Okay.  As a trained Montessori Teacher, I admit it:  online materials are NO REPLACEMENT FOR MONTESSORI MATERIALS, but times are tough for many right now.  COVID-19 is still very present in our lives and in our communities.  Below is a list of Montessori Materials links, free for home use.  These materials can enhance a school experience or home school, but are no replacement for work in the hands of a child.  In my virtual teaching, my students each have the materials in their hands and on the screen.  Before use of any of these, please be sure access albums or a trained teacher for help.   Movable Alphabe t Bead Bars or Bead Stair Bead Bars for Multiplying Grammar Game Multiplication Bead Board Unit Division Bead Board Factor Board Square Root Board Peg Board Dot Game Fractions Checkerboard Bead Bars Large Bead Frame Bead Frame Montessori Tools:  Golden Beads, Peg Board, and Stamp Game

The Montessori Number Roll is one of my favorite Montessori activities for Linear Counting.  My classroom children go nuts for it, and now you can give it a try at home.  Our number rolls are so long they spread across the lawn!  Number rolls are so attractive to children; to write out numbers, and have the opportunity to see them go so high. The child writes the numbers in order; keeping place value as units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc. I enjoy using paper grids with the initials of the decimal order, available for free download here .  When beginning, either instruct the child to begin units at 0 or cut off one row to begin at 1.  The rest of the number roll will require understanding of place value, and exchanging.   Above is a photo of the Montessori Exchange Tray, which is helpful for children who get stuck with changing decades or exchanging for the next level.  The child can simply lay out the quantity and add one unit.  For example, f...

  There has never been more of a Follow The Child Moment for me as a mom than with remote learning.  Two of my daughters were miserable with the remote learning with Connections Academy because they craved socialization with other students and the work felt empty.  My high schooler is happy with Connections Academy, because she's been able to keep her social connections through COVID and adores independent working.  The live lessons at CA weren't like zoom calls, where you can see other kids and work cooperatively.   Every last day, they'd ask me to homeschool them.  The road block to that is that I need to work to maintain healthy finances and to continue my dream.  As luck would have it, while researching a Montessori Middle School that was virtual, I stumbled upon Higher Ground Education.  While going through the admissions process for Academy of Thought and Industry, I discovered Guidepost Montessori Virtual School.   Due to a...

 The girls are starting TEC Connections Academy on 9/1 and we are full of jitters and anticipation!  They're little work spaces are all set up, and they are connecting with their teachers tomorrow at orientation.   I'm (Mom) tutoring online using Orton Gillingham and Montessori Language this Fall, until Montessori School is ready for me again! Best of luck in the new school year, everyone.

While not all ideas are new ideas (this philosophy has been around over 100 years!), I feel compelled to share a little bit about handwriting in Primary/3-6/Early Childhood. I'm glad to share about writing, since our (Massachusetts) state is on of the last to keep it in the frameworks. Throughout my undergraduate work, Montessori Training, Graduate work, and with professional development, I've been to every possible "out of box" handwriting program the world has created for us. But guess what?  Not all children require the same tools to gain skills.  Ugh.  Is that new?  Nope!   I don't use any of those.   From where I sit, I don't think workbooks have any place in a preschool class or a Montessori 3-6.  The steps listed below can be used in whatever order the child needs. Before I share what happens in my class, please read these two blog posts about what comes FIRST.  These skills and strengths are necessary before trying to write or learn ...

Hello All! We are back at home with all three girls, using TECCA Connections Academy and following our own interests.  Our school district has given the girls the best elementary and middle school education we could ask for, but with COVID and all the mess that comes with it, we are home.  We will enter 2020-2021 with two 7th graders and a High School Freshman.  Yes, that much time has past since I posted here! Wasn't this a Montessori blog?  Yes, it still is!  I'm still a Montessori Teacher and Mom.  We will also be "following the child," with the Montessori Adolescent Philosophy. This year we will: Follow their interests in unit studies  Biology, Zoology, Geography, Politics, Health, Yoga, etc. Entrepreneurship each learner has chosen a side business to develop henna tubes slime babysitting Community Action Projects Girl Scouts Community Gardening Food Bank Tutoring services Family-focused homesteading care of environment  care of self care of f...