December 11th Report

Today, Elijah initiated both activities, which is really really great.

He picked the two new things I put on the shelves while he was sleeping. First, the smelling bottles.


He will need a new presentation next time.

For the record, I'm dissapointed in this activity. Not the activity itself, but the one I bought. The lids are hard for even an adult to operate. So, he will likely never be able to do completely independently. Which is a big dissapointment in my book.

Next, he chose the new spooning work.



Which was a big success! This must have fit his needs perfectly because he used it for almost an hour! And he picked up every little pom pom that dropped (something he did not do with earlier attempts I've had on the shelf with spooning beans or grains). He also completed the cycle and put this back on the shelf. Big success with this activity today!



- Brandy

December 9th Report

Today, we played a letter sound scavenger hunt. We looked for things that started with the sound, "a". We found...









Atom Ant and apple slices.

I think I'm going to find some more "a" items and put them in the room. Once we do a, m, t, and s, he'll be ready for BOB book # 1. He really enjoyed this activity.

After that, we read the Blue Number Counting Book.






We read it twice and he was pretty engaged the whole time.

Then we moved onto the Red Letter Alphabet Book.



He was not as engaged in this book. He really needs a tactile letter experience where we can pick just a few letters (like the sandpaper letters we have yet to purchase, perhaps soon).

We did some letter sounds and then he got up to play with his tools.


I attempted to pull him back in by looking for the letter sounds that correspond to his tools. Like "s" saw...



But, really, he wasn't interested, so I just let him play.

I would like to set up a new practical life activity where he can use real tools. He has a high interest in them right now, especially hammers. He has a hammer activity on the shelf, but tends to like getting out his "tool set" (Handy Manny tool set) then gets frustrated that these tools don't actually fix anything. Suggestions for homemade activities that could make use of his favorite tool set would be highly appreciated!

-Brandy

November 16th/Elijah's Morning Routine

Well, I'll admit our Montessori time has taken a back seat in the past few weeks. I do have some rather good excuses--recurring pregnancy nausea and vomitting, family emergency, unexpected babysitting, and the start of a new Wednesday only job...I still feel guilty.

But, it's true, you can't really halt learning. There are learning experiences built into everyday. It's felt a little more "unschooling" around here lately. And while I respect that movement, it hasn't been my goal. Working up to a 3-hour work period 5 days a week has been. And I'm not sure quite where to go from here. I suppose one day at a time.

Elijah's Montessori equipment has still gotten much use over the past few weeks, but not neccesarily in large spans of time. A little here, a little there. And that's better than nothing, right?







Even sometimes with a friend.






But, all in all we do still have a Montessori style home that strives to cater to Elijah's independence.

And, in accordance with that, one of the things we've been working on this week is a new morning routine for Elijah. He seems to be enjoying it, yet drags out some parts (which is perfectly fine by me).

Here's his routine:

-Wake up
-Help mommy make bed
-Potty and brush teeth
-Set own little table with tablecloth and napkin
-Once table is set, mommy brings super porridge (and tv is allowed for one show...I know, I know, not awesome, and perhaps one day I'll find away to do away with this part)



-He is in charge of getting his sippy cup from the bedroom. If he doesn't want to, I don't push it. I clean it out and refill after breakfast (it stays cold and fresh all night, sometimes even still has ice in it)
-When he is done with breakfast and credits roll on the show, the tv gets turned off (if he doesn't turn the tv off, I do...it's important for his closure to turn it off during the credits).
-Elijah brings his bowl and spoon to the kitchen and places it on a dirty dish tray below his clean dishes





-Elijah puts his placemat and napkin in the hamper in his room






(yes, his room needs cleaning)

-Then, we take his pajamas off. Elijah sits on his bed and I give him step by step directions for him to do it himself. His clothes go in his hamper.
-Elijah washes his hands and face. (he may also choose to brush his hair and or teeth, too--he's interested in grooming right now and may spend a great deal of time doing this)



-Elijah picks out a pair of pants and a shirt from his closet.
-Elijah sits on his bed and I talk him through and assist when necessary until his clothes are on.
-Mommy writes a to do list and Elijah sits next to her and "writes" one too






All of this tends to take a GREAT deal of time, perhaps 2 hours. He frequently is simply not ready for the next step but wants to play with me. I tell him I'd love to play with him--when he's ready for the day and all dressed. When he's goofing off and not quite ready, I usually do the things on my morning to do list--load of laundry, shower (during his breakfast/tv time), unload dishwasher, balance checkbook, etc.). So far, I think it's really working for both of us--and I'm excited to see how it will come along over a few weeks.

October 27th Report

We did about 45 minutes of Montessori time today.

Started with the color tablets. He needs a new presentation. I gave him as much of one as he would watch today before he took over. We didn't do any language on this activity today.



While using the color tablets, he threw them to me several times. I debated in my head which strategy to take on discouraging this. I think I used several. Once I told him we could throw balls, but we need to treat our toys gently. Once I told him it made me sad to have things thrown at me. And once I merely made a mental note that perhaps I needed to model the correct behavior for him.

Within the thought that I could model for him, I thought of two things. One, that I frequently throw things myself--a piece of trash into a trash bin, a sock into a drawer, a shirt into a hamper. And perhaps it'd be better if I didn't. Elijah may or may not be discriminating which items are okay to throw and which are not. So, I will be paying closer attention to this.

The next thing that came to mind in the modelling realm, is that perhaps we could set up a "pass to me" game. This would be easier with more players. A good activity for when Chris is home. Chris and I could start by asking to "please pass me ___" and then gently handing the object to the other using two hands. We could use the Montessori equipment both to build language (please pass me the smallest pink cube), and to model respect for these objects. This would be a Montessori grace and courtesy lesson.

Then moved onto what is still his favorite activity--discs in a slot.



Then, we read 4 BOB books.



And, then he got out a ball from the back room (presumably because I mentioned earlier that balls were okay for throwing). We rolled and kicked and caught.












And all of this reminded me that there are some gross motor goals that I stated in the beginning. I thought it might be fun for me to pick some games/sports that develop these skills and work that into our weekly plan. We could walk to the park and use the soccer court. I'll be working on that soon!

- Brandy

October 24th Report

We started of with a little reading. He wanted BOB books.






We really only read about one and a half and then Elijah really wanted to build a tower with the books. I told him I knew of something better to build a tower with, but first we needed to put the books away. He happily did this with me.






We got out the pink tower which he built a stair out of first. Then got the brown stair out as well...





And began some experiments.




We also did a little bit of language naming. I did the first step in the 3 period lesson (naming) for "big", "small", "biggest", "smallest", and "thickest", "thinnest".

Then, Elijah wanted to play with rings on a stand. He did not want to put the pink tower or brown stair away (and did say that he was done with them). I said, "I'll put them away this time, perhaps you'll put them away next time".




I was happy he picked the rings on a stand because it will help him with his fine motor skills--some thing that's been bothering him we he finds a fine motor activity too difficult. So, I was happy to see him choose something less challenging, but still helpful for him developmentally.

After that, he chose the discs in a slot activity.





And then an activity that isn't a traditional Montessori activity, but I think is helpful for his fine motor skill.











He said several times, "this is easier" happily. I think this is excellent preparation for the pink tower and brown stair--activities that frequently frustrate him. He wants to line them up perfectly, but finds the task difficult. This activity seems to take the pressure off. Elijah said he was building a "water pipe".

Next, we played with the number cards. I finally found a decent way to play this game. We used only the 1, 2, and 3 cards. I turned one of each up. He can pick one card from a pile (or, alternately, I can hand him a card), the just picked card gets named. "Its a one." Then, Elijah looks for the matching 1. He piles them together. After we play this game a few more times, I plan to use the 3 period lesson, and then slowly add more numbers. I'm happy with this simple home-made game.






At last, Elijah played with two of the cylinder blocks.









Pottying has gone pretty well today. Putting his own activities away is still a work in progress.

- Brandy

October 23rd Report

Elijah woke up late today. We really only had about 45 minutes between breakfast/getting ready for the day and lunch time...but we did make the most of it.

I first showed him the new coin sorting activity.


I gave a short demonstration, but he was most interested in pouring. We did get a little language in there (the words: "coins", "penny(ies)", quarter(s)").



He kept putting the coins in the slot in the table, but they were getting into the space between the floor and the fireplace or rolling under the couch. I suggested we bring the disc in a slot activity into the mix.



Then, he had a pee pee accident. We cleaned up and then worked on the brown stair.


He wanted to add the pink tower, too.



Right after this picture, Elijah exclaimed, "I'm mad!", grabbed his baby doll and went to the other side of the room. Once he cooled off, I showed him how to flatten the mat out (he explained that was what was bothering him). The mat got squished up again and he had a similar reaction and did not want to play with the brown stair or pink tower anymore. I asked if he'd like to help put them away. He did not, so I did. When I was done, I joined him on the couch where he was ready to read his BOB books.


We read 3 books (1 of them twice). Then he wanted lunch, so we rapped up.

Well, the rest of the day was rough and we didn't really get a whole lot else done.

- Brandy

October 22nd Report

We've been busy, and haven't been quite as intentional about Montessori time as I had planned, but we have done a little over the past week--here and there.



















Today, we got to be a bit more intentional, though, and we went for a nature walk -






We collected leaves, acorn pieces, and sticks. And saw ants and wasps.



Plus, we spent 2 FULL hours on inside Montessori time. First, the fabric swatches -



He will need a new presentation next time. As a note, he found the matching very easy, but the placing of the swatches very difficult. This activity is more of a fine motor work for him than a sensorial one.

He brought out the discs in a slot with 10 quarters....and gave me some ideas for future homemade math works.






As always with the quarters we did a lot of counting repitition.

Next, he worked with his new flower card gluing activity (a practical life work).




He packed this one away by himself, but I put it on the shelf.

Next, Elijah wanted to read the Bob books, pre-reading series 1. (pre-reading series 2 may be something to ask for for birthday or Christmas).




We spent almost a full hour and read 11 of the 12 books. He's really into these right now.

Last, we played a number memory game.




But, I think I jumped the gun on this and made the game way too difficult. But I have an idea for next time.

- Brandy