I've been collecting prices from a bunch of Montessori suppliers for various materials. It's amazing how big a price range there is for some products. For example, the least expensive Hundred Board is $22 while the most expensive is $166! Here's what I have so far:
Constructive Triangles
Continents Globe
Golden Beads
Grammar Symbols
Home Country Puzzle Map
Hundred Board
Large Bead Frame
Long Rods (Red Rods)
Multiplication Board
Multiplication with Bead Bars
Mystery Bag/Box
Number Cards
Pink Tower
Sandpaper Globe
Small Bead Frame
Sound Cylinders
Stamp Game
Trinomial Cube
World Puzzle Map
I have no idea what sort of variation in quality there is between all of these. I could see it mattering with things like the Puzzle Maps, but the Number Cards shouldn't really make a difference. I've seen plenty of official Montessori classrooms with Number Cards on laminated card stock.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Subject Areas
One thing we could use more of in schools is an understanding that real life is not neatly divided into separate subject areas.
Just the other day I was reading a book about the history of the scientific method as applied to medicine. In which subject would you find this wonderful book in school? I was reading a book, should it be in English class? It was a history book, so should it be in Social Studies? The book was about science though, should it be put in Science class?
The answer, sadly and simply, is that you would never read something like that before you got to college. You wouldn't see that book at all because there isn't one clear-cut category in which it would fit. Standard K-12 education is uncomfortable with books like that.
Just the other day I was reading a book about the history of the scientific method as applied to medicine. In which subject would you find this wonderful book in school? I was reading a book, should it be in English class? It was a history book, so should it be in Social Studies? The book was about science though, should it be put in Science class?
The answer, sadly and simply, is that you would never read something like that before you got to college. You wouldn't see that book at all because there isn't one clear-cut category in which it would fit. Standard K-12 education is uncomfortable with books like that.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Large Number Cards
New stuff to print! I just finished a lovely Number Card pdf. I was able to find a font called Primer Print with a different looking 6 and 9. I should say that this was the only free font like this. There are several places where you can lease the rights to use school-like fonts like this, and they are not cheap. What the hell?
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Grammar Symbols
I've been working on a chart of all the grammar symbols this weekend. I'm familiar with the basic ones from my training, but the advanced ones were kind of tricky. I had to search for quite a while to find a couple sites that say what they are, and even so I'm not sure I have them quite right yet.
For example, is the blue dot on the Abstract Noun symbol supposed to be the same shade as the Adjective, the Article, or is it a different color entirely? I'll have to get a hold of someone's who's had the elementary training and ask them sometime.
For example, is the blue dot on the Abstract Noun symbol supposed to be the same shade as the Adjective, the Article, or is it a different color entirely? I'll have to get a hold of someone's who's had the elementary training and ask them sometime.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Baby Science!
Here's a great article from the New York Times about studies on babies' sense of morality.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Free Printable Materials
I'm making a bunch of PDFs to go along with various lesson. I've finished some math equation cards that you can print for free. I used a random number generator I found online to come up with the numbers, then I tweaked them whenever necessary. I'd like to find a font for the numerals in which the 6 and the 9 aren't just flipped versions of one another. The one I have will do for now, though.
I'll be posting any printable stuff in the materials section of the relevant lesson. At some point I'll probably put a big list of the printables all in one place on the website too.
Static Addition Equation Cards
Dynamic Addition Equation Cards
Static Subtraction Equation Cards
I'll be posting any printable stuff in the materials section of the relevant lesson. At some point I'll probably put a big list of the printables all in one place on the website too.
Static Addition Equation Cards
Dynamic Addition Equation Cards
Static Subtraction Equation Cards
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Man, these things are heavy!
This is the official blog for MontessoriAlbum.com.
During my Montessori teacher training I was annoyed by the inefficiency of keeping all of our lesson plans in those giant three ring binders known as albums. As I unloaded those massive tomes from my car every morning I couldn't help thinking how all the information would fit easily on a single thumb drive. Or even better than that, it could all be online.
I had a vision of a Montessori web-page that anyone could add to or edit. A site where Montessori teachers, parents, and homeschoolers could all share ideas. It would be a glorious place where the information would be free and searchable. And so, I began this Montessori wiki.
A lot of the framework is now in place, but I know that I'll need help. Please take a look and post a comment here or send me an email. If you want, go ahead and fill in some information on any of the lessons. I know there are some great ideas out there, let's share them!
During my Montessori teacher training I was annoyed by the inefficiency of keeping all of our lesson plans in those giant three ring binders known as albums. As I unloaded those massive tomes from my car every morning I couldn't help thinking how all the information would fit easily on a single thumb drive. Or even better than that, it could all be online.
I had a vision of a Montessori web-page that anyone could add to or edit. A site where Montessori teachers, parents, and homeschoolers could all share ideas. It would be a glorious place where the information would be free and searchable. And so, I began this Montessori wiki.
A lot of the framework is now in place, but I know that I'll need help. Please take a look and post a comment here or send me an email. If you want, go ahead and fill in some information on any of the lessons. I know there are some great ideas out there, let's share them!
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