50 Best Blogs for Childhood Educators

How shocked was I when I read my email and found out that I had been listed as one of the 50 best blogs for childhood educators?
I seriously do not know how I was even considered for this list, let alone put on it as there are literally hundreds of blogs out there that I read that I would have put on it. Having said that they did pick some other fantastic blogs and it is worth checking out! I was also quite excited that they featured Montessori blogs so prominently on their list.

I originally started this blog as a record of my journey into Montessori but it has given me so much more and I feel blessed to be part of an online community of such dedicated parents and educators!

The lead up to Easter....

Here are a few things we did last week. Thank you to Karen for the inspiration for this counting activity. I'm still looking for better containers to put the sticks in but for the first time we used these glasses. This only lasted until we got thirsty ; )



Talk about great minds think alike. By the time we had done these next two activities I'd seen them on so many blogs!! I love those little chicks they are so cute. L actually thought up this one herself. When we were in the Dollar store I picked up the chicks and then the bag of eggs and she said "ah to put the chicks into!" As soon as we got home she had to "re-home" them.

She didn't like this one quite as much as the cheap chicks(hehe) kept loosing their beaks when she tonged them.

More Easter fun to come....

Money, money, money, money!

One of the first things we did when we moved here is open up a bank account for L. She got a free piggy bank with the account. Every so often she will do the rounds with it and ask if we have any change. It got so full that we decided to sort all of the change and then roll it so we could take it to the bank.

I couldn't believe how long she stuck with this and filled about six rolls with coins.

The next day we took the bag of change rolls to the bank and L got to deposit them into her account. She knows that this is where we save her money so she can do things like go swimming, take classes and go to school in September. I believe it's never to early to start learning about the value of money and how to spend it wisely.

Nature's Garden

Right across the road from our house is this beautiful wood with different nature trails to explore. The local neighbours have taken it over as their own and have made it into a magical forest. They have made bridges, seats, trail signs and have added many little hidden creatures along the way. We decided that it would be the perfect place for two of our fairies to live.

Entering the woods.

The fairies having a little conversation on the way to their new home.

If you look carefully you can see many other little woodland creatures going about their business.

We are so lucky to live in such a magical place and hope our fairies enjoy their new home and friends. We've already been back to check on them a few times this week!

Not much to tell...

Well this week has been a little skimpy on anything too interesting. L and I have both had bad colds and haven't really been doing too much. We have done quite a few practical life things like cutting up and serving cantaloupe and washing the car. We also had a wonderful playdate with one of the children from the Montessori school L will be attending and his mother. I can't wait for her to be able to socialize with all the children in the fall she is soo ready.

Now spring is here L is helping Granny in the garden and we are starting to plan what we are going to plant in the vegetable garden. This is a good thing because today we were walking on the board walk along the beach and I asked L what she thought it was made of. She said wood so I asked her where she thought wood came from. "The wood store" was her reply. Hmmmm Vegetable garden is definitely the next thing on my list.

Montessori Monday

Last week we did more language activities. This is a picture of a rhyming activity we did. For example I would ask L if she could find the item that rhymed with "moon". This is the first time we have done an actual rhyming activity. I've said before oh cat rhymes with hat and then kept saying more words but she has never really participated. She did get this but is not 100% on it. It may have just been the time of day when we did it. Will have to try it again this week.



We also did an activity with objects on this tray like hen, dog, bed, hat and pig. I said to L I'm thinking of something on this tray and then wrote it down. I gave her the piece of paper and asked her if she could figure out what object I was thinking of. She sounded out the letters and I then I said them a bit closer together. She got most of them and we'll be doing a lot more of this.



L found this little tape measure my mom got from a material shop. I let her play with it and she had great fun as there is a little button on the top of it you can press that makes it detract. The next day I made up this activity( I think I originally saw it on Activity Mom) so she could see how to use the tape measure and also practice her numbers. She really enjoyed this and it was quite easy for her. How great to see her go from randomly playing with something to knowing it's purpose and using it appropriately!

Today L really helped out in the kitchen. This morning she helped daddy by whisking up her blueberry pancakes and at lunch time she whisked up her eggs.

She also grated her carrot for the first time. This took a LOT of restraint and trust on my part and my hands were hovering just out of view in case of need of quick assistance. She was a star though and also cut up her cucumber with a sharp knife.
Putting the bits in the compost. I realised today that L is much more co-operative and willing to help with everything if she is involved with making a meal from the very beginning. She never usually wants to set her table any more but at lunch she did all of it.

Making butterflies with a friend

Last weekend L's friend Aa girl and her mom stayed with us. They had such a great time and basically did non-stop activities together the whole weekend. One of the favorites were these coffee filter butterflies.
First color the filter with felt tip markers.

Then spray with water and watch the colors blend together. This is by far the best bit!

Leave them to dry and then twist a pipe cleaner around the middle.

Pretty little butterflies for spring!