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marianne
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| Posted: Feb 08 2008 at 8:13am | IP Logged
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I think I just need some inspiration. I started out the year enthusiastically with my preschoolers, but now they've done everything that I purchased several times, and don't seem really interested in doing the work anymore. Their lack of enthusiasm has leaked over to me, I think. And I've gotten so pre-occupied with schooling my olders (going great, btw), that I've just let a lot of my focus on my preschoolers float away. They have been playing very nicely together during school time, at least!
Any quick shot in the arm for me? A fun activity to try? A recommendation for a new material? What fun things have you done recently?
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Meredith
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Oh Marianne, don't lose hope, it's okay to have down times for ANY teaching method.
How about bubbles in the sink or polishing the geo solids with a fleece cloth??
Personally I would give ANYTHING for my almost 3yo to play "nicely" during any part of school time, so you've got something right there 
Enjoy your weekend and have fun with them, no pressure.
Blessings,
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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happymama
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my gut response to your post? if they are playing nicely together, then they are a Montessori "success" - what she called "normalized"! Take a break and just let them play for a week, or two, or more!
I always notice with my kids that when they start getting restless, (extra) aggressive, or unfocused it's because i've been lazy about giving them interesting work. Once we get back to "doing school" I see them become peaceful again.
Do you have Karen's albums, or some other album? I always know where each kid is "at" in the album, and keep looking ahead to what is next. I recently got Karen's physical science album, and it looks perfect for my boys - and might be where dh will jump in excited, too.
good luck!
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lapazfarm
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Nothing wrong with taking a little break. That way when you come back, everything will be like new again. And perhaps by that time you will have come up with a few extensions to add interest.
During your Montessori break you can focus on things like music, art, dramatic play, etc, that tend to get pushed aside during times of academic focus. Or you can just let them play. That's always time well spent!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Donna Marie
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Hello...back from lurkdom ;o)
For me, Montessori is more a state of mind and how I look at the kids and their "work". I try to make learning their personal work and try to support them taking on new challenges of learning so I am pushing less and they are learning more without the struggle. I have a FEW children  and it can get chaotic when they are all abuzz learning and doing their thing. If I start losing my perspective or materials are getting abused, scattered or lost I start losing MY focus so I can imagine that it happens the same for them. I am just looking for little moments here and there with the little ones to make things more natural in learning at the present time. Much of the time it is just letting them in on what I and the older kiddoes are doing at the moment even if it is only in some small way...
In all honesty, after being displaced for 2 months at my parents home ( we had two rooms that needed a complete overhaul and couldn't be here) I need SIMPLE. So simple is my focus for lent. I am focusing on our reception of sacraments for 3 children and living out this special time of the liturgical year with all the other subjects peppered in. If it means that the shelves have to be cleared for a time to make things fresher for them...I'll do it. I really want slower right now. There are times of the year for more business but I don't think this is it. I am really concentrating on getting "school" done early enough each day so we can soak up as much of the much needed sun rays and breathe some fresh air. We still find loooads of schooley things to get into and learn about. I am just not as formal as I could be until the better weather comes. Lent lends itself nicely for this, don't cha think?
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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Marianne,
I just finished going through this. I wasn't very organized to begin with this year because of a late start and a yucky feeling pregnancy. So, flying by the seat of my pants carried me a little way, but then, after Christmas, I found myself without a real plan and the 7 and 3yo really looking for more to do.
I spent about a week getting all of my favorite books down - the Hainstock books and Lillard's Montessori in the Classroom. I skimmed, and sometimes completely re-read certain parts. I made a list for each child of presentations that were lacking because of my somewhat dis-organized initial approach. Then, I spent a day cleaning off those Montessori shelves of items that were no longer being worked on, or those materials that had started to become a bit abused. I felt like I had a better plan. I had the luxury (from my Christmas money ) of ordering a few more things to supplement the large holes I found when I was doing my planning.
The last few weeks have gone so well! It is a relief to have a bit more of a written plan in mind for the children, and at least a "big picture" idea of where I'm trying to get them by the end of the year.
I'm not sure if this answers your question at all Marianne. It could be that your preschoolers would just enjoy some lovely time spent with the art supplies, scooping rice or lentils or another scoopable item that might seem a novelty? How about setting up a Marian devotion table and purchasing some inexpensive flowers each week at the grocery store allowing your littles to trim, water, and arrange the flowers for the Blessed Virgin? Maybe a trip to the thrift store would yield some scope for the imagination - a new tray or bowl or pitcher is always exciting for my guys. Perhaps you'd find a brass candlestick holder there that you could use for a polishing activity. Not sure where you are in the country, but spring is around the corner and with it always comes a feast of Nature Walks! That will surely please the littles soon.
When I'm lost, I frequently go back to Lori's Comprehensive Lists to sort of get my bearings and ideas for the next few presentations.
I hope this has helped a little! Good luck! 
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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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Mackfam
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| Posted: Feb 11 2008 at 12:37pm | IP Logged
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Donna Marie wrote:
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It's so good to see you posting again Donna Marie! Hope all is well - or at least tolerable for you guys!
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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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Donna Marie
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| Posted: Feb 11 2008 at 3:53pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
Donna Marie wrote:
| Hello...back from lurkdom ;o) |
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It's so good to see you posting again Donna Marie! Hope all is well - or at least tolerable for you guys! |
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Aw, thanks for asking!
We are settling back in...what an ordeal! A two week project turned into an 8 week one and I just have the bare basics in those bedrooms now as the trim around the windows isn't finished yet. It took me 8 straight hours of cleaning just to get through my living room and dining room and actually recognize it as a room....all of the stuff we carted out and back spilled out all over, the extra displaced furniture,..not to mention the construction dust...sheesh
One of the best therapeutic moments for me was cleaning the special Montessori shelves I have set up for my 3yo. Everything has always had a simple place there and it did me good to clean everything and place it back in order because my dd got so excited to see her things back the way she likes them and started in right away. She elbowed me aside..."got work to do.." LOL I actually WANTED (but restrained myself...LOL) to make more materials because the rooms were finally freed and didn't make me feel claustrophobic anymore and I got a sudden impulsive burst of creativity. as dh said..."Montessori things, you say? Yep, she is baaack!" (what kind of reputation DO I have??)
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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marianne
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| Posted: Feb 12 2008 at 5:52pm | IP Logged
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Oh, thank you all for the replies. Yes, I think reorganizing shelves and doing some re-reading is a good place to start. I have some older activities that I can pull out again that may seem new.
Meredith, I let my 2yo do the sink bubbles yesterday and he loved it! Jennifer, I love the flowers idea. They have a little table that they sit at to eat and color, and we can set up a little vase there for them to enjoy.
And my 4yo just wrote his name on 22 Valentines for Thursday, which was actually a huge amount of work for him. I'm so proud and feel like this was a big thing for him - I think he'll be able to write his name from now on with no help. Big for a 4yo.
Thanks for the advice, everyone!
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marianne
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Donna Marie wrote:
Hello...back from lurkdom ;o)
For me, Montessori is more a state of mind and how I look at the kids and their "work". I try to make learning their personal work and try to support them taking on new challenges of learning so I am pushing less and they are learning more without the struggle. I have a FEW children and it can get chaotic when they are all abuzz learning and doing their thing. If I start losing my perspective or materials are getting abused, scattered or lost I start losing MY focus so I can imagine that it happens the same for them. I am just looking for little moments here and there with the little ones to make things more natural in learning at the present time. Much of the time it is just letting them in on what I and the older kiddoes are doing at the moment even if it is only in some small way...
In all honesty, after being displaced for 2 months at my parents home ( we had two rooms that needed a complete overhaul and couldn't be here) I need SIMPLE. So simple is my focus for lent. I am focusing on our reception of sacraments for 3 children and living out this special time of the liturgical year with all the other subjects peppered in. If it means that the shelves have to be cleared for a time to make things fresher for them...I'll do it. I really want slower right now. There are times of the year for more business but I don't think this is it. I am really concentrating on getting "school" done early enough each day so we can soak up as much of the much needed sun rays and breathe some fresh air. We still find loooads of schooley things to get into and learn about. I am just not as formal as I could be until the better weather comes. Lent lends itself nicely for this, don't cha think?
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc |
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Yes, Lent is a great time to simplify. Thanks for the reminder!
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Losing my Montessori motivation
