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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Toddler Albums

by CC

Jan 9, 2010

Does anyone happen to know where I can find free or inexpensive toddler albums online?

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smelling bottles

by CM

Jan 11, 2010

Happy New Year everyone!!!! I have to make smelling bottles for my classroom. Any ideas what kind of bottles I can use and where to find them. Thanks,

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Leslie Horn On 1/11/10, CM wrote: > Happy New Year everyone!!!! > I have to make smelling bottles for my classroom. Any ideas > what kind of bottles I can use and where to find them. > Thanks, I bought clear glass bottles with a flip top at walmart, they were cheap and easy to change with new smells, they were in the isle with salt shakers

Jan 31, 2010

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what I used Other bottles could be better, but these work:

Cracker Barrell...breakfast, yum...and save the syrup bottles....

Their necks are small, but I got them to work...

Punch a piece of cotton into them and add the scent...

Pull out with a pair of tweezers...wash in dishwasher, new and ready to use!!!

444On 1/1...See More

Jan 31, 2010

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Considering training - Give this some thought...

by Nadine

Jan 14, 2010

Hi everyone-- I hope that your day so far has been a good one. Here's a question that I haven't seen on this board and perhaps you can help. I've been teaching in the public schools for 19 years and have taight grades pre-k through 5. My undergraduate degree is in Early Childhood Education and I had the opportunity to observe in Montessori classroo...See MoreHi everyone-- I hope that your day so far has been a good one. Here's a question that I haven't seen on this board and perhaps you can help. I've been teaching in the public schools for 19 years and have taight grades pre-k through 5. My undergraduate degree is in Early Childhood Education and I had the opportunity to observe in Montessori classrooms. My mom also worked as a cook at a Montessori school when I was a teen. (Loved them! I had a goal, back then to get training, but life got in the way) Long story short -- I currently teach kindergarten and (as you may have read) it has become much more of an academic academy than a place to welcome a child to school. I am very disappointed in what things have become.

I love the core of what I do, but it disturbs me deeply to have to "force" children to fit a certain "benchmark" goal whether or not they are developmentally ready to do so. I have to test my children every other week (every week if I think that a child may be in danger of not meeting the standard --- seriously?! At 5 years old?!) I have a HUGE class (25) and miss the freedom to allow children to be who they are, to play, to learn at their own pace, and to be able to problem solve independently. I had that for a very brief period of time *prior to NCLB* -- and with *Race to the Top* on the horizon I fear that any fun that is left in my job will be taken away -- to teach to the test.

So -- my questions:

Is there *really* a demand for Montessori teachers as I have been reading? It has been suggested to me twice in the last two weeks that I consider getting Montessori training. I've looked at a few training programs, and (of course) every one of them thinks that theirs is The Best.

That being said -- I would much rather do the bulk of my academic training in the summertime since my responsibilities lessen quite a bit. I've seen plenty of online/distance learning schools; but I've not been able to find any that are somewhat of a hybrid class that would meet face to face and/or could allow me not to have to quit my job to do the internship / apprenticeship hours.

Ideas?

Thanks -- Nadine

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Montessori, of sorts... I teach in a public Montessori Magnet school....I think it "sucks"...but, then, another school in the same district does a great job of being a Montessori Magnet school....I think a lot has to do with the administration and how strong they are for the "cause".... fyi....I would LOVE to teach in a "real Montessori" environment....

On 1/14/1...See MoreI teach in a public Montessori Magnet school....I think it "sucks"...but, then, another school in the same district does a great job of being a Montessori Magnet school....I think a lot has to do with the administration and how strong they are for the "cause".... fyi....I would LOVE to teach in a "real Montessori" environment....

On 1/14/10, Nadine wrote: > Hi everyone-- I hope that your day so far has been a good > one. Here's a question that I haven't seen on this board > and perhaps you can help. I've been teaching in the public > schools for 19 years and have taight grades pre-k through > 5. My undergraduate degree is in Early Childhood Education > and I had the opportunity to observe in Montessori > classrooms. My mom also worked as a cook at a Montessori > school when I was a teen. (Loved them! I had a goal, back > then to get training, but life got in the way) Long story > short -- I currently teach kindergarten and (as you may > have read) it has become much more of an academic academy > than a place to welcome a child to school. I am very > disappointed in what things have become. > > I love the core of what I do, but it disturbs me deeply to > have to "force" children to fit a certain "benchmark" goal > whether or not they are developmentally ready to do so. I > have to test my children every other week (every week if I > think that a child may be in danger of not meeting the > standard --- seriously?! At 5 years old?!) I have a HUGE > class (25) and miss the freedom to allow children to be who > they are, to play, to learn at their own pace, and to be > able to problem solve independently. I had that for a very > brief period of time *prior to NCLB* -- and with *Race to > the Top* on the horizon I fear that any fun that is left in > my job will be taken away -- to teach to the test. > > So -- my questions: > > Is there *really* a demand for Montessori teachers as I > have been reading? It has been suggested to me twice in the > last two weeks that I consider getting Montessori training. > I've looked at a few training programs, and (of course) > every one of them thinks that theirs is The Best. > > That being said -- I would much rather do the bulk of my > academic training in the summertime since my > responsibilities lessen quite a bit. I've seen plenty of > online/distance learning schools; but I've not been able to > find any that are somewhat of a hybrid class that would > meet face to face and/or could allow me not to have to quit > my job to do the internship / apprenticeship hours. > > Ideas? > > Thanks -- Nadine

Jan 22, 2010

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Montessori, of sorts... You could most likely get a job at our school if you were Montessori Certified and Teacher Certified (meeting NCLB demands...being a "highly qualified" teacher in your area...but ...you would really compromise your Montessori principles if you took a job at our school....I am soooo sorry to say, I wasted over two years of my "life" getting such won...See MoreYou could most likely get a job at our school if you were Montessori Certified and Teacher Certified (meeting NCLB demands...being a "highly qualified" teacher in your area...but ...you would really compromise your Montessori principles if you took a job at our school....I am soooo sorry to say, I wasted over two years of my "life" getting such wonderful training, and gting certified, and getting an advanced degree, just to find out that I couldn't really be a Montessori teacher in a public school setting...

I do wish you luck and the best in your pursuits....

On 1/14/10, maureen wrote: > On 1/14/10, Nadine wrote: >> Hi everyone-- I hope that your day so far has been a good >> one. Here's a question that I haven't seen on this board >> and perhaps you can help. I've been teaching in the public >> schools for 19 years and have taight grades pre-k through >> 5. My undergraduate degree is in Early Childhood Education >> and I had the opportunity to observe in Montessori >> classrooms. My mom also worked as a cook at a Montessori >> school when I was a teen. (Loved them! I had a goal, back >> then to get training, but life got in the way) Long story >> short -- I currently teach kindergarten and (as you may >> have read) it has become much more of an academic academy >> than a place to welcome a child to school. I am very >> disappointed in what things have become. >> >> I love the core of what I do, but it disturbs me deeply to >> have to "force" children to fit a certain "benchmark" goal >> whether or not they are developmentally ready to do so. I >> have to test my children every other week (every week if I >> think that a child may be in danger of not meeting the >> standard --- seriously?! At 5 years old?!) I have a HUGE >> class (25) and miss the freedom to allow children to be who >> they are, to play, to learn at their own pace, and to be >> able to problem solve independently. I had that for a very >> brief period of time *prior to NCLB* -- and with *Race to >> the Top* on the horizon I fear that any fun that is left in >> my job will be taken away -- to teach to the test. >> >> So -- my questions: >> >> Is there *really* a demand for Montessori teachers as I >> have been reading? It has been suggested to me twice in the >> last two weeks that I consider getting Montessori training. >> I've looked at a few training programs, and (of course) >> every one of them thinks that theirs is The Best. > > I guess the "demand" would mean the age group and the location > you are speaking of. If you are in an area that has public > Montessori be it charter or magnet, and you are already have > your state teaching certification, getting your Montessori > certification should be a good thing to have. However only > your area would determine that. In our area we have only one > private Montessori school that offers early elementary so the > odds of finding a job here would be slim. Neither of the other > preschools are offering elementary. Times are tough right > financially for private and public schools. Finding any job is > tough in either. Our local public schools are in the process > of eliminating personnel cause our state is broke and the tax > money is not supporting the budgets in place. My feeling is if > public schools would admit defeat(it ain't workin), scrub the > entire bureacracy of 'education" and create Montessori based > schools, things for everyone - children, teachers, parents > would improve drastically. Your idea of a large class really > sin't considered large in Montessori. My daughter's first > Montesori class at age 3 had 32 children in her class with a > certified teacher and an assistant. She had a great year. I > have often had class sizes larger then 25 and it works great - > the more the merrier! Public schools could have those three > grade levels all in one room, maybe 30-40 students in the > rooms. They wouldn't have to buy all those worthless textbooks > and other set curriculum materials, and they could use the > more expensive initially materials(in pre primary especially) > yet they are "green" reusable. I see Montessori can solve a > lot of the situations you mention that are just not right. I > think school is much worse with my grandchildren are > experencing then my children did 30 years ago, and how it was > when I was in parochial school with 42 in my first grade > classroom 50 years ago. Sorry I got off on my soapbox but I > agree with you that education is as far away from being what > learning is, that it seems like school is such a waste of > time. My granddaughter is in public full day kindergarten as a > 6 and 1/2 year old. She was in my Montessori classroom for 4 > years and was a late bloomer. She continues to ask to come > back to my school because she said all they do is sit there > and "do work". Her teacher keeps saying how well behaved she > is and I think, so why is that so important? I already knew > that and all she is learning is that she is doing such a great > job in school because she is well behaved. Those stupid > behavior techniques of earning tickets for good behavior back > fired in her case because she deliberately "acted up" (sang > during rest time lol) so that she wouldn't have to have one of > those good behavior tickets that her classmates didn't usually > get. There is WAY too much emphasis placed on behavior in > these classrooms because the adults feel the need to control > these children, Montessori teachers trust children to be able > to make their own choices, make the environment to meet the > needs of the children and a lot of those behavior problems are > non existant in Montessori classrooms. The children are happy > and engaged and responsible for their own learning, not what > the teacher is forcing on them on the directed time table of > NCLB. I know Montessori can work in public schools because I > know of an elementary school in our state that failed NCLB, > fired everyone and got rid of the curriculum and turned it > into a Montessori school ages 3 to 12. They meet all the > benchmarks and standards just like any other public school but > they do it appropriately. > > I really do not have the answers for you in your unique > situation. I would suggest talking to Montessori schools in > your area and see what opportunities are outthere. I did my > preprimary training in the summer with three long weekend > institutes. There is quite a variety of training centers out > there. I self interned. Maybe if you had an open minded > principal you could get your training, set your classroom up > as a Montessori classroom and be a shining example of what can > be done and still meet the challenges of NCLB> >> >> That being said -- I would much rather do the bulk of my >> academic training in the summertime since my >> responsibilities lessen quite a bit. I've seen plenty of >> online/distance learning schools; but I've not been able to >> find any that are somewhat of a hybrid class that would >> meet face to face and/or could allow me not to have to quit >> my job to do the internship / apprenticeship hours. >> >> Ideas? >> >> Thanks -- Nadine

Jan 22, 2010

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Computer usage in class.

by CS

Jan 20, 2010

Do any of your kids use the computer in class for research purposes?

What sites do you allow them to visit?

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starfall.com On 1/20/10, CS wrote: > Do any of your kids use the computer in class for research > purposes? > > What sites do you allow them to visit?

Jan 31, 2010

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Central Montessori School - York Mills Campus

by Happy Child

Feb 2, 2010

Hi,

I'm looking into registering my child in CMS starting this year. My child is starting grade one and CMS seems to be one of the schools running elementary till grade 8 but I have no recommendation on this school. I'd really appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

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nomenclature cards and vocabulary cards

by CM

Feb 4, 2010

Hello Everyone, Need some advice. I gathered all the pictures for making nomenclature and vocabulary cards for my classroom from the internet. would you suggest printing on the card stock directly or printing on a paper and then pasting on different colored card stock. Please advice.......not sure what will be a better option. Thanks.

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CS I have done it different ways.

- Print on white cardstock & laminate straight (I did for cards that may not see regular use like themed ones). No problems even after 3 years.

- print on white or colored copy paper & then mount on colored cardstock or colored construction paper, then laminate (worked best for me especially...See More

Feb 5, 2010

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max I have made works so many ways...

I really think the best thing I have found is to laminate the works with good lamination... I purchased a laminator from SAMS club and the lamination sheets as well...its a lot thicker than what is otherwise available...it makes a great, long lasting work....If desired, you can order even a thicker laminat...See More

Feb 6, 2010

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Resume

by MG

Feb 6, 2010

Could any one send me a sample resume for Montessori directress please. Thanks.

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Wanted: A Montessori to Purchase

by Indira Rodrigo

Feb 18, 2010

Hi,

I would like to purchase an established Montessori School in the Toronto area.

Please respond with details.

Thank you.

Indira Rodrigo Toronto, Canada

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WANTED-3-6 complete set of classroom material

by Liz

Mar 7, 2010

I would like to buy a complete set of 3-6 classroom material

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Karyn Dia,

I would be very interested in the material. I am setting up a new school for this fall and would love to talk to you about your materials.

Thanks so much Karyn

On 3/07/10, Dia Spencer-Berry wrote: > Hi Liz When my mother retired after 25 years of teachin,g she > gave me her original Nienhuis material. It's been...See More

Mar 10, 2010

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rak Hi Karyn i have some language materail (New). if you are interested let me know, i can send you picture.

On 3/10/10, Karyn wrote: > Dia, > > I would be very interested in the material. I am setting up a new > school for this fall and would love to talk to you about your > materials. > > Thanks so much > Karyn > ...See More

Mar 11, 2010

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where to buy materials?

by Ms Juana

Mar 10, 2010

I am trying to build up a list of websites for purchasing Montessori materials and recommendations. Obviously there are the high end sites that nobody disputes (e.g. Nienhuis) but are hard to afford. I've seen some negative comments on Adena from this board. Does anyone have experience with MontessoriConcepts.com? Recommendations and suggestions ar...See More

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Rak Hi I am a montessori teacher. I have all language material (all in good condition and if you want i can make new materail for you) and sell them in reasonabel price. Please contact me @ mundye.[email removed]

Mar 11, 2010

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