Montessori - Tumblr Posts
When we garden, we create a protected and nurturing space for plants to flourish… Unlike a good chair, a good garden is constantly changing, as it adapts to the changing circumstances of weather and the seasons. And in the long run, that kind of varied, flexible, complex, dynamic system will be more robust and adaptable than the most carefully tended hothouse bloom.
-Alison Gopnik, The Gardener and the Carpenter
"Childhood is not a race to accumulate all of the consumer goods and stresses of adulthood in record time. By simplifying, we protect the environment for childhood's slow, essential unfolding of self."
-Kim John Payne, Simplicity Parenting
✨ veggie garden year 3 ✨ made almost entirely of recycled & upcycled materials. So far, lots of leafy greens and baby bunnies!
'The Cult of Family Vloggers' by Sounds Like A Cult on Amazon Music.
This was a very interesting and extremely informative episode. Certainly has made me rethink the way I approach social media as a parent.
"Teach your children to appreciate the unique qualities and strengths of each sibling, fostering a sense of unity and support."
-Adele Faber, Siblings Without Rivalry
"No matter how old you get, may you always stop to fill your pockets with smooth stones, empty snail shells & other little treasures."
-Nicolette Gooder
DIY toddler crayons using a silicone mould at 250° for ten minutes (Use liners if using a muffin tin).
Tuesdays and Thursdays are for sensory play! My 5 month old had much more fun with whipped cream while my 16 month old currently prefers to tinker in the garden.
As a mother of three boys (two of which are under two), I've accepted the fact that I most likely won't be able to have a real Christmas tree in our home for the foreseeable future. The little ones are far too curious for such a temptation, and I just don't have the energy for extra supervision. So I've set my eyes on the Holy Grail of DIY crafts. A 3D felt Christmas tree, complete with felt ornaments and fixtures for hanging. An all-inclusive way to get the little ones involved in Christmas without the worry! Wish me luck 😅
Wandering with my littles. Found some beautiful wildflowers native to our zone 5 nature trails.
"Nature is a warm sensory bath that can counterbalance the cold overwhelm of too much activity, information, or ‘stuff.’" -Kim John Payne, Simplicity Parenting
Eleventh Classroom...
It’s been a year…
Still AroAce…
Still a teacher…
Still barely sane…
I went from being a ‘traveling ESL teacher’ to a paraprofessional at a Montessori school. I am not impressed. Oh sure, Montessori is a wonderful learning philosophy but it is not for everyone. It is certainly not for a teacher with ADHD that struggles with hyperfocus. The individualized lessons given are often at the cost of classroom management or vice versa.
The parents who send their kids to a Montessori school do so in lieu of seeking out professional help for their unique or troubled child. I have TWELVE out of twenty-six students who are either obviously ADHD or obviously Autistic to some degree. Two have IEPs and the rest are ‘busy kids’ in their parents’ eyes.
This is a challenge that I have no problem with. I LOVE my students.
BUT I am not thrilled with their parents…
‘I want to focus on this pregnancy’…Yeah, but while you’re doing that you could LAY in bed and work with your son on his letter sounds.
‘My parents are in a motel getting their act together’…AKA, drug addicts.
‘My mom says that this rule is dumb’…Sorry, it’s a SCHOOL rule. No sweets.
The only thing worse than the parents is how this school is run…
The double standards and obvious favoritism is what REALLY pisses me off.
I do my job, I get yelled at by THREE different people.
Someone else DOESN’T do their job and they get praised…wonderful.
Oh yeah, and we have FOUR Montessori teachers out of FORTY.
Kids Room Toddler New York
Example of a medium-sized children's room in the beach style with gray walls and a medium-toned, gender-neutral wood floor.
We need to be risky, otherwise we will stagnate and we wouldn't know how to take care of ourselves instinctively. Biggest example here would be learning how to ride a bike. It's a risk peppered with cuts, bruises, and minor concussions, but in return, we get a sense of balance, body coordination and alertness to traffic.
Great Read!