Lelia has started!

Lelia had her first day here on Thursday!
The children adore her, and she seems to be fitting right in and getting comfortable in our new routine.






I am continuing with the work mats, and Montessori-style practical life activities.
I have read recently that Practical Life should be based on what the children actually do.

They will have the option of washing the dishes after breakfast~ I did this on Friday and 3 of the 4 children chose to do this activity, so it is interest-based. In addition to 'care of the environment' water is soothing, and the children are learning the sequence of washing, rinsing and stacking.













Rolling the washcloths that we use as hand-drying towels is another activity, it is a job that actually needs to be done and so has relevance to the children; and the movement and muscles required are great for developing pre-writing skills.

We took a walk today and went to see the chickens. There is also a "giant" rocking chair there, literally, I would look like a tiny child if I climbed onto it...Lincoln sees it and say "Fee Fi Fo Fum"
The kids have also learned to make the arm movement to get the truckers to toot their air horn.
They love it and Alanah was cheering every time it worked.

The sunflower house is almost totally in full bloom, it is very cheerful :)

Restarting the Blog!

Hi, I am excited to restart the blog to share what we are doing. Soon Lelia will be joining big sister Phaedra! Alanah, Lincoln, and Hunter will be here daily as well. Joey's schedule is part time and will vary.

This year Brian will be homeschooled!
He has been asking to do this for several years, and so we wrote our Letter of Intent to the superintendent and got our approval letter this summer.

This is exciting and I am envisioning Brian enriching our program. He will be reading to the children daily and I already have some projects for him which will benefit the children as well as provide alot of learning for Brian :) There is tremendous flexibility in our schedule and so his schooling can and will occur on weekends and evenings as necessary.

I have brought out more Montessori style "Practical Life" activities for the children. I am amazed at how much they enjoy these activities, and I am in awe of their concentration while carrying the trays, and doing the activity as well as enjoying their huge smiles as they accomplish these tasks!

I am excited to be bringing aspects of Montessori here to our program and I will be sharing more about the Montessori Method as the year progresses