Hainstock book - then you can decide if you need more information. Don't forget, there are online albums like Shu-Chen Jenny Yen (google her name to find it) that have a lot of info on presentations as well.
Here's what I recommend for 3-6:
Montessori Basics 5: Essentials of a 3-6 Classroom
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chickpea
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 3:30pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Lori - yes, I found Shu-Chen Jenny Yen last night and was amazed at the amount of information she had online.
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AndreaG
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 4:00pm | IP Logged
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Don't worry, I still feel overwhelmed by the multitude of Montessori information!
I think the Hainstock books are a great place to start. I also really like Basic Montessori by Getman, actually I prefer that book to the Hainstock one. If you find the Montessori approach is working really well, you can decide then if you want to invest in something like Karen Tyler's albums.
As for materials, I never know what to suggest b/c kids are so different. That is one tough thing about homeschooling versus a Montessori classroom. In the classroom of 20 + kids there is bound top be one who gets into a certain material, while in your homeschool it might just sit on the shelf. I would check out Lori's suggestions. And don't go overboard to start!
My daughter is 4, and her favorites are the pink tower and the botany puzzles. We also use the sandpaper letters and numbers and the sound boxes I made quite a bit. She likes practical life things too: pouring, tonging, sorting, folding etc. Sensorial works like the thermic tablets, sound boxes, fabric squares etc seem to get used once and not repeated. She is attracted to the math beads and is just getting to the age where I may start getting into presentations with those. She likes 3 part cards, which my boys were never too taken with so I might present more of those too.
I have always used Little Saints along with Montessori for my preschool kids. This year I am using some ideas from the Serendipity website, as we are doing a letter of the week thing. I have always mixed Montessori with other things and probably always will, I like that with homeschooling I can take things I like and make my own educational soup!
Have fun homeschooling!
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Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
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chickpea
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 5:34pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Andrea! I have spent quite some time reading your blog and I really like the setup you have! (As well as the other mom blogs I've seen)...
I just ordered Little Saints today, so hopefully that and Lori's "essentials" will be a good starting place. I don't want to fall into the trap of doing so much in the beginning that they (and I) end up overwhelmed. Although I feel myself getting a little "nervous" that I haven't started anything yet! 
Oh, one more quick question - do you ladies usually end up just ordering a geography map cabinet (like at Alison's or some other place)?
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 8:41pm | IP Logged
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You've gotten some wonderful answers from two of the best! I'll just echo some of their suggestions...
chickpea wrote:
Now my problem is that I'm just feeling overwhelmed with the multitudes of information! I don't want to go overboard and overwhelm myself (or my kids) with lots right away - but at the same time I feel a little lost on where to start. |
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I completely understand. I think we've all been there. It's just soooo much to take in and try to integrate in the home. Start small. I think I've said this before, but I really didn't "get it" until I just started "doing it". Know what I mean? I think it will all start to come together for you after a couple of weeks - a few presentations - and you've got a nice rhythm going in the home!
chickpea wrote:
| 1) concerning the *presentation* of materials - I want to "get it right", meaning: know what the material is supposed to teach, and know how to present it. I've seen several "albums" out there (and mentioned on blog posts) - do I go that route, or do I just start with Elizabeth Hainstock's "Montessori in the Home: the Preschool years" (which I have) and use that as my guide? |
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I'd stick with Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Preschool Years if you have it, and go the (**free**) online route with Shu Chen Jenny Yen's Online Albums. If I could suggest one other source that I have absolutely fallen in love with - Mommy, Teach Me by Barbara Curtis. I can't say enough how much I love this book!
chickpea wrote:
| 2) also, (potentially covered before), what are some absolute "must buys" for starting out, in your opinion? Keeping in mind that I'd like to get started soon (DD is 4.5) and will also be making things along the way (I've already made sound cylinders) - but also would like to stock up the shelves with some quality stuff too. |
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I followed Lori's list (linked above) as a good reference. I considered especially the areas I was trying to address in my purchases - like are you looking to build fine motor skills? Build a math program with Montessori materials? Set up more hands-on learning centers? Answering these will give you a jumping point and allow you to whittle your lists. In purchasing more materials I asked myself if the material would be able to be used by other children in my family and could I extend the usefulness of an object. For example, the geometric solids are mainly a sensorial item, but I've extended them to be included in my older children's geometry lessons. That made them more valuable than a one-time use material for me. And, I don't want to neglect to mention that soooo much can be made or purchased at a thrift store just by keeping your eyes open for the few things you'd like. I found keeping a running list in my purse was handy - I always forget to look for eye droppers.
A few of our favs:
**moveable alphabet
**geography maps and cabinet (we bought the whole set from Alison's)
**hundred and thousand bead chains
**decanomial box of beads (for counting, sorting and all kinds of math property practices)
**cylinder blocks
**metal insets
chickpea wrote:
| 3) do you use anything else in conjunction with Montessori? (I think I read on Gray Family Circus that she uses Little Saints.....I really like how that looks and am considering that, too) |
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I use Little Saints loosely, as well as Catholic Mosaic and following a theme of Cay Gibson  A Picture Perfect Childhood. Lots and lots of picture book reading around here. I love to encourage imaginative play so little kitchens for play, sidewalk chalk, play silks, legos - all of it figures in to the day.
HTH, and welcome to the boards!!! 
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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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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Newbie with questions!
