The Prepared Environment or Letting it Rot

First thing in the morning our classroom door opens, we open the windows, water the plants and observe our classroom critters- currently tadpoles, a fish and a praying mantis egg sack. There's usually a visit to the potty by the potty-training toddler and a request or two for water. We settle in for a sweet ritual, morning circle time. T advances the calendar and announces the date.

Our work cycle begins. R. usually wants to practice her writing first. She draws in her life cycle journal and practices writing at the writing table. Her baby sister usually observes and wants to copy.

While we work others nap. The classroom gets messy- books on the floor or as was the case on this day- underpants.  B. won't accept help in putting them on and they often are left on the floor when she is not successful in her attempt to redress herself. Two-er and two-er everyday. She works too though. She prepares a rug for her work, for she has observed how this is done. She takes one shelf of material at a time to work with, a chunky puzzle, small boxes and lids or color tablets. The trays she returns when she is finished. The rug finds other users.

After a group zoology lesson we settle in for more difficult work. Again, we are never alone. T works concentrated as his baby sister babbles and tries hard not to play with the tempting materials.

R always finishes up first and goes downstairs with B to play. T finishes by himself in the classroom benefiting from the peace and quiet.

While our classroom is carefully organized, arranged and presented by me, it takes a life of its' own while we work. The materials call to the children from the shelves, the plants beg for their attention, the tables ask to be worked at. I sit back and observe, make small changes here and there, tinker, crop and make lists in my planning closet and try to fade into the background, letting the prepared environment and the children's minds, their only meaningful teacher, take off.

School: Week of January 7th

Learning about nouns and the grammar symbols

 R. illustrating her life cycle book in anticipation of some new life in our classroom..... we still wait.

 Just an example of how much material I compile in order to teach one simple lesson! This is normal- we studied birds this day.

 And spent all day peeking in on an eagle nest via web cam!

 An example of how to keep a toddler busy and constructive rather than destructive in the classroom- she is the official nomenclature card picker-upper.

 Studying animal young. T chose seven pairs to write in his journal. I am always pleased when he chooses words new to him. He loves to learn.

 Home of our new frog embryos. They are too tiny to photograph but fingers crossed they will hatch into tadpoles soon.

 Lego education. First lesson was levers. I hope this will be a good Friday activity that daddy can do.

 Forest animals of North America.

Learning colors!

Studying Insects! Enter: Praying Mantises

I almost don't want to post, lamenting how long it's been and promising to post more regularly, but blogging more is a goal of mine in 2013. Granted, I have entered this new year very ambitiously with goals of achieving all sorts of things. Oh well, I'll keep trying.

As we prepare to study zoology I took some photos of our praying mantis area in the classroom. This will soon be joined by the ladybug study area. As all things Montessori are hands on and child led, I am preparing the environment to achieve our goals of learning insect anatomy and life cycle.

Our study of zoology begins with basic classification, moves through anatomy of invertebrates and then vertebrates and then covers physiology like organ systems and then reproduction. As this is our first pass through this information it will be a basic exploration this year.

An exercise in labeling parts of the praying mantis. A control is provided for checking work.

Praying mantis egg sack that will hopefully hatch in 3-7 weeks

Display of life cycle figures, anatomy exercise, three part carts and info booklet about the insect and another matching exercise with three part cards of lots of different insects.

Life cycle figures from InsectLore.com. This tray allows for matching or handling. 

I added some other work, books and blank journals for the kids to draw in as they observe our new classroom..... pets?

This next semester will be heavy in math and grammar and we will move through zoology, botany then physical and cultural geography. I'm taking several days to plan the next semester currently and I am very happy looking back on the last semester with the progress we have made.

Check in again soon and pester me to post! Thanks!