I’m an at-home mom with 3 1/2 year-old twin boys.  For the first two+ years, my husband was an at-home dad, but since this past August I have been at home with the boys while my husband works.  I’m having a hard time getting into a good rhythm/routine. We have a lot of free play time, we read daily, occasionally do arts and crafts, I try to teach them letters and numbers, but there is no regular order to things. I know Montessori won’t happen overnight nor on its own, but I need practical help getting started.

Answer:

First of all, I admire your sincere interest in your boys’ development and education.  Montessori is a wonderful principle that will give your boys the tools to be successful men in many more ways than simply education.  It’s learning for their whole bodies.

Many people will say it’s best to read books written by (or about) Maria Montessori as the very first step.  A great list of Montessori literature is listed here.  The Montessori Method is one of my favorites.  I definitely recommend reading books too, but while you are reading her materials there are many things you can go ahead and get started on.  One of which is:

1.  Prepare a home environment that nurtures your child’s innate desire for self-reliance.

~ Store cups, bowls, plates and utensils in a low cabinet or drawer.  Explain to the boys that this is their cabinet that they are able to get things in and out of as they need them, but it is not for play.  They can also help with putting away their clean dishes as well.  It’s not uncommon for my boys to get their own cups of water or peel a clementine and put it in a bowl on their own.  It also helps to place snacks that they can make for themselves on a low shelf.  For example:  fruit and crackers in the pantry or cheese, yogurt or applesauce cups in the fridge.  You’ll be surprised how well they will respect this responsibility and will quickly learn how to help themselves and clean up after (with a little reminding in the beginning).

~ Hang coat hooks low where your boys can hang their own jackets.  Teach them how to put on their own coats using the method shown in this video.

~ Place a step stool, a hand towel and a soap dispenser (we like a liquid soap that has an easy pump) within your boys reach. Give them a demonstration on how to wash their hands and then let them each try.  Once they can reach the faucet handles, they will be able to do this independently before each meal, after using the bathroom and any other time necessary.

2.  Prepare a low shelving unit that will hold Montessori materials only.

You don’t need an entire room dedicated to your Montessori materials, but it’s nice to have a separate area that is dedicated solely to Montessori materials.  Some people have this shelving unit in their dining room, family room, bonus room, etc.  I prefer to have it separate from the toys so the children are well aware that these are different and treated thus.

The shelves are preferably open so the child can see the materials easily and are low enough that the child can help himself to the materials independently.  Materials with multiple pieces are preferably placed on a single tray for the child to carry in one trip.  This is not always possible due to money/size restraints.  I have some materials that aren’t on trays (but I wish they were).

3.  Creating Trays

{Using a Ladle Tray}

Don’t go crazy at the very beginning.  Create 5 or 6 trays and don’t duplicate them just because you have 2 sons the same age.  They will work on the same items, but at different times.  They will learn to take turns and occasionally they will choose to observe each other’s work.  This is encouraged as long as they don’t touch, talk or interrupt each other’s work while observing.

Also, don’t try to create the trays while your boys are wanting your attention.  All that causes is frustration.  I do all of my planning during nap time, after they have gone to bed or on the weekends when I have my husband’s help.  I have several recommended trays listed here to get you started.  I would focus on Practical Life Trays and purchase one Sensorial Montessori Material if your budget allows.

4.  Always demonstrate a tray before letting the child attempt to do the work.

I have a quick post that lays out the guidelines to presenting (or demonstrating) a material to your child.  Read it here.

5.  Settling in with your family’s rhythm.

We don’t live by a rigid schedule, but I do find that we follow a similar rhythm day-to-day.  I’ve written about it here.  Also, some days we do an hour of work. Some days, we do 3 hours of work.  Other days, we do some casual reading in bed or go on a field trip and that’s it.  It’s entirely dependent on the boys’ attitudes and desire to work.  I don’t force them, because they are still young and they usually choose to work because learning is fun…not because I make them.

Here are some other great posts about getting started using Montessori principles in the home:

• New to Montessori – Where do you start? by Montessori Print Shop
• Starting Montessori at Home by Our Montessori Home
• How to Set Up a Montessori Preschool Classroom at Home by Living Montessori NOW

It’s hard to tell if I remembered everything that helped us get started.  I hope that was helpful.  For all of the other readers:

What helped you get started?

i’ve been feeling better the past few days.  the nausea is passing and i should be jumping and shouting for joy.  if only i had the energy to do it.  i don’t know what’s up with this week, but i feel drained.  maybe i’m trying to do more since i’ve been feeling better? even if i’m doing more, i still feel like i’m falling faaaarrrr behind.  have you ever felt that way?  what things help you get everything back on track?

we’ve been doing a lot of reading and learning to read while sitting in bed.  reading isn’t john robert’s strongest subject so i think we’ll focus on it for a while, until he is ready for something new.  he wants to read so badly, but it’s taking longer than he’d like and he’s getting frustrated.  i keep telling him reading is hard to learn and it takes everyone a long time to learn.

there have been a few things that has brought me pure joy this week.  our sunny, 75 degree weather today.  family walks.  chocolate pudding.  getting back in the kitchen to help robert with the cooking.  catching the boys reading together.  strawberry and goat cheese salads.  being able to look at {and pin} food again without getting sick.  and making my 3 boys happy with these peanut butter brownie bites.

i received a fantastic email from a reader asking how to get started using montessori principles in her home.  i hope i have the energy tomorrow to write the “ask montessori moments” post.  wish me luck.  thank you to all of you who are standing by me and the blog while i’ve been a little less than my usual lately.  i hope to be back here daily in a couple of weeks.

See our Bird Watching from last year.  We checked out a local “bird watching” book from the library, used binoculars to search for birds and recorded our findings with crayons on a bird line drawing.

Totally Tots has an amazing Bird Themed Sensory Tub.  I hope I have the energy to make one of these this Spring.

The Pinay Homeschooler shares many ideas in her Study of Birds Post including the “Parts of the Birds” cards from Montessori Print Shop and an amazing, handmade bird puzzle.  I’m thinking of doing this with felt to use with our felt board.

Montessori Print Shop has a free Bird Matching Game.

Little Acorn shares a recipe for Peanut Free Bird Feeders for all of the little ones with Peanut allergies.  I also love her idea of making children “My Little Book of Birds”.

Discovery Days and Montessori Moments has images of hatching baby Robins and Bird Themed Trays.

The eBook, Montessori At Home! suggests making a bird house using a kit from an Arts & Crafts Store. 

My Little Princess World shares many ideas in her post Our Birds Unit, my favorite one being “matching the bird models to the corresponding cards”.

{Inspired by Juggling with Kids}

Memorization isn’t very much fun, but with this “Sight Word Parking Lot”, learning sight words suddenly became exciting.  I started by introducing 3 sight words at a time using the Montessori 3 Period Lesson.  You can learn about how to present a 3 Period Lesson here and find a list of Kindergarten Sight Words here.

After we finished learning the first three words, I prompted John Robert to park the car on the three separate words by saying, ”Park the car on the”.  As we added more words, the parking lot game became longer and more challenging.  I also allowed Asher to play along by telling him to park on a word while pointing to the word.

What’s your favorite way to teach sight words?

So, this year was a little different from last year.  Last year I made heart-shaped pancakes and the most adorable valentines for Robert (see here).  This year was a lot more mellow as I’m still trying to gain my sea legs…or at least that’s how it feels.  I made the boys Norwegian Pancakes (crepes) for breakfast and immediately recovered in bed.  It’s funny how the smallest things take everything out of me right now. 

I romanticized about taking the boys on a little mommy/son date to a local tea house.  We got all dressed up, talked about how to treat me like a lady and ate finger sandwiches as the boys fought and refused to be gentlemen.  The only saving grace was the delicious heart-shaped sugar cookie at the end of the meal.  My husband saved the day when he brought home take-out Italian and chocolate covered strawberries. 

In other news (I feel like I have so much to tell you!), Asher turned 3 on Sunday.  We had a small family celebration with a mint-chocolate chip ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins.  He was so excited about his birthday this year.  It’s so refreshing to see how the small things make children so happy.  I wish I could be more like that.

My doctor also prescribed Zofran for me, which I started taking today.  So far, I don’t feel a difference, but I’m hoping I won’t feel as nauseated in days to come.  It’s taking a toll on all of us.  I can see a difference in the boys’ happiness level and attitudes since we haven’t been doing school work regularly.  I’m forcing myself to do school work with them tomorrow (even if I’m throwing up here and there).

And last, but not least…JR has his first loose tooth!  He’s VERY excited about it.  It’s like a right of passage into big boyhood.  Well, I’m sorry I haven’t been showing up regularly and the Montessori posts have become slim.  I hope to get better as the morning sickness eases.  I’m wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day!  Cherish the people you love on this special day and everyday.  Much love, Lori

JR (5.5 yo) has been more into writing than reading or spelling.  Maria Montessori has a theory about this.  Her theory is it’s easier for the child to create their own symbol, than decipher someone else’s symbol.  She believes that most children can write before they read.  I’m definitely seeing that trend with John Robert.  I need to get him some large lined paper.  Any recommendations?

In other news, the boys have been helping me with tons of practical life tasks while I’ve been sick.  The other day they spilled some water while I was lying down in my bedroom.  JR asked if he could mop it up with a child-sized mop we have in the school room.  I said yes (and I loved how he thought of it).  A few minutes later, he pops his head in to say, “It got a little bit wetter, well actually, a lot wetter, but I think it will dry.”  When I walked into our family room, there was a LAKE of water!  Thank goodness we don’t have real wood floors.

JR had misinterpreted my permission to use the mop as permission to use the mop AND bucket.  Let’s just say I wasn’t pleased, but tried to handle it the best my tired, pregnant body could.  I sent them to their rooms to play (Asher had already slipped once) and got down on my hands-and-knees to dry it up with huge beach towels.  JR is now WELL aware that permission to use the mop does not include the bucket with water.  Live and learn.

Well, said.  Last night, I switched my prenatal vitamin and woke up hopeful for less sickness.  The morning went well…I was actually feeling like my old self.  I made us breakfast and when JR asked if he could watch a movie I said, “No.”  Instead, I bundled them up and sent them outdoors.  While they were outdoors, I organized and tried to get my life back.  When they tired of the cold, I made them hot cocoa and we built towers with Legos.

By the early afternoon, I was back to feeling ill and needing rest.   I can’t say I actually did a lot of teaching in the traditional sense today, but what I did was bond with my children in a healthy way.   And for now, that’s good enough for me.  For what I am at the moment, is a mom dealing with morning sickness and exhaustion…and I’m content with that.  Not content in the way that I’m happy I’m sick, but in the way that I know I’m doing the best I can with what I have…and I have nothing to prove.   Thank you, Marjorie Hinckley for reminding me.

p.s.  And I’m not doing it alone.  I have a husband who is holding down the fort for me until I get better.  Thank you for cooking meals, doing the boy’s bedtime ritual, cleaning dishes and doing laundry.  Robert, you are the best and I love you.

As you know, I’ve had a rough start to this pregnancy.  I’ve had many days where I’ve had a hard time getting out of bed.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining…it’s what needs to happen for us to welcome a new baby into our family.  Even so, I’ve had to rely on some of my “Mommy’s Sick” activities to get me through the days.  I thought I’d share them with you…

1.  “When the only thing that makes you feel better is sitting in a warm bath.”  Let your child stand by the edge of the bath and give him two small empty cups.  This allows him to practice a Practical Life Skill: Wet Pouring, while you get a few extra minutes (or even 20) in the bath.  Be prepared to change a wet shirt…believe me, it’s well worth it!  You’ll actually be surprised how well they can keep the water in the tub/cups.

2.  “When you have a splitting headache.”  Play the “rock game.”  I’m not sure if my mom invented this or if she learned it from someone else, but it’s GENIUS!  Everyone chooses a rock they’d like to be.  Some popular ones in our house are lava rock, fossil, moon rock, and meteor.  For girls, I envision diamonds, rubies, and emeralds as top contenders.  Once everyone selects a rock, everyone stays quiet as a rock and the one who is quiet the longest wins.  While we were in Utah, we even played the “mountain game” where the boys selected a mountain they could see (top choice was the one with the most snow).  This is particularly helpful in a car ride and JR actually initiates the game because he loves it so much.

3.  “When you need a few minutes longer resting your eyes.”  Ask your children to bring you random toys/child safe objects from around the house.  With your eyes closed, they will place it in your hand for you to guess the object.  They’ll get a kick out of trying to stump you.

4.  “When you just need to lie down for a little bit.”  For boys:  Have them drive cars over your back.  The plus side?  You get a little bit of a massage.  I’ve been doing this for years and I just found this shirt, which I will be making in the near future.  For girls:  Play spa day and have them rub your back with lotion or give you a manicure (with lotion and cotton balls).  You’d be surprised how much they’ll like it (and you too).  This worked with my sisters when they were young.  They thought THEY were the ones having fun.

5.  “When all else fails.”  Pop in a movie.  Yes, it’s not our ideal choice, but remember that it’s temporary.  You won’t need to do this every day and I’ve found a few educational documentaries on Netflix that my boys are loving.  That makes it sort of, kind of OK…right?

So, you’ve heard my secrets.  What are yours?

Today was rough.  I don’t know about you, but for the first 4 months of pregnancy I feel like I haven’t slept for days (all the time) and feel nauseated all day, every day.  Despite it all, I always love being pregnant and just look forward to the second trimester when I feel on top of the world.  Feeling better and feeling the baby move just makes everything worth it.  Despite our rough day, I did manage to clothe, feed and educate my children, which are the most important jobs in my eyes.  All the cleaning and laundry will just have to wait until another day.  Ever feel like that?

Today, the boys experimented with Real-Life Objects I selected for them to match up with our Geometric Solids.  I provided an ice cream cone (cone), toy butter (rectangular prism), baby block (cube), toy egg (ovoid), spice container (cylinder), triangular toy (triangular prism) and ball (sphere).

I was happy to see how it brought a new energy to a work that has been over-looked.  I knew JR would do really well this work, but Asher really surprised me with the accuracy of his work.  He got it 100% right the very first time.  That just goes to show that children under 3 may be ready for this work if you give them a chance.

Here Are More Geometric Solids Sources From Around The Web:

Montessori Print Shop sells Geometric Solids Sorting and Geometric Solids 3-Part Cards for a modest price.

To The Lesson has a wonderful post showing how to use the Geometric Solid Cards and shares a fantastic idea for control of error.

Margaret Homfray, a student and colleague of Maria Montessori, has an extremely educational video “Lecture 15 – Geometric Solids”.  Although her lectures tend to be long, I still use her videos as my main source of video guidance due to her vast knowledge of Montessori.

Mi Escuelita Montessori has a fantastic post matching Real-Life Objects and Cards to their Geometric Solids.

I just returned from a week-long vacation in Utah with my entire family (all 15 of us were there).  I took the time to LIMIT my internet use.  My initial goal was to eliminate the internet altogether during the week, but with the need of maps, directions, emails and my obvious addiction to the internet…let’s just say I limited myself and that was as good as it got. 

It was nice not to feel the pressure to tweet, comment on Facebook and blog.  I don’t know how some women do it.  I feel like they’re always adding links, commenting and tweeting.  As much as I love to connect with other moms, homeschoolers and Montessori enthusiasts…sometimes I need a break.  Time to spend with just my little family, doing something non-computer related.

The highlights of the trip included Asher’s first airplane ride (that he can remember), meeting my new nephew Milo, taking family portraits in the blistering cold, playing in the snow-covered mountains, visiting the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the world and seeing the Utah crew (dad, brothers and best friend).

I’m glad to be back (although I could do without the mountain of laundry that always follows a vacation) and I’m trying to muster up the energy out of my first trimester body to plan some fun activities for the boys.  Have you seen what I’ve been PINNING?  I guess it’s time to get busy.  How was your week while I was gone?  Catch me up…