Montessori Dujour

Family meetings are an innovative way to gather purposefully to problem solve. Jane Nelsen, author of positive discipline gives parents support for establishing a family meeting routine! In my home we use family meetings. In my classroom we use them also. Meetings with groups of children can help establish boundaries and eliminate problem behaviors without punishment. Here is Dr. Nelson's agenda for the first meeting: "Week One: The Agenda Introduce the five components of family meetings. Let your family know you will be spending as many weeks as it takes to learn each component. The Agenda Compliments Brainstorming for Solutions A family fun activity such as a game, cooking, or popcorn and a movie. Calendar for family fun event The first week you can spend more time on the Agenda. Let your kids know this is where they can write problems. (Younger children can ask parents to write on the agenda for them.) Ask if anyone can think of any problems they would like help ...

Continent boxes are a Montessori must-have, yet they can be expensive and time consuming to build. When I first began teaching, I raided my parents’ curio cabinet and ‘borrowed’ souvenirs from their travels around the world.   This worked great initially, but I found myself in a bind as things broke or as pieces of items became worn through handling. I decided to reassess the continent boxes and rebuild them with everyday items that children could handle and explore without the worry of breaking something sentimental. After many years of a new collection process, I am pleased and proud of the boxes and the items I have available to my students.   At this point, I seem to have enough items to have continent boxes for home and school! Recently I’ve had several inquiries about the contents, cost and variety in the boxes. I compiled a simple list of “Do’s” for building continent boxes.   Here is how I built mine!        1.    ...

In her book Honoring The Light Of The Child, Sonnie McFarland gives educators 22 lesson plans and the tools needed create time and space for "time-in" experiences. Time-in is the concept of daily work that supports civility, peacefulness, self control, and positive self affirmation. In my classroom, the peace area is dedicated to Time-in. The Peace Area The peace area should be a place where children and adults have access to a variety of materials that invoke problem solving, self affirmation, and reflection. It is not used to separate or isolate children from one another during times of conflict, but it is regarded as a sanctuary. Children who are craving limits and boundaries can practice and learn proper conflict resolution and self calming activities in a classroom peace area. The peace area should include a comfortable place to sit such as a large bean bag chair. Don't forget to provide a mirror for literal reflection (which seems to be...

What is Normalization? There are many personality types of course. However, when children enter the process of normalization the same characteristics appear.   There are four characteristics that are a signal that the process of normalization is happening:   (1) Love of work   (2) Concentration   (3) Self-discipline   (4) Sociability Normalization is NOT ... (1) Lessons and Presentations (2) Quiet work time (3) Imposed consequences (time outs, earned rewards)  (4) Everyone Getting along Generally I begin thinking about normalization as soon as I get my roster. After noting the ages and potential skill level of each child, I appeal to the parents for information.  This usually comes in the form of a conversation or welcome email. In the email, I ask for each child's favorite color, toy, story, and animal. This gives me clues as to what I should include in the peace area, at the nature table, during my circle...

I'm sure you have heard of "No Bake Cookies" This is the seamstress' version called "No-Sew Aprons"   They are easy enough for kids to make and can be made from recycled materials! Begin by cutting 30 apron patterns from a queen-sized bed sheet. I used an apron I had on hand and simply traced 30 of them using chalk onto an old bed sheet (washed and iron with HEAVY starch)  Sew-tape or glue edges to avoid frays. Fold the apron in half vertically. Snip slits for apron strings. Cut apron strings from scrap material. (I had sheet left over and used it for the strings.) Insert a strip of fabric thhrough the slit and tie a basic knot. Do this on both sides Fold the top of the apron and make two additional slits- one at each corner. Use scrap fabric to make the neck loop ( I used shoelaces) Ta-Da!   Why 30 Aprons? Use them in your classroom, for a chef-themed birthday party, sell at church craft fairs,...