Project Time!

Today we did a project that went along with our history studies of ancient civilizations. We have spent quite a bit of time on Egypt. She has covered the fertile crescent, hieroglyphs, mummification, and pyramids. We build a pyramid out of sugar cubes and Elmer's glue. Very fun, we worked together and I really thought it came out good. I think she is ready to move on to the Greeks~

The Loved Person~

From The Secret of Childhood by Maria Montessori

When the child goes to bed in the evening he calls the loved person and begs him not to go away. When we go in to dinner the tiny child that still feeds at his mother's breast would like to come with us, to stay near to watch us, not to eat. The adult passes by this mystical love without perceiving it. But the little one who so loves us will grow up, will vanish. And who will ever love us as he does? Who else will ever summon us on going to bed, saying, "Stay with me"? When the child is grown, he will say an indifferent "Good night". Who then will be eager just to watch us while we eat, though he eats nothing? We defend ourselves against this love that will pass away, and we shall never find anything to equal it. We in our turmoil say, "I haven't time, I can't, I have a lot to do," and we think in our hearts, "The child must be taught better, or he will make us his slaves." What we want is to be free from him to do what we ourselves like doing, so as not to give up our convenience.

I Heart Maria~

I am finding I have renewed passion in anything related to the Montessori method.
I love to see the way my daughter responds to it. I spent some time figuring out how to do the stamp game this week, with her former teacher, and friend. Sophia picked up where she left off with it last year at the school and jumped right in. She really was able to show me the way. I want to utilize as much as possible ways of learning that already make sense for her. It was fun, and it is really fun for me to explore what is out there as far as Montessori resources for homeschooling.

Oh my gosh, there are books everywhere!

They seem to be multiplying as fast as I can get bookshelves in here.

Between my 3 year old hauling in about 20 books each night for bedtime, school books in every room, and Sophia's piles of reading, I spend the first part of every day putting them all back, just to have it all over the place again the next day.