Another Two Weeks and Counting

The past two weeks have been shorter due to a teacher workshop day and a holiday.  The weeks just seems to be flying by and our lessons in the classroom have been nonstop!  Most mornings go by so quickly that near the end, I realize that not many photos have to taken and I have not had many chances to document activity on Montessori Compass, the program we use for recored keeping.  Just as importantly, however, I am enjoying the small moments with my children (the students in my classroom will always be "my children…") - like when they smile and and say, "I really like this lesson," with the Stamp Game.  Or when another child masters the Sandpaper Letters and has a new lesson with the Moveable Alphabet, feeling so proud and accomplished.  Even when there are a few tears at drop off and another child offers a tissue with some encouraging words, "It will be ok.  Sometimes I miss my mom too…"  These are the moments that are the hardest to document, but the easiest to hold in the heart!
Here are some pictures I did manage to take over the past two weeks.  We also had a trumpet demonstration by my son who visited the classroom one day.  It was a day that not many pictures were taken, so unfortunately I do not have any to share of it.  Additionally, one of the children had a family member visiting from Alaska who was able to visit us and share about life in faraway state.
  

Gaining an understanding of teen numbers with the Teen Bead Hanger.

An indirect preparation to multiplication - grouping like numbers and finding their sum with the Addition Snake Game.

A set of table top Number Rods and Cards - just a a bit of variety.

Setting up corresponding quantities and learning about odd and even numbers with the Cards and Counters lesson.

Reading practice with the Vowel Tree.  Here the student was exploring various letter combinations to see if they made words.

Recording work from the Short Chains - practicing linear and skip counting as well as multiples of numbers.

Using a Geography Booklet to record findings.

Practicing writing Puzzle Words (or sight words).  This student has decided to write each word  in different colors,  once in print and once in cursive.

Counting teen numbers and making corresponding number symbols with the Teen Beads and Boards.  This lesson also introduces children to the concept of place value.

Reading three-letter phonetic words using three-part cards.

More work with the Addition Snake Game - the child is using a variation to check one's work by grouping like numbers together.  It worked out well - 44 matched up just right!

Exploration of size and dimension using the Pink Tower.

Looking at various pictures in our Continent Folder for South America.

Pairing primary and secondary colors with the Second Color Box.

Sensorially exploring the Binomial Cube.

The sum during a Dynamic Addition lesson with the golden beads.

Spelling practice with 'e' words from the Language Works program.

An extension activity with the Cards and Counters lesson.  The children enjoy coloring and writing the corresponding quantity and number symbols.

Addition with the Stamp Game.

Matching objects to their shapes.

Sounding out and writing words with the Large Moveable Alphabet.

Discovering how triangles can join together and make new shapes using the Constructive Triangles.

Using number "tickets" to make quantities for teen numbers.

Enjoying the watercolor art activity.

One of the children had a family member visiting from Alaska and she came to speak to our class.  It was a lovely, engaging visit which prompted active use of our Puzzle Map of North America.