I was smitten by the order, peace and child-led work of the Montessori classroom from the first time I stepped into the toddler room at my daughter’s school five years ago. I didn’t think there was any way I was going to send my first baby off to school five days a week when she […]
Tips for organizing your child’s closet
With spring-like temperatures making a visit this past week my girls started requesting more spring-like clothes. I know the cold days will return. But I agree it was time to move the heavy sweaters aside. I always dread the task of changing out their closets for a new season. This time I’m getting an early […]
Weekending, in the NC mountains
On this long weekend, we are spending it in a blissfully beautiful place, stomping in the grass, dipping toes in the water on an unseasonably warm day, playing with rarely seen cousins, catching up, being outside and breathing fresh clean air. It is wonderful. It is is nature. And we are soaking up every moment. […]
85 homemade Valentine cards are ready for school!
You read that right – 85! Between three classes, my kids are handing out (with teachers included) a total of 85 Valentine’s Day cards. At their Montisorri school they have “communities” versus classes. My oldest is in a mixed age setting with first through third graders. There are 46 children and five teachers. So – […]
The yummy joys of a Valentine Bake Sale at school
Nothing gets my mouth watering for Valentine’s Day like a good old fashioned bake sale. After organizing the bake sale at my daughters’ school on Friday, I was inspired to share some bits about it. I hope you enjoy the stories and photos. And that perhaps it will get your juices going to start the […]
How to finger knit garland for your Christmas tree
My seven-year-old learned to finger knit one day in aftercare at her Montessori school. Many Waldorf based education philosophies teach this too, using stories that go along with the craft that has been passed down from generation to generation. My daughter also enjoys teaching this skill to others, including me. So last weekend, my oldest […]
Easy candy cane ornament craft for small fingers
This candy cane craft idea came from my daughter’s Montessori school. It is a lesson placed on the shelf every year in the 3-6 year old classroom. You can use all colors of beads. But for the sake of continuity on our Christmas tree, we just used red and white beads. Even my two-year-old really […]
Tablecloths for the Montessori classroom
I’ve been known to sew all new tablecloths for birthday parties using enough children’s size tables to seat 12 kids with real dish ware and glasses, and tablecloths of course. When my middle daughter’s teacher at her Montessori school started hinting that she would love to have tablecloths for the children to use at snack […]
5 Reasons I will not get a flu shot
When I walked into my veterinarian’s waiting room and saw the sign on the wall announcing that dogs boarding there are now required to get a canine flu shot I laughed out loud, really loud. “Are you serious?” I asked the receptionist standing in front of me. I don’t board my dogs there. But I […]