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violingirl
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| Posted: Dec 19 2008 at 3:54pm | IP Logged
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I've been spending much of the week making notes to myself about things I'd like to do with my 3 year old this year- planting seeds in the spring, leaf collecting, and other seasonal activities, and I've also been looking through the comprehensive 3-6 list I have from Lori and matching up some things. I think we'll cover a lot of the botany materials along with our gardening efforts this year.
I have a few questions though:
1. How often do you present for a three year old? I'm thinking something like twice a week for him because he likes to do the same thing several days in a row before moving on. He's wary of new things in every area of life. And I think if I'm presenting in separate areas (like one presentation in math and one in language) he won't feel like I'm moving him forward before he's done. I've made a list of what order I'd like to do, and I think I may just present as often as it seems like he needs something new.
2. How many different materials do you make available at once? I have 8 shelves available at once, but 4 are in reach of my 1 1/2 year old, so anything on those shelves has to be items that can't be destroyed by him, and preferably items that can be used by him. I'm thinking practical life items and puzzles that they both enjoy right now, but I'm open to suggestions!
3. How many materials do you make available from different areas at once? My son's interest is heavily in language. I don't want to only put out language things for him, but also I don't want him to only have a few language things to choose from if he really wants more. So is 2 maths, 2 practical life, 2 sensorial, etc. appropriate and just change them out every few days? My space is pretty limited, but I'm just trying to figure out how to organize it for him.
Thank you for any help you have!
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montessori_lori
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| Posted: Dec 19 2008 at 10:20pm | IP Logged
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Hi, so glad you find the 3-6 list helpful :)
I'll do my best:
1. You said this: "I've made a list of what order I'd like to do, and I think I may just present as often as it seems like he needs something new." You've got it - there is no "right" amount of presentations for a 3-year-old. It depends on the child. But less is always more, so go slow at first.
2. Yes, practical life and puzzles would be great on the 4 that are accessible to the younger one. 4 shelves for the older one is fine; rotate as often as you need to.
3. Yes, put out a balance of materials. Try to make the math/cultural ones fun and interesting enough that he won't want to choose only language.
It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into this, and that you already know what to do but were looking for confirmation. That might be why you haven't gotten replies yet - that or the holidays!
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violingirl
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| Posted: Dec 20 2008 at 12:24am | IP Logged
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Thank you for your confirmation, Lori. You're right. I'm hoping I'm doing this in a way that will work for my son and looking for someone to pat me on the head. :) And your list has been so very helpful!
I was an early childhood teacher for several years before having our kids, and I still teach private music lessons. I know how to plan lessons, I've just never taught Montessori, so this feels brand new in a million ways.
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montessori_lori
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| Posted: Dec 20 2008 at 10:01am | IP Logged
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The questions you asked don't have a right or wrong answer, so I always recommend trying it one way, then making changes if that doesn't work. That's why observation is so crucial.
Trial and error is how most of us get comfortable with Montessori :)
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Dec 22 2008 at 10:34am | IP Logged
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My answers would be slightly different because I have older children and younger children - that affects the amount of time I have to offer presentations. My 4 yo has really gotten the short end of the deal this year. The baby's walking, the olders are in need of some deeper direction as they are going deeper in some of their thinking and questions...which results in...4 yo presents new tray to himself before Mommy notices.  ummm...not the ideal. Poor guy.
1. I think you're doing great here. If you have the time and the resources, I wouldn't necessarily limit myself to a specific number of presentations a week. Trust your ability to observe him. If he's ready for something new and you're able to present it, move ahead. If he seems content to work on something you have set out and seems competely immersed in the work I wouldn't interrupt him either. I think trusting your instincts here is key. You're doing so great already! Also, don't be put off if he is completely un-interested in something you've presented. I think that has sort of thrown me for a loop this year, but I've just been rolling with it. I've presented several new things to JP (in spite of my above admitted limited time constraints) and he has not been interested in much of anything except practical life. Again and again. So, I present, and when he continues to choose the dropper with green food coloring or the rice tray again for the 30th time that day, I just put the other material away for a little while. Right now, he seems very content to sit and be read to, sit with me while I draw a million variations of dump trucks and backhoes and scoop and sort to his hearts content.
2. Very few!!! I have just spent the past week emptying and storing away almost all of my Montessori materials for a season. The baby is walking and into everything. Lauri puzzles with larger pieces are staying out, paper and beeswax crayons in an art center are staying out...but little else. We miss having some of our materials out, but she won't always be putting everything into her mouth...before this massive reduction on materials available, I tried to leave out a few materials that saw consistent action pertaining to each subject - so language arts, maybe a science/nature collage tray, math works, we love leaving an art center set up (we still have it, but it's up higher), and beloved geography materials are always available. If a material is gathering dust or I can tell there is no longer interest I remove the material. I freshen the shelves once a month with a planned teacher day at the beginning of all my months. It has worked well for me this year.
3. I think I'd just follow your son's cues here again. Could this be a sensitive language development time for your son? Offer variety, but keep offering lang. materials to feed that desire.
Lori is right here about observation and the importance of tweaking. If it's working, breathe a sigh of relief, cuz' it might not be working in a few weeks  so then you just tweak it and change it to fit the new needs. Clear as mud?
__________________
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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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Dec 22 2008 at 2:19pm | IP Logged
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Hi there,
I started my first brush with Montessori last year with my 4th son who was 3 1/2 at the time. It worked so wonderfully that this year I am using lots of it with all my boys. Here's my answers to your questions:
1. I presented as needed, but probably one new thing each day.
2. When he was 3 I was just starting and so didn't have a shelf for him, but rather a large table that he worked at with cute baskets/trays with different activities pushed to the back of the table. He'd work on whatever interested him that day, but I would generally have some "focus" each day...like read a book about frogs and then present a life cycle activity.
3. Honestly, last year I didn't make sure to have something from each area. As I said I was just experimenting with it. This year he does have shelves with probably 2 activities from each area. My 20 mo old also has his own shelf with something from each area along with his own kitchen cabinet with dishes, etc for his own table. You may want to consider doing this for your little one too. They love having work of their own.
Because your kids are so little yet I can't strss enough that this should be lots of fun. Don't force yourself into exhaustion thinking everything has to be just so. Enjoy this special time when every little thing is so magical to them. It goes so quickly and by showing them that learning is fun they will enjoy it forever.
Last year I did set a unit idea for each month...like botany in the spring, life cycles of frogs&butterflies, and birds (I made flashcards that we quized each other on) were big hits. I then planned other activities around them. I guess a blending of unit studies and montessori.
__________________
Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: questions for a 3 year old?
