Montessori on the Go ~ Making the Most of What You Have

I am traveling in a van that is full. Full of bikes, bags, food, and six people. I didn't have room to bring toys for a certain precious, {currently sleeping} girl.

The first week of our vacation doesn't necessitate entertainment. That is the beauty of family camp.

However, after the flurry of activity and the galloping of horses we journey into the remote wilderness of Canada.

What will my little girl do without toys?

Montessori activities are easy (and cheap) to create. Because the learning activities focus on isolating specific skills, a muffin tin, a spoon, and dry macaroni noodles can become more engaging than a Leap Frog microphone.

You really don't have to scour the Internet for Montessori activities. With a simple box of various materials you can create countless varied activities by swapping containers, kitchen utensils, and food item.

Suggested items to have on hand for quick and easy Montessori moments are (but not limited to):
Measuring cups
Cookie sheet
Muffin Tim
Paper cups
Clothespins
Eye droppers
Buttons
Mirror
Uncooked popcorn
Rice
Beans
Empty egg cartons
Spices
Funnels
Beads
Tongs
Spice bringer
Whisk
Soup ladle

The wilderness we are traveling to contains a little rustic red cabin, complete with the kitchen utensils I used as a little girl.

As we play while the boys chase bears, Naomi and I will practice "the three step lesson" to enhance her memory.

By mimicking a very simple technique you can help you child expand her memory and name recognition. You will need three objects for the following activity.

Identify: This is. . . . Initially show each object independently.

Recognize: Show me the . . .At this point you will set out the (3) objects you were working with. Rotate the placement of the object and ask you Tot to point to the object you name. Repeat 3-5 times.

Recall: What is this? Hide the objects and only one out at a time. This time ask your student to name the object.

Keep the time spent doing the three step lesson light and engaging. Do not force your child and rod the moment of enthusiastic learning. Be sure to review past lessons!

I love Montessori moments. Because I know that simple objects can become teaching tools and encourage learning, I don't panic when the car is too full to bring toys.  

To review what we have covered so far in our Montessori at Home journey, click here. Would you like some more Montessori at Home ideas? Each month Jodi shares Montessori ideas based on the ebook, Montessori at Home by John Bowman. Find more ideas in the Montessori Minute posts over at 1+1+1=1.

 

Montessori at Home ~ Taking the Learning to a Restaurant

We couldn’t find a babysitter.  Actually I didn’t look for one.  Thus, our children – all four of them – joined us for our 12th anniversary this year. 

I did not want to make dinner on this special occasion but I knew that a certain Tot needed to be “learning” before our meal would arrive at our table.

Enter magnets.

I have three sets of these colorful magnets and have used them for multiple Tot activities.  Montessori materials “isolate specific skills and present themselves as attractive, self-contained materials,” according to John Bowman, author of Montessori at Home!

In this case, our workspace was the white tablecloth.

I made several magnet pairs, and Naomi pulled them apart. 

She was delighted to repeat this process again, and again, and again.

The repetition of this activity opens brain nerve connections and builds brain architecture, thus developing a strong brain and laying a foundation to attain mastery in a multitude of skills. 

What are you waiting for?  Go and have a Montessori Moment at Home with your Little! To review what we have covered so far in our Montessori at Home journey, click here.

Would you like some more Montessori at Home ideas? Each month Jodi shares Montessori ideas based on the ebook, Montessori at Home by John Bowman. Find more ideas in the Montessori Minute posts over at 1+1+1=1.

 

Montessori at Home ~ The Learning Sweet Spot

The sweet spot.   It’s when things are perfect . . . for even just a moment.    John Bowman, author of Montessori at Home , describes the sweet spot as the balance between between boredom and frustration. 

Activities that are too easy will cause boredom, and will not hold your child’s attention.  Activities that are too difficult will cause frustration.  Both are extremes to be avoided. 

If you will recall, last month I touched on the idea of work.  Gabe has begun to enjoy “working” around the house.  After all, he is growing up (or so he reminds me every hour) as his 4th birthday draws near.   He is very curious about our new pet(s).  We have worms living in our kitchen.  Because he feeds our dog on a regular basis, he REALLY wants to feed the worms. 

Feeding the worms in not a daily occurrence.  But my little boy is having a hard time understanding this because he eats multiple times a day.  Trying to capitalize on his desire to help, his initiative to work at helping keep our worms alive, and my need to provide bedding for our slim creatures, I have found a “sweet spot” for Gabe.

Tearing up Starbucks drink carriers. 

You could call it a stretch by naming this a Montessori activity . . . but it captures the idea of the Learning Sweet Spot. 

Now, this may sound super easy.  It may sound mundane.  But Gabe LOVES it.  I like it because it makes Gabe happy, he chats with me while he “works,” and he is developing not only fine motor skills BUT perseverance. 

Have you found your child’s Learning Sweet Spot?  What activity have you provided recently that challenges your student’s mind without leading to frustration?

What are you waiting for?  Go and have a Montessori Moment at Home with your Little! To review what we have covered so far in our Montessori at Home journey, click here.

Montessori at Home ~ Work

Due to my older children memorizing a poem about work, I too have found the following sing-song words embedded in my brain.

Work

Work while you work,

Play while you play.

This is the way to be happy each day.

In all that you do,

Do with your mite.

Things done by halves,

Are never done right. 

It is a good poem.  The kids delighted in committing it to memory and I left it at that.  Recently, after reading more in Montessori at Home by John Bowman, I realized how important work is to a child. 

Maria Montessori said,

The child can develop fully by means of experience in his environment.  We call such experiences “work.”  Such experience is not just play . . . It is work he must do in order to grow up.

Ever find  yourself grinding  your teeth when sticky little hands want to help you wash the window?  or a delighted three foot child squirms with excitement because he washed your dishes?

Mmmmhmmmm. 

 

They are learning. Remember this.  Learning.  Engaging with their world and modeling what they see YOU doing.  You are all grown up and they want to be all “growed” up like you. 

 

 

Through work your child is learning how to concentrate.  Initially you may find that your Tot isn’t all that interested in that creative activity you made for her.  Don’t give up.  She has to learn to FOCUS her attention.  The specific Montessori activities you are providing for your child, are essentially food, John Bowman points out.  You will find that once your energetic and agitated child begins to eat of this food . . . this activity . . . this learning that is work – she will begin to focus her attention and adore your Tot Trays or activity baskets. 

 

Persevere and provide these specific learning moments.  Don’t forget Montessori at Home has some GREAT ideas!  Bowman reminds his reader, each time you nourish your child’s brain with quality activities, their ability to concentrate will increase.  Once their ability to concentrate increases, this opens up their ability to learn ANYTHING. 

 

What is Gabe doing?  After flipping through my Montessori at Home! book, I chose to have Gabe use a mortar and pestle to grind different spices and grains.  He was encouraged to touch, feel, and smell each item both before and after he ground them.  His favorite?  Cereal!  He was quite shocked at the whiff of basil that proceeded to blow into his face!

What are you waiting for?  Go and have a Montessori Moment at Home with your Little! To review what we have covered so far in our Montessori at Home journey, click here.

Montessori at Home ~ Diving in with Sensory Experiences

I’m purposefully not reading through the entire Montessori at Home! e-book, by John Bowman.  I’m trying to be realistic.  I rarely have time to read through an entire book before I begin using it.  By maintaining my impulsive habit of diving into Montessori at Home!, the plumb line for this series of posts, I’m proving to you how easy and applicable this tool is to use in your Tot’s learning journey.

When you create learning activities, according to Bowman, that allow your child to master skills and learn useful information, you are increasing your child’s confidence and positive self image.  A good self image does not blossom from compliments alone.   A child needs more than just a good brain, he needs to learn to believe in himself.  Our job as parents is to provide miniature test runs for our Geniuses. 

For example, you and I know how to pour water into a glass with a pitcher.  But a child first learns this skill by spooning sand through a funnel, then dumping it, and filling a bottle again with sand and nearby objects, etc.  By repeating such a simple task, they gain confidence that will eventually lead to getting a cup of water from the faucet or pouring milk from the gallon jug.  Simple.  But when done successfully multiple times with YOU nearby, a priceless and valuable skill is developed. 

Last month, we learned about creating a Montessori Moment and initiating an “activity cycle.”  This month, I decided to just flip through the back of the book and find an activity. 

What I loved about or Montessori at Home moment was that it featured my husband’s tools . . . objects that my kids see their dad using.   The only school thing we used . . . our trays.

 

It captured their imagination bringing real life into make believe.  I was inspired to dig out our socket set found in the Sensorial Experiences section of Montessori at Home!  Do to the small stature of our “borrowed” items it really helped all of my boys to focus their attention, which is what Maria Montessori discovered about early childhood education. 

And rather than cap the age on this activity, I allowed my 5 and 7 year old to “work” alongside Gabe, which created a think-tank of hands-on ideas.

For each activity cycle, I created a model of the desired outcome with the extra tools to achieve this goal on the same tray.

Sometimes I explained how to achieve the desired result.  Other times, I allowed the gears in their brain to devise a plan of action.

I worked hard at trying to make each activity age-appropriate. 

Gabe never wanted to do what his older brothers were doing . . . but they always wanted to do what he was doing!

While playing with all this metal, they discovered that they inadvertently created a few magnets.  Yet another learning tangent we could have pursued.

What are you waiting for?  Go and have a Montessori Moment at Home with your Little!  What object do you have multiples of?  Pull out a magnet, spoon or tongs and get that little Tot moving, stacking, and sorting some items!

Montessori at Home: A Quick Start

There is a pull to purchase new items when it comes to the school room.  But I am going to challenge you to stay home.  Don’t even think about walking over to your computer to jump on Amazon or Oriental Trading.  Your only task after reading this blog post is to create a simple learning moment that is relevant to your child.

Your child. 

Not mine.  Or your neighbor’s.  Or Sally’s son who goes to pre-school. 

If you think that you need a bunch of fantastic, bright, wood toys for your Genius, STOP.  Your Genius needs your 100% attention and doesn’t need to be dragged to the store for a bunch of items from the same category or stare at a mom zoning at the computer screen.

Today’s task?  Create a Montessori Moment at Home.  Each time you see this feature, we will focus on an idea found in John Bowman’s book, Montessori at Home!

Now there are two ways you can accomplish this next task,

• You can purchase and download the book Montessori at Home!  Glance at the Practical Life and Sensorial sections for ideas. or
• Brainstorm ideas that would nurture an interest your child already has that would enhance and build upon their current abilities.

For example, Naomi (my 1 year old) has been feeding herself with her hands for several months.  Seeing as though she is nearing her 1/2 birthday, I decided that it was time she begin to work on using the proper utensils, such as a spoon.  I gathered multiple sizes and colors of spoons, in addition to a variety of bowls, a plate, a cup, and a napkin. 

To do what is referred to as an “activity cycle,” it is recommended to have a floor rug or table mat that your child works on.  Instantly, my imagination began sewing this beautiful, brightly colored blanket for Miss Naomi to reside upon for our Montessori Moments. Then I discovered that a busy rug or mat will actually serve as a distraction.  So, here are some parameters for you:

• a good size of rug or blanket is 2 x 3’
• stick with something that has a short nap
• find a mat that is a solid, light color (beige, green, or gray)
• non-skid shelf lining works well
• carpet samples

Because I lacked the majority of these items, I had Naomi sit on our wood floor with all other objects removed but what we were working on. 

Next time, I hope to begin the “activity cycle” more like Bowman’s suggestion in his book, involving my children more:

1. Create a work space.  Get out a rug, blanket, or table mat.
2. Unveil the activity by bringing it to the workspace.  (You will probably see a lot of our activities on trays.)
3. Encourage YOUR child to clean up and place the activity where it should be stored.
4. Put the rug away. 

Your child will become used to the habit and know what to expect each time. 

What are you waiting for?  Go and have a Montessori Moment at Home with your Little!