Montessori, Age 3-6

From Montessori Homeschooling:

AGE 3-6:

Q. Can I use Montessori ideas at home with my child? 
A. Yes, you can use Montessori principles of child development and education at home. Look at your home through your child's eyes. Children need a sense of belonging and of being needed. They get it by participating fully in the routines of everyday life. "Help me do it by myself" is the life theme of the preschooler. Can you find ways for your child to participate in meal preparation, cleaning, gardening, caring for clothes, shoes, and toys? Providing opportunities for independence is the surest way to build your child's self-esteem. In Montessori 3-6 classes around the world it is this practical life element that builds habits of thinking logically, making intelligent decisions, following complex steps of complex processes, care in actions, and so forth, that prepare for a life of independent thinking and responsible action, and care for self, others, and the world. It is often the major area of work in the whole first year of the child's experience in a Montessori class. The Montessori 3-6 environment is filled with cultural, artistic, scientific activities and materials and books.  There is no junk food, no television, no computer.  Books, toys, and other educational materials are carefully chosen and of the best quality. The child is never forced to attend a lesson or do a piece of work.  The teacher is trained to model kindness and consideration, to observe the child and follow her interests in suggesting work, to give careful, individual lessons,to keep exacting records of what the child is learning and where his interests are leading him, and to refrain from interrupting when the child is concentrating on an activity. Much of this can be created in the home.

Going Timberdoodle

I think I hit a jackpot, and this has got to be it.  Really!  Timberdoodle seems like a lot of fun.  There's a lot of Montessori, with Charlotte Mason, just the right mixture of eclectic.  It seemed a little pricey at first, but it's value for money!  I think with this new addition, I'll be coming up with just the right homeschooling stuff for my kids.

With a handful of materials already--I have BFIAR, CHC, Montessori at Home!, some influence of Charlotte Mason... I have to get serious with my planning and time management, or else it will turn out to be sour case of juggling act.  Add to it the fact that I haven't resigned from my job yet, and I'm also an entrepreneur on the side, also with some personal interests/ hobbies of my own!  I myself have to homeschool myself on how to homeschool, financial literacy-- investing on paper assets, real estate, gold & silver, culinary arts (still waiting for a chef friend).

So, seriously, Seriously, SERIOUSLY, I and M1 have to be serious on our homeschooling scheds after he turns 4 years old, PreK level.  And then by March, I and M2 have to be serious on our homeschooling scheds after he turns 3 y.o.!  All necessary materials in,  calendars planned and filled, and no more jumping curriculums!  I'll be in need of a very good planner.  Or perhaps printouts of all the planners from each source will do?

Got to go to work.

Montessori at Home!

Montessori at Home! does make homeschooling a breeze.  It's very easy to follow.  One can get started as soon as you get hold of the handbook.  A lot of the materials to get you started can really be found in the house.  And the kids, they love the activities.  I do not find very much resistance.  Both Marek and Markus enjoy the rice & water tubs... just a little too much.  My challenge lies in taking control.  Our homeschool is messier than the examples in the book.   They need to train some more on right-away obedience.  They do obey, but a lot of times, only when it's convenient to obey!  M2 has to work on self-control.  And M1 has to be a little less mischievous... which pushes my buttons sometimes.  Gentle disciplining sure can be challenging.  But over-all I'm less overwhelmed about our homeschooling.  Montessori at Home!  makes one step one day at a time easier.