Sunday, May 22, 2016

Covering the Classroom

After reviewing the photos from the last two weeks in the classroom, the first aspect that jumps out to me is how each of the five ares of the classroom are represented.  This includes the areas of Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Science/Cultural.  As Montessori classrooms strive to create a balance in the the difference work areas, I am so pleased to see that all of them are represented in our latest series of pictures, confirming that we are indeed 'covering the classroom!'

Refining the pincer grasp - transferring beads with tweezers.

Spelling practice - making a booklet using a list from our Language Works phonogram series.

Practicing skills needed for writing - painting on rocks.

Exploring compound words.

Gross motor development and coordination - matching the line on rolling pin and moving it along the line on the rug.

Looking a the designs and patterns found on these wooden eggs decorated in the Ukrainian style.

Addition with the Small Bead Frame.

Completion of the Cylinder Blocks blindfolded.

Using the smallest Pink Tower cube to slide on the edges.

Sorting images into the categories of Herbivore, Carnivore, or Omnivore.

Using two shapes and two colors for Metal Inset work.

Teamwork with the 45 Layout.

Working so intently and observing variations of size and dimension using the Pink Tower and Brown Stair.

Perfecting the Buckle Frame.

Division with the Stamp Game.

Tracing numerals and coloring quantities with an extension lesson of the Cards and Counters.

Copying words from a Word Family booklet.
Practicing the Lacing Frame.

Carefully placing corresponding quantities while preparing for odd and even number work.

Sounding out longer phonetic words with the Large Moveable Alphabet.

The mealworms have arrived!  We will be closely observing them to learn about the life cycle and conducting several experiments in the coming weeks.

Folding Cloths on the lines.

Seasonal matching activity with different types of flowers.

Still enjoying the watercolor activity.

In the process...

…and finished!

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Week in Photos

Here are some photos taken in the classroom over the past week.  Such a busy group!   Also, we were working on our Mother's Day gifts all week - making, decorating, wrapping, etc.  Enjoy!

Matching pictures to pictures - this set depicts famous landmarks in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Number recognition and sequencing with the Math Step Board.

Two friends discussing their work with the Pink Tower and Brown Stair.

Using the Teen Bead Hanger for numbers 11-19 - quantity and place value.

A fun activity to develop understanding of place value.

Waking the maze and trying not to touch the sides.

More teamwork!
Writing practice with the Large Moveable Alphabet.

We talked about Easter eggs decorated in the the Ukrainian style and Faberge eggs - the children have been enjoying this coloring page of eggs.

Lining up the Brown Stairs.

Retrieving quantities.

Playing the Exchange Game.

Transferring pieces of small, gold ribbon with a clothespin.

Reading practice with the Mac and Tab Series.

Pouring into two vessels.

Word study - exploring suffixes.

Introduction to the Small Bead Frame.

The Negative (Subtraction) Snake Game.

Checking one's work and finding it all matches up!

Writing practice on a lined chalkboard.

Counting, cardinality, and odd/even numbers with Cards and Counters.

Here, the child has brought the Red Rods to one mat and lined them up in order on the other mat.

Finding the Flag of Russia in a book and comparing it to the one from our collection of  Flags of the World.

Careful work with a watercolor art activity.