Category Archives: Montessori minded

Montessori moment.

This is how I got 10 minutes to sweep the kitchen floor. I sat her in her chair with two small bowls, some sugar puffs and a spoon, and showed her transferring between bowls. She was engrossed. Sure, some of … Continue reading

Posted in Montessori minded, Soa | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

School, huh, yeah, what is it good for?

Despite appearances to the contrary, given that we home educate, I’m not actually anti school per se. I’m just not sure I can see the point of it. And I think that there are an awful lot of ppl with … Continue reading

Posted in It's where it is, Montessori minded, political stuff, ranting or raving | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Once around the sun

another year is done. Another year is over and now you are one. I can’t believe it’s been a year. This was the first day. (It’s possible I was a little tired.) Couple of weeks on. First Christmas.

Posted in Montessori minded, Soa | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

Not everything has a why…

declared Small this evening. He’d been asking for Brown Beaver’s phone number, and I wanted to know why he wanted it. He said that not everything had a why, and I said I thought it did. His response was that … Continue reading

Posted in Ages past, Big, Doodling, drawing and decoration., Jonny had two apples, Making things, Montessori minded, Puters!, Small steps, reeling, writhing | 9 Comments

cause and effect or bribery and punishment?

First day of the new system, it appears that the children had a rather different idea to how it was going to work than I did. Our system doesn’t involve boxes per child prestacked with work – I’m nowhere near … Continue reading

Posted in Big, Doodling, drawing and decoration., Making things, Montessori minded, Puters!, Small steps, how we do it, reeling, writhing, things that go bang | 3 Comments

Mathematical traumas

over the weekend I printed out placement tests from Maths no problem for both offspring. Small is acquiring maths concepts in the same way he acquires all knowledge (ie I have no idea, just suddenly he knows something) but Big … Continue reading

Posted in Big, Getting to know you, Jonny had two apples, Making things, Montessori minded, OU, Puters!, Small steps, reeling, writhing | 1 Comment

Broad and balanced v intrinsic motivation.

This review does not argue against the rights of parents as set out in Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 outlined above, nor their deeply held convictions about education. I believe it would be wrong to seek to legislate … Continue reading

Posted in It's where it is, Montessori minded, home education review, political stuff | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Trying to be more available

so obviously the kids were completely self entertaining yesterday. Sigh. Well, I was mainly more available, apart from the hour or so I spent shopping for clothes that would go over the bump without sweltering me – got a great … Continue reading

Posted in Big, Montessori minded, reeling, writhing | 6 Comments

The personal stuff

Went to doctor’s about Small this morning, referral to community paediatrician set in motion. Not sure what they do, but there you go. That was after I’d slept in, I’m not sleeping well during the night, so given that I’d … Continue reading

Posted in Ages past, Big, Doodling, drawing and decoration., Jonny had two apples, Montessori minded, Small steps, fainting in coils, reeling, writhing | 4 Comments

Meet Jax, the entertaining educational machine.

As promised to the children, my alarm went off at 8 am this morning. Given that I didn’t get to sleep until well after midnight, despite being in bed before it, then woke again at 5 and did that horrid … Continue reading

Posted in Ages past, Big, Jonny had two apples, Montessori minded, Puters!, Small steps, reeling, writhing, rhythm of the day, speaking in tongues | 3 Comments

Big wants to learn

Victorions Where we live Math’s Spelling Sionce a new langwig? Craft Poetry Accordingly, her library haul included two books on toys, Toys (What Was It Like in the Past?) and Look Inside a Victorian Toyshop. I found Seashore (Usborne Nature … Continue reading

Posted in Ages past, Big, Doodling, drawing and decoration., Jonny had two apples, Making things, Montessori minded, reeling, writhing, speaking in tongues, things that go bang, won't cook, can't cook | 5 Comments

Small wants to learn

How lite is fire How hot is fire How cold is ice How fast is the sun How slow is the earth How good is Federer Yes, the last one made me laugh too. I should point out that although … Continue reading

Posted in Montessori minded, Small steps, reeling, writhing, speaking in tongues | 6 Comments

Possibly the best reason for home education I’ve seen today

Timesonline Children ‘no longer reading for pleasure’ An emphasis on “functional literacy” in the classroom has left little time to read for pleasure, it was claimed. The comments by Frank Cottrell Boyce, who won the Carnegie Medal for children’s writing … Continue reading

Posted in Montessori minded, political stuff, reeling, writhing | 8 Comments

Weekends and weekdays, all flowing together.

Given that neither Tim or I are working outside the home atm, the pattern to life here is somewhat fluid. Weekends are slightly more marked in that they are our chances to see the ppl who do work, relatives and … Continue reading

Posted in Big, Getting to know you, Jonny had two apples, Montessori minded, Puters!, Small steps, family, reeling, writhing | 1 Comment

Defensive orgo planning

For pretty much as long as she has been able to talk, Big’s last question of the day has been “what are we doing tomorrow?” and my standard answer is “I don’t know yet”. I’m not a person who lives … Continue reading

Posted in Ages past, Big, Doodling, drawing and decoration., Jonny had two apples, Making things, Montessori minded, Puters!, Small steps, Where did you say you were going?, fainting in coils, how we do it, reeling, writhing, rhythm of the day, things that go bang, won't cook, can't cook | 11 Comments

Fun ways to learn about parallel lines

This was our maths lesson for the day today I’ve had to remove the embedded instructable movie as it was causing problems for IE users, but the project is the Super-cool easy 6 pointed snowflake – More DIY How To … Continue reading

Posted in Big, Jonny had two apples, Making things, Montessori minded | 2 Comments

Echoes of the past.

At the weekend I found a diary that I kept for around 18 months in the late 90s. It details a relationship or two, a job or two, my state of mind, and most particularly, at least to my state … Continue reading

Posted in Big, Montessori minded, Small steps, family | 3 Comments

Another weekend

another car load of stuff. I don’t think of us as particularly materialistic (stop sniggering at the back there) yet the amount of stuff is phenomenal, granted a lot of it is books, or things I should have got rid … Continue reading

Posted in Big, Making things, Montessori minded, family | 2 Comments

The first great lesson.

If you don’t know what a Montessori Great Lesson is, or what it’s about, I recommend you tootle off to see Miss Barbara. If you’re wondering why you would do that with elementary age children (6 – 12), there’s a … Continue reading

Posted in Jonny had two apples, Montessori minded, things that go bang | 3 Comments

Master of the universe | Technology | The Observer

Master of the universe | Technology | The Observer How important is it that his games teach as well as entertain? ‘I’m not sure teach is the right word,’ he says. ‘Computer games and simulations are much more powerful [as … Continue reading

Posted in Ages past, Montessori minded, things that go bang | 2 Comments