Montessori Monday

It's been so long since I joined this linky...

Bear's Montessori work gets done when she is bored during free time or as a choice in replacement of certain workboxes (for example, she can opt out of Singapore, Miquon, or Rightstart - haha still looking for the right fit for us - and choose Montessori math instead).  It's fun to see what she chooses now that it isn't our main curriculum.  As I posted earlier, I just can't seem to keep up with the presentations for Bear with all the TOS reviews and feel out of my comfort zone as she approaches the elementary level.  Even though, I would ideally love to continue with Elementary Montessori, I feel "safer" going to something a little more prescribed - and, of course, I can always (and most likely will) tweak it.  Besides, the beauty of homeschooling is that we can choose what works best and gives us the least stress, parent or child!

 Sensorial

Inspired by Discovery Days and Montessori Moments, Bear used the metal insets to make a gingerbread house and then proceeded to add the Holy family in it.  There was a bit of a meltdown about not having placed the house high enough to place the wise men in front of baby Jesus, but she came up with her own solution that the wise men had already gone and had left their gifts instead.

 She chose to do extensions with the broad stair and pink tower several times.

 Language

All About Spelling.  I am so glad I bought this curriculum.  We LOVE it.  Even Bear loves it.  The letter tiles are like the moveable alphabet, but the program itself teaches spelling rules.  I happen to be a naturally good speller and wouldn't know those rules.  I also like how it teaches a child ALL the sounds a letter makes.  For example, the letter a has the sounds /a/ like in cat, /ae/ like in cake, and also /aw/ like in water.  The phonogram "ch" doesn't just include /ch/ like in church, but also /k/ like in school, and /sh/ like in, well, I can't think of one right now, but it does have a /sh/ sound too.  I like that there is a script for me to follow, and how you can progress at your own pace.  Even though it is structured and scripted, it has allowed Bear to be creative as she loves coming up with alternative phrases and sentences for dictation.  (I get a small commission if you decide to purchase AAS through the above link or the one on the sidebar.  Thank you if you decided to use it.)

Her favorite way to do the word lists, phrases and sentences is on the erasable lap board using alternate colors. She reversed her z in zero.so it looks wrong.

 Math

She loves to choose the hundred board. She works on it in random order, although occasionally needs help doing so.

 On another day, she went out of her way to try to find them in order.

 She loves Dreambox and is already in the second grade level in the games.  Here she is playing a maze game in which she has to complete certain tasks (like find mushrooms and escape from trolls) before exiting the maze.  She only has a certain amount of moves to do this in.

 Cultural

One morning I discovered all the president cards laid out in order on the floor.

She did an internal organs three part cards and a booklet (from Montessori Print Shop).

 She still loves booklets.  I just found a poinsettia one (thank you, Jenevra) and printed it out for this coming week, totally forgetting to jot down the link.  Sigh.  If any one has seen it and can let me know the link in a comment; I would love to pass it on.

Bear found this work of matching the state cards to the state quarters.  We'd done it together last year.  It's fun when she rediscovers a work from the past and chooses it of her own volition.

Art

 We did a lot of Homeschool Creations Gingerbread Baby printables just for fun and also the Five Senses Gingerbread man book that she's been doing since she was 2!  She loves this every year.  I posted more about it in my Tot School post.

 She and J-jo had so much fun decorating this.  We had saved all their Halloween candy to decorate the kit house I had purchased.

See other Montessori work at Living Montessori Now and One Hook Wonder.

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Tot School

J-jo is now 28 months and loves gluing and cutting.  He uses his beginner scissors from Timberdoodle, but has started using real scissors, too!  I debated purchasing the beginner scissors four months ago, but am very glad I did.  They have helped strengthen J-jo's hands and he is now ready to use real scissors. If you have a toddler who has never tried to hold regular scissors, then I recommend them.  They are confusing if you already have tried real scissors. 

J-jo's still confusing a lot of shapes and colors.  He can point them out if I ask for them, but he can't name them yet.  However, he knows 90% of his letter sounds (naming them).  This doesn't make sense to me, although he does watch a lot of Letter Factory and that could explain his letter sound knowledge.  He also does letter activities and crafts in the nursery on Classical Conversation days.  I need a good video for shapes and colors.  Anyone know of any?

Here's what we've been doing:

Decorating a gingerbread house.

 Scooping and pouring colored alphabet pasta.

 Reading to himself.  He loves to read.

 His new favorite puzzle. It came with the MFW K package, which I found used (but it hadn't really been used) for a great price.  I got MFW (My Father's World) K to combine Bear and J-jo.  We'll see how much J-jo picks up.  Bear is way too advanced for K language and math, but can benefit from Bible, character development, and the science topics.  She loves crafts.  This will be a more laid back, but structured school for us.  Montessori is ending up advancing her WAY too fast.  She gets concepts so quickly and we move on, but perhaps that isn't the best way.  I don't want my baby graduating too early!  I would rather see her happy, than have her burn out at age 6 on academics.  And J-jo isn't getting enough attention from me because I am trying to keep up with Bear.  I am really hoping MFW will help us.  In the Fall, I will get MFW creation to Greeks to coincide with the Classical Conversations Cycle 1; however, I will modify it so it isn't too much work for Bear and I will continue K with J-jo and he can join us for the hands-on stuff and any read-alouds he wants.

 Being silly.

 A great, loved tray.  (The alphabet pasta got switched out for red and green rice, which I was in the process of making.)  Pour, transfer back into pitcher with the spoon, or pour back via the funnel.

 The green and red rice.

 Pouring through the funnel.  He kept finishing the cycle and announcing "I do it again!"

 We spent all of last week doing the Gingerbread printables from Homeschool Creations.  I pick and choose.  I didn't take photos.  Below is a five senses gingerbread book we did.

I can touch my gingerbread baby (felt and foam pieces to touch).

I can smell my gingerbread baby (cloves, cinnamon, ginger).

I can see my gingerbread baby (bling, googly eyes).

 I can hear my gingerbread baby (he's missing his bell).

I can taste my gingerbread baby (we took a "bite" by tearing the leg off).

 Playing with the Rush Hour board - good logic puzzle as to how to fit them all back onto the board.

 latches board.  (Bear's Christmas present two years ago.)

 Finding the pieces of his ABC puzzle in the rice.

 See and Spell.  A favorite of his. 

We're also working on Truth in the Tinsel ornaments and  Jesse Tree readings.

linked to Tot School and Montessori Monday.

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World's Greatest Story - a TOS review

I suspected we would really like World's Greatest Stories, and after listening to it, we loved it!

 (excerpt from the website)

The current audio series consists of 23 stories on 6 CD's, each volume being about an hour long. We got to review Volume 1: The Prophets,  which included the stories of The Blazing Furnace, The Handwriting on the Wall, Daniel in the Lion's Den (Bear's favorite), Elijah and the Prophets of Baal, and The Prophecy of Jonah.  The text of these stories is taken directly from scriptures. The stories are superbly narrated, by actor George W. Sarris, with lots of expression and drama and put together with the sound effects, you really feel as if you are there.  It has been a blessing to be able to listen to such exciting Bible stories in the car.  J-jo (2) doesn't care for stories on "tape" yet, but Bear asks for our Prophets CD every time we get in the car.

World's Greatest Stories is available in NIV or KJV. Each volume is available as a CD or cassette tape as well.  They cost $7.95 each and you can purchase them here.

Read what others had to say about World's Greatest Stories on the TOS crew blog.

Disclaimer: I received this product in exchange for a frank and honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and no other compensation was received.

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Vintage Remedies - a TOS review

I like to eat healthy and I want my children to know about eating real food, as opposed to highly processed ones.  We have green smoothies nearly every day and juice quite a bit as well.  We avoid processed foods and refined sugars and I am forever reading labels when faced with new products.  We don't eat perfectly, but we try. 

I was interested to hear about Vintage Remedies for Kids by Jessie Hawkins (the owner and CEO of Vintage Remedies, Inc.).  I find its title does not do it justice as to what kind of book it is.  Its a little gem of a book packed with information to teach children aged 2 to 6 all about wellness, from eating the right foods (and why) to staying healthy to taking care of the world. 

It was beautifully packaged and came with a gift of The Kitchen Herbal too!  What a nice gesture!  I was confused at first, until I opened the brown package on the right and discovered the letter that explained the additional book.  Then I was delighted:)

The 202 pages in the spiral bound book contain 18 lessons.  Each lesson includes a parents section, a "read to me" section, additional comments, thinking it over questions, leading by example section, a featured project (often a recipe), and additional projects.  Bear and I are truly enjoying reading through it.  Even though I tell Bear (and J-jo) everyday why we eat what we eat and why we make the food decisions we make in our family, I think Bear sometimes feels she is the only one not allowed to eat candy or other such things.  It's incredibly nice to have this book that re-iterates everything I've told her so that she knows there are other people out there who think like I do about food and healthy living.

 J-jo helping make zucchini carrot muffins.

I love all the hands-on projects included.  We haven't done many of the projects exactly as written, since the kids already participate a lot in cooking with me, making smoothies and juices, and making rainbows of food on their plates to make sure they are eating a wide variety of foods.  The projects in Vintage Remedies for Kids are easy to follow, and simple enough for a 2 year old to assist.  I love how the "read to me" sections do not talk down to the kids, but read in a nice conversational style with words that are easy to understand.  It's great to see how well Bear has listened by asking her the Thinking it Over questions.  She always surprises me with how much she remembers.

 One of the projects was to make homemade pizza - we do this weekly already:)

There are no photographs or illustrations in the book; however, there are coloring pages available to download from their website if one needed something to keep a child focused during the "read to me" sections.  I expected pages that would go along with the topics in the book, but they are just pictures of individual fruits and vegetables.

Vintage Remedies for Kids is $25 and can be purchased here. 

Read other Vintage Remedies reviews (Vintage Remedies for Guys, Vintage Remedies for Girls, and Vintage Remedies for Kids) on the TOS blog.


Disclaimer: I was given this product free in exchange for an honest review.  No other compensation was given.

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Easy and Fast Project for Organizing our Week

I found this idea via Pinterest.  It's a cheap frame ($10 or $12) from Walmart for eight 4x6 photos.  The original idea used nice scrapbook paper, but I found it a bit too busy.  I looked for more subtle scrapbook paper at WM, but didn't like any of the available choices.  Not wanting to wait until a trip to JoAnn's or Michaels to implement this super idea, I just stuck plain light blue construction paper behind the glass.

You write on the glass with whiteboard markers!  I can erase and change things and now Bear knows exactly what is coming up in her week.  I can color code too.   I make a green star in green for the day we're on.  Blue is for special days (it's not up in the photo, but we have Santa Lucia on Tuesday written in blue).  The red is for reviews I have coming up:)

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Scotch Laminator Sale

If anyone is looking for a laminator, it is on sale on Amazon. This is the one I have and love. I use it a lot and got it last year when it was on sale.  Just thought I'd pass on a good deal. (It is an affialiate link.  Thank you if you use it.)

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More Peg People for the Advent Wreath

I just finished a blitz of painting and finished some more people for our advent spiral - the 3 wise men, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Juan Diego, Mary and Joseph, and my star boy for Santa Lucia day.

 
 Not very happy with the crowns.  I think I will buy gold shiny paper and start over (the crown part).

 The side view photos are in case anyone wanted to paint their own and wanted more views.

 

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Getting Ready for the Second Half of Classical Conversations Cycle 3

Unless doing Classical Conversations or American History with your child, this post is very long and may not be of too much interest.

I need plans.  I feel disorganized. I really just wanted to find an already made curriculum that fit for us, but haven't had any luck.  Not much is geared for such a young audience that follows this specific Classical Conversation Cycle 3 timeline. I figure if I write my plans here, I can access them more quickly and from anywhere, and I can help anyone else with 4 to 6 year olds going through Classical Conversations. I didn't want that many hands-on activities anyway.  We're not ready to do written narrations, or worksheets/lapbooks of any kind.  We truly don't have enough time to do all I want to do and mostly, Bear retains exceptionally well when she hears stories of people and when she reads herself the books.  Thus, many of the books listed are level 3 and 4 readers because Bear is already comfortably reading these and I am able to start transitioning her to reading for information.  I still read these aloud to her, but often I find her rereading the stories to herself.  We'll be going through Cycle 3 again when Bear is 7 and 10 so she will get many chances to go deeper with American History and use more literary works.  We read plenty of good literature about early US history.  I am just finding it much harder to find such works that are suitable for a 4 year old for more modern US history.

I started going through the library catalog and seeing which books on my list were available there. You'll see my note to myself (library) next to some books, but I haven't gone through all of them.  Honestly, at this time, I feel just buying them, though it is spending money, would allow me to slip the books into a file folder system to allow me to be even more organized this second semester.  I felt completely disorganized and not prepared all through the Fall.  Anything that helps me be more organized is money well-spent.  Also, the books would serve me three more times through the cycles as stepping stones to more challenging and meaty books.  Still not completely decided. 

January 9th Week 13: Tell Me about the 14th Amendment (week 12 was about the end of the Civil War so we've already read plenty about slavery.  I want to focus more on life of the African Americans after the war and before the Civil Rights movement.)

• read Rosetta, Rosetta, Sit by Me! and White Socks Only (library)
• read Freedom Summer (library)
  

January 16th Week 14: Tell me about tycoons like Vanderbilt

• read An Age of Extremes 1880 - 1917 (library - in adult department so may be just for me to read and then weave into stories for Bear)
• inventions/age of industrialization: Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race,
  Listen Up! Alexander Graham Bell's Talking Machine, First Flight: The Story of Rome Tate and the Wright Brothers, Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares (all are readers)
  

January 23rd Week 15: Tell me about Theodore Roosevelt

• read The Legend of the Teddy Bear 
• read You're on your way, Teddy Roosevelt (library)

January 30th Week 16 Tell me about immigrants coming to America

• read The Long Way to a New Land and sequel The Long Way Westward
  
• read If your Name was Changed at Ellis Island (library)

February 6th Week 17: Tell me about President Wilson (World War 1)
Not really seeing much for World War 1.  The book I have is more of an after the war one about the Depression.  If anyone has ideas, I'd appreciate it in a comment! Thanks.

• read Dust for Dinner
• print out the Cher Ami coloring book and do some of those pages.

February 13th Week 18: Tell me about Pearl Harbor (World War 2)
I will have to preview these books.  I want to shelter Bear from the horror of war.  I searched on Amazon for titles that seemed to talk about what happened in a gentle way. There's no way I can know for certain without reading them first. If anyone has read these and thinks I shouldn't read them to Bear, please let me know.

Always Remember Me
One Splendid Tree
One Thousand Paper Cranes
I will Come Back for You
(This last one seems quite appropriate as it is listed for ages 5 and up and the preview I could read seemed gentle.)


February 20th Week 19: Tell me about NATO
??? Mmmm. Communism for a 4 year old?  Anyone?

February 27th Week 20: Tell Me about Brown v. Board of Education

• read Rosa Parks book
I am Rosa Parks, The Story of Rosa Parks, A Picture Book of Rosa Parks
• read about heroes of the Civil Rights Movement

Week 21: Tell me about U.S. Astronauts

• read Moonwalk: The first trip to the moon
  

Week 22: Tell me about September 11, 2001

• revisit the book The Man who Walked Between the Towers
• Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey 
• The Little Chapel That Stood

Week 23: Tell me the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

• some lesson plans on the constitution

Week 24: Tell me the Bill of Rights
Now exhausted from gathering all this information in one sitting.  Plan on finding appropriate book about the branches of government and the passing of a bill to go with this week.

Next up...planning Science.

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