Some New Lessons for the New Year

To add some variety and maintain interest in the classroom, most Montessori educators periodically rotate, add, or change some lessons in the environment.  Over the years, I have concluded that too much change too soon can be detrimental to the overall goals of our program.  Changing lessons too often might not leave ample opportunities for children to practice and refine skills.  Too many changes at once can also be overwhelming for children and teachers alike!  It is a fine balance that requires careful observation and noting when children are ready for change or for something new.   Practically speaking, changing the shelves during vacations allows time for thinking about and developing new activities, while giving the children something new to look forward to upon their return.

On this note, we have been enjoying some new lessons on our shelves having returned from our winter break.  Most of the lessons coincide with our ongoing theme of the Montessori Bead Stair, which we began a year and half ago.  We have now reached the number eight which is represented by the color brown.  Here is a sampling of some new Practical Life lessons:

Dry Transfer activities.

Wet Transfer lessons.

Close up of a spooning lesson.  The tray seems to be a big point of interest!

Sorting and tonging.

Using tweezers to place brown pom-poms into each section.   It is encouraging to see the development and practice of  concentration and control while completing this type of lesson. 

Art activities:  The brown tray contains materials for practicing brush strokes.  The lesson on the right with light colored paper is for making snowflakes - perfect for this time of year! :-) 

Other new lessons to share will be coming soon, so stay tuned! :-)

From 2015

As we begin the new calendar year, here's a look back on the last week and half in the classroom before school ended for vacation.  Looking forward to starting 2016 where we left off along with some new activities that were set up during the break.  More soon!

Helping a friend with an apron.

Quantity, counting, and symbols.

Matching objects to their outlines.

Nuts and bolts.

Exploring with shades of color.

Reviewing Sandpaper Letters.

Learning names of igneous rocks.

Careful work with the Pink Tower and Brown Stair.

Symbolizing noun phrases.

Pairing fabrics by touch.

The function of words: conjunction.

Laying out the Decimal System Cards.

Tracing Botany Cabinet leaf shapes.

Subtraction using the Stamp Game.

Addition: Memorization of  math facts.

Handwriting practice.

Enjoying the watercolors.

Exploring Sensorial materials.

Paring primary and secondary colors.

Learning to write numbers.

"Six eight times is forty-eight!"  Multiplication with Bead Bars.

December calendar work - days of the week and sequencing numbers. 

"Number 7" collaborative art joins the line!

Kindness Wreath

I've seen the following idea floating around Pinterest and the blogosphere for some time now.  After reading an article in Tomorrow's Child magazine about the 'Kindness Wreath', I decided it was time to integrate this wonderful idea into our classroom.  What better time to do so than with the ringing in of the New Year?!

The 'Kindness Wreath' promotes kindness in general while cultivating the notion of doing good onto others in a child-friendly, visible way.  The children in my class are already familiar with our 'Kindness Pledge' which I will use as an introduction to the 'Kindness Wreath':

Kindness Pledge

I pledge to myself on this day

To be kind in every way.

To everyone, both big and small,

I will help them if they fall.

When I love myself and others too,

That is the best that I can do.

We will talk about what it means to be kind and to show kindness.  I will explain that each time an act of kindness is seen, the child who sees it can obtain a piece of paper from the designated tray and bring it to a teacher. The teacher will write down the act of kindness which was observed.  The key thing here is that the child will have had to see another child doing something kind rather than it being about himself.  The paper will then be folded up and placed in the bowl.  After the bowl has been filled, we will gather the group and read each paper.  As each one is read, the child who has done the kindness will choose a ribbon to be tied onto the wreath.  Over time, the wreath will fill up with ribbons representing each act of kindness that was observed in our classroom.

'Kindness Wreath' materials:  tray with papers and pencil; jar with various ribbons to be tied on the wreath; bowl for gathering written acts of kindness observed in the classroom;  behind the tray and jars is a copy of our 'Kindness Pledge.'

The 'Kindness Wreath' hanging on the door above our art gallery and next to the peace corner/reading area - waiting to be filled with ribbons!

UPDATE - April 22, 2013:

As you can see, we've been busy with our Acts of Kindness! :-)

Montessori Monday Link-Up

Thrifted New Year's Treasures

I came across an incredible bounty making an impromptu thrift run on this NewYear's Day:

Thrifted Treasures

Each item cost only pennies - all of this for under ten dollars!  Oh, the inspiration we Montessori teachers find in the aisles of thrift stores...! :)  I take this as a symbol of all the wonderful gifts this New Year will bring - Happy New Year to my readers and followers!  I truly appreciate your interest and support in all of my endeavors and wish you health and happiness this year and always. 

Best Blog Award!!!

 What a perfect way to ring in the New Year!  A big thank you to Natasa at Leptir for sending this award to me!

The only rule is to pass it along...

Now, the award goes to:

Sewing School
Fairy Dust Teaching

I recently came across these blogs and LOVE them - full of wonderful ideas...!  Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you peace and every happiness in 2012!