Monday, December 6, 2010

It's so sad................

Most of the time I complain that I'm old.....really old. I know that I'm not that old but some days it does feel like it. In reality 38 isn't that old. So, when you hear about a 38 year old classmate passing away unexpectedly it comes as quite a shock. When you remember this classmate as a dynamic, outgoing, fun loving guy, it's hard to imagine that he would pass away at such a young age. It's even worse when  you know that he is married and has two beautiful, young children. I am having a really hard time understanding this. Maybe over time it will make sense? I don't know. While I am waiting for it to make sense I will hug my family and friends tighter.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Mommy instincts

When I first started teaching, a long time ago, I did not have any children of my own. I was, however, an educator so I knew about children. Or so I thought. Everything changed after having a child. I found that I did not know everything about children. Having a child of my own put a whole new twist on teaching, it put a whole new twist on life. Life became more like a tornado. In a good way of course! Children do not come with a manual, all of a sudden you have a child and they do not come with instructions. How in the world do we know what to do? I have learned that mommy instincts will kick in. Somehow we actually do know what to do. Side note- I'm sure that daddy's have instincts too but I'm a mom so I can't speak on behalf of dads. Somehow we know what our kids need. We know how to decipher their cries when they are babies. Even if we think we don't know what to do, we actually do. I have found that if I can stay calm and think about the situation, I might actually be able to come up with a solution to the problem. Of course, my instincts aren't always right and another option may need to be followed, but I think I'm doing OK so far. Have you had to rely on your instincts? Did it work out? Do you think that moms do have mommy instincts? What about the dads, I would love to hear from you also!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

What to make?

Lets say it's December, it snuck up on you didn't it? OK, it snuck up on me. I am not a cook at all, I don't have this great recipe that I'm known for. What do you make for an important holiday dinner? Turkey was just done at Thanksgiving and it will be done again for Christmas. What can I make in between those two holidays for Hanukkah? Any idea? Do you have any "go to " recipes that you use? I would love to get great appetizer and main meal recipes. Lets share, maybe we can get a holiday recipe exchange going.
Oh and Happy Hanukkah!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

A little Hanukkah song

In honor of Hanukkah starting tomorrow night-

5 Little latkes

5 Little latkes frying in a pan, the grease got hot and one went Bam!
4 Little latkes.....
3 Little latkes....
2 Little latkes.......
1 Little latke...
No Little latkes frying in the pan, the grease got hot and the pan went Bam!

Enjoy and Happy Hanukkah!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Oh how this speaks to me

My brain is still on Thanksgiving break but I just saw this and I had to share!
http://www.racetonowhere.com/node/4494
Let me know what you think, I really want to see this. I truly believe that the whole way that children are taught needs to be changed.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

What happened to Halloween?

Back in October I went to some stores to get my Halloween candy. I loved looking at the Halloween decorations. Then I saw something strange, it was green and strangely enough it looked like a Christmas tree. What????? Christmas stuff next to the Halloween decor. Honestly, this drives me crazy. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday and that got pushed aside years ago. I guess Halloween is next on the chopping block. Watch out July 4th, you are next!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Mommy time

A quick post today because I am enjoying "Mommy time" I had a relaxing time getting my hair done this morning. Cut and colored!  Now, I'm watching a movie too! Quite a great day. I do feel that it is important every once in a while to find some "Mommy time" If you had a few hours to yourself, what would you do?
Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

responsibility and chores and an allowance?

I fully believe that children can have responsibilities in the home, based on their abilities and their age. A child of three or so can sweep up crumbs with a small dustpan and broom. A child of nine can hang up their own laundry and so on. I feel that there are duties(chores) that everyone in the house does because they live in the house. Such as, setting the table, cooking, basic cleaning etc. Then there are those chores that are above and beyond, mowing the lawn, washing the car, walking the dog. My thoughts are that children should not get paid for doing the everyday chores. Mom and dad don't get paid to do the chores, we are all a part of this family and everyone helps. That phrase is heard often in my house. I want my children to learn how to manage their money.  I think this is where an allowance comes in. This gives them the chance to save, spend and deal with their money.  I do feel that if the child goes above and beyond then they can earn some extra money. Do you give your child an allowance? Do they do chores, how did you decide how much to give them and what do they have to do to get it?

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Practical life-water, beans, and pitchers, oh my!

When I first entered a Montessori classroom I was entranced by the math materials. So concrete, it made such sense.  Then, I saw the practical life area.  Pitchers, water, sponges, beans, trays, what was all of this stuff and why are children using it? Well, practical life is just that, it teaches practical life skills in a fun way for children. Give a child an attractive set up of a tray, two pitchers with colored water and a sponge and watch the magic.  The child can sit there for as long as they want. It is mesmerizing. These skills, pouring, spooning, funneling and the like can then be translated to the home. It can be daunting to let your child pour their own milk for example. Find a small pitcher and put some milk in it on a low shelf in the fridge. You are still setting them up for success while keeping your sanity. If a spill should happen, let your child clean it up. This is also a part of practical life skills. These skills will lead to giving your child more responsibility in the home. There is no reason why a young child can not help around the house. A young child can dust, sweep and put their own toys away too. How does your young child help around the house?

Monday, November 15, 2010

Sharing

As parents we teach our children to share (more on that another day). What I love about blogs is the sharing of information. I love mom blogs, cooking blogs, education blogs and on and on. I learn many things from them and I hope that someone, somewhere can learn from me. I recently found a cake recipe on a blog and it looked so good I decided to try it. It's in the oven now.....and the house smells like an apple orchard! I'm not the best cook so we will see what happens. Do you have a favorite blog? Have you learned something from a blog? Share away!

Friday, November 12, 2010

One of my favorite things

I just have to share this great blog-
teachertomsblog.blogspot.com

He is amazing, innovative, creative, and very funny too! Check it out when you have a chance.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Veterans Day

It's Veterans Day. Many schools are closed for the day but you can still incorporate Veterans Day in your classroom.  You can adopt a soldier and write letters to him/her. At circle time you can explain why we celebrate Veterans Day. Your art center can be overhauled for the occasion. Make flags, paint with red, white and blue, make necklaces with red, white and blue beads, the possibilities are really endless. If you are in a Montessori classroom, change over your practical life center. All of the work can be changed to red, white and blue. Change your water color, sponges and the like. Maybe your children have family members that are in the military. Invite them in to speak or have a special breakfast to celebrate their service. Enjoy the day, remember why we have Veterans Day and teach your children about our servicemen and servicewomen.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

It breaks my heart

This issue does not affect me directly but it breaks my heart.  In a local school system (not the one that my children are in), there is talk of school closures. Lots of closures. I feel horrible for these families. What about the rising seniors? One more year in their school and now they may have to go somewhere else. The school system needs to save money.  There has to be another way. I feel that it's always the kids that have to pay the ultimate sacrifice. We need good teachers, good schools and quality curriculum. That curriculum needs to include a variety of subjects, including exposure to the arts and foreign languages. I feel that a school can have state of the art equipment and the best teachers and it can still not be successful. The right approach is needed to teach our children. I do not feel that charter/magnet schools are the ultimate answer either. There can be great public schools along with great charter schools. There can also be terrible public schools and terrible charter schools. Yes, I do feel that Montessori is the way to go......I am biased, I admit that. What do you think? What will help fix the educational crisis that is happening in our country? Hmmmm...I guess this issue does affect me directly.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Leaf Rubbing

It's an oldie but a goodie.........
Go outside and take a walk or just go into your yard and find some interesting leaves. I find the easiest way to do this is to then tape the leaf to something. I taped it to a table. Then take some paper and put it over the leaf. Rub gently with a crayon and by magic the leaf appears. It was especially exciting when I used multiple crayons........

Monday, November 8, 2010

The Thankful Tree

This project started because I needed to do something with my youngest child. So, the thankful tree was born. You can, of course, do this with real leaves and twigs but we decided to make our own. I did a search for "free printable leaves" many, many sites came up. I printed out two leaves and then traced and cut them out of construction paper. We then wrote what we were thankful for on them and we are continuing to add to the tree through the month. My youngest then colored in the trunk. I also printed out bubble letters so that she could make the Happy Thanksgiving banner. It was a fun project and it is making us all think about what we are thankful for. I always love to hear how children answer the "What are you thankful for ?" question.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

What I love.............Montessori style

1. I love the materials.
2. I love that most materials can be handmade.
3. I love that the materials can be changed as needed.
4. I love that the materials can be changed to fit the needs of the individual child.
5. I love the peaceful nature of the classroom.
6. I love that the children are exposed to the arts.
7. I love that the children are able to work at their own pace.
8. I love that the children have responsibilities in the classroom.
9. I love that everything has its place in the room.
10. I love that the classroom is set up for the children, everything is at their level.
What do you love about Montessori?

Saturday, November 6, 2010

What becoming a mom has taught me

After nine years of being a mom, I have learned the following-
1.There are some days when I have no idea what I am doing.
2.I do not have all of the answers to all of the kids questions.
3.Snuggling with the kids is one of the best things in life.
4.Motherhood isn't easy.
5.It's ok to ask for help.
6.Volunteering at school is very rewarding.
7.It's very had to yell at the kids if they are being cute.
8.I never knew how much I could worry about two other people.
9.My kids are picky eaters and so am I, I know where they got that from.
10.I need to back off if they make a mess, it's ok, it can be cleaned up.
I'll stop at 10......for now. What have you learned?

Friday, November 5, 2010

Juggling

I always said that my children would not be over scheduled...........ok, I still don't think they are over scheduled but I do think we are pretty darn close. The only days that we have without an activity are Tuesday or Saturday. I am a stay at home mom and I still feel like I do not have enough time to get everything done. I make a to do list and as soon as I cross something off the list I add three more things! How do I keep it all straight, a calendar. Ok, I have about 3 calendars but I don't know how else to keep it straight. I also use a file box that I have hanging in my pantry. Everyone gets a section to store all of those papers that come through the house, such as permission slips, sign up sheets etc. This works wonders and keeps the clutter off of the kitchen counter.
Have you found a great way to keep it all flowing smoothly? If so please share, I love a good idea!
Here is my filing system in the pantry. My husband and I have the top one and my kids have the bottom two. All of their school and activity papers go right in, I love it!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Parental judgement

You didn't breastfeed? You put your kid in daycare? You aren't working? You are working? Do these questions sound familiar? I never heard or thought of these questions until I became a mom. What surprises me the most is that these questions are frequently thrown at moms from other moms. We can be so judgemental of others. I wonder why? Why can't we support each other instead of tearing each other apart? I often wonder what the "mom world" would be like if we had conversations instead of criticism. I may not agree with some choices that some moms make but they may not like the way I do things either, and that is ok! What works in one house may not work in another. I will admit that I keep my kids on a routine and schedule, I didn't breastfeed, I have been a working mom and stay at home mom too. Over the last nine years I have found what works for me and what does not work for me. The choices that I have made may not be choices that other moms would make. That's ok because nobody knows my kids like I do......
What do you think? Have you come across other parents that question your decisions? How did you handle it?

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Election day in the classroom

Election day and voting does not have to be just for adults. Bring it into your classroom too. Explain what Senators, Congressman and Congresswomen do. Explain what the president does. You can explain it in simple terms depending on what age group you teach. Hold a mock election. Explain voting and ballots too. This is the perfect time of year to get a class pet such as a fish. Then vote to see what the fish should be named. Make or color American flags, discuss the USA and discuss what it means to be patriotic. What other activities do you have in your classroom that are related to election day?

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

communication

Communication can mean many things to many people. There are endless types of communication, and as teachers we communicate with many different people. One of the communication combinations is teacher to teacher. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the sharing of ideas between teachers. We are the best resource for each other. If you are a teacher and you come up with a fantastic idea, pass it on. It does not do anyone, any good to keep it to yourself. What have you come up with lately? Is it a creative new way to teach letter sounds? Do you have a great new way to use clay? Have you shared this idea? Share with us now, what is your great idea that you would like to share?

Monday, November 1, 2010

great resources

I fully believe in passing on a good find and I have found one.
thehomeschoolroom.net
This was like Disney world for me! It is an educational consignment store. There were books, manipulatives, games, toys and more.
I hope that everyone has a place like this near them.
If you have a wonderful resource by you, please share. You never know who you might help out.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

art, floor, and table mats.....hmmmmmm what are those?

In a Montessori classroom you will find art, floor and table mats. Sounds strange, I know, but trust me-they are fabulous. For art mats, think about a plastic place mat. Cut it in half. Now you have two art mats. When a child is doing art work at a table in the classroom, they need an art mat. This mat defines their space. This is their space to do their art work. A table mat works the same way. If a child is bringing, for example, a manipulative to the table, they first need to get a table mat. A cloth place mat works really well here. It again, defines the work area of the child. Lastly, floor mats. If a child is doing work on the carpet, he or she needs to get a floor mat first. A very small throw rug that can be rolled up works well. This floor mat defines the workspace of the child. It is a notice to everyone else that this child is working, do not disturb. The other children and adults in the room need to respect this, and walk around the mat. Imagine a classroom of 18 children. Lets say 8 are working at tables and 10 are working on the carpet. Now, imagine those 10 children and their 10 different activities all over the carpet. Kids, puzzles pieces, blocks, and manipulatives all over the place. Now imagine those 10 children, all sitting at their own designated place. They are each working with their own activity, at their own mat.........ahhhhhhh so wonderful, peaceful, and calm. If you haven't seen it before, trust me, it works.......and it's wonderful. If you have multiple children at home these type of mats can be purchased and used in the home as well.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Prepare the environment

Maria Montessori called the classroom the prepared environment. Think about that for a moment, the prepared environment. That makes a lot of sense. The classroom is the prepared environment, the environment (the classroom)needs to be prepared. Well, of course! We don't want our children in a class that is not prepared, do we? No, of course not. We want an environment that is appealing, well thought out, and stocked with materials.  Everything in the classroom should be well thought out, everything should be there for a reason. The furniture in the room should be well placed so that there are no hiding places, all children should be visible at all times for safety reasons. All work on the shelves should be whole, if a piece is missing or something is broken it should not be out for the child to work with. Imagine the disappointment of the child if they went to work with a puzzle only to find out that pieces are missing.
A critical aspect of the prepared environment is the order of the work on the shelves. Here is a phrase that you will hear often in the world of Montessori, top to bottom and left to right. This is how the work should be placed on the shelves.  The easiest material is first, on the top shelf all the way to the left. The most difficult material should be on the bottom shelf all the way to the right. This goes for every shelf in every area of the room. It is set up this way to keep order and structure. The child will learn where the material is kept making it easier at clean up time.  The room is  also structured this way to train the eye for reading, since we read left to right.
I could go on and on about the prepared environment, it is so important. More on another day....

Friday, October 29, 2010

A little independence

One of the core components in the Montessori Philosophy is independence. Independence needs to be taught just like tying shoes. The child should be able to do as much for themselves as they are capable of.  If you want a child to do something you need to teach them, you need to be consistent and you need to start at an early age.  With a very young child, this would include feeding him/herself. A young child can slowly learn to use a spoon and try and get that food from the bowl to the mouth. It will be messy. If you are not fond of messes, I do understand. Dress your child and yourself in clothes that you are not attached to. Put a bib on the child and a splat mat on the floor. You can not spoon feed your child for the rest of his/her life.......they will learn.
Year after year without fail I would have a parent show up at my classroom door and see their child clean up their work without complaining or throwing a tantrum. The jaw of the parent would be on the floor and then he/she would ask "How did you get him/her to clean up, he/she won't do it at home?" Here's my answer- The child knows my expectations from day one. As soon as the school year starts I tell each child, "When you are done with something it goes right back where you got it from." That's it, end of story. If you do not put away your work when it is completed you may not take out anything else. The rule doesn't change. If you put your work away, you may go to the playground, you may go to the easel etc. This rule can be applied at home also. If you want to go outside you need to clean up inside first. The child will then clean up and go out. If the child does not clean up, there is no outside time. Again, that's it, end of story. If you ask the child (at home or at school)to do something and they do not listen there needs to be natural, concrete, timely consequences.
This is why I love Montessori. I started talking about independence,  which led to care of self,which led to natural consequences and so on. Everything in Montessori and in life I think is interrelated............one thing leads to another which leads to another.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

I'm a fan

By now you might have realized that I am a fan of Maria Montessori. Ok, I'm a huge fan. A Maria Montessori groupie if you will.......
Everyone learns differently, some in an auditory manner, some through touch, some learn by watching. This is what makes us unique.
In A Decalogue Maria Montessori states-"Respect the child who takes rest or watches others working or ponders over what she/he her/himself has done or will do. Neither call her/him or force her/him to other forms of activity. "
This is so true in the classroom, especially in the multi-age Montessori classroom. It always fascinated me when, for example, a three year old would wander through the classroom looking for work to do. I would often see a  young child stop and watch another child. They would sit quietly next to the working child and just watch, observing. Imagine it, a child observing another child. We are taught as Montessori teachers to observe and observe and observe again, and here the children are doing it also. They are learning through observation. This young child may be observing a lesson that they are not ready for but they are still learning. They may then come to the teacher and ask to do this same work. They are however, not ready for it. This is not the end though. Now the teacher, who is always prepared,  may say "you are not ready for this work yet but, lets work on something else first" For example, this child may have just observed another child working with the moveable alphabet. The child is not ready for this work yet because he/she doesn't know all of the sounds yet. What a perfect opportunity to bring out the sandpaper sounds and get to work. Children observing each other is a wonderful way for children to learn. Do not disturb this beautiful scene...........

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Watch your language

Language, it's an interesting concept and it is quiet complex.  Throw children into the mix and it is even more complex. Babies love that high pitch tone that adults have when talking to them. As babies grow into toddlers and beyond it is time to ditch the high pitch. It is a pet peeve of mine to hear grown adults speak baby talk to a 3 year old. As adults we need to speak to children in an age appropriate manner. Get down to their level, I mean this literally. Don't tower over them. Sit down, squat down, do whatever you have to do and look them in the eye to have a real conversation. Use words that they will understand, do not talk to them like babies or like little adults. They are neither of these things.
If a young child does not know how to express themselves, give them the words to use. For example, two children are fighting over a toy. You may have seen the whole scenario play out but our job as adults is to have these two children work it out. They may need help with the words. Little Emily is crying because another child took her toy and she is standing there crying. You may say to Emily"Why are you upset" Emily stands there and points to the other child. You then may say, "Did Jane take your toy?" Emily nods her head yes. You then say to Emily " Tell Jane that it is not ok to take your toy." Emily does this and so on. You, as the adult, need to teach the children in your care how to communicate. We have to teach them everything else, walking, dressing, why not language also?
Children will look for approval from the adults around them. It is find to say "Good job" every time your child shows you a piece of art they have created or after they build an amazing block structure. However, lets take it to the next level. If a child shows you their latest drawing, they may be looking for your verbal approval. Lets be honest here, you may look at this drawing and think, "I do not know what this is a picture of". Instead of saying "What is this?" (Imagine how crushing that statement could be to the child) , try saying "Tell me about your picture." This puts it back in the hands of the child. He/she may then tell you a fantastic story about their picture. It is their picture after all. Lets say a child shows you their painting hanging on the easel. Instead of "Nice work" try saying "I like the colors that you used". You are still giving a compliment but the ownership is given back to the child. This is a hard habit to get into after years of saying "Good job" but it is well worth it. Try it and see what great conversations begin.......

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Getting involved

Yesterday I volunteered in my daughter's Kindergarten classroom. It was rainy and dreary out and I honestly did not feel like going but I did. Those kids are amazing. My own daughter is happy to see me but so is the rest of the class. That really makes me feel great. It's only my third time going in but it is so rewarding. I still get to teach, without any of the added responsibilities, which is kind of nice too.  I find it fascinating to see the different ability levels in the room. From children that are reading to children that need help in basic letter recognition. I wish I could do more for these kids.....
If you can spare an hour a week, try volunteering in your child's classroom. The teachers can use some help. They have large classes with a variety of children in them. The extra hands are always needed. Don't worry if you "don't know how to teach" It's ok. You can read them a story, work on the ABC's etc. More importantly, you can show your child and the other children that you care and that goes a long way. What a different world it would be if more adults got involved......endless possibilities.
How do you help out at your child's school? Let us know.

Monday, October 25, 2010

A Halloween song

I don't know how Halloween is almost here, where is this year going?

5 Little Pumpkins-
5 Little Pumpkins sitting on a gate, the first one said. "Oh my it's getting late!"
The Second one said, "There are witches in the air"
The third one said, "Well, I don't care."
The fourth one said, "I'm ready for some fun"
The fifth one said,"Let's run and run and run."
When, whoosh went the wind and out went the lights and the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight."
5 Litttle Pumpkins....
The first one said....
"Oh my it's getting late"
And so on with the hand movements.....
This song is always a favorite.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Breaking Habits

My first daughter never wanted a binky, never sucked her thumb, and never carried around a blanket. Oh, how easy I had it.  My second child wanted the binky, loved the binky!  At 18 months she gave it up cold turkey. Yahoo I thought, that was easy. Well, she then found her thumb. What would I do now? I can't throw out her thumb..can I? No, no, just kidding.  So, what did I do? Not much honestly. I encouraged her to keep her thumb out of her mouth and a few years later it has nearly worked.  Here and there I still catch her with her thumb in her mouth when she is really tired. So, here it is in print (or type I guess), I have no words of wisdom on this topic. If you do, please share your thoughts. Lets get a good Mammasori conversation going.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

"Babies"

I did not think when I first started this adventure that I would post two times in one day but I just have to. I just watched the movie "Babies".  It was a wonderful documentary about 4 babies from around the world.  It was amazing to see that even though the four babies come from very different worlds they still met their developmental milestones at about the same time. It was interesting to see the moms and dads still interacting in similar ways with their children. They still encouraged them to play, they became excited for them when they did something new and so on. This movie also made me think that we, as Americans, take so much for granted. I include myself in this group. Or maybe it's just me. It was interesting to see how parents in other parts of the world take care of their children. How they feed them, clean them, provide for them. Above all, babies are still babies no matter where they are from and they are still so darn cute! I loved this movie. If you haven't seen it, give it a try and let me know what you think.

Babble

I started this blog because I wanted to share what I have learned over the years with pretty much anyone who would listen. My hope is that I am helpful in someway. I can babble on about any topic that deals with kids. Please let me know if there is any topic that you would like me to cover. I am open to all ideas.
Thank you!!!!!!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Halloween/Fall fun for school or home

For me, this is the best time of year. I love the cooler temperatures and the fall colors. The fall season lends itself to many activities for home and the classroom. Please feel free to add your fall activities, lets share our best ideas.
If you have water activities in the classroom or a water table at home-turn that water orange and use fall color sponges to clean it up.
Fill your sensory table with rice or pasta that you have dyed orange. Fill the table with small, age appropriate Halloween items. You can use spider rings, fake leaves and so on. You can also use this same idea with language activities. Still fill the table with rice/pasta, put in a few letters to encourage letter recognition. For example, put in the letter H for Halloween, add objects that being with the letter H.Instant language activity.
Go on a nature walk and find some leaves. Tape one to a clipboard and put a piece of paper over the leaf. Rub away with some crayons in fall colors.
Art activity-Cut off the top of a small pumpkin. Hold it by the stem, dip in paint, then stamp on paper. The possibilities are endless.
Make homemade playdough and use orange food coloring. Add some pumpkin spice too, smells great!
If you are working on counting or one on one correspondence in your math area or at home, break out those Halloween items again and count spiders, pumpkins and the like.
Here is my favorite and it's so simple. Get a basin and fill halfway with water. Add a small pumpkin. Give the children some soap, sponges and towels to dry the now shiny clean pumpkin. Pumpkin washing is always a big hit!
Halloween/fall lends itself to tons of ideas!! Have fun, I can't wait to hear what you come up with.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

I can't take credit, so thank you...

I have been thinking about starting a blog for a while. During that decision making process I have bounced around many titles. A dear friend and very talented writer hit the nail on the head when she came up with Mammasori. It's brilliant and sums me up in one word. So, thank you, thank you, thank you, you know who you are!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Finding your passion

How many times do we hear "find your passion"? I have always loved children. They fascinate me and they are cute too. Many years ago I found something called Montessori. I observed at a Montessori school because I was trying to land a job as a substitute teacher. I sat there in awe. While my jaw was on the floor I watched a class full of kids serve their own snacks. I saw them polish silver and work on their letter sounds. I also saw them using very strange materials to learn how to add and I was hooked!
After I taught for 15 years I made the decision to stay home full time with my own children. I love being home to take care of them, to volunteer at school, and to see them get off the bus in the afternoon.
Teaching has its ups and downs as does parenting. I feel that my next journey in life is this, to pass on whatever I have learned through my years as a Montessori teacher and mom. Lets enjoy these Montessori and mom moments together. The good ones and that ones that turn our hair gray(at least that is what I blame the gray on!) Thanks for reading!