All Day Primary

The first weeks of school are so rewarding as children acclimate to the daily routine and find joy in their work with their favorite lessons. Practical life plays such a huge role in helping to setlle the class early on. What are your children’s favorite practical life activities? Polishing? Food Prep? Table Scrubbing? (Asking for a friend 😆)

The annual AMI/USA refresher course (originally started by AMI-EAA) is always a wonderful event that brings inspiration, inspires reflection, and fosters connection in the Montessori community. The speakers have been fantastic and the participants are feeling refreshed!

The All-Day primary Etsy shop is proud to have been commissioned to create this gold-themed plant watering set for the Washington Montessori Institute’s (WMI) raffle/giveaway at this year’s event! WMI is encouraging members of the community to consider Montessori training and other professional development opportunities. They will hold the drawing at 3:00 pm on Sunday, February 18th! Stop by their booth to learn more about training and enter to win this set for your environment.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/alldayprimary/?etsrc=sdt

There is nothing like a little material making to fuel the spirit! I have yet to meet a primary guide who doesn't love the process of creating enticing activities for their practical life area!

My trainer let us know early on that the child has discerning tastes and is drawn to beautiful objects! She encouraged us to use items that are vibrant in color, varied in textures, and attract the attention of the child. It is also important to color code the items so that the child can easily see which items are part of the same activity. Rose gold was my inspiration for this plant watering material.

What practical life activities have you created lately? I would love to get some new ideas!

The Wall Street Journal just posted an article announcing the return of cursive to the elementary language curriculum in several states across the US.

“More than a decade after many wrote the obituary for the handwriting style—because of widely adopted Common Core curriculum standards that made no mention of it—cursive is making a comeback.” Author Sara Randazzo

Montessori educators have long touted the benefits of learning cursive as a part of early childhood education. Cursive offers a natural transition between a young child’s artistic scribbles- which are made using looped and circular motions- and cursive letter formation. Writing with cursive letters also reduces the instances of letter confusion or reversals (such as /b/ and /d/) It also makes it easier to see which letters belong to the same word, because they are all connected.

There are many other benefits, and I am thrilled to see educators advocating for cursive once again! If you know of an adult who needs practice with their cursive, visit https://www.alldayprimary.com/language

A great deal of thought and planning goes into creating practical life activities for the primary child. Above all, the lesson must be enticing, offering the child the chance to do something interesting and purposeful. I have yet to meet a child who doesn’t love activities that allow them to prepare a snack or a beverage, such as lemonade or orange juice!

The guide’s next task is to gather all of the items the child needs to accomplish their activity independently, asking:

* What fruit will the child juice?

* What will the child use to juice the fruit?

* Where will the juice go after it has been juiced?

* How will the child carry these items to and from the shelf?

* How will the child protect their clothes and the work surface?

* What will the cleanup of this activity entail?

* What sized materials are best for this child (while also being functional)?

And this is just the beginning! 🤗😄🍊

Happy International Day of Peace!

Light a candle for peace
Light a candle for love
Light a candle that shines all the way around the world
Light a candle for me
Light a candle for you
That our wish for world peace
Will one day come true!

-Shelley Murley-

Happy Birthday, Maria Montessori!

Today, Dr. Montessori would have celebrated her 153rd birthday. Each year in the classroom, the children were overjoyed to celebrate her special day and learn more about her work which has spread to over 140 countries. Today, I fondly reflect on the older children sharing what they remembered about her life- that she was a doctor and a teacher who created all of the materials they used each day in the classroom. The younger children would take turns naming their favorite materials and we would sing Happy Birthday as we passed Dr. Montessori’s photo around the circle. Their admiration and appreciation for her life and her work were heartwarming! 🤗

How are you celebrating Dr. Montessori today?

Happy Monday! I am happy to share that All Day Primary has opened an Etsy Shop! If you (or someone you know) are looking for a few new items for your Montessori space, please take a moment to visit our online store. Thank you!

https://alldayprimary.etsy.com

Practical life is one of the most important aspects of the Montessori classroom. These lessons introduce children to the steps needed to accomplish day-to-day tasks that help them independently care for themselves and their community. The children find joy in learning how to snap their jackets or make their own sandwiches. They smile with pride as they arrange their first vase of flowers, sweep a big pile of leaves on the patio, or help to sew a button back into a class apron. Practicing and perfecting these activities have the added benefit of helping the child learn to complete a series of sequential steps, increasing their ability to concentrate for longer periods, and helping them to learn from any mistakes they make along the way. Through these activities, the children become self-directed, independent, and self-confident! It's amazing!

Luckily, the joys of practical life do not end in the primary classroom. This week, I have been engaging in a little adult practical life. I have watched seamstresses around me use a serger to magically create beautiful finishes on fabric and I have been a little intimidated to try it myself. But! This week I watched (and re-watched) a few great YouTube videos, and I spent hours in front of this machine attempting to surge the ends of my fabric. I did my best to follow the logical steps needed to thread the serger using four different spools and carefully fed my fabric through the machine. There was (and continues to be) a TON of learning from my mistakes. While I am still a long way from surging in a straight line, I am becoming more confident in my skills and even tried my hand at a rolled hem. Maybe some new polishing cloths are in my future? Is this how the children feel when they learn something new?

What practical life are you trying today?

I would like to wish all of the fathers in our lives a very Happy Father's Day. Thank you for all you do for your children. Over the years, I have heard countless stories about how your children love, admire, and appreciate you!

My father had always been there for me- whether combing my hair for picture day, supervising band field trips, helping me drive all of my belongings home from college, or walking me down the aisle on my wedding day. I am forever grateful for his wisdom and patience.

For many, today marks the final day of the school year. Congratulations on another successful and memorable year! This day is often bittersweet in the Montessori classroom as teachers say farewell to the eldest children who have been a part of their community for three or four years! I hope the day is filled with smiles, laughter, and joy as you reflect on the meaningful moments you have spent with these amazing little people and send them on to their next adventure.

Happy Mother’s Day! ❤️🌺

Mothers play such a special role in our lives. They hold our hands and guide us through life until we are independent enough to step out on our own, yet they stay close by just in case we need them. Back in 2015, I asked the children to share why they love their moms. Here are a few of their heartwarming responses:
 
She makes me breakfast.
She gives me lovey-huggy kisses.
She sings so sweetly.
She takes me to school every day.
She lets me make dinner with her.
She likes to play baby monsters with me.
She helps me when I get hurt.
She loves me.
She gives me great big hugs.
She lays down with me for naps.
When I fall down, she puts a Band-Aid on it.
She shows me lots of animals.
 
I love my mom for loving and supporting me no matter what the situation. Please share why you love your mom!