Admiring Maria Montessori...

I first learned about Maria Montessori in 1994 when I moved to Naples, Italy with my husband. I applied to work at a school at the NATO base-the "Anglo-Italian Montessori School". At first I was an aide in a kindergarten class taught by a very nice woman. She was "my" teacher as well as a teacher to the wonderful, bright 5 year old students. Most of the students were Italian learning the English language in the Montessori method of teaching. I learned to love the methods of Maria Montessori. Every thing had a "place" in the classroom. Realistic pictures were used vs. the fictional characters often used in the American preschools. Order, yet freedom was displayed in each classroom. There were very precise rules to follow but the students learned at their own pace. There were centers for practical life (using real glass dishes), language, math and sensory. Push pin activities were started at age 4 to help with their fine motor skills as well as developing their level of concentration. I honestly wish I could say that I have a Montessori home for my 3 children...not quite...but I do use some of the methods for homeschooling my young children. I admire the strength, wisdom and determination of Maria Montessori. She really observed the way in which children learn. These young children are such sponges and will absorb so much through playing and interacting.

Homeschool Help-Links for teaching

http://www.linkslearning.org/Kids/1_Math/2_Illustrated_Lessons/index.html

Best Way - Montessori Math Activities | eHow.com

Best Way - Montessori Math Activities eHow.com

Fractions

I just used some cardstock (you can laminate if you 'd like) and made a little puzzle to help with the concept of fractional parts.

Rounding to nearest Hundred

To help my child learn the concept of rounding to the nearest hundred I used two sentence paper strips to make a number line from 100-900. I cut out 2 x 2" squares of card stock and wrote on some random numbers. We made a little game out of finding which 2 hundreds the given numbers were in between, laying the given number on the number line. Then I marked off the "middles"...150, 250, 350 in red...explaining that if the tens place of the given number is 5 or above then you round up to the next hundred. For example 252 would be rounded up to 300 since the tens place is a 5 or above. I presented this to my daughter by placing the numbers under the correct answer.

Homemade Montessori Counting Beads

Instead of using the very expensive traditional Montessori gold beads/rods, I decided to make my own beads using natural wooden beads on natural hemp string. I have only gotten as far as beads for 1-10 as seen in the photo. You can find supplies at your local craft store. I tried to tie the knots as close as I could to the beads on each end just so that when you line them up that it is a very clear pattern that the next number is one bead larger, etc. This time I lined them up to look like a Christmas tree for the holiday season.

Autumn themed Sequencing 1-10 activity

My 3 year old really enjoyed this simple yet colorful sequencing activity using some decorative fall leaves. I used a permanent marker to write numbers 1-10 on the leaves and used some strips of card stock to present to him the numbers in order.