500th Post!

If my sources are correct this is my 500th post.  That seems like a milestone to me.  I never dreamed when I started documenting my transition from public school special education teaching back to Montessori preschool teaching that this little blog would gather such a following.  I am truly so grateful for all of you who read this blog regularly and take the time to send me sweet comments.  It is so fun to check my blog email every day and hear from readers all over the world.  It's really a small world after all.

I wish I had something big and cool to give away in honor of the 500th post.  What I do have is a pair of pumpkin shaped silicone baking cups that would be oh-so-cute on your Practical Life shelves in October.  So.........if you'd like a chance to win, please leave a comment telling me what you'd like to read more of on the blog.  Be as specific as possible.  I don't think I've ever officially asked, so please DO TELL!  Please comment by 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 2nd.  Saturday night I'll generate a winner using the random number generator.  Be sure to leave your comment in the comments section and not in a separate email to me to be counted in the drawing for the pumpkin cups.

I can't wait to hear from you.........and thanks again for reading!

Comments

[Kala]

I love your blog!!!! I'm from Poland and I'm teacher in Montessori Kindergarden. Thank You for your great ideas!!!

[Diane]

I absolutely LOVE your site!! I teach a group of 3's and 4 year olds and use your ideas all the time and the children are always wanting more (me too!!) I'd love to see more of anything!! really, I check your blog everyday for anything new that I can make my own. You are very creative and inspiring. keep it up!
much appreciated,
Diane

[Sarah]

Hi! i'm a teacher from Switzerland (sorry for my bad english). Everything you share is a real inspiration. Even if I'm not teaching in a montessori school, I can still use some of the activities. Thank you!

Happy 500th post, hoping that you will continue at least 500 more! ;-)

[Lei]

Congratulations on your 500th post. I don't know how you divide your time but you certainly are fulfilling the servicehood of being a teacher. you have inspire me in so many ways and have used your ideas in my own classroom. As a new montessori teacher, i would like to hear more about classroom management, circle time ideas and conflict resolution for 3-6 age groups. Communication with your guides and record-keeping. Thank you so much for your hard work and generosity.

[Julie]

I thought I typed up a comment for this post saying how much I loved your blog and was inspired by it. I don't see it. I would love to know more about the "themes" you do throughout the year (like your apple activities, bird activities, etc.) Are those themes you repeat every year? Or do you rotate every three years so the children don't repeat? Also I would love for you to post more about the presentations you do on culture and science.

[Camille]

Thank-you for all your wonderful information. Your blog has enabled us to start a "neighbor preschool" with many montessori elements. The only thing I wish there was more of on your website is some of the problems you encounter in the classroom and how to deal with them. When you first have a brand-new class of 3 year olds and none of them knows how to do anything on the shelves, how do you handle that? Those types of things. Thanks for all you do for us!

[Samantha Lee]

I love your works that go along with story books! I'd love to see more of these! They are super!

I also loved the "where I live" book the kids could create.

You are an inspiration!

[Clemencia]

Wow! 500 posts! I love your blog just the way it is, but if I had to ask for something that I would like to see more of is children's books that you use and read to them :) thanks

[Kathy Weiss]

I love your website!!! I have been going to the Dollar Stores and seeing things in a different light. Let me back up - Hi my name is Kathy and I teach preschool. I'm always looking for new things to bring out for the children to stretch their minds. You have awesome ideas!!! Really you do. I signed up for your daily email and can't wait to get to school to see what you have posted. I love so many ideas, I don't think I have the time or space to list them all. And if there is something I don't think I'll use now, I know it will come in handy someday. Thank you for all your wonderful ideas, you are a very talented lady.

[jamie]

hmmm, you do such a good job...i can't think of much missing. i do always like to know where you get your supplies b/c of course i love to run out and get my own. so just keep that up, ok!? ;)

[Debbie]

I love to read anything you post. I have used so many of your ideas. Right now I am in the process of setting up how you teach letter sounds. The only thing I could think of might be more of how you conduct large group (line time). Thank you again. Your hard work is appreciated!

[Margi]

I love your blog. I'd like to see any extensions you may have with the traditional Montessori materials (i.e. pink tower, brown stair, knobless cylinders). Seems my older kids can be doing so much more with these materials.

[Sandi]

Thanks for sharing your classroom and ideas through your blog. I am a public school kindergarten teacher (in Canada) and am incorporating ideas from Montessori and Waldorf classrooms into my own.

I would love to read and see pictures how you have set up your classroom.

thanks

Sandi

[Leptir]

Oh, Laura, I would like to win your pumpkin shaped silicone baking cups!
I'd like to read more about botany (fruit and vegetables) and geography activities.
Thanks!

Nataša, leptir.mojpribor@gmail.com
http://leptir-mojpribor.blogspot.com/

[darshani]

I like to read all the articles.They are very helpful.

[My Barefoot Angel]

First, I want to say that I love your blog as it has given me many ideas to incorporate in our homeschooling. My child attended 2 years of Montessori but we weren't able to let her pursue her kindergarten there due to financial reasons.
I would like to have ideas on how and what to introduce cultures from other countries beside art and food. Many thanks!

[Katie]

I love your blog! Yesterday I was preparing my math shelf and needed some fresh ideas so I just got on here and checked your math section. I would love for you to tell more about your daily schedule in the classroom and how you handle difficult transition times.

[Stephanie Bitter]

I adore your site! I love all of the great pictures that inspire me constantly as I work to teach my 3 year old a Montessori style at home. I appreciate all of your great printables and links. I would love to see more pictures of your classroom shelves and even a large shot of the space in general. Thank you soooo much for your constant efforts and congrats on 500!

[katie]

More artist study activities!

[Andrea Hansen]

Congrats on this milestone! I just got done decorating for October so I'd love to add the pumpkin cups to our shelves. I would like more of what's on your activity shelves and how you set them up.

[Mariah]

There are so many things I'd love to read about your line time and how you get kids to try activities that they often avoid. I love it when you show photos of your shelves and tell us what doing. I love it when you share essay's like the What I want Them To Know essay.

I guess I really just want more of what you already do! I so appreciate all the time you give to your blog.

[Melissa Miller]

I have been a Montessori Journey follower for about a year and a half. I have always enjoyed your blogs on the practical life and art areas of the classroom, as well as teacher organization. As a mom of two boys with special needs and a Montessori teacher, I would love to see an article related to special needs in a Montessori environment. Congrats on your 500th post...you're inspirational!

[Aarthi]

My son has is 3 and has joined a montessori school. I have been following your blog and it has been of great help. I would like to see more of books and activities to go along with the book. Math activities for 3 year olds will also be of great help.

I used to maintain a blog but havnt blogged in a lont time.

[Momof1]

I love your blog and have been a follower of your blog. I would like to see if you do any songs or fingerplays with the kids or it could be any music related activities.
Thanks for sharing your experience !!

[susie]

i so love your post! i look forward to them daily! i really enjoy your "tray games" i am not a montessori teacher, but i find them very exciting.

[Sarah]

I love your site! I'm a pre-k teacher, and love stealing fresh ideas from other pre-k teachers! I check your blog often! I would love to see a post about what your daily schedule with your kids looks like (curious how much time you spend in a "group time", how much time in centers, etc., etc.). SO much thought and planning goes into your centers, which I LOVE, b/c that is where SO MUCH of the learning happens with this age. During my day, I also have music, p.e., story, family-style snack, group time, etc. My day goes by so quickly and I often feel that I'm not putting enough effort into PLANNING my centers. I'd love to know more about how your day with students is broken down. Thanks! (btw, seasonal silicone baking cups IS "big & cool" for a pre-k teacher!!! :))

[amanda]

hi there- One thing I am always struggling with are works for our outside patio area.. any thoughts?

[Holly Jackson]

I would LOVE to win! I have just started learning about montessori...and I would like to learn more about how you set up your classroom...Do you have all the stuff out ALL the time...or do you rotate things out on the shelves? Are there certain things that stay out all the time? Sorry...maybe this is common sense...but I've been wondering!
Thanks for a chance to win!!! :)
Holly

[Laurie Jew]

Hi Laura, first I just wanted to tell you that I totally love your blog. I love all the things you blog about, I especially look forward to seeing and hearing about your practical life ideas...something I would like to see more of is language ideas...

thanks again for all you do. God bless
Laurie

[Terry]

I love your site and get a lot of good ideas from it. I googled Dog's Colorful Day about 2 years ago and your site came up....it all started from there. You have given me a lot of great ideas and also a lot of great other preschool sites...Kidsoup, Prekinders, MakingLearningFun...just to name a few. I don't know how you get all you do done! You are very busy! Thank you soooooo much!

[Nancy W]

What would I like to read more of on your blog? I just want more, more, more of your specific project/activities. I love your posts with pictures and details on setting up a craft or activity -- I recreate many of them for my homeschooled son. Congrats on 500! --Nancy

[Megan Hutchison]

You are fabulous!! I just started teaching Montessori style, and read (and implement!) your ideas literally daily. You are creative yet practical, and you are really helping me be a better teacher, Thank You for your time and willingness to share

[Julie]

I have found your practical life posts so helpful in setting up interesting trays for my daughter. Now she is past that sensitive period and I would love to see more of what you do for culture and geography in your classroom. Do you have a list of themes you use throughout the year, do you rotate the themes over the three years so they don't repeat?

[Maryann]

LOVE LOVE your web-site and everything you share!

I would love some thoughts about the "peace flower".....
I a fairly new Montessori pre-k teacher and would love details, I've heard it's a wonderful way for the children to resolve any unkind words to each or unkind actions.

[Amber N.]

I really love seeing the activities that you are doing. Especially your set up and where you got the items from.

[Laura]

I would love to see more about your language lessons. Specifically, what is the sequence of lessons that you give, both non-readers and readers. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the blog!

[Isabel Z]

I discovered your blog this summer as I was gearing to return to the classroom after being at home for 16 years with my own children. Even though I do not teach in a Montessori classroom I have found many of your ideas invaluable and have truly enjoyed using them with my students. They too have benefitted from them and we are having such a good time. I always enjoy reading the posts about how you set up your practical life stations as well as how you use props with books--keep those ideas coming! A million thanks for inspiring me with your posts.

[jane]

I LOVE your blog!!! I love reading especially about the craft activities you do, and how you make them, and where to buy/find things in your room!! Thank you for being such an inspiration to so many homeschooling moms!!! :) jane

[Giggly Girls]

Well congratulatons!!!! That is awsome. I love your blog and lots of great ideas for my tot.

So what do you do with the silicone cups on your practical life shelf? I have some here, although no pumpkins, and I just use them for a cute snack holder or backing. LOL

[Janae Daines]

I would love to see more math exercises and explanation of what concepts to start with and then what to use as the kids master the concepts.

Thanks for all you do.

[marylea @ Pink and Green Mama]

Congrats on your 500th post!! Thanks so much for sharing so many great ideas and materials with us : )

[Myra Arnold]

I am a faithful reader and a Montessori Children's House teacher myself. I have used lots of your ideas. I would like to see more about academic areas such as Language, Math, and Sensorial. For example, I made the letter sound books and will be using them this school year.

Thank you for blogging!

[Lori Guerrero]

First of all, I'd like to say you are my favorite Montessori blog. I get lots of inspiration from you! I've even referred back to you on my blog. I'm home with my 2 boys who are 4 and 1. For my 4 year old, I'd like to see more ideas on teaching addition and subtraction. For my 1 year old, I'd like to see more art projects he can participate in.

-Lori @ mymontessorimoments.wordpress.com

[z-chan]

Congratulations on your 500th post! As a very new reader (one month or so) I seem to have a lot to catch up on!

I would like to hear about your Circle Time or group time activities. Also, at what age do you accept children into your school? I work in an ELC (1 - 3 Japanese year olds in an English immersion environment) so I'm always thinking of how to adapt activities and crafts for a younger audience!

Many thanks, and please keep blogging!

[Becky]

Laura,
I always get a happy little feeling when I see a new post from you in my reader. I have always gotten such good ideas from you and love. how you mix theory, thought-provoking discussion about classroom practices, and lots of great on-the-shelf materials. Love all the pics too.
I would love to hear more about your art planning, the artists, the projects etc.
I'd love to see more pictures of your whole shelves so I could see how you sequence some of your materials and extensions. I love all your practical life works so those are some of my favorite posts. Also, planning would be great... How do you rotate, do you have a schedule?
When my 5th son was born, he was a marathon evening nurser and that was when I first found your blog as I sat, babe in arms for an hour or so. He's a big boy now doing Montessori works set up in our basement classroom. But I can still remember reading some of your great ideas as I fed that tiny little one. Two very nice memories.
Thank you for sharing and inspiring
Becky

[Teaque]

I love love love your blog! I am a homeschool mom, who totally loves Montessori. My favorite posts are where you show the actual activities that your students are doing. I'm constantly looking for more ideas to make for my daughter. On a totally separate topic - where do you recommend getting more information/activities for older Montessori students? My son is in 2nd grade and I'm really curious as to what older Montessori looks like. Thanks so much for all the information you post on here!

[shondell woods]

I AM NOT A MONTESSORI TEACHER HOWEVER YOUR IDEAS AS HELP ME RESET MY IMPLEMENTATION OF CLASS MANAGEMENT, ROOM SET UP, ACTIVITIES, AND HOW I EXECUTE MANY THINGS IN MY CLASSROOM. MY ROOM AS RAN SO MUCH THIS YEAR WITH YOUR HELPFUL TIPS AND TIBITS. HOWERVER I WORK WITH 4 YR OLDS AND GETTING THEM TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED WITH SOME ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT, INFO ON HOW LONG AND HOW OFTEN TO U SWITCH ACTIVITIES ON THE SHELVES, AND BEHAVIORS AND BUILDING INTERESTS OR FOCUS SKILLS. AGAIN THANKS FOR TAKING OUT YOUR TIME TO GET OTHERS A BRIGHT IDEAS (LOL U KNOW TEACHERS ARE THIEVES)?

[Deb]

Congratulations! I visit your site often to get inspiration for activities that I can modify or add to my own classroom. I specifically enjoy your post and pictures of new work you are putting out. I teach in a public school but have always been drawn to montessori approaches after working in one for several years while in college. Thanks for keeping me connected!

[Jessica]

i would love to see more cooking activities. i'm trying to do cooking with my class, but i'm having problems having enough "work" for all the kids in the classroom. it seems like once i'm done assigning/helping the last child the first child is done and bored.

[Gigi]

WOW 500 posts! That is awesome. I love to see in detail the works on your shelves which you already do. I love how specific your are (where you got it, how many, the purpose, an you actually set it up on the shelf.) Thank you for taking the time.

[Counting Coconuts]

I left a comment here earlier, but it's missing now! Did it come through to you?

Here's what I wrote:

"Happy 500th post! Wow, what an achievement!

I'm a sucker for Practical Life work - I love all those little trays, jars and baskets. It's my favorite work to arrange! That said, I'd love to see what kinds of Practical Life work you have on your shelves."

Warmly,
Mari-Ann

[Tina Davidson]

I've been looking for more ways to incorporate the prehistory timeline into more areas of the classroom. I've had great, really overwhelming, success with adding land, air and water activities to my art and practical life shelves but I'm looking for more ideas as the timeline continues.

[Sippy Cup Central Mom]

Love your blog...and I would love to learn more about what activities I can do with the moveable alphabet after a child has learned to read. Thanks. Karen
Sippy Cup Central Mom

[Miss Balue]

Your blog is the prize, thanks for all you do. You have really blessed me and my 2 and 3 yr olds. Language,science and practical life are my favorite to read about grouptime too! I know you showed pics of your room but I would love to see more! Thanks too for the pre-reading activities! They really helped! I love how frugal you are and your faith and commitment to all you do! I follow you daily! You help and really inspire me! Thanks again!

[Leslie Swaim-Fox]

I love hearing all of your wonderful ideas for practical life! In fact, I just started a blog of my own, and in my post today I mentioned how much I have learned about practical life from fabulous Montessori blogs (like yours)! Thank you for your hard work on the blog and for the giveaway!
Leslie

[jenny @ Let the children play]

Congratulations on the big 500 - what a milestone!

[Courtney M]

Honestly, I love your blog and the information you give on the work thats on your shelves! Sometimes, I get stuck in a rut for new and fun things but looking at your activities is a great source of inspiration! Thanks so much for creating this site :)

[Heather]

If I were to win, I'd donate them to my son's Montessori classroom, as I am not a teacher. However, I follow your blog to learn more about the methodologies and philosophy behind Montessori teaching: getting to see these abstract theories be put into practice and utilized in the classroom. I also have used your work ideas at home: the paper plates that quickly turned into cardinals and blue jays were a bit hit in our house!

[Counting Coconuts]

Happy 500th post! Wow, what an achievement!

I'm such a sucker for Practical Life work - I love all the little trays, jars and baskets. It's my favorite work to arrange! Along those lines, I would love to see more photos of YOUR shelves.

Warmly,
Mari-Ann

[Katie]

I enjoy your blog a lot! I know you specialize in preschool aged children and I have a daughter who is 12 months old. I look forward to using some of these activities from your blog in a year or two but I wondered if you could post Montessori activities that could be done with toddlers? If you know of any! Thanks and congrats on your 500th post!