Preparing the Environment at My Kitchen Table

This time of year always finds me in vacation/work mode. It means that the sewing machine has reached the kitchen table. You know what I mean, it is when all of your Montessori books, albums, materials, projects are out and clearing the table for meals becomes a project in itself. I have not stepped foot into my classroom in six weeks, but somehow it does not leave me.

My adventurous task this week is to finish sewing 4 aprons for our food prep works. I chose a pattern that is versatile and could be used with apple slicing to peeling carrots. There are a numerous apron pattern designs and I found the free child apron pattern from Sew Liberated to be most beneficial. A very young Primary child can independently put this on with ease without it getting twisted and bunched up. I am also working on sewing a few threefold pockets to be used for the solid, thick and thin cards for the Geometry and Botany cabinet.

Others things that have been prepared on my kitchen table in the past week are my Parent Orientation notes, Cultural Plan, Record Keeping and the beginnings of a new Land, Air and Water mat.

Don't forget to take time out for yourself.  I have yoga planned for my Monday morning.
Sew Liberated Sewing Child Apron Pattern: http://sewliberated.typepad.com/sew_liberated/2009/01/childs-apron-pattern-and-other-free-tutorials.html

"The immense influence that education can exert through children, has the environment for its instrument, for the child absorbs this environment, takes everything from it, and incarnates it in himself."

– Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind p.66

Child of the Week: Montessori Lesson Plan

Child of the Week

Materials:  

Poster board

Photographs

Pictures or drawings

Art Supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils, paint, etc.)

Preparation:

This is a lesson that will be done at home with their families the week before their assigned date.  The teacher will give the parents instructions and questions two weeks before their assigned date.  On Monday, the child will bring in their poster.

Exercise:

1.       The child will tell the class about themselves and read or the teacher will assist them.

2.       The child will share photographs and pictures.

3.       The child may also share a favorite book or share their     favorite thing.

Points of Interest:

1.       Spending time with parents

2.       Art

3.       Looking at photographs

Direct Aims:

1.       Order

2.       Sequence

3.       Following directions

4.       Thinking

5.       Organization

Indirect Aims:

1.       Awareness of Self

2.       Nurturing the Spirit

3.       Confidence

4.       Able to share with peers

Control of Error:

Parents and Teacher

Ages:

3-6

Variations:

The children can make a booklet form and share a story about themselves. They can bring in something to share (excluding toys), something they made (food or art) or their pet.

Parent Instructions:  Sample

Hello Mr. and Mrs. Smith,

Next week Kate is going to be the “Child of the Week”. We would like for you to help her answer questions about herself, include a photograph and create a poster board display. She will be sharing this with her class on Monday. Be creative and take your time.

Have Fun,

Mrs. Wilson

Free Printable Giveaway!!!!

Follow Mindful Montessori and you will receive the “Child of the Week” questionnaire...Montessori style. If you already follow, comment below and I will be happy to send it to you.

Please Excuse My Appearance

Today I came back from a three day trip with my daughter to a cabin on a lake. We had a wonderful time where we enjoyed the simplicities of summer...swimming, canoeing, fishing and the warm summer sun. As we pulled in the driveway, I checked the mailbox... I have a new book called: How To Train a Wild Elephant & Other Adventures in Mindfulness, by Jan Chozen Bayes, MD.

A vacation after a vacation is always advised; I found a comfortable place hoping this new book will entertain me. It did. Included in this book are simply daily mindfulness practices. My first exercise: Use your nondominant hand. I will be using my nondominant hand to do my ordinary daily tasks such as brushing my hair, brushing my teeth and eating my meals. I would tell you more, but the book advises me to stop reading and read later this week. Try it! I think this might be fun.

How is my typing by the way?

Freeze Up! Warm Up!

This is a great lesson from http://alluemkids.blogspot.com. This is a great blog with great lessons to give your children. Some of the lessons also include a follow-up activity. Below is an example...Others include The Balloon Ride and What's That Feeling.

Freeze Up! Warm Up!

Each day is made up of different situations - good and bad. And just like yoga poses, some situations may be difficult causing us to freeze up or want to get out, while other situations (or poses) makes us feel good and relaxed. Being in new places or meeting new people may make us feel so shy we don't know what to do or say. Being in the dark or in deep water may make us feel so scared that we panic. All of that is okay. It's important to notice what makes us "Freeze Up", so we can learn how to handle those situations and learn how to "Warm up!"

On a hot day on the patio by the river, the Alluem Kids stuck their hands in a bowl of ice. Why? To cool them off, sure, but to also teach them a lesson about letting go of stress and maybe even how to deal with the people, places, and things that cause stress. They were encouraged to hold the ice for at least 30 seconds, but knew that if it became too much, they should listen to their bodies and put it down. After holding the ice cubes, it was interesting to see the way each child dealt with the cold sting. Some said, eh, no problem and dealt with it. Some screeched and wanted out after 15 seconds (which of course, I reminded them they could put the ice down at anytime!). Some felt the cold for the 30 seconds and then threw the cube back in the bowl, immediately caring for the cold hand - holding it with the warm hand or wrapping it in a towel. After putting as many feeling words as possible to how our hands felt, we realized that everyone deals with stressors differently.

At times when we "Freeze Up" (like our ice cold hands), we might forget that we can in fact make ourselves "Warm Up" and be the ones to care for our bodies and minds. Some may instinctually react and self soothe, but for some we may need a gentle reminder. Making a list (writing or drawing) of things that freeze us up (things that make us feel bad or scared) right next to the things that warm us up (things that make us feel happy or loved) serves as a great visual to help us through those "Freeze Up" moments. And seeing or thinking of those things that help us "Warm Up" is always a good way to keep us happy and healthy!