Continent Boxes!
Found a nice tutorial on making your
own continent boxes. So here are some supplies which are
even less expensive to make them! Here's a nice demo as well
as to purpose and how to use boxes.

https://www.amazon.com/Ball-Squishy-Tear-Resistant-excersizer-Strengthening/dp/B074HGDRVN/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1524777429&sr=8-5&keywords=squishies+world

https://www.amazon.com/stores/node/12757449011?_encoding=UTF8&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=MESHA&ref_=w_bl_hsx_s_ho_web_12757449011

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B9N9XZZ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07B9N9XZZ&pd_rd_wg=nesgL&pd_rd_r=ZFKKZJF61VGPEG6MAZ45&pd_rd_w=9urm1

Beads Beads Beads!

Montessori Year Chain
https://www.etsy.com/listing/176450350/montessori-year-chain-montessori?ref=related-7

Bead Stairs Stacker

https://www.etsy.com/listing/594934060/montessori-style-preschool-bead-stairs?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=&ref=sc_gallery-4-1&plkey=99a197ebe93847054cf90174fcf25fc933585061:594934060

Found a new website with lots of free goodies!
https://www.naturalbeachliving.com/montessori-activities-free-printables/

Hello all,
 It has been awhile since I posted due to the two years I've spent getting an Art degree finished.
I am so happy to finally have paid for and received my beautiful handmade letters from
Young Minds at Play! They are gorgeous and worth every penny...a solid and beautiful alternative
to rough ol' sandpaper letters. They are traceable too either with the finger, a stylus or if
you do rubbings or direct tracings on paper.  Check these out at:
http://youngmindsatplay.com/catalog/8

Check out these new puzzles, controls and three part cards from Puzzle Heads!
Mine came in the mail today and we are really thrilled with the quality of the puzzles
and materials.  The lady who runs the company (Mira Herbert) sent the following information to
share with my blog readers:

I design and create all of my puzzles myself from start to finish. They all start out as an original pencil drawing before becoming a digital piece of art. Stencils are then created for each color block. The images are silk screened with water based inks on to Baltic birch plywood panels which I cut into the finished puzzle pieces. My puzzles are guaranteed to last for years in your classroom and the corners will not deteriorate or become rounded.  Ideas for new puzzles or materials are always welcomed and have either already been created or are currently in progress in my workshop.

Here are the links for the materials:

Monarch

http://puzzleheads.ca/shop/montessori-monarch-butterfly-nomenclature-puzzle/

Ladybug

http://puzzleheads.ca/shop/montessori-red-ladybug-nomenclature-puzzle/

Nomenclature cards

http://puzzleheads.ca/shop/montessori-monarch-butterfly-nomenclature-cards/

 Sad to say JMP and Appleseed are no longer in business. Some of the product
line seems to be available through Alisons, so try there.
https://www.alisonsmontessori.com/Geometric_Cabinet_Shape_Puzzle_p/s186.htm


K.

Update on Storage Solutions

http://www.shop.hellowood.com/Stands-for-Maps-and-Control-Charts_c104.htm
Hi,
 HelloWood is the place for finding storage for maps and charts; scroll down the page to find the vertical stands.

http://www.shop.hellowood.com/Fraction-Circles_c53.htm
Here are trays for fraction circles or metal inset work!

http://www.shop.hellowood.com/Language-Arts_c4.htm
Here are double inset stands and paper and language storage materials:

http://www.shop.hellowood.com/Drawing-Insets_c91.htm

New Materials

For what new at:
Montessori Print Shop
http://www.shop.montessoriprintshop.com/NEW_c65.htm
Montessori For Everyone
http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/New-Materials_c_15.html
Montessori Boutique (love this new company!)
http://www.montessoriboutique.com/geographic-folders/
http://www.montessoriboutique.com/word-study/

Toddler Resources

http://pinterest.com/tdeguzis/montessori-toddler-activities/
http://pinterest.com/lnmontessori/toddler-montessori/
http://livingmontessorinow.com/2011/08/30/how-to-prepare-a-montessori-toddler-environment-at-home/
http://jen-peacefulparenting.blogspot.com/2011/10/infant-and-young-toddler-montessori_13.html

Update on Hebrew/Jewish Montessori Materials

Alisons has the following materials available:

Moveable Alphabet

Tracing Boards

Sandpaper Letters

Beautiful Beads

For hard to find round beads the right size and color for bead materials
try this etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JJBugsBeads/search?search_query=frosted+glass+round&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

Great New Montessori Puzzles!

Update: Sad to say, JMP learning is no longer in business! Check with Alisons for this puzzle as
they carry some of the same line. Good luck!

 Check out these Montessori Puzzles at JMP Montessori!
Some great bang for your buck for geometry, sensorial and
botany puzzles:
http://www.jmplearning.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=JS%2D2188

Racks and Tubes

Hi all,
I am making my own set of racks and tubes or test tube division
with pony beads (from Wal Mart) and these sets of printable  boards
from JMJ Publishing, game pawns, disposable plastic cups (cut down to
dish size containers for the beads) or any tiny bowl or container will work.
Craft bead tubes can be used to store each set of 10 beads.
The "boards" can be printed out, and then mounted on a heavier board
with holes punched in for the beads, with another board for backing glued
on to the board with the holes. All of this can be stored in a boxes or trays.

Have fun being creative!

Interesting Birds!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/29999290/Birds-3-Part-Cards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jojoebi/sets/72157604584183121/
(she gives download instructions on her main page)
http://www.montessoriprintshop.com/uploads/NF-57a_Flamingo_Nomenclature_Cards.pdf
http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/Bird-Matching-Cards_p_161.html
http://www.thatresourcesite.com/montessori_literature_burgess_bird.htm
http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/Parts-of-a-Bird-Nomenclature-Cards_p_171.html
http://www.montessoriprintshop.com/uploads/MMF-1_Bird_Match-Up___Memory.pdf
http://www.montessoriservices.com/parts-of-the-bird-puzzle
http://www.alisonsmontessori.com/Parts_of_a_Penguin_Puzzle_p/z06.htm
http://www.shop.montessoriprintshop.com/Penguin-Nomenclature-Cards-NF-41a.htm
http://www.alisonsmontessori.com/Parts_of_a_Rooster_Puzzle_p/z07.htm
http://www.shop.montessoriprintshop.com/Chicken-Nomenclature-Cards-NF-87a.htm

Montessori Christmas

So here are some great ideas for Christmas themed
Montessori materials and gifts:

http://www.shop.montessoriprintshop.com/Christmas-Word-Wall-Plus-WWCF-3.htm

http://mymontessorimoments.com/12-days-of-christmas-montessori-trays/

Snow Man, Reindeer, Christmas Tree and Christmas Insets Puzzles
at Hello Wood:
http://www.shop.hellowood.com/Holidays_c127.htm

http://www.ourmontessorihome.com/2012/11/montessori-christmas-activities-for-toddlers-preschoolers/

Paper crafts at Canon Creative Park...highly recommended!

http://cp.c-ij.com/en/event/christmas/?log=m01

http://www.fgcquaker.org/faithandplay/sites/default/files/GP%20approaches%20to%20Advent%20&%20Christmas%20for%20Friends.pdf

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

FREEBEE CARD and Activity LINKS
https://www.box.com/shared/btczddav3v50ak8scgvo
http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/assets/PDF/Life_Cycle_of_a_Pumpkin.pdf
https://www.box.com/shared/e0rmgo8zyao77dtnxfa6
http://cp.c-ij.com/en/contents/3176/sticker-squirrel02/index.html
http://thetoymaker.com/Holidays/Thanksgiving/1Thanksgiving.html

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060004509?ie=UTF8&tag=reatokno-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0060004509

The Florida Montessori Conference

Congrats to our friends at Young Minds at Play on their
display at the Montessori Foundation Conference in Florida this week!
Here is their "boothe" or display with all their
beautiful hand made Montessori materials. I am a big FAN!

One of their new materials includes this wooden US flag! Requests are
coming in for others from other countries.
http://youngmindsatplay.com/us_flag_puzzle

The 16th annual Montessori Foundation's International Conference is currently being held once again in sunny Sarasota, FL.

Several hundred people from all over the world are in attendence for the 3 day conference where Montessori educators and administrators are able to network, attend various classes, and shop for Montesori materials from vendors such as Young Minds At Play.

 

This year's focus is "Reflections: What it means when we call ourselves Montessorians". It has been an opportunity to reflect, rejuvenate, and reinvigorate for a great academic year. The international conference is one of a kind because it builds community during the days with plenty of time for social networking. It provides preparation for the teacher to go back into the classroom or administrative role with new skills, tools, and a new way of seeing oneself.

The Montessori Foundation is an international nonprofit organization which works worldwide to help Montessori schools to educate children in a spirit of partnership and peace. It's schools inspire a sense of wonder and nurture children's curiosity, creativity, and imagination.

More information on The Montessori Foundation may be found here: http://www.montessori.org/

 

Happy Halloween! My son and I had fun dressing
up in our Scottish regalia (think "Brave" or "Braveheart")
and visiting the neighbors and going out to eat.
My dress is made of the Black Stewart plaid
and my son was in the muted brown plaid of
the ancient kilt.

 

"Suzuki" Early Childhood Education

I find it interesting that the SSA (Suzuki Violin etc.) has
adopted Montessori philosophy and practice as the core
of their new Suzuki ECE program. There is a bit
of Reggio and other methods thrown in as well as other
early childhood music methods, like Orff and Dalcroze.
For more info see the SAA site here:
http://suzukiassociation.org/ece
http://www.suzukischool.com/Atlanta-Preschool/
http://www.thamesvalleysuzuki.com/pages/tt_brochure_page.html#description
Another excellent post on the connection between Montessori and Suzuki
can be found here:
http://bloommontessori.blogspot.com/2011/05/bloom-violinists-play-at-operation.html
Suzuki ECE
Trainers:



Dorothy Jones is a specialist in Suzuki Early Childhood Education. At the request of Dr. Suzuki, she founded a Suzuki School in London, ON, that included Suzuki baby/toddler, preschool and elementary classes. In 1993, the ISA approved her program in Early Childhood Education and designated her school as a world teacher training center. Past president of the SAA and past board member of the ISA, she was a founding member of the board of the Suzuki Association of Ontario and was president of that organization. She has been a Suzuki parent, Piano and ECE Teacher Trainer and keynote speaker at conferences and workshops around the world for more than 38 years. For the past 10 years, she has traveled extensively to train teachers in Suzuki ECE: prenatal and baby years.

Sharon Jones is a Teacher Trainer in Suzuki Early Childhood Education and an experienced Suzuki Violin Teacher. With Dorothy Jones, she developed the curriculum used world wide in Suzuki Early Childhood Classes. Sharon has been a clinician at conferences and workshops in Canada, USA, Ireland and Japan. She has taught at numerous Institutes in the United States and Canada. A singer, Sharon was the artist for the recording, Lullabies, Action Songs and Rhymes, the core material for the Suzuki Baby Program. Sharon will lead the baby and toddler classes and demonstrate the various technical and artistic approaches to babies and their parents.

Storage Links

I have received requests for links on the "Sensible Storage" post
so here they are:
Community Play Things
(also check out their numerous other offerings, many
of them specifically "Montessori" designed)
Hello Wood
(bead racks are under math/beads, and storage
under furniture, chart storage is under geography/maps)
Montessori N Such
(for the cubbies and also do a search for "trays")
Hana Montessori
(click on Language etc...this company is
quite innovative in their designs!)
Alison's
(for segmented presentation pink, green and blue reading and grammar boxes
and now individual colored boxes of most colors)

E & O Montessori
(pink, blue and green reading materials boxes)

 

 

Young Minds at Play
(Three part card Tray)

Waseca
(Grammar Storage for Cards and Reading Towers)