one, two, buckle my shoe...

I am so excited about the new unbuckling shoes lesson in our classroom! Montessori Mama posted about this lesson in her toddler classroom a few weeks ago, and I was finally able to set it up in our classroom this morning. First, let me say how much I sympathize with moms searching for "real" things made just for their little ones to use. Each time I went thrifting for shoes with buckles, I would find several pairs, but the buckles would be non-functional! I would fall in love with a shiny pair of sweet little mary-janes, only to discover that the straps were attached with Velcro, and the buckles were just for decoration!

Anyway, I finally found this pair yesterday afternoon ($0.50), and they made their debut on the practical life shelf with great fanfare. I can understand why Velcro is a quick and easy alternative for parents - and teachers :), but, after watching the three children I presented this lesson to concentrate and really use their little finger muscles to open and close the buckles, I decided, "Go buckle, or go home!" Ha!

This lesson is perfect for the 3-year-olds in our classroom, and I know that some of the 4 and 5-year-olds can't wait to give it a try, too. We don't have a buckle dressing-frame, so real shoes make a great alternative. I presented this lesson both on the floor and at a table. Both ways seemed to work fine! :)

busy hands

hammering golf tees into clay

bumble bee finger play

here is the beehive (hold up fist)
but where are the bees?
they're hiding away where nobody sees
here they come, out of their hive
one, two, three, four five... (raise fingers as you count, when your hand is open, "fly" fingers in the air)
*After the children have "buzzed" for awhile I remind them to "catch their bees!"

dry pouring

With October in full swing, the classroom truly is a beehive of activity! Our classroom is unique (and lucky!) because all three of us teachers are Caspari Montessori certified. With three "lesson teachers" in the classroom, the children are able to receive lots of lessons, and because we teachers have completed the same Montessori training, we are consistent in the way we present the lessons.

tracing the world map

Every so often, all the children settle into meaningful work, and we teachers stand back and say, "Wow! Is our classroom already normalized?"

sponge squeezing

Wait! Before you think I'm boasting, let me just reemphasize the every so often. Today was CRAZY!!! I'm not sure if it was a change in the barometric pressure (it's supposed to be in the 30's here by Friday), or what, but it was a wacky day. There were a few meaningful moments here and there, and I took some pictures to prove it. I need some inspiration for tomorrow!

basting

clock work

useful words

apple counting

coffee grinding

hammering tacks

skip counting

gluing squares

droppering

tweezering sunflower seeds

Montessori: The Rap

I'm not sure who this Montessori teacher is, but I bet his students love him! How funny - catchy, too!

Montessori coffee buzz

X-tine, one of the other lovely teachers in my classroom (there are three of us all together) came up with this new practical life lesson. Coffee grinding. How fabulous is that? The children are loving it, and the whole school smells like fresh coffee in the morning. Yum!

Coffee Grinding

Materials:

• Coffee beans in a dish
• Spoon
• Hand-crank coffee grinder
• Jar for grounds
• Brush and pan (aka crumber)

Procedure:

• This is a food lesson, so wash your hands first!
  
• Put on an apron and unroll a mat at a table
  
• Place the items from left to right across the top of the mat, introducing each one by name
• Take the tray back to the shelf
  
• Bring the grinder to the front and center of the mat
• Slide lid open (or open however yours might open)
• Set the dish of coffee beans to the left of the grinder
• Pick up spoon and situate in pincher-finger grip
• Spoon a few scoops of coffee beans into the grinder
• Close the grinder lid
  
• Place the spoon and dish of beans back in their places at the top of the mat
• Start grinding!
• Open the lid every once and awhile to check the coffee grounds
• Bring the jar to the right of the grinder and open the lid
• Open the coffee grinder (on ours, the whole lid with crank twists off)
  
• Spoon the grounds into the jar
• Close the jar and close the grinder
• Reposition all the items at the top of the mat
  
• Bring the tray back to the mat and replace all the items, except the crumber
• Crumb the mat, the table, the chair, etc. and empty loose grounds into the garbage or compost

Purpose:

• Control and coordination of movement
• Organization and sequence
• Indirect preparation for math and language

Point of interest:

• Coffee grinder
  
• Coffee beans
  

Ages: 3 1/2 and up

*This lesson is a great precursor to grating lessons, like bread grating and soap grating.

I looked around online for hand-crank coffee grinders. X-tine found hers at Butterfly Herbs in Missoula, but I couldn't find it in their catalog. Cuda Coffee had the best selection that I could find, but none just like the one we're using. I'd like to find one to use at home! :)

Ross Peak

I've always wanted to make it to the top of Ross Peak, and on Saturday we finally did! We being me, R, Rosie, and the merry men. It took us about four hours up and back, the views were grand, and no one tumbled off a cliff! Overall, it was an excellent adventure!