Math on my Mind

Looking over the posts from the last few weeks, it appears as if there is an overwhelming emphasis on the Language area of the classroom.  Yes, it is true - I've been thinking a lot about the these lessons and ways to incorporate meaningful learning experiences with new materials.  Nonetheless, I've also been busy planning for the Math area too!

The Montessori Math lessons are brilliant - just as with other materials, they are infinitely superior to any worksheet or 'paper work' that could be provided to children.  This does not mean however, that some children cannot enjoy different types of learning extensions.  I feel it is important to have various extension activities available for my students in order that I have the greatest opportunities to enhance all learning styles.  For this reason, I offer different 'paper' lessons as extensions of the initial presentations and variations after a student has demonstrated proficiency and comprehension with the actual material.

I have made a simple Math Book which I've made available for my readers HERE.  It can be used in a variety of ways, but I plan to use it with the Colored Bead Stair work.

The Montessori Colored Bead Stair.

For example, I plan to set out a collection of colored paper corresponding with the colors of the Montessori Bead Stair with a hole punch and glue.  Then, the children can use the booklet pages to glue their colored dots onto the pages.  The same pages could also be used for stamps, stickers, and other items for counting practice.

I have included the numbers 0-9 in my booklet, so this material will be ideal for the students have completed number work with lessons from the Number Rods through the Spindle Boxes and who have already been introduced to the Colored Bead Stair.  Enjoy!

By the way, readers might be interested in more about Montessori and her notion of the 'Mathematical Mind' found in THIS post.

And so, the journey begins...

Letter Matching and Fine Motor Practice

Here is another set of materials I've made to help the children practice letters - this lesson promotes letter  recognition with matching and fine motor skills.  I plan to place these strips on the shelves near the Sandpaper Letters so that once a child has been introduced the corresponding group of Sandpaper Letters (which are separated into three groups) they can begin working with this matching activity as well.  In the past, I have noticed that some children can quickly recall the letter sound associated with the symbol by simply using the Sandpaper Letters.  Others, however, benefit from more practice with additional materials in conjunction with the Sandpaper Letters.  I feel that this material will provide my students another opportunity to bridge knowledge while enhancing the pincer grasp needed for writing.  During the presentation of this lesson, I will stress the importance of saying the letter sound of the letter they are matching.  I envision some children practicing with the Sandpaper Letters and these strips at the same time.  For example, they can trace 'p' on the Sandpaper Letter then find the clip and match it on the strip.

Letter matching with clothespins.

Later in the year, I will add a set of clothespins with the corresponding printed letter so the children may match the printed version of a letter to the cursive font.  As with any material I've made, I look forward to implementing it in my classroom, observing the response from my students, and adapting or changing lessons based on their needs and interests.

Montessori Monday Link-Up

Sign In/Out Board

I've always had a small pocket chart next to the door of the classroom where the children check themselves in and out each day.  I feel this not only gives the students a clear indication of beginning and ending each day, but it also aids in building a sense of community among the group.

Our Sign In/Out Board:  When a child enters the classroom in the morning, they will slide their name to the center, underneath the 'Hello!' sign.  

Here are the names, "checked in."  And, for a little variety throughout the year...

...the cards can be turned over to show the written, cursive version!

Rock Names

I have to giggle at the title of this post - yes, my charges are little rock stars for sure...!  It looks as if I am in the midst of a rock fetish - the last time I wrote about rocks was when I was inspired to integrate them into Language and Geography lessons as seen in the post HERE.  This time, the idea came to me to use smaller ones as place holders in the classroom.  Oftentimes, the children enjoy "holding their place" with a name tag if they must step away from their work at any given point in the morning.  Last year, we used laminated American flags for this purpose which you can see in THIS POST.  While preparing classroom materials for this coming school year, I wanted to think of a way make a placeholder without having to laminate anything.  While I have nothing against laminated name tags (in fact, I LOVE laminating things in general!) I just wanted something a little more soothing to the eye - after all, these will be in use everyday and sometimes that shiny glare can get tiresome...  Again, rocks to the rescue:

Our Rock Names  to be used as placeholders in the classroom.  

I decided to place them in the tray so that each name can easily be seen.  Also, later in the year, I plan to add the children's last names on the on the other side of each stone.  Can you just see the little hands reaching for their names?  :)

Color Matching and Sorting

As part of my efforts in providing varied options for the pre-readers and writers in my classroom, I've been making lots of materials as seen HERE and HERE.  Recently, during one of my many internet searches, I came across an amazing (and inspiring) resource - The Helpful Garden graciously shares beautiful classroom materials which would enhance any Montessori learning environment.  I urge you to check it out - you will not be disappointed!

Thanks to The Helpful Garden, I have made a new set of materials for Color Matching and Sorting.  This set includes color mats with matching pictures for eleven colors (each color has one mat with nine pictures and nine separate cards for matching/sorting).  I especially admire the photo-quality of the pictures and think this aspect of the materials will be a major point of interest for the children.

Color Matching cards and mat.

I plan to have a few different colors out at a time allowing for students to choose between matching the cards to the mat with one color or being able to sort and match between more colors.  I look forward to the conversations which will inevitably transpire with use of this material!

More Reflections - The Farm (and a little bonus)

I continue to reflect on my classroom and evaluate how certain lessons and materials have maintained interest and whether or not they have been used in ways which are meant for optimum learning.  Some of my thoughts about the Language area are revealed in the post HERE about Sandpaper Letters and writing and in THIS POST about the Sand Tray.

Another area of the Language curriculum I have recently evaluated are the grammar lessons with Montessori Farm materials.  As much as I appreciate and admire the genius behind the lessons, I must admit that its use in my classroom is minimal, at best.  This is partly because the Language lessons with the farm materials are intended for children who are able to read and adhere to the given lessons using the corresponding boxes of labels and symbols.  These lessons introduce the child to Parts of Speech and the power of words.  This is typical work for the young five year old.  Herein lies the problem - the farm, the animals, the set-up, etc. all appeal to the young threes and fours!  Surely they cannot be expected to use the material with its intended purpose of introduction to Parts of Speech and grammar symbols. As a result, I've let the children proceed with using this material for exploration - sorting animals, playing Sound Games, integrating other Language materials with the farm.  Sometimes, I sensed that this became the "easy work" when a someone needed a break from other lessons (which is not inherently a "problem" as I recognize and consider the natural cycle of children's work habits....)  Nevertheless, I feel that the Farm material for the young threes and fours in my classroom is in need of an option to make it a more self-directed activity.

As a result, I've rearranged the Farm materials and added a few points of interest.  This materials used to be set up on two shelves in the Language area of the classroom - this was fine until I also realized that two shelves is a lot of space for something which is not utilized all that often.  I've also always wanted the Farm to be set up at its own table rather than on the floor during lessons and on the shelves when not in use, so I thought of a way to solve these two problems at once:

Our new Farm Table (lined with stiffened felt) and a separate shelf underneath for the corresponding labels intended for grammar lessons.  The basket on the very bottom holds the animals for setting up on the table.

As far as making the Farm more self-directed for the youngest members of the class, I made a new set of Initial Farm Labels which the kids can match to the objects in the Farm.  I've included a picture of the object so that pre-readers can still complete the activity while beginning readers and readers can identify the word:

Initial Farm Labels  in use on the Farm Table...

...they are small so as not to take too much space in the set up.

I even made a little pond for the duck and goose!

Hopefully, with these changes and additions, the Montessori Farm materials can be explored with more self-direction by the youngest members of the class, yet remain true to the intended purpose the way Montessori designed the lessons.

The Farm Table in relation to the rest of the Language Area.

I've made the set of Initial Farm Labels available for my readers as a little thank you for your interest in keeping up with my blog!  You can find them on Scribd HERE.  This is the first time I've attempted to share documents, so please let me know if it works! ;)

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