2013 — half a year in review

Hoping that everyone had a holiday filled with peace and love. Ours was delightful, filled with just enough of everything.

My favorite part of 2013, is this, montessori works. I love the community of fellow Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio, eclectic teachers and parents that I have interacted with both here, and through other blogs, websites and facebook. One of my goals for this year is to be here more,  and I do want this to happen, because, like everyone else, I am trying to find just enough balance in home, work, screen time etc.

Now to transition from just enoughs to superlatives, here are the most pinned, most viewed and then my most favorite posts from last year.

The three most pinned posts:

1. Sensorial Extension Cards – These little cards have been a hit in our school this year. They are a great way to draw a child back to the pink tower and broad stairs and a fantastic starting point for further exploration with the materials.

2. Movement Shelf – I’m so glad that this is a popular post because I think it is such an important concept. This fall I attended a workshop by Melani Alexander Fuchs, and I am a complete convert to the idea of a movement shelf. I think it will take us at least another year to have our movement curriculum in place, but we are believers in the importance of these works and their place in the Montessori class. Check out Melani’s site and facebook page here.

3. Basics – My Montessori Corners – A basic tenet of Montessori is that the child has access to the environment, this post is a small tour of my house and what we do to make it a comfortable and inviting environment for both children and adults.

Most viewed post (2 repeats and 1 new):

1. Sensorial Extension Cards

2. Basics – My Montessori Corners

3.  Montessori Record Keeping – So far this form is working for our class. I am sure we will make adjustments as we continue to use this, but it is a great starting point for our us. Now we just need to find the perfect system to record our daily observations and then transfer them to this the master record.

My favorites:

1. Writing With the Moveable Alphabet – It’s just one of my favorite works and I really enjoy finding ways to make it meaningful and engaging. Sometimes I need to reread this post to remember all that!

2. The closet – My Montessori Corners – It still works and it is so much easier for Imogen to find what she wants to wear and for her to help put it back.

3. Parts of a Stink Bug – Working on these cards gave me a new appreciation for an insect I despise, and they were a huge hit with the children.

Here is to a busy, and exciting 2014, filled with more just enoughs and mosts!

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