TOS Review: IXL

Over the last couple of weeks, my children have had the opportunity to practice their math skills on the computer using, IXL  We use the Montessori Method to learn our math skills, but I appreciate having different ways to see those skills put into practice.  Sometimes, just because you can use manipulative's doesn't always mean that you understand what you learned.

IXL (Which is pronounced I Excel) is an online math practice site for grades Pre-K all the way up to Algebra.  IXL is broken down into grade levels, and then further broken down into skills for that level.  Children answer questions to see if they have mastered a skill.  If they can answer a series of questions on any one skill, they will receive rewards and certificates.

We have been testing out the Pre-K (Charger) and First Grade (Mustang).  

One of the Pre-K skills is counting 0-3.  A sample problem might read 'How many dots are there?' with 2 dots below the question. Reading is not required because, next to the question is a little button that can be pushed.  Once pushed, the program will read the question to your child!  After entering the number 2 in the box, the child would push submit.  

On the right hand side, there are 3 stickies.  The first says problems attempted, the second-time elapsed, and the third-SmartScore out of 100.  

Once the student reaches 100, the skill is passed and IXL will take them to a page that congratulates them for completing a skill.  At that time, they will receive an 'award,' which is a graphic on their checkerboard.  Believe it or not, my children are VERY eager, to win these awards and see what they get next!  

You can also print out paper certificates that show their progress. 

You can see the list of Pre-K skills here: http://www.ixl.com/math/pre-k

First grade is basically the same set up and format.  Skills include Addition, Counting and number patterns, Geometry, Measurement, and Money.  

You can view the entire list of 1st grade skills here: http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1

At anytime, mom or dad can log on to see how the kids are doing.  There are detailed reports that show what your child has practiced, how long they worked for, and how well they did.  This gives you an idea of what your child knows and what they need to work on.

IXL membership starts at just $9.95/month or $79.00/year for a homeschool child.  Additional children are $2.00/month or $20.00/year for each child. So that's a little over $6.50/month if you signed up for a year, very affordable!

So what did we think?

Well, first of all it is very much a learning site and not a game playing site.  There are no little games or music or funny characters to mask that learning is going on.  Because of this, I did usually receive groans when I requested that my children worked on IXL. 

However, once they were working, they enjoyed themselves.  They were very excited to tell me when they completed a skill and won an award!  They also compared what award they received with their sibling's.  They are currently in a competition to see who can get the most awards.  

I REALLY liked the progress charts!  It is so fun to log on and see that Mustang and Charger have been working and succeeding at their math skills!  It also made me realize what things Mustang doesn't know so I can try and focus on those at other times.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this is not a teaching site, it's a practice site.  If your child gets an answer wrong, they can choose to see a little explanation as to what the correct answer is.  But, they aren't going to receive a lesson on how to do the problem right next time.  This is both a pro and a con for us.  I really want to use the Montessori Materials to help my children grasp a concept, so I usually avoid web games that are the teachers.  However, the hard part in this situation is that if one of my children really wants to understand a concept RIGHT NOW so that they can get an award, there isn't a way for them to do that.  

Overall, I think that IXL is a good site and offers a great product for the price.  You can try up to 20 questions a day for free, so head on over and check out IXL.  Or check out the many other reviews from my crew mates at the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog.  

Happy Learning and God Bless!

Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a 6 month subscription in exchange for an honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.  

TOS Review: Creation Illustrated

About a year ago, our neighbors showed me a magazine that they really loved, Creation Illustrated.  It was so beautiful and I instantly liked it.  So, when we were asked if we would like to review Creation Illustrated I was excited!

Creation Illustrated is Bible-based quarterly nature journal that has been published since 1993 by a husband and wife team, Tom and Jennifer Ish.  The Ish family homeschooled their daughter, Melissa. Creation Illustrated is a their family work and ministry.

Their Mission Statement is to 

"share the wonders of God's creation.  By revealing fresh insights of His infinite wisdom, gentle touch, undeniable justice, redeeming love, and flawless design, pure truth shall bring renewed peace.  Each part of this publication is offered as a reprieve from the the daily rigors of life wot that all can look to the future with unbridled gratitude and hope."

Creation Illustrated was designed to bring stress relief through a greater understanding of and appreciation for the loving Creator and Redeemer.  Each issue features threes sections on nature, Scripture, and living to bring the reader a balance of mental, spiritual, and physical enrichment in each edition.

What did we think?

When I first opened my package of Creation Illustrated Journals, I was immediately drawn to the beauty of each one!  They are printed on thick, high gloss paper, a great quality feel.

I sat down and flipped through the pages admiring the rich, bright photographs of God's creation.  I didn't know at the time that their mission was to provide stress relief, but I can tell you that it worked!

Each of the articles I read included references to our Creator and many Bible verses woven through the text. Each article could be used as a devotional in addition to all the things I learned about our world.  Places, such as small Atlantic Islands, that are easily overlooked become the focus of a short article highlighting God's handiwork.

I set the Creation Illustrated Journals on my coffee table to see if the children would pick them up.  Unfortunately, they were not drawn to them on their own accord.  I don't know why other then the fact that since they aren't plastered with primary colors and letters that my children didn't know they were for them? 

So, I added a few articles into our morning Bible time to see how they would enjoy them. I chose the children's stories from two of the issues, one on a stray cat, and one on wild ponies.  At times they seemed interested and at times they didn't.  But, I was impressed at how much they could remember when I asked questions at the end!  

While we did our unit on horses, I was excited to find an article about the Assateague Island wild ponies.  I read this to the children and they were very interested to hear about the wild ponies.  The author, Katrina Rogers, provided a beautiful account of her morning on the island, both in words and in photos.  At the end, we learned that Miss Rogers is not only an eloquent writer, but she is also a 9th grade homeschooled student.  My kids loved finding that out!

Overall, I would say that while I really did like Creation Illustrated, my children were just a hair too young for it.  I, on the other hand, enjoyed it for myself!  Creation Illustrated would make a lovely gift for readers of about age 10 and up.  I suspect that my parents would enjoy it as well.  

With a price as low as $4.50 per issue (depending on how many years you subscribe for) the price is very affordable.  International subscriptions are also available.  You can receive a FREE Issue as apart of a subscription offer.  Use this link: www.CreationIllustrated.com/TOS.

Creation Illustrated also offers a ministry where you can donate funds to help place this Bible based nature journal in Schools, Prisons, and Hospitals!  What a great way to share the Word with our world!

If you'd like to see what other families thought of Creation Illustrated before making your purchase, check out the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog.

Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received free issues of Creation Illustrated in exchange for an honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.  
Thanks for stopping by and God Bless!!

TOS Review: Dive Into Your Imagination

Even though the calendar disagrees, it has been summer here for over a month.  The hot sunny days have certainly been making us wish that a trip to the ocean was on our list of to dos this summer!  Unfortunately, it's not going to happen this year.  But, we have been enjoying the next best thing.  The ocean has come to us!

We have been watching this super fun DVD, What Makes A Fish A Fish?, from Dive Into Your Imagination.

  Dive Into Your Imagination was founded by Annie Crawley.  Ms. Crawley, also known as Ocean Annie, grew up in Chicago and followed her dreams to become an underwater videographer, author, photographer, award winning youth speaker, and a producer.  I really enjoyed reading all about Ocean Annie's exciting adventures in her biography.

What Makes A Fish A Fish? is one of three DVD's in the Dive Into Your Imagination series.  It teaches children about astounding fish from around the world.  It contains 8 different segments including:

*Frogfish are Funny

*Hide & Seek on the Reef

*Bath Time for Fishes

*Don't be Afraid of Sharks

*Dinner Time for Fish 

and more!

The DVD run time is 37 minutes, so each segment is pretty short but not too short.

The Dive Into Your Imagination Series retails for $19.95 each and are available on the Dive Into Your Imagination site and on Annie Crawley's website.  

So what did we think?

We really enjoyed this DVD!  The pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!  They are extremely high quality and very well done.  I felt like not only had the ocean come to me, but also a science center or aquarium, it is that good.  Ocean Annie kept the attention of myself and all four children with her enjoyable information and amazing video.  The information included is wonderful.  Even I learned new things and saw many new fish.  

And, not only are the DVD's great, but there are also teacher's guides to go with each DVD.  The teacher's guides are awesome!  The guides are almost 300 pages in length and are FILLED with great ideas on how to bring the DVD's to life.  There are complete lesson plans and printable packs for every single chapter in the movie!  The teacher guides come in either grades Pre-K through K or 1st-3rd.  

The Teacher Guides include art and craft ideas, math, literature, writing, and spelling activities.  Combine the DVD and Teacher's pack and you have your entire summer curriculum! 

The Teacher Guides are available in a print edition for $299.00, or PDF for $69.95.  But, if you are a homeschool parent, when you order a DVD, Ocean Annie with include the PDF for FREE!  This is for a short time, though I'm not exactly sure how long. So, if you are at all interested this would be the time to order!  When you do, write that you are a homeschool parent in the memo so that you can get your guide.

For the entire months of May and June, shipping is also FREE, so be sure to take advantage of these generous offers on the Dive Into Your Imagination DVD's.

I really can't say enough great things about the Dive Into Your Imagination DVD's and fabulous Educator Guide.  They have made learning about the ocean a lot more fun at our house this summer!  But, don't just take my word for it, check out this sample chapter,  Frog Fish:

You can also read what my fellow crew mates had to say about Dive Into Imagination by checking out the TOS Review Crew Blog.  

Thanks for stopping, er swimming, by and God Bless!!

Disclaimer:  As part of the TOS Review Crew I received a free copy of What Makes A Fish A Fish? DVD and a PDF download of the Educator Guides in exchange for an honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I was not paid for my review. 

TOS Review: Heritage History's Introductory Curriculum for Young Reader's

Hi, I'm Lisa and I have a problem.  I have an addiction to buying books.  I think it comes with the territory of homeschooling, but used book sales are one of my favorite places in the world.  A whole room just full of interesting texts, beautiful pictures, and stories of history.  I could bring them all home.  There is just one BIG problem.  

You see, my husband was on to me and my book buying addiction.  So, he staged an intervention.  He informed me that the two bookshelves in our living room were MORE then enough room to store all the books I would need to own.  Then he handed me a Kindle and told me I can use it to store all the books I wanted.  

I was thrilled to own a Kindle Fire, but I have another confession.  I am NOT technologically inclined at all.  Seriously.  I have to ask my 6 year old to turn on various electronic gadgets for me.  She can hook up a DVD player, VCR, media player and more.  Me?  I'm lucky to find the on button.

Heritage History's Young Readers Classical Curriculum CD has been helping me with both of these problems!

The Heritage History Young Reader's CD contains 86 books, recommendations, and a teacher's guide.  Yes you read that right, EIGHTY SIX BOOKS!  And, I only have to find room for one tiny CD!  

The books are all historical books that are now copyright free.  Heritage History has compiled them and reformatted them into PDF, EPUB and Mobi files, giving you the option of viewing them on a Kindle, IPad, Computer, or printed document.  The CD contains a GREAT tutorial on how to move the books from your computer to your e-Reader, hence the techie sounding explanation from me.  I didn't know what a Mobi was before!  I even got the privilege of telling my techie husband!  

The books that Heritage History chose to put into the Young Reader's collection are wonderful!  I like books, but there are so many that I have never read or even heard of.  Many of the stories in this collection are new to me.

Some of my favorites include:

Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans, Edward Eggleston

Stories of the Pilgrims, Pumphrey

American History Stories Volumes I, II, III, IV, by Mara Pratt

And a whole series of Twins stories from Lucy F Perkins.  We are currently reading Dutch Twins and the kids love it!  I think it's a cute story, too!

You can view the entire list of stories here. (Scroll down past the list of CD volumes)

The Heritage History CD's are compiled to be used as a history curriculum.  Each disk includes a Teacher's Guide and recommendations on how to use the curriculum to get the most out of it for your child.  

My children are just a little young to read these stories on their own, but I am excited to have such a rich library of texts to read from.  We read each night before bed, and I know that these stories will keep us busy for a LOOONG time.

Now, I mentioned that the stories on the Heritage History disks are historical texts.  All of which are copyright free.  I mentioned this to my husband and he wanted to know why one would pay money for this product, then?  I wondered the same thing!  So, I began looking for other sources of the texts online.

First, I used the story we are currently reading, Dutch Twins, as my guinea pig.  I could find it for free on the Amazon website, ready for Kindle Download.  However, it did not have pictures!  And, with three little ones reading with me, pictures are VERY important!!  Next, I tried the American History Stories by Mary Pratt.  I was able to find it, too for $1.99 each volume.  Nearly $8.00 if you purchase just the 4 books in that series.  I didn't go through all the stories, but if even half of them cost, you would save a lot of money to buy the CD collection.

You can, however, read all the stories on the Heritage History website at no cost.  I found that with our Kindle e-Reader it is best to download and transfer.  But, the Kindle Fire is setup so that the web-site versions are much easier to read then the actual download.  That only works if we are home with the internet connection.  If we are traveling I won't be able to read the web-site unless we are stopped somewhere with a Wi-Fi.  The CD has the added bonus of being able to print out any portion of the text should you have need to do so.  My only real complaint is that you can't download your digital purchase.  Otherwise, I think it's great!

The Heritage History Introductory Curriculum for Young Readers is very affordable, too.  Just $24.99 (plus shipping).  There are other collections available for the same $24.99, they include Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, British Middle Ages and British Empire.  You can also purchase the 5 CD set for just $99.99, a savings of $25.00.  They are all loaded with fascinating texts that should keep your reader busy for many years!!  

The Heritage History web-site is chock-full of wonderful information to use along with your learning.  Be sure to check it out and see if an order is in your future :)

Many of my fellow crew mates also reviewed a Heritage History collection.  Check out the crew blog to read what they had to say!

Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of Heritage History Young Reader's CD at no cost in exchange for an honest review.  I was not required to write a postive review, all opinions expressed are my own.

5 Days of Montessori: Lesson Planning and Our Day

Hi!!  Hope you are having a lovely Friday!  Thanks so much for stopping by again to check out my series on how to start using Montessori in your homeschool!  If you've read the previous entries, you now know What the Montessori Method IS, How to Set Up a Prepared Environment, you've had a look at some of the Montessori Materials, and you know Where to Start with the Montessori Method.  If you haven't read them, I encourage you to go back and check them out.  Now we move on to Lesson Planning.

Lesson Planning is a little different in a Montessori setting, but it is very important.  The most important roll of the mom/teacher in the Montessori classroom has to be prepared.  We discussed the Prepared Environment on Tuesday, and this preparation is just the beginning of the need to be one step ahead of your child.  Depending on the needs and age of your child, the preparation will look a little different.  The first preparation I had to do for all of my children was to read about each of the materials.  Knowing how and when to present them allows you to be ready when your child asks you to show it to them.

  The best way for me to explain this is to tell you how I prepare for each of my children.  They are each in different spots in the Montessori journey and will give you a good feel for how it might look from 4 different ages.

How I prepare for Mini Cooper:  

Mini Cooper is 2 1/2 years old.  She is at the very beginning of the Montessori age range.  Some Montessori schools require age 3, but the Montessori method does allow for a 2 1/2 year old in the very early lessons.  For her, 'school' is really just another play time.  At this age, it should be just that.  I place the materials on the shelf and encourage her to choose the things that interest her.  

When she wants to learn a new material, I determine whether or not she has learned the materials before it.  If so, I will give her a presentation.  If she hasn't, I might recommend trying something else first. 

If she is walking around seemingly looking for something to do, I will recommend things to her.  Sometimes she tries my ideas and sometimes she does not.  

If she asks me to do a lesson with her, she usually wants to explore the Alphabet Box.  She loves to look at the little objects and learn new words with me.  

The toddler area in our classroom is mostly for her.  It contains a wooden doll house and some wooden blocks.  There are times when she just wants to play, and that's OKAY.  

For Mini, my planning includes:

*knowing what materials she has mastered

*being ready to present the next when she asks

*being careful to provide eye catching and easy to use trays in the Practical Life area

Because I am working with Charger or Mustang, Mini Cooper is often left to herself for much of our school day.  I hope that this will develop into my first true 'Montessori Child' who is able to choose works and work independently for hours at a time.  I am excited to watch her develop!

How I prepare for Charger:

Charger is 4 1/2.  He is right in the middle (age wise) of a Montessori cycle.  He is currently in a sensitive period for building and language.  I know this, because I observe what he chooses to work with.

Over the last week, he has chosen to work with the sensorial materials every day.  He doesn't want to know what each one does, but he wants to know how he can use them TOGETHER.  

We watched a science video on Monday, and on Tuesday Charger was trying to create Incline Planes with the Red Rods and the Number Rods.  It would probably be a good time for me to put out some additional extension cards for the different sensorial works we have out.  I also suspect this means he is ready for more challenging sensorial work and would enjoy working with the Binomial Cube.  Time to place an order :).

Charger entered his language sensitive period almost overnight.  He went from not caring about words or letters to all of a sudden waking up in the middle of the night to ask me how to spell a word.  Seriously. This is one reason to be a step ahead.  The interest can be sudden.

I first brought out the Sandpaper Letters, but quickly learned that he already knew all the letter sounds and wasn't the least interested in learning to WRITE his letters.  He wanted to know how the letters went together to make words!  I decided to try out the Moveable Alphabet and start him on the word drawers available from My Montessori Journey.   This turned out to be exactly what he needed.  {Steve isn't one of the pictures, he was thinking about Steve on Blue's Clues}.

It is okay to try and encourage a certain material, but be careful not to force a material on a child if it really isn't working at that time.  Maybe they aren't ready yet, or maybe they are actually beyond that work.

I do a lot of one on one work with him.  I find the best way to get him to work on something is to sit with him and answer questions along the way.  Some work he is very able to do alone (the sensorial work), other work, such as math and language, he wants me to help him.  I request that he work on at least one math or language work each day.  I ask that he takes turns between the materials.

There are days that he doesn't want to do anything but play with Mini Cooper's toddler area.  In this case, I usually request that he complete 2 works before playing.  If he is still not willing, I will give him the choice of 2 works and then do it with him.  It seems that sometimes he just needs a push to get him going.

For Charger my planning includes:

*Having 2 word drawers a week laminated and ready for him

*Having two math presentations ready and any materials needed available

*Watching and listening to him both in and out of the classroom to be ready for his next sensitive period.  (BTW he is just starting to think about a writing period)

How I prepare for Mustang:

Mustang is 6 1/2 years old.  She is at the very end of the Montessori Primary cycle and will be moving to the Elementary cycle in August (or thereabouts).  She is my biggest challenge, but really the most fun!

She is the first born of a first born, and quite stubborn.  She is also really wanting to be more independent, but I often find her making poor choices in the classroom.  If given 100% freedom, she chooses the dollhouse and blocks every.single.time.  It's easy, it's fun, and usually her sister will join her so she gets to be IN CHARGE.  Mmm, hmmm.  

I know her personality would have benefited from a real Montessori experience because she would have other students to compete with.  As it is, she is currently at the 'head of the class' and doesn't have to try and learn something before the next person does.  This seems to turn into an I don't care additude.  

Come June, we will be adding in the Montessori work contract.  A contract is written between the teacher and the child.  They decided, together, what work a child needs to do in a given week.  As the child completes this work, they complete their contract.  Mustang is ready for this.  

As it is, I currently give her a list of things each day that she needs to complete.  She does a good job of completing them and I think she would enjoy getting to be part of the list making process.

I request she does at least one language work and one math work each day.  She is working through the Blue Reading Series (for spelling), All About Reading Level 1 (for reading), First Start Reading book B (for handwriting), and Write Shop Junior Book A (for creative writing).  She likes book work, and for the two of us curriculum seems to be a good thing to bring into the mix for language.  Moving forward, she will be requested to complete 2 language works each day, alternating between the four areas.

My responsibility at this point is to encourage her to use her time wisely in the classroom.  I also try to make statements that encourage her to find the answer.  For example, the other day I mentioned to her that the Knobless Cylinders and the Cylinder Blocks can work together.  She was quick to go find out how.

For Mustang my planning includes:

*LOTS of reading and research about the next steps in the Montessori Method (specifically Elementary)

*Preparing to present 4 math works each week

*Having the materials ready for her to complete her language lessons each week

*Encouraging her to make good decisions in the classroom

*Plan activities to allow her to be a leader, helping to turn her need to be bossy into a positive thing

How I prepare for Explorer:

Explorer is 7 1/2 months old.  She would not be in a regular Montessori school setting, but as a homeschool family she is there some of the time (sometimes she is sleeping).  

For her, I am trying to come up with things :).  I have been providing her with interesting, safe, objects to explore.  These are wood or cloth.  As she becomes more mobile, it will be important to watch out for her safety as well.  I intend to purchase more baby Montessori materials (yes they exist!), and also begin using her as my starting point for developing a more Montessori friendly home.

How I prepare for my children as a whole:

We do Bible and Culture lessons as a group.  I found a wonderful site called Just Montessori.  The owner, Lisa, is a Montessori teacher and has graciously posted her entire culture Curriculum-lesson by lesson, including photos!  I have just been following step by step.  It has saved me so much time!!

For Bible, we are now following the Judah Bible Curriculum and continuing to create Bible Activity books.

We begin our class time with a Bible story or devotional and then move into our Culture lesson for the day.  I try to have one or two works a week that Mustang and Charger are required to complete.  I also prepare one or two activities that are geared more towards Mini Cooper and are optional for Mustang and Charger.

A typical class time for us goes something like this:

*'Circle Time'-Bible story or devotional, memory verse

*Culture lesson 

*Work period, mom works with one child on a presentation.  This first person changes from day to day, we have a rotation of who gets to {or has to} go first.

*Work period, switch who mom works with

*Continue on the work period, switch again

I try to allow three hours for work, but sometimes it is only 2.  Some days, it is obvious that 3 hours are not going to work, other days 3 is easily doable.  

One thing I have found that helps us a lot is music!  This has been a LIFESAVER for ME!!  I find that playing soft music in the background helps me and my patience more then anything.  Obviously, my mood greatly influences the success of the day and I am always looking for ways to relax.  

I also allow the children to get one snack per class time, but they need to ask if anyone else wants one and bring enough for others.

During class time, if I see that one of the children would benefit from a lesson, I write myself a note.  If it is something I am ready to present, I will do it right then.  If not, I will look it up that night and be ready the next day.  

On Sunday, I look over the both the Gettman Scope and Sequence and the Monteaco Scope and Sequence.  I look over them with each child in mind, to see if they are ready for the next works on the list.  If they are ready, I spend time reading over those presentations so that I am ready for them.  If they are not ready, I think over what (if anything) I can do to help them get ready for the next work.  If we don't have the materials for the next work, I try to place an order.  I also prepare any materials needed for our Culture lessons and Bible lessons.  I put anything I need (storybooks, 3 part cards, etc) in a bin and draw from it all week.  If we don't get to something, I carry it over to the next week.  

It took me a little while to get used to the way a Montessori work period flows.  But, once I did, I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of allowing the children to learn freely without me trying to make them sit still and listen.  It has made me begin to truly enjoy teaching my children at home.  

I hope that my blogging over the last 5 days has been helpful to you!  I do have one more topic, internet resources, that I will be blogging about on Monday.  I'd also love to add to these topics if you have any questions you'd like me to cover!

Thank you so much for joining me!  I hope you will check out the 5 Days of Blogging that my fellow TOS Review Crew members have been doing. 

Enjoy and God Bless!!

5 Days of Montessori: Where to Start, What to Teach, and What Order to Go In

Day 4!  Thanks for staying with me through this series!  I pray it has been a blessing to you and your family.  So far I've blogged about:  What is the Montessori Method?, creating a Prepared Environment, and all about the Montessori Materials.  Today, we are going to put it all together.  I'm going to discuss the order of materials and how to plan a school day with the Montessori Method.  

I've given you a lot of background on Dr. Montessori and the Montessori Method.  If you've read through them you may now have a strong desire to use the method in your homeschool, or you've already decided that you want to.  You may have even gone ahead and ordered some materials, but you really don't know how to start.  

It can certainly be a bit overwhelming to start the Montessori Method.  I mean, unless you were one of the lucky few that attended a Montessori school, it's not like you can pull from your memory of how you were taught.  You are, like I was  am, relying on the nice blogger moms out there to get you off on the right foot.  I am not a trained Montessori teacher (though I am considering it), but I am speaking from homeschool mom experience.  

As a curriculum reviewer for The Old Schoolhouse Review Team, I know that I prefer easy to use, thought out curriculum with lots of hand holding and step by step instructions.  I was happy to learn that these types of instructions ARE available for the Montessori Method.  These instructions, or manuals, can be purchased from a number of places, OR you can find some of them for FREE.  Here are links to the ones I know of (for the 3-6 year olds)

Info Montessori Primary Guide (My overall favorite)

Montessori Teacher's Collective 

Shu-Chen Jenny Yen

Montessori World Education Institute

Dr. Montessori's Handbook (free Kindle Download)

Dr Montessori's Handbook (free Project Gutenberg download)

Now, before you go off to these links, I want to explain what a Montessori Album is and what it is not.  A Montessori Album describes in depth how to present each material.  It explains the purpose of each material, the control of error, and the approximate age you should present it.  What an album does not do is discuss these materials in order.  Why they don't is still a bit of a mystery to me.  The best answer I can give is that since this is a method, there is some flexibility and so the presentation order is left up to the child and teacher.  However, I mention yesterday, that each of the Montessori Materials build on each other.  So there is certainly a preferred order in which to present the materials.  

This is where a Scope and Sequence comes in very handy.  The Montessori Teacher's Collective (Moteaco) has one that I refer to all the time.  It has each of the areas of Montessori instruction broken down by materials.  It has been especially useful for me in the area of mathematics.

As I mentioned in my post on Monday, the Montessori Method is broken down into 5 different areas or 'subjects.'  Language, Math, Practical Life, Sensorial, and Culture.  Culture is broken down further into the areas of Geography, Zoology, and Botany (though some manuals put Botany under sensorial).   Art is usually put under Culture and Music falls under Sensorial.  If you were to follow the Scope and Sequence bullet point by bullet point down the row, you would do all of one area before moving to the next and then doing all of it.  That isn't how the Montessori Method is designed either :).

Before you give up, there is hope!  An author by the name of David Gettman wrote a great book, Basic Montessori: Learning Activities for Under Fives. (not an affiliate link).  In his book, he outlines a scope and sequence that breaks down the materials according to sensitive periods.  Dr. Montessori found that children tend to become interested in certain things as their brains develop that area.  Just like a baby wants to pick up everything off the floor because they are refining their grasping skills (ask me how I know this), a child will have periods when all they want to do is draw, or write, or build because they are developing in that area. 

 Renee at Our Montessori Story was kind enough to type up this sequence and even offer it as a download.  It will give you, in my opinion, the VERY BEST starting point for a newbie.  In fact, I am still following this sequence with my children.  There are always going to be children who advance differently, and that's OKAY.  The Montessori Method encourages individuality and the ability to go at one's own pace.  But, you as the parent/teacher need to know where to begin.  Once you start using the materials you will get a better feel for your own child and know which direction to go next.

As long as your child is in the 2 1/2-5 age group, I would start by ordering the materials needed for Period One and go from there.  You can present the materials from one area at the same time as another.  In other words, you can present pouring beans between two jugs and the cylinder blocks on the same day.  If your child has mastered the pouring you can go on to the opening and closing materials even if she hasn't mastered the cylinder blocks. If your child is 4 or 5, be prepared (especially in the financial area) for them to advance quickly through the materials.  A child who is 2 1/2 or 3 will likely move through the materials at a slower rate.

IF your child is 6 years old, you will want to do some major research.  The Montessori Primary class is for ages 3-6, and the Elementary class is for ages 6-9.  Some of the materials overlap, some do not.  I chose to go ahead and start with the Primary class with all my children because, even though Mustang is 6, I have 3 other children either IN the Primary class or who will be.  It seemed it would still be a good investment to buy from the beginning of Period 1.  If it had just been Mustang, I would have probably started in Elementary.  As it is, she is almost ready for Elementary and I am not quite ready for her.  I need to start doing some research of my own!

I mentioned at the beginning of my post that I was going to tell you how I plan our day and how I lesson plan.  Turns out-I lied!  After yesterday's ridiculously looong winded post, I have decided that I need to make shorter posts.  So, this series is going to be at least 6 days.  Somethings just can't be summed up in 5 :).  

TOMORROW I will tell you about a typical day in our Montessori homeschool classroom and how I plan for each day.  I hope you'll stop by!

I am blogging as part of a blog cruise from The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew.  We have over 65 bloggers blogging for 5 days about their favorite subjects.  There are some GREAT topics that I have been enjoying.  Be sure to check them out!

5 Days of Montessori: Montessori Materials

Welcome to day three of my 5 day Montessori Series.  I'm excited that so many of you have dropped by to learn more about how to incorporate the Montessori Method in your home learning!  I love sharing about Montessori and I'm thankful that you are finding it helpful!  So far, we have discussed What the Montessori Method is, and How To Create a Prepared Environment.  Today, I'll be telling you a bit about the Montessori Materials.

The Montessori Materials are certainly the most distinct portion of the Montessori Method.  They are the curriculum of Montessori.  I am not aware of any other learning method that is based on materials.  Often, learning methods have a book and use manipulative's to help enforce concepts taught in the book.  In the Montessori Method, it is just the opposite, there are no textbooks.  Any paper products are used to help show mastery of a concept learned with the materials.  

Montessori classrooms are not filled with just any old item that looks fun or educational.  They were carefully crafted and selected by Dr. Montessori.  In her first Children's Home, Dr. Montessori worked with very poor children in a housing complex in Rome.  When the school opened, many of the wealthy women treated the school as a charity and donated many beautiful toys to the nursery.  There wasn't a lack of toys for these children to play with.  

Dr. Montessori began to test out her materials by placing them on the shelf with the other toys.  She found that the children began choosing her materials instead of the traditional toys.  If a toy was not played with for a time, she removed it from the shelf completely.  My understanding is that she did this with her materials as well, and that there are some of her creations that we have never seen because the children were not attracted to them :).

Montessori Materials are very beautiful objects.  They draw a child in and captivate them so they will stay and work on the material.  They are generally made of wood and are very durable, lasting through many children.  

The materials are each designed to teach a specific concept.  The concepts build from one material to the next, with each material teaching both it's own individual concept, and acting as a stepping stone to the next one.  It is important to introduce them in a specified order so that a child has mastered the skills necessary to complete the materials.  

Now, I suspect you see these photos and think.  Well, those are lovely, they really are!  I am sure my children would like them.  But, come now-they are BLOCKS!  My children need to learn their letters and numbers, we have plenty of blocks.  

If you haven't read my blog before, let me introduce you to my daughter, Explorer.  She is 7 1/2 months old.  In the last 7 months, she has learned how to hold her head up, roll over, sit up, scoot, pick things up, put them in her mouth, respond to her name and babble a little bit.  Of all the things I just listed, only 2 of them are language related.  As humans, the first things we do are motor.  We learn to roll, crawl, stand, balance, walk, and run before we can say much of anything.

As I said above, the Montessori Materials build on concepts already learned.  When a 2 1/2 or 3 year old enters the Montessori classroom they are very capable with their motor skills, but their language is still very much developing.  They can use their hands, balance blocks, and build a tower, but many of them can not hold a lengthy conversation about height and length.  They will have a difficult time saying orange, for example, but can quickly match two orange tiles.  Dr. Montessori understood this about a child and chose materials that encouraged a child to use and master the abilities they already had before moving to things they did not yet grasp.

Another reason Montessori doesn't start with ABC and 123, is that the purpose behind letters, numbers, and language are to label things.  When a child observes two things of different sizes, she can see-concretely-which is bigger and which is smaller.  She can see which is taller and which is shorter.  The words 'tall' 'short' 'big' 'small' are just that-WORDS.  Words to describe something.  Words that are chosen to mean what our language says they mean.  We could have chosen the word RAINBOW to mean tall and the word CRAYON to mean short.  When looking at the two items, the words would not change that one is taller then the other.

The Montessori Materials work from concrete to abstract.  They show a child how something works and how it relates to other things.  Then, the words are introduced so that the child can explain what they know to someone else. 

So, enough about the whys.  I want to show you some of the materials.  Because, a picture is worth 1000 words :).  There are MANY different materials, each of which are really neat. Here are a few of my favorites.

The very first materials presented in a Montessori Classroom are the Knobbed Cylinders.  The only two skills needed to do this work are 1) The ability to use the pincher/grasper fingers, and 2) Enough strength to lift the cylinders.  The blocks themselves are quite heavy, but if a child is unable to carry them mom or teacher can help.

There are 10 wooden cylinders in each block.   

They increase in diameter from 1 centimeter to 5 1/2 centimeters.  This is the first of four blocks.  The child treats this as a puzzle, finding the correct home for each of the cylinders.

Once the first block is mastered, they are able to add block two.  This block looks exactly the same on the top,

but they are different heights.  

All the cylinders are placed in the middle to be placed in the two blocks.

Mini Cooper is 2 1/2 and able to complete this work.  You would continue to introduce all the blocks until all 4 are being used at once.  There is a wonderful description, with photos, on infomontessori.com

Margaret Homfray gives a wonderful presentation on the Knobbed Cylinders.

I want to show you this.  Last year, I purchased the Mini Knobbed Cylinders to save us some money.  DONT DO IT, lol.  The Mini Knobbed Cylinders are soooo mini, that they really are hardly the same material at all.  

The material that everyone thinks of when they think of Montessori is the Pink Tower.  Aside from being pink, and therefore very attractive to young children, it is a brilliant material.

The first cube is 1x1x1 (centimeter) cubed.  The second is 2x2x2, the third 3x3x3, and so forth.  So, from age 2 1/2 to 3, a child has the opportunity to internalize what a cube looks like.  This can be very helpful down the road when you are trying to explain what 7 cubed is.  

Each material has a self-checking or control of error.  Since each block is one centimeter smaller then the next, you can take the top block and slide it along two sides of each block to check your work.

The Brown or Broad Stair is a similar material.  The first prism measures 1x1x20 centimeters.  It goes up in height and width, but not length.  The longest is 10x10x20 cen.

Each of the prisms matches one of the pink cubes.

Because of this, each material not only has it's own exercises, but figuring out how the materials work together is another element of learning.

They are very inviting.  I had barely finished my photos when Mini Cooper decided she wanted my work :).

Margaret Homfray also has a lovely lecture on the Pink Tower and Broad Stair.

These are the yellow Knobless Cylinders.  They decrease in diameter and height.

They build a tower.

But, they also work together with cylinder block two.

The red cylinders are all the same height, but get smaller in diameter.

This tower is a bit trickier to build.

It matches with cylinder block number one.  Each of the 4 knobless cylinder sets match with one of the four cylinder blocks.

Again, Mini Cooper decided to steal my work.

Here is one more lovely lecture from Margaret Homfray presenting the Knobless Cylinders.

I don't know about you, but teaching math scares me.  I am horrible at math.  I was happy to get out with a passing grade.  The Montessori Method has given me AWESOME tools to help teach math.  This one is the Golden Bead Material.  Here you see a place mat.  Across the top is labeled Thousands, Hundreds, Tens and Units.  Below each label are the amount of beads-a Thousand Cube, Hundred Square, Ten Bar, and a Unit.

The unit is just a simple golden bead.

When building a number, the child literally gets the amount of beads needed to match the number. As you can see, there are 2,694 golden beads in this photo to match the number cards.

The beads are used to do concrete math.  In this photo, Mustang is learning multiplication by giving each of her peg people the same amount of units (yes there are two people on the last set, Adam and Eve always go together).  A child is presented addition, multiplication, subtraction and then division-using all four place values, from the start.  Again concrete.  You don't have to explain it, you just show them the process.  The actual writing down of problems isn't done until later.

After the Golden Bead material, the children move on to the Stamp Game.  It is used in the same way as the Golden Bead Material, but it is the first step towards abstraction.  Instead of using large bead blocks, they get stamps to represent the quantities.

Here you can see a quantity of stamps to match the number.  This material will bring in written problems and be a part of the lessons for quite awhile.  We just (as in today) began using the Stamp Game, so I don't have action photos, but check back over the next couple weeks as we get into it more :).

There aren't any math lectures from Margaret Homfray.  Why I don't know, I would have loved to see them!

You don't have to be a Montessori school to purchase materials.  The famous Montessori Materials supplier is a company by the name of Nienhuis.  My understanding is that they are an 'authorized supplier' and have copies of Dr. Montessori's original blueprints.  That said, they are very PRICEY!  If I were running a school and had a large budget to work with, I would consider their products, but since I am a homeschool I have gone with a couple of discount suppliers.

The two suppliers I have worked with and will recommend are Kid Advance and Alison's Montessori (not affiliate links).  There are a number of other suppliers out there.  If you choose to use another supplier, I would suggest doing a little research to be sure they are a reputable company before sending them money.  

Some Montessori Materials could be made by hand if you have the time and resources.  I find that I have more money then time these days (though I don't have that much money!) and have not ventured to make any materials.  Because of the great care that Dr. Montessori took to create her materials, I do recommend that you are careful to make materials that capture the intention of the material you are trying to make at home.  The blog What Did We Do All Day has a great database of homemade Montessori Materials from the web.  Check it out if you are more crafty then I am :).

As you can see, Dr. Montessori created some amazing materials!  Which you have, or are going to order.  But, then, what do you do with these materials?  There are so many of them, which do you order first?  How do you lesson plan a Montessori homeschool?  Where and how do you begin?  Come back tomorrow and I'll discuss the Scope and Sequence of the Montessori Method and how I lesson plan in our homeschool classroom.  (And yes, when I say tomorrow, I likely mean around midnight.  It's when I blog!)

Thanks for stopping by!!  Goodnight and God Bless!

Oh, and don't forget to check out the other 65+ blogs and their great topics this week!