MaMaws' Montessori

 Getting presents is always good fun, especially when you can make 'em educational!!! As you observe: What do you see... Shapes? Colors? Letters? If you participate at home: What do you feel... What sticks? What floats? Where is slippery? Here is an idea that literally popped in my head while in the tub. Foam alphabet letters from Amazon and Crayola toddler crayons can help parents and caregivers get that quick 10 minute lesson in before the fun begins. What you don't see is us tracing the letters in shaving cream. You don't hear the giggles as he explored how the shaving cream smears, sticks, and ultimately dissolves. You dont feel the elation as we discover that we can, then use them as stamps.  Finally, you  also don't see all the drawings on the tub walls, a perfecto opportunity to have a splish splash clean up party. (Hint, the foams letters work great as a mock sponge!) Yes, it takes time. Yes, it takes moneies. And, yes, it also takes a lot of effort. Butt,  it i

Welcome back! If you found this link, you are probably curious as to how meals look around the MaMaws' Montessori Compound?  Well, allow us to show you one example? We usually take inspiration from recipes tried by others; how else do you know they will work, right?!  This week, the inspo came from Pinterest: https://pinchofyum.com/instant-pot-wild-rice-soup Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup It'll stick to your ribs! I fell for this recipe when I first made it!  How can you not when you consider the following: 1. Wild Rice is low in calories, 2. Wild Rice is high in fiber and protein, 3.  It contains carrots, celery and onion, and garlic, 4. InstaPot and Pressure Cooker friendly, fellow readers, if you don't feel the same way as I, about the above list of items, feel free to close your browser window at this time.  Or, check out the links above and reference your favorite search engine to research how each of these ingredients can improve your current diet? If you are still wit

 The purpose of this post is to explain some things...      First, we want to thank those of you who have been following and supporting our journey through these past few years.  Since becoming certified in 2014 the education industry has been a turbulent one to become involved in, to say the least!      Now, this morning's maintenance of our Teachers Pay Teachers account has shown to have some glitchy elements.  To help diffuse some confusion, allow us to explain a few things about our site at the moment.     The products listed on the page were originally intended to support the classroom of Ms. R. Guidry (or by her other last name) when she was teaching in the public school setting; specifically through the 2014/2015 and 2017/2018 school years.  From the 2018/2019 school years and beyond, the products will be tailored toward homeschooling and smaller school settings.  We cannot control the intent behind your downloads.    If you are  gaining access to our store to download produ

 We recently shared with yall some fun times we had with our Pour and Explore activities.      Recently, K has been having so much fun we have switched up our schedule from just a few days a week to everyday!  This means much more research, prep, shopping, and clean up but IT iS WORTH IT! Here is a "generic" or "whole group" version of today's sensory bin experience:    First, we took a survey of what was around us.  Shopping is on the to-do list, so today we are working with whatever we have and can locate around the houses.  If you do what we do, you'll notice when your LO stays focused on a particular thing or activity; this can be used as evidence we use to help us communicate with them.  (If you LO is currently pre or non verbal that is.?) Today we had, at our disposal, whatever was in Mom's pantry as well as his snacks for the morning.  Take a look below to see what we found today.  A few things were grabbed and outside we went!  Then, after pl

  TO SEE RESULTS, CLICK HERE:   Pour and Explore: Day 2 What is it?         Pour and Explore  is how Montessori Maws' do sensory play.  What is sensory play? Lets do some research! *googles the question* "  Sensory exploration is a  child's way of examining, discovering, categorizing, and making sense of the world, and it's beneficial to provide them with opportunities for  sensory  play."   (Mar 5, 2020   www.verywellfamily.com  › why-sensory-play-is-importa... )        Ok, yes technically everything that you do can be considered sensory exploration, but we as Maws need some time for us to treat ourselves!  So, create a goal that is reasonable to your family (at least once a week) so the time spent can be 100% focused  on the activity.          In our home, with our LO, we try to theme these and spend at least 3 days before we 'exit' the activity.  Yes, this does create a bit of clutter around the house when it is time, but there are developmental advanta

TO SEE DAY ONE, CLICK HERE:  Pour and Explore: Day 1 The goal:  to create an edible play dough for Outdoor Sensory time.  Last week's rice based 'Pour and Explore' was a hit and I hoped this would have similar results.  After comparing the ingredient list to my pantry, I halved the recipe to mix the following: 1 cup Flour (extra to roll) 1/2 cup Salt 1/2 cup Water (extra to sight) I decided to go from basic to extra and add in a bit of food coloring and flavoring; seeing as how we only has yellow available, the lemon flavoring/scent was the only real choice. How to: Check our our page for full instructions: https://mamawsmontessori.blogspot.com/p/diy-play-dough.html The Results: So, we successfully created the dough and placed it in the activity we still had going from the day before; (Pour and Explore: Puff Rice Edition) and it seemed to fit in quite well!  I have "heard' you can create shapes with the dough and through it in the oven @ 200 until hard, but I did&#

Welcome,  😷       👍       😀       

     Have you been there?  We know we have; you finish giving your lesson (yes, glossing over all the effort and work done to create the lesson, gather the resources, etc - that'll be for another post?) the assignment has been given AND completed, and here you sit with your stack of papers to grade. Then you finish grading them.    Omg?!  What to do!?  If you use the grades, with no curve, your poor kiddos are going to get grounded this weekend for sure!!  But, you don't believe in curves; it is kind of your thing.  However, this is the first time you have given this assignment, or the whole class was just introduced to this concept, ie engagement  part of the 7E-Cycle.  Again, what to do? Use This Resource!!!

 What planning for LO looks like this morning: What planning for us looks like: Tag us with yours!! #mmm2020

   So, every time we have a visit to the pediatrician with the LO I feel inspired. This time it was the nutrition posters. You know, the one that encourages you to choose your plate with specific colors? #foodGroups #portionManagement    Next big milestones should be stepping-stones to rearing&math, right?! Phonemic awareness and numeracy here we COME!! Anybody have any suggestions before thy at post gets tackled.? We will be looking for your tags on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.    Hoping the resources we share have been helpful?? Be sure to let us know?! #mmm2020  #september2020

Hey ,  ...feeling overwhelmed yet?  Please, rest assured that we feel the same way!!  While in the process of gathering resources, primarily to support a small group class-structure, I have chosen to be selective in the resources to share at this time.  Rest assured updates are forthcoming. Here are a couple of resources that may be of some use to get started.? (Creating accounts will help by saving progress and in some cases necessary to assess the content, or if "Guest" option is available this is a choice as well.)     https://bookadventure.com ~  Described as similar to AR programs used in schools.     https://allinonehomeschool.com ~ Quite a comprehensive collection of contents. ReadWorks.org ~ Offers resources for differentiated reading instruction & easy 2 use. XtraMath.org ~ Web-based resource designed to help master basic math facts. Not what you were looking for? Contact us  Facebook or profnessfitwell@gmail.com Keep on Learning,

Please see our Patreon for continued posts: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39946534  Please note the level of Tiered membership you choose. We will always be here for support, but individualized curriculum takes time to create and facilitate. Your progress is important to us!!

Any fellow Sew-Strisses feel like discussinng the fun to be had with collars and button downs?!   #modifyingLulaRoe #upCycleFashion

Btw, please consider supporting the content you 💘 to check in on?? 🙏 Check out our PatreonPage to check it out?  One of our goals, by the end of the year, is to minimize our social media presence. We hope to only have a minimum amount of channels to update.?  This page will allow us to 'focus our sites on  many things including analytics as well as truly help us create content that is helpful for those who view. #tyvmInAdvance  #tia Ps: This is the type of content you can expect:

Who is ready to make a facemask?!  If you don't want to simply purchase one, we first recommend viewing at the quick sewing tip below.  When you are ready to start sewing, you can use one of the free patterns we found online. I can't attach it here but if you email profnessfitwell@gmail.com  we will make sure you get both copies.? Or, use your favorite search engine?! ~ ~

"                                            " https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/TEA-will-not-place-limits-on-Laredo-schools-in-15345641.php I will let you read and gague your own opinion.   *curious to get your opinion in the comments* Personally, I get the logic but 😳  this means for those with feet on the campuses. 😨 😱 😶

 How do you define Montessori?  I have been hesitating, procrastinating, postponing this post since even before our little one was born. I guess in the back of my mind somewhere I figured I would eventually happen upon that perfect Resource that would allow me to understand  what the whole concept was about a bit more clearly. Like we do this day and age, I turned to a popular digital community.  Without going too much into detail of a specific situation, I will just say that after realizing the authorities in "that group" were just as confused as I was, I chose to write this blog post (instead of any other nefarious action I could have chosen). #angryEmailAnyone ...WITH THAT IN MIND...  Here, at MaMaws Montessori, will set the following to be understood; before the age of 2, we define our Montessori practices as a three part daily system: 1. Menu focused, 2. Indoor bins, 3. Outdoor exploration.  We thank you for your time to check out our prac

https://adayinourshoes.com/iep-evaluations-iee-timeline/

 I don't know what is in the air, but the last few days have been really difficult. On the one han, I am excited that our state is going to "back to normal" status but not sure what that means as far as us teachers who have to think about public safety as well?. 🤷‍♀️ 😖

There are so many things to focus on these days; I had great intentions of running both blogs as a digital resume-of-sorts (maybe portfolio -esque if you will) BUT I will finally admit defeat.  Well, maybe modify my mechanics of thinking? Basically, my main focus will be the Patreon page as well as my one-on-ones.  If I find time to update the blogs and social medias, then  Great ; however, if not I will not stress about  that . ******* “ Hey friend, do you really expect us to PAY $$$ to keep up with you?!” No, I do not.  If this is what you think, DM #plz&tyvm. “ So you are going to charge for everything now!?” Not everything; however, everyone’s time is valuable; agree?? “Look I am having a hard time too- I can’t afford $$$ a month.” Life is a b*tch; is it not?  Fret not, I will still do my best to remain active (as appropriate) on the SocMed channels; we can keep up that way?   ******* This will be the active post for a while, until probably mid year; fo

Whether you are conscious of the play pandemic, manically minding mindfulness, or just trying to do what’s best (like us?) Then you may share and the feeling of overwhelmed-ness at times.? If you’re ever curious about my punctuation theories on this blog just let me know? ;) However, name brands are always a great tool; however, sometimes you just have to go with your gut. Below you will see a couple of Learning resources (aka: toys) we purchased on the web recently. This all wooden tree is a great activity for little one to sink his budding teeth into, and we are eager to teach him how to pick up; . This was originally purchased with the intent to be a night light but it has turned out to be so much more than that; Do you go by name brand? How do you choose your toys, learning resources, or other ways to Montessori?

This post has been a long time information;  don't be surprised if every time you come back it changes?!  Starting off simply is probably best: I created this document a while back for a friend and am in the process of updating it. 🤞   This should be a decent starting off point to any body intrested and the Texas essential knowledge and skills or kindergarten!? https://drive.google.com/file/d/129WTgv8E6AbmRvKG0RGeoprd2-uxeFOk/view?usp=drivesdk

If you want to you the end boxing in detail please check out our YouTube:  https://youtu.be/xZbBzC6fMe0 ¡¿Here are some close-ups of what all you’re going to get. These are the tools that should help us get started in our journey together?! O