Tips for Montessori Teaching

Recently I was given the opportunity to do a presentation at our staff meeting about safe words and some tips about Montessori teaching.  I learned alot from the research that I did and the staff really enjoyed the information as well.  Here is a link to the handout that I gave the staff.
Let's see if this link works.  I am trying to attach a document from google docs.
Tips for Montessori Teaching

Color Sorting Task

This work has pegs that vary in color from darkest to lightest.  The children have to sort the colors first.  Then they take a peg and drag it along the color board to find the matching color.  Then they place it in the holder in the correct place.

Number Puzzle

I purchased this number puzzle from the dollar section at Target.  I also found an alphabet puzzle.  The students love them.  This is my youngest 3-yr-old completing the puzzle on her own.

Making Butter

When we were learning about the farm we talked about corn.  We decided to have the children husk some corn and cook it for snack.  We made some homemade butter to go along with it.  We put 1 cup of buttermilk in a mason jar and the children were able to shake it until it formed a ball.  I drained the excess buttermilk and stirred in a little salt for taste.  The children loved it.

Slipper Storage

Before the children come into the classroom we ask them to change into slippers.  This helps them be more comfortable in the classroom, keeps our room clean and helps them learn to take their shoes off and put them on independentally.  Our old storage system for slippers was a large clothes basket.  When the children would come in in the morning they would throw the slippers out of the basket as the looked for their pair.  What a mess!  We purchased these shoe shelves and plastic shoe baskets.  We labeled the boxes with their name and picture for easy identification.  The go to their shelf in the morning and take their slippers out and put their shoes in.  At nap time they keep both their shoes and slippers in the boxes.  We also store their lunch boxes on the top.  Nice and organized and it looks pretty too.

Practical Life

Spooning

Transfering rice with a very small spoon/ladle.

Tonging 

Transfering mini koosh balls with tongs.