Montessori Mornings Update: The Role of Baby Wrangler

The lady on the right teaches us French during our Circle Time and then serves as Baby Wrangler.

There was a lot of interest in Montessori Mornings when I first wrote about our free parent-toddler classes back in April.  It's been almost a year since we began (when most of the younger siblings were newborns), so I thought I'd mention another crucial piece:  we've found ourselves a Baby Wrangler!

You see, the newborns are growing into toddlers, and though two have been "Velcro Babies" (babies in slings or front carriers), they are getting a little old for that.  Besides, they want to see and feel and taste the world, too!  But with small pieces, glass vessels, and pitchers with water around, we can't just let them roam free in the Montessori space.

Enter the Baby Wrangler.  Madame Mervyn is not your average child minder--she can wrangle in French, Spanish, English--whatever language you ask, it seems!  With a doctorate in Spanish from Cambridge University, this new grandma enjoys spending her free time with us, whether she's teaching us a second language or playing with the babies.  She says it fills her with a love for life, so I guess this is a win-win situation!

Our Flow:

At Circle Time on the ellipse Madame teaches us French for 10-20 minutes.  Usually babies are happy to either sit with us or stay in a sling or a front carrier.  After that Madame may take a baby into a connecting room (aka "Babyland").  It is safe for babies and toddlers, has plenty of empty floor space, is stocked with board books and baby toys, and is within earshot of the Montessori space.

When this little boy was about 8 months old he first took part in French lessons, but his older brother (seen on the right) was sometimes a handful!  Having help with one sibling makes it a bit easier for the moms to come and stay.

As mentioned in the original blog post on our playgroup, we have strict requirements that the children are immunized.  The same goes for Madame, who has recently received her Tdap booster.  It's crucial that anyone around babies have this.

Here Madame is leading us in a French song, with the little boy on the left more and more a part of the group time.

 It has been a blessing in many ways to have Madame join our group.  Sometimes it can be hard for a mom to get out the door with little ones, have the patience and stamina to work with them, and still have energy for the rest of her day.  It's such a boost to have an extra pair of hands!  Also, there is a special blessing having a more mature member of our group--especially for those of us who don't have grandparents in town.

Sometimes the babies are part of the group, and sometimes they are in Babyland (just another room connected to the Montessori areas, but free of choking hazards).

This arrangement feels right.  The moms can bring their children, knowing there will be help here if they need it.  They can work with their older children one-on-one or involve the younger sibling, either way.  The nurslings are just a yelp away from mom, and there are none of the complications of dropping a child off at a sitter, daycare or preschool.  We are blessed!

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Montessori Snack: Saving Civilization One Goldfish Cracker at a Time

"Snack" is a new work in our classroom.  Learning basic manners and how to chit-chat are the goals of this work.

A lot has been said about the decline of manners in modern America.  For at least the past 25 years things have been slipping, getting so bad that now parents who seldom have time to sit down to eat dinner with their own children will pay strangers to teach their children mealtime etiquette!

Maria Montessori established "Grace and Courtesy" works long before TV dinners and fast food drive-thrus.  In a typical Montessori classroom children learn to greet one another, how to clean up after themselves and how to settle disputes.  The "snack" work we've recently introduced in our Montessori Mornings serves to underscore not only the lessons on manners, but also helps the children to learn to make small talk (another talent that's gone by the wayside, it seems).

Here's all that we do:

• Make goldfish crackers available in a dry snack dispenser (or dairy-free crackers for those with allergies)
• Supply small (cheap!) glass plates and shot glasses (the plates came from Old Time Pottery and the shot glasses were from TJMaxx)
• Leave a glass pitcher of water
• Supply small cloth napkins (I cut down IKEA's and hemmed them)
• Optional:  A box of conversation starters I found free online

Usually two buddies will try to sit down and have snack together.  Rules:  Bottom on the chair, napkin on the lap, elbows off the table.  Wait until you both have food on your plate to begin.  Try not to talk with food in your mouth (we moms do a role play where we accidentally catch ourselves doing this, and then correct ourselves out loud).  Take turns talking.  Limit to one snack serving per day.  This might take about 10 minutes from start to finish, and after a time or two you can introduce the "washing up" phase.

As of today the children know how to clean their dishes.  Here you see a new boy carrying his glassware VERY CAREFULLY all the way to the washing area on the other side of the house.

Easy does it!

"I think I can.........I think I can..."

He never did drop anything!

Next time they will learn how to wash their napkins!  After that, who knows?  Maybe a lesson in Table Washing?

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Montessori Mornings!

Today is the one year anniversary of my first blog post!  A lot has happened in the past several weeks, most notably our playgroup that was running strong for about 2 years has morphed into what I call "Montessori Mornings."  

Twice per week mommies and their toddlers come for 90 minutes of Montessori instruction.  Babies are welcome, lessons provided, and all is free of charge.  Some of the children had never been to so much as a story time at the library, while others have been in part-time daycare since they were infants.

This mommy came soon before baby #2 was born, so in subsequent photos below you'll see her holding a little one.

I mostly want to just share photos of the work we've been doing, but please leave questions in the comment section if you have any!

I start and end the Montessori Mornings with a lot of music.

The children range in age from 18 months to 39 months.

Here "Fuego" is matching lowercase and uppercase letters.  This is not a traditional Montessori work, but I am using many materials I've recently made from Pinterest that are "Montessori-ish."

I try to teach "Alleluia" on other days during the week, but she is more motivated when she has an audience!

Painting water over chalk letters

The Open-Close basket

The Pink Tower is a good warmer-upper and classic Montessori.

Learning to sweep...

...and here's another Pinterest idea (I think it's called a Button Snake?).

Since my kitchen is part of the classroom, it's easy to have plenty of Food Prep works!

It was nice when this dad was able to come so that he could understand what Fuego and her mommy meant by "Montessori Mornings."

I've run out of daffodils now, so I'll ask mommies to take turns bringing flowers for the Flower Arranging work.

Pouring works are easier practiced when there is a place with the perfect toddler-sized table!

I think all of us moms love the works (like the Broad Stair) that involve physical effort for the toddlers and may even tire them out!

The children have learned to use mats just as in a normal Montessori classroom.

Taking it all in!

Every so often Alleluia needs a cuddle and a book.

I have seen DIY versions of this clothes washing stand, too.

One of the moms told me that, after seeing Alleluia cleaning our doors, her daughter had to do it at home!

The children have become comfortable with other moms helping, too.

Fuego's mommy is a great story reader!

This mommy is a trained Montessori directress.  Here she is helping Alleluia with the Limited Moveable Alphabet.

This little boy is working with the Long Red Rods....

... and here he's squeezing fresh orange juice.

When my older children are home from school on a break they sometimes help in the classroom.

The oranges were popular that day!

This was one blissful moment when everyone was working nicely!

The little girl in the pink sweater is much younger than the other children and this is only her second visit, yet she is comfortable and curious.

Alleluia has been pretty good about sharing her house and work with her little friends.  Here I am giving her and this little boy a lesson on Clothes Washing.

Montessori Trays
2-Sided Easel
Juicer Top
Juicer
Small Wooden Cutting Board
Small Plastic Cutting Board
Apple Slicer
Vegetable Peeler
Bamboo Placemats
Toddler Aprons
Pink Tower
Toddler Table
Long Red Rods
Small Glass Vase Set
Small Moveable Alphabet Set
Tactile Letters Set

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