Montessori Pumpkin Activities

Hello All!!!! First of all, yes, I know what time of year it is. It's almost christmas time and here I am blogging about PUMPKIN activities. But the truth is, I ended up moving on Halloween day and I just did not have time to blog about all the fun things we did during October, but I couldn't let these fun pumpkin activities go undocumented! So just look through these and save them in your brain-holes until next year. 

growing pumpkin seeds

The first activity "A" and I did was grow pumpkin seeds. We carved pumpkins with family and we saved a few of the seeds (the ones that didn't get TOASTED and GOBBLED UP!). I got a clear jar and wetted a paper towel. I explained to A that he needed to take care of the plants everyday for the plants to go. We talked about living things and what living things need. Water, air and sunshine. So everyday he had to make sure that he watered his seeds and that they were sitting in a nice sunny place. I love doing this activity in a glass jar with a paper towel instead of dirt because this way you can observe the plant AS SOON as it starts sprouting, roots and all. 

This is a GREAT way to study "parts of the plant", which just happens to be on our October curriculum. 

I also love doing this activity because it is a great exercise in patience. The seeds didn't sprout everyday. A had to make sure that he watered them everyday, even though we wasn't getting any immediate gratification from it. Through patience he eventually go rewarded with some great sproutlings!

On another note, I learned a lot from these little sprouts as well. We planted 4 seeds in all. It took about a week for the first one to sprout. Just one of the seeds! The rest were sitting there doing nothing. I thought, "Darn, they must be duds, they aren't sprouting at the same time as this one." I was about to throw them out.....but decided to give them a little more time. And lo and behold, a few days later, another one sprouted! and a few days after that, another sprouted!!! Given enough time and the proper environment,  these seeds flourished and grew. They were from the same pumpkin, had the exact same environment, yet they did not sprout at the same time. They were unique individuals, at least, as uniquely individual as a seed can be. But you see what I'm getting at, right?

How often do we see students in our class that just aren't growing at the same pace as other students and we think there is something wrong with them? That they are a lost cause, perhaps defective, maybe just lazy? When in fact, something inside them in stirring. We just need to give them love, patience and the correct environment, and in their own time, THEIR OWN UNIQUE TIME, they will sprout and flourish and grow just as strongly as the other.

We need to respect that each "seed" has an innate timeline that they are following.


ok, enough of that. onto playdough!!! We made Home-made pumpkin scented playdough. I thought, why stop there! Let's make Jack-o-Lanterns out of this pumpkin playdough! So i put this tray together.

Materials:
Black foam craft sheets cut into various sizes of circles, triangles and squares
pipe cleaners, cut and twisted
pumpkin scented playdough

Avery had a blast making a whole family of jack-o-lanterns.

The last activity is a math one! We saved some of the toasted pumpkin seeds (no oil and salt on these ones) and I used those Foam Craft sheets I love so much. Each pumpkin has a number in it's mouth  (hard to see in the picture) and A's task was to give each pumpkin the correct number of seeds back. 

I love using these foam sheets for cards and counters because on the back you can add a control so that the child can check their work when they are done. He can even lay the seeds on top of the outlines I drew to make sure. 

 Well, that's it for us! Hopefully the next post will be more thematically appropriate to the season!  As always, please leave any thoughts our comments you have!

Going Back To Work

The day has come, the day is here! Well....not quite. Monday I go back to work. I've enjoyed a 5 1/2 month long maternity leave following the birth of my daughter. It has been SO amazing staying at home with her.

Going back to work is so bittersweet. But I am so lucky that my employer is allowing me to keep my baby with me in a wrap as I go back to the classroom for just 4 hours a day. I feel like I am so lucky to be able to go back to work doing the thing that I love - teaching in a Montessori classroom, AND have my baby with me!

But I do remember how incredibly stressful teaching can be. Add that on top of taking care of my little girl and wanting to feel like I am giving HER all the attention she wants and needs as well as 24 other children is going to be challenging.

Nonetheless, being able to have your baby with you at work is pretty much unheard of, so I will keep my complaining to myself.

Work starts December 1st, and starting in January I will go to our school's brand-new location to be the lead teacher in the first ever French-Immersion classroom at our school! So excited!

Here is to a great year of ideas, inspiration, growth and learning!

Montessori Color Mixing

Nothing is more magical to a child than mixing together 2 colors to make a totally new color!

this easy DIY color mixing job costs VERY LITTLE, I bought everything I needed for it at Goodwill and the Dollar Store. 

• Materials:
• a WHITE tray with SMALL spaces (less water is needed)
• eyedropper
• food dye
• water
• plastic cups
• tray

I just let my nephew explore this job, learning on his own how to make the colors. But if you want to make it truly Montessori, consider making cards with a red dot and blue dot on the front, and a purple dot on the back, a red dot and a yellow dot on the front, and an orange dot on the back, etc. That way, the child can make the desired colors on their own without any help. 

Even without a lesson, my nephew caught on pretty fast. After making purple, green and orange, he experimented to make brown!

Studying Emotions

At the beginning of the year, I like one of my first lessons to be about EMOTIONS.



It helps so much to study emotions at the beginning of the year. Children, especially ones new to the classroom and even those who aren't, are going through a big transition and it helps them to be able to talk about how they are feeling. Leaving mom can be scary. Sleeping in a different classroom can be stressful. Sitting next to different friends can be nerve-wracking, and coming to a lesson with a teacher can be intimidating!

I hope that this ridiculously easy, CHEAP and fun DIY can help begin the conversation on the different emotions we experience and help make your classroom a calmer, more peaceful place. 

Materials:

• Markers
• Those Foam sheets from Michael's I love so much
• some sort of tray to hold them (I found this used tray at Goodwill, and I love that there are built in compartments to sort the eyes, nose and mouth)

• 

I made:

• one round orange circle for the face
• 5 different eyes (sad, happy, scared, mad and sleepy)
• 5 different mouths (sad, happy, scared, mad, and all teeth)
• 5 different noses (a clown nose, a regular nose, a nose with a mustache, a super long nose, super short nose)

You can add:

       EARS

        HAIR

     or ACCESSORIES

But because my tray only had 3 holding spots, I decided to keep it simple so that the child could focus on the EMOTIONS. I was afraid if i added too many extra elements, the child would be too distracted. 

Language to introduce in this lesson:

Sad

Happy

Scared

Mad

Sleepy

How do you look when you feel......

Owl Cards and Counters

My nephew is obsessed with owls!

We went to the library and got owl books, and he wants me to make up owl songs and he talks about owls all the time.

So, I decided to make him an owl cards and counters job to match his interest. As Montessori said, 

“Follow the child”

Making these was easy to do. All you need are:

·         9 toilet paper rolls

·         Feathers (1 blue, 2 red, 3 yellow, 4 green, 5 purple, 6 pink, 7 brown, 8 white, 9 black)

·         Markers

I pushed down the top  of the roll, decorated the owls, and there ya go!

 

IT’s important to remember 3 things:

1.ONLY HAVE AS MANY AS THE CHILD IS ABLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO!

 It’s a long lesson and it can be easy for the child to be overwhelmed. Start with only 3 or 4 in the beginning and work your way up.

2. PUT THE NUMBER IN RED!
This will ensure the child sees the number in the midst of the drawing of the owl

3. HAVE THE PROPER NUMBER OF EACH COLOR OF FEATHER!

This way the child can do the job WITHOUT you. That’s right! The whole point of Montessori materials is to correct the child naturally. This way, they are not discouraged when an adult constantly corrects them. When the material is made correctly, they learn by DOING and not by being told. 

  

5 ways to use LEAVES in a Montessori Classroom

                       
neurobiophilia- the effects nature has on the brain. Did you know just seeing a little bit of nature can make you calmer, happier and maybe even smarter?

check out Dr. Tierny Thys TED talk to learn more.


We could all use more nature, especially in our classrooms. That's why this post is dedicated to 5 ways you can use REAL leaves to add a little nature to your day.


                         

I've got a fun post for you today! My nephew has been loving using LEAVES! He's fascinated that when leaves turn brown you can step on them and crunch them into pieces. So lately on our nature walks we've been collecting leaves and using them in different ways around the classroom.



So here are 5 ways we use leaves:

1. Painting With Leaves
We used tempura paints and a sponge brush to make leaf prints. We used a variety of different leaves, his favorite was pine needles!

 2. Threading Leaves- 
Here, I found waxy thick leaves that don't break easily  and used a hole puncher to put 1 hole in each leaf. We then used colorful shoelaces to create leaf necklaces and leaf crowns.

Ideas from around the web:

3. Good old fashiomed leaf rubbings
Got to love this classic leaf activity! This lovely pic was provided by Amy Wonder Years. Love that the crayons look like rocks.

4. Using a Hammer to Make Leaf Prints
Using a hammer is a GREAT Practical Life activity and increases strength, coordination and patience.
This picture is from buildmakecraftbake.com and they have a pretty intricate tutorial on how to make leaf prints with a hammer. But it's a pretty simple idea.


5. Make Leaf People/Animals
This pic from Mrs. Karen's Class is so cute! I love the idea of making people/animals out of leaves. What a great Sensorial activity!

My Hypnobabies Homebirth

I know that this isn't a Montessori topic, but I feel like this is something that is so important to share.
Birth, a beautiful, natural, wonderful experience, has been turned into something else in so many people's eyes. Young women are terrified of birth, hearing horror stories from others, seeing the trauma of it on tv and movies. I sure know I was terrified of birth. I thought that it couldn't be anything other than a painful, horrifying experience, and only the most skilled doctors could save you from it!

HOW WRONG I WAS.

I began my journey of learning the truth about birth long before I got pregnant. I watched the documentary "The Business of Being Born" (highly recommended). In the video I saw women giving home at birth in seemingly total comfort. I learned how hospitals and doctors in America have way too many C-Sections, that are totally unnecessary and the cascade of interventions that cause them (pitocin, epidurals, etc).

And when I got pregnant I started doing even more research. I read Birth Without Fear, and Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth and Hypnobirthing. When my friend shared her Hypnobabies home birth experience, I knew it was something I wanted to try.

I started doing the Hypnobabies home study course. Everyday I would listen and repeat affirmations that affirmed the normalcy of childbirth and pregnancy. How natural and normal my body was. How my pregnancy and childbirth could be comfortable and pain free. Everyday I would practice putting myself in a state of total and complete relaxation, practicing cues that would turn my body sensations "off" and going limp and loose. I practiced going to a special place, and breathing down natural anesthesia. I didn't know if these things worked, but I was going to do my best. If I could have the possibility of having a comfortable childbirth, I was going to do everything I could to attain it. I believed completely that my body was MADE to give birth, and natural functions have no reason to be painful and dangerous. So I kept going.

Saturday, one week before I was due, I was settling down to watch Battlestar Galactica at 11:00 when I felt a strange popping inside me...."gas?" i think to myself. So i get up to use the restroom and realize that no, it wasn't gas, and no, i wasn't peeing, my water had broken! I tell my husband and call my midwife. She tells me to get a good nights sleep, and although I'm so excited I try.  I woke up around 2. and then again at 5. I tried to stay in bed as long as i could and sleep, and finally around 7:30 i couldn't stay in bed anymore. My pressure waves (contractions) had started getting more regular. Whenever a wave came, I would "turn off", just go totally limp and loose and not fight the contraction at all. I called my birth-tub lady when the waves were 5 minutes apart, as well as my sister and mother in law who came over. I had moved around, did cat-cow yoga positions, laid in bed, leaned on Axton, leaned on my birthing ball, sat on my birthing ball, i was all over the place! any position that felt good i tried. I listened to my Hypnobabies birthing track, but mostly I just talked to the people around me.

Here i am with my sister, waves are around 5 minutes apart. Totally comfortable, eating a pop cycle

As the waves got closer together, I started saying the word "Peace" which helped me visualize breathing down natural anesthesia to the pressure in my stomach. Although the waves were getting stronger and clsoer together, they never felt overwhelmingly painful. They felt like strong intense pressure. I called my midwife again when they were 3 minutes apart and 45 sec long. since they weren't a minute long, she sent another midwife to monitor my progress, since she was going to be busy until 1:00. She came over and monitored me, I continued to do my thing and turn off during a wave and say "peace".  She texted my midwife "dont' worry, it doesn't seem like she's very far along, it will be awhile". She didn't realize how far along I actually was because I was so calm and comfortable.

As things started to get more intense I would think to myself " i can handle this, but if it get's more intense it might actually start to hurt, i don't' know if i can handle that". Suddenly I felt a little hot and then cold and slightly nauseous. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was in transition. I decided I wanted to get into the tub. I was starting to worry that maybe I wasn't actually in labor, because everything had been so EASY! What if I was just having Braxton Hix and I had called everyone for nothing. What if this was just the beginning of my labor and it was going to get much harder? I decided to STOP WORRYING and listen to what my body was telling me to do. So I listened and  I started feeling very pushy and making "Ahhhhhh"ing noises. my midwife at that point texted my main midwife "Get over here now!".


Just after transformation, sharing a kiss with my husband

That was just 5 minutes after the "don't worry, it will be awhile" text. lol!

I started listening to my "Easy Birthing Time" track and continued to talk and joke in between waves. I realized that this really WAS my birthing time and it WAS going so well, not because I wasn't far enough along, but because my body was MADE to have birth like this, easily and comfortably. So I would turn off and relax in the water during a pressure wave, or if I felt like it, would say "Ahhhhhh" and push. If it was an especially strong pressure wave, I would blow raspberries. This was something I learned from the book on natural childbirth by Ina May. It's impossible to be tight in your bum when you're loose in your mouth. And it worked remarkably well. It felt so  good to push! Seriously, it felt GOOD! Productive, and relieved the pressure.

Pushing felt so good! Waves are less than 1 minute apart, totally happy

My husband was wonderful support to me. He got in the tub with me and supported me when I needed to go limp during a wave. In between pushes I would say things like how grateful I was for the amazing birthing tub, for everyone's support, I would say things like how AWESOME i was doing, how i was actually having FUN! I even joked with my midwife (who got there around 2) how she should give me a discount because I was being such an easy patient. No screaming, no yelling, no panicked breathing. Just talking and saying "peace" or "ahhhh" as I pushed". I felt so proud of myself that I had gone through the first stage and transition so easily without losing confidence. I still felt comfortable, and was able to manage the waves. I asked my midwife, "am i fully dilated? am i pushing against my cervix?" i didn't want to waste all these great pushes i was doing. she said

"honey, you're CROWNING! 5 more pushes like that and she's out!"


Turning off and relaxing when I had a wave helped so much, so did breathing my baby out by saying "Ahhhh" and letting my body push for me!

So  I reached down and felt and could actually feel her head! It was amazing! 5 more pushes, i can do that! I started pushing/letting my body push more and more and repeating affirmations like "I am safe, I can do this" I started pushing more and more and Marie gave me a Bowen move (a type of body work) and i felt the baby totally change position inside me. after she moved, the waves became \almost one constant wave. I pushed more and more and felt burning, I know now i was probably going too fast but I wanted her out! It was only until the last few pushes I actually felt pain (I think this is when I tore). Her head came out, and then with just a few more pushes, the rest of her slipped out! I was amazed! The little  pain i felt with the last few pushes totally disappeared as a grabbed my daughter out of the water as she floated toward me and pulled her to my chest.

8 hours of labor. 2 hours of pushing.

I had done it! We had made a perfect baby! she was healthy,happy and I felt so blessed.

I gave birth in my home, surrounded by family. No doctor restricted me to a bed, told me I couldn't' move around or eat. No doctor told me that I wasn't ready to push yet, or I had to push NOW. I was able to listen to my body. I have such a deep and profound respect for my body now. It knows how to MAKE and give BIRTH to a human being!

and, it knows how to do it without hurting me!

It was the most amazing experience of my life. and made me feel so confident and powerful!

This is why I feel like it's important to share this story. It makes me so sad to think of how many women out there are being told that they are defective, that their bodies are broken, when in reality 95% of women are capable of a totally intervention free birth. How many women are being robbed of a comfortable childbirth simply because they're TOLD it's going to hurt so they BELIEVE it? How many women are being robbed of the confidence they are going to need in themselves and in their body in order to face the challenges of raising a newborn? I can't tell you how much I've drawn on the strength I felt when I gave birth to my daughter in order to get through the challenges of breastfeeding, waking up in the middle of the night, and the exhaustion of being needed by someone so helpless 24/7.

Ladies, you are powerful, believe in yourself! I know that a birth like this isn't possible or right for everyone, but please know that you have the right to pursue the birth thats right for YOU and YOUR BABY! If that's a home birth or hospital birth so be it, but please know you have the choice to make the decision that is right for YOU.

Rice Pouring - Video

“Montessori work is a work of restraint”

Hello everyone! I am proud to present my very first tutorial video of how to present a Montessori job! Scroll to the bottom for an example of how to present a  classic job- Rice Pouring

I see a lot of pins and blogs out there on how to make Montessori materials, but just as important as creating a material with control of error, isolation of difficulty and the rest, is how you present it.

5 Most Important Things to remember When Presenting a Montessori Job

1. Invite the child to the lesson

This is an invitation, that means that the child has the right to refuse. If the child refuses to come, respect that and try again later.

2. Show the COMPLETE lesson, this includes putting it away!

When presenting a lesson for the first time, show it from start to finish. That means from taking it off the shelf, to putting it back on the shelf. Don’t spoon half of the beans into the bowl and expect the child to know how to put the work away. Showing how to completely do the job sets a good example.

3. When moving don’t speak, when speaking don’t move

As a rule of thumb, the LESS TALKING THE BETTER! Let the child concentrate on your movements. If you speak, they’re going to be looking at your face! The job isn’t about YOU, let the child be fascinated by the work!

4. Don’t correct the Child

If the child is using the material disrespectfully or dangerously – STOP THEM. However, if the child makes a mistake, or chooses to use the job in a way different from what you intended, allow it. In the case of a mistake, you have two options. First, the material/ the environment will correct the child (if the material was created correctly). For example, a child can see by beans dropping outside of the bowl that they need to spoon differently. This way, the child isn’t discouraged by a parent/teacher constantly correcting them. Eventually, they will avoid the work altogether. Your second option is just as simple, re-present the job again later! Eventually, the lesson will stick.

5. Show excitement!

It might be the HUNDRETH time you’ve presented the pink tower, but if you show excitement, reverence and awe, the children will regard the pink tower as the most amazing of materials! Show excitement every time you do a job! Hold each material as if it was pure gold. Stare at it, touch it, and speak in a hushed voice. The child will barely be able to contain their excitement for the material. 

Hello Hello! It’s been two weeks since I started my own little Montessori class in my little tiny apartment and things are going well! I wanted to share with you this week how I made a classic Montessori material for my nephew- the Sound Cylinders.

DIY Montessori Sound Cylinders

1. Buy Easter Eggs at dollar store

2. Fill matching eggs with same materials ranging from quietest to loudest.

I used:

First Eggs- Flour and dried chives

Second Eggs- Sugar

Third Eggs – Cereal

Fourth Eggs- Rice

Fifth  Eggs- Dried Beans

Sixth Eggs- Plastic Beads

First I showed him that it went from Loud to Quiet.

Next I showed him that each egg had a matching egg with an identical sound. For control of error, matching eggs are the same color.

Then we mixed up the eggs and he had to find the matching sound. To make it more difficult, you can add a blindfold. 

I'll add a video soon on how to present this lesson. Let me know if you have any questions or comments! Check out my Pinterest page under My Montessori Class. 

Stay At Home Mom!

I recently have been blessed with a sweet baby girl! I've left my Montessori Classroom at work to start my own Montessori Classroom at home for my daughter and my 3 year old nephew whom I'll be watching from now on while his mom is at work.

My sweet baby girl

I'm so excited for this transition and will be posting how I create a curriculum and Montessori Environment for these beautiful children here at home. It's quite a transition! But I'm ready for the challenge! We'll be going through some changes, as I'm living in a one-bedroom apartment right now and space is limited. So hopefully we'll have the opportunity to show you how Montessori can work in any sort of space!

Ive been working hard on this curriculum for my nephew, it's summer time so I'm not following the cultural curriculum I have for the beginning of the school year yet, but focusing on some fun topics instead.

Take a Look.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9:00	Circle Time: Calendar Weather Song: This Land is Your Land Book: Child's Choice	Circle Time: Calendar Weather Song: Sparkler Song Book:	Circle Time: Calendar Weather Song: Five Senses of Summer Book:	Circle Time: Calendar Weather Song: If you Have a Little Flag Book:	Circle Time: Calendar Weather Song: Continent Song Book:
9:15	Present New Job: Color Popcycle Matching Work cycle:	Present New Job: Flag Dice Game Work cycle:	Present New Job: Pouring Sand Work cycle:	Present New Job: Felt Ice Cream Patterns Work cycle:	Present New Job: Flag Cards and Counters Work cycle:
12:00	Lunch	Afternoon Circle Cultural Lesson: What is a Flag-flag magnet History/geography Song: This land is your land Book:	Afternoon Circle Cultural Lesson: What is the Fourth of July Song: Sparkler Song Book:	Afternoon Circle Cultural Lesson: Fireworks Song: Five Senses of Summer Book:	Afternoon Circle Cultural Lesson: What Country do we live in? Song: If you Have a little Flag Book:
12:15	Circle Time: Library Excursion	Lunch/cooking lesson	Lunch/cooking lesson	Lunch/cooking lesson	Lunch/cooking lesson
1:00	Park/Recess	Park / Recess	Park /Recess	Park /Recess	Park/Recess
2:00	Nap	Nap	Nap	Nap	Nap
3:00	Free Play/read books	Free Play/Arts and Crafts Painting a Flag	Free Play/Arts and Crafts Marble painting	Free Play/Arts and Crafts Toothpick fireworks	Free Play/Arts and Crafts Fourth of July Noise Stick
5:00	Prep for dinner	Prep for dinner	Prep for dinner	Prep for dinner	Prep for dinner
6:00	Free play/pick up	Free play/pick up	Free play/pick up	Free play/pick up	Free play/pick up
NOTES:

So the "book" section is blank. Its my plan to go to the library at the beginning of the week and find books there that interest him that also go along with the theme. We will choose from those books throughout the week. Also, lunch time/cooking lesson will eventually coincide with the botany lesson for the week. For example, if we are learning about roots, my nephew will be able to help me peel carrots for lunch. Maybe I'll find some cute Fourth of July themed snacks he can help make, like strawberries and blue berries for patriotic colors.

So what are your thoughts? have you had experience doing Montessori at home in a very small environment like mine? What worked for you? what didn't! love to hear your comments!