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/

Pre Writing Ideas!

Here are some great pre-writing materials and ideas to go along
with the traditional preparation with sandpaper letters. Some of these
can come before the introduction of letters or be used with the letters.
I actually use the sand tray idea with my sandpaper letters as well
as having children "put it in their minds" and trace the letter in the air.
Here are some links and pix: 

http://www.macrhino.com/free.html
(scroll down to find the free Montessori Script!)

http://www.teachpreschool.org/2012/01/a-maze-ing-marble-mazes/

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca%7CproductSubCat~~p%7C2534374302176718~~f%7C/Assortments/Lakeshore/ShopByCategory/language/learningthealphabet.jsp

http://www.youngmindsatplay.com/carved_sandpaper_letters_cursive_lowercase
(see pix and info below)

Lori and Montessori for Everyone has a nice post about the Montessori rationale
for the sandpaper letters and the importance Montessori placed on having the
children touch the letters.
http://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-9-sandpaper-letters.html

Marble Run in Sand Tray
(The shape is outlined before adding the marble which the
child pushes through the track)

Various Tracing and Tracking Boards

Maze Activity with Straws and Marbles
(See Link above)

More Tracking Boards

Sand Box with Controls

Sand Table

Tape Maze

Alphabet Tracking Boards
from Lakeshore Learning

The Ultimate Carved Sandpaper Letters from
Young Minds at Play (I have my order in...)

(A discussion of Cursive vs. Print being taught first is outlined here:)

http://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/cursive-vs-printing-is-one-better-than-the-other.html

Traditional Sandpaper Letters Pink and Blue
These are also available in Red and Blue

Lord Company Sand Tray with Cover-Beautiful!

Tracing Letters with Stylus
from JMP Materials

Lord Co. Chalk Board to use with Sandpaper Letters
(From Lord Co. or Montessori Services)

Grow a Bean!

Here is an activity we all remember from our Grammar School days...
growing a bean plant. It is actually a great hands on activity to tie
into the study of botany, classification, and language.
Here are some resources:
http://www.inhabitots.com/potting-time-growing-plants-indoors-with-your-tot/

Bean Nomenclature with Description
from Montessori Print Shop

Bean/Seed Nomenclature from
Montessori for Everyone

Exploring Seeds Book
available from Montessori Services or Amazon

Growth of a Bean/Seed
from Montessori N Such

A Diagram

Bean Plant Puzzles with Control Sheets
From Early Learning through Montessori Services

Ripe Beans on the Plant

Life Cycle Materials NEW from Waseca
There is a set for the Bean Plant!

Happy Easter

What a crazy two weeks I've had...both my
mother and mother in law in the hospital.
I did get to see my grandchildren this week
from Michigan! Jo made a bee-line to the
language insets. I cut paper to fit my drawing
frames and he really enjoyed himself.
It is always interesting to see which materials
hold the most appeal to a child.
K.
http://www.montessorimaterials.org/Language/metalInsets.pdf

http://www.infomontessori.com/language/written-language-metal-insets.htm

http://www.bambini-montessori.com/exercises_language.htm

Felted Objects for Language

Hi all,

 On the subject of cute Japanese small items,

today's find is the cutest felted objects I've seen

so far! Here are the how to books:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/feltcafe/collections/72157613869153430/