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Angel
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| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 4:58pm | IP Logged
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As my brain slowly starts to work again... I'm looking at all my R&D manuals again and trying to decide how to approach this year. I'm not planning on starting school again until October, and then we're going to ease into things. So I'm not going to try to give everyone presentations in every subject at first, but even so, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.
For instance, I'm just looking at my 8 yo dd's math right now. In the past my downfall has been not planning enough to maintain consistency. But how do I plan a good math program? She wants to work with fractions (a separate manual) and I want her to work with the 4 operations and then there's geometry (yet another manual)... and I haven't even gotten to language or anything she considers "fun", like science, which is a MUST for this child.
How do you all organize all of this, especially for more than one child? I thought about writing the presentations down in order in a planner, but I'm worried I'll worry too much about the day of the week then. How many presentations do you do every week? How do you balance new presentations with the child's work?
I would really love to develop nerves of steel this year and allow my kids a true Montessori experience -- being able to choose their own work without me mucking it up too much, for instance. But I don't want to drop the ball when it comes to offering new work.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Celeste
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| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 5:49pm | IP Logged
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Angela, I'm so glad you asked this. I'm in the same place, but I didn't know how to ask it. I've got dds 10, 8, and 7 at home for school, dd 21 mos at home doing her own forms of learning (which usually disrupts everyone else's learning), and dd4 at Mont school each morning.
So far we've been doing rd geometry I all together, and working through the math manuals individually (they are all in different places).
I, too, wonder how to "get" them to work with the materials apart from me. When I can I assign projects using the materials, but I know I'm not nearly doing what I could.
I am so grateful for the expert advice that I've been getting here, and yes, I'm begging for more!
Celeste
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 5:59pm | IP Logged
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My suggestion for math would be to work with the 4 operations year-round, and then rotate other presentations like fractions, decimals, geometry, and measurement perhaps by quarter or monthly? That way there is variety without too much of the day being focused on math. Then if you see a need in one of the areas that is not a focus at that time, you can either choose to address it then (in truer Montessori fashion), or just wait until it comes around again.
As far as organizing for more than one child, I only have two right now so I am no expert on this, but I do try to keep my presentations to each of the children on at least the same subject. For instance, I do a math presentation with dd while ds does his math. I do geography read-aloud together and then give each child an age-appropriate geography presentation, while ds science is going on dd chooses from science materials to work along side with us and I give her a presentation twice weekly, and etc through the day. It just helps that way to keep me on track.
In between presentations, dd is free to choose what she wants to work on, so she gets the freedom aspect as well.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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AndreaG
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| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 6:23pm | IP Logged
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This is a great question! I didn't know how to ask either, so I'm glad you brought it up. I was overwhelmed by all the albums too, it helped me to make a schedule for presentations ie 4 operations on MTWR and geometry on F, Science (rotating through botany, zoology and earth science) on T and R, History and Geography on M and F. My boys (3rd and K) are in different maths, but I am hoping to combine on everything else, with some adjustments of course!
Can't wait to hear how other do it!
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Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
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Meredith
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| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 8:44pm | IP Logged
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Oh, I am watching this one like a hawk, definately need some organization in this department!! Keep talking ladies 
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Meredith
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Mare
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| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 11:56pm | IP Logged
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Keeping in mind that we are a Montessori family with a mix of Classical and a bit of CM added, I hesitate to answer b/c I'm not strictly using Montessori for Math and Language Arts. I don't know that I have an answer for you other than to pray about it. It's been during my prayer time these last few weeks that God has been leading me to let go of the details and let Him deal with it.
I can, however, share what is working for us. Like Theresa, we combine the ages for Science, History, Art and Music. I just adjust the levels of difficulty. Subjects like Math and Language Arts are done separately.
From my experience, I've found it better to work with my oldest first. While I'm working with my oldest, my other dds are working on their own from a list that has things to do on a daily basis and a weekly basis. That list seems to help a great deal with getting things accomplished. When I'm finished with my oldest, I work with my other dds. During this time, my oldest does her independent work from her own list.
HTH,
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AndreaG
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| Posted: Sept 08 2007 at 8:07am | IP Logged
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I also wanted to add that I have been using the Great Lessons to organize presentations. We just did GL#1 so we are doing a lot of Earth Science (volcanoes, parts of the Earth, water cycle, rocks) and Astronomy. We are also doing Botany b/c I want to do it while there are actually plants outside! After I present the timeline of life, we'll add in more Zoology and Botany presentations. Fundamental Needs and such will come after GL#3. And it will probably take until GL#4 to get my language materials ready, although I would probably have like to start that right away!
I really like this organization method, it seems like a natural flow, where one thing leads to another, like the chronological study of history we do.
I am not pure montessori either - we also use First Language Lessons, Spell to Write and Read, RightStart math, and Story of the World.
My approach is to provide the lessons (presentations) and they can choose the follow-up. We are probably much more scheduled than a montessori school would be, and I am experimenting with giving them more independence, while still sticking to the schedule as an aid to ME in giving presentations and to carve out a set "choice time" as Angela calls it! And I have never felt comfortable with letting them choose math and language arts, so those are a must (in some form) every morning. I am working on this language drawer-cabinet which contains cards for things like types of sentences, antonyms and synonyms, proper/common nouns, plurals, etc. All things my oldest is learning in FLL. My idea is to let him work though it at his own pace, but I will probably keep up the FLL for the orderly presentation, since I don't have R&D albums.
Sorry to go on and on!
And I don't have a schedule for my 3-year-old this year, I am hoping that after scheduling the presentations from Karen's album last year, I have a firm enough grasp on them to wing it, and she is only 3 anyway, and demands "school" so I have motivation to come up with things for her!
I agree with Mare about the need for prayer in this area.
All those albums and trying to follow the child? It does seem complicated...
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Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
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Mare
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| Posted: Sept 08 2007 at 7:59pm | IP Logged
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<smile> I, too, am using the Great Lessons as a starting point for our lessons. The subjects do seem to flow naturally. I've been using the ideas from Miss Barbara's website. 
I had to chuckle when I saw that you were using First Language Lessons and Story of the World. We are too. We've been using Shiller Math. This year I added MCP to help reinforce the math skills.
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Marcia
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| Posted: Sept 09 2007 at 1:51pm | IP Logged
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Ah I like this idea of tying in the great lessons! We have only done number one so far this year, maybe we'll just jump to the Coming of Math right away this week.
We also use RightStart Math because it helps keep us on track. We also keep a Math journal that we add to everyday.
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Meredith
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| Posted: Sept 10 2007 at 10:19am | IP Logged
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Well, I'm on the Great Lessons band wagon also, it just really makes sense, there truly is a natural flow.
Looking forward to seeing how things go for you Angela, remember to go easy on yourself, you have a VERY FULL PLATE Prayers and hugs coming your way!
Blessings!
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Meredith
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Angel
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| Posted: Sept 10 2007 at 11:18am | IP Logged
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Meredith -- yes, I am trying to have the older kids (at least) as independent as possible. And I know I won't be able to make a lot of nifty materials for them, so we will definitely be a "Real Learning" household.
I got an idea from the Thomas Jefferson Home Companion -- which I know isn't a Montessori book, but I thought this particular idea could be adapted. Basically it involves making a big list of subjects to study with your child (the author's child was a 10 yo) and then working out monthly/weekly/daily goals together. Mostly these are supposed to be the child's goals, not Mom's, although for instance it did not seem as if this particular mother left any major subjects (math, for instance) off the big list. After determining monthly goals from the big list of subjects, the child would then write daily goals into a planner. Some of these involved Mom's help and some did not. The order in which the goals would be met every day would be up to the child as well.
Anyway, I was thinking that this would be a good way to organize my 5th grader's learning this year, because it would give him a lot of freedom (which he wants) while also providing some accountability, balance, and structure. I sat down with him today to make the "big list", and while it didn't go *quite* as well as I'd hoped -- mostly because his attention span needed some help today -- he seemed fairly happy about the whole process. If I can get him to take more responsibility for organizing his learning, then that's one down at least.
Then I'm still figuring out how to do my 8 yo's basics... but I think I've got more of a handle on it. Right now I have to feed a hungry baby, so more on that later.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Planning presentations
