Parts of a Stink Bug
If you read the title of this post and your reaction is “What’s a stink bug?” be thankful. The brown marmorated stink bug is an insect that was introduced to the United States by accident in 1998. It...
View ArticleMontessori Record Keeping
We have just finished up our fall conferences at my school. One important tool that we always use, revisit, and expand,as we write up our conference notes, is the master record that we keep for each...
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2013 — half a year in review
Hoping that everyone had a holiday filled with peace and love. Ours was delightful, filled with just enough of everything. My favorite part of 2013, is this, montessori works. I love the community of...
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knitting in the classroom
I long to be able to knit — sweaters for my children, shawls, hats, and mittens — but I knit squares and rectangles. I can’t count stitches, I need to look up directions any time I have to do anything...
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meaningful sensory experiences in the montessori classroom & connections to home
Sensory play is a big deal in the educational arena. If you are on Pinterest, you will constantly see new Pins featuring themed sensory bins or new recipes for goopy substances for your child to...
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handmade beeswax lanterns
*** please use caution when crafting with beeswax, especially with children. Wax is extremely hot, and can burn *** These beautiful beeswax lanterns aren’t so much a Valentine’s Day craft, but the...
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montessori presidents day & money sorting work
Presidents Day is coming up this Monday, traditionally, it is a day to celebrate Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays, however, this year I decided to celebrate it in a more inclusive way by focusing...
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why i don’t do examples
I don’t make examples. Not for artwork, not for crafts. The only time I must produce something like a drawing is when I give a metal inset lesson, and then I carefully fold my work into fourths and put...
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four montessori color mixing lessons
Color mixing works are always a hit in the classroom. We progress through all these variations during the year, because while it seems like a simple concept, it truly is something that takes children...
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a terrarium to make with your children
Monday was a snow day, an actual snow day and not an ice day, or a “freak out because it might snow” day. Honestly, I’m feeling a little done with all the snow, I’m ready for the green of spring, the...
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montessori bread work {part 2}
My very first blog post, almost a year ago, was about making bread in the classroom. I was so nervous hitting the publish button, I thought “who’s going to care about making bread in a Montessori...
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our monthly bread–sun bread
We eat a lot in this house, really, a lot. And I cook most of what we eat. Most days I enjoy cooking dinner, making lunches, loading the dishwasher – but like us all, some days I look at my family and...
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animals of europe giveaway!
Do you know what happened the other day? I realized I have blogged at montessori works for a year! Now that deserves a celebration. I think I will have some cake and a glass of wine, but I also have...
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simple last minute egg decorating
Do you know when your dreams just don’t line up with reality? That’s what happened in our house this week. My dream was to make beautiful, vibrant, and natural Easter egg dyes. Imogen and I were going...
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montessori silence game & variations
I love lessons that, at their essence, require no materials — just some space and the children. Lessons that are the fundamentals to the Montessori classroom, but by Spring, can often be forgotten by...
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fundamental needs of worms – a montessori science work
In late March, I had the great opportunity to attend the American Montessori Society’s annual conference in Dallas. It was wonderful, inspiring, overwhelming and so busy! It was hard to figure out...
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monthly bread, may — it’s the experience, not the product, right?
April flew by without bread, whoops! We will aim for two loaves this month to make up for it! So, I was feeling a little nostalgic when we were planning this loaf of bread, and I went to an old recipe...
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wildflower seed pods
I’m running about 2 weeks late. My original plan was to have these ready to send home with our Mother’s Day gift, well, it’s May 12th and we just started them. While these seed pods are designed for...
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a compilation of free montessori resources!
For the last few years, at the end of the year, I reread Julie Volkman’s The Promise of Fall. It’s not because I am a super teacher that is constantly thinking about how I can improve, or what I can do...
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montessori approach to allowance — real practical life
My daughter hoards stuffed animal, cats are her favorite. She prefers them in the $3.00 or less category (which you can find at almost any store) and every month, that is where her spending money goes....
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