Montessori addition

I want to give K a good sense and understanding of numbers before I move onto other mathematics principals. As obviously, understanding numbers is the fundamental foundation to understanding maths! (or so I assume anyway!?!?! lol)

I have however, been introducing addition. Here is a simple practical lesson we did which doesn't involve any writing to solve the equations.

We have a box of simple addition sums (the largest answer is 19 or 20), which the child selects and places on the mat. She then takes the corresponding beads (or any other counter can be used, for example buttons, sticks, bottle tops...anything!) for each number in the addition and places them beside the equation. After counting the beads, adding the 2 numbers together, she finds the answer card and places next to the equation.

Although we purchased the set of sums from an online Montessori store, it is easy to make (I just really couldn't be bothered  to do all the cutting and laminating!). You could easily just write / print off the simple sums, and separately write / print the answers 2-20 and store them in an envelope for example.

Its a nice practical lesson, which avoids the need for writing the answers .....or a good introduction to simple sums before using the pencil to write them.

Z who was playing with the beads while K did her lesson, also wanted me to take a photo of her work the same as her big sister! So this is Z's efforts (she is 2).....

Montessori dressing stand...Homemade!

I think the Montessori concept of "dressing frames" is a good one....to allow a young child to play with various clothing fastenings like buttons, zips, poppers etc because it will aid them in their learning to dress themselves inshallah....and kids love opening and closing things!

However, the cost of purchasing these frames is outstanding! I think I remember a set of 3 cubes (so each cube having 6 sides....6 different fastenings) costing £199 and that didn't include 20% tax which is added at the checkout!

I made a single dressing frame for £1 yesterday alhamdulillah, using an old shirt and a photo frame from the pound shop!

I used up an old shirt because I just wanted to see basically if this would work using a photo frame or not. Alhamdulillah it did, so  I hope to make some more child-appealing looking dressing frames inshallah with brighter colours and patterns etc.

Here is how I did it......

I took out the glass and board, leaving just the wooden frame. (I've kept the glass aside...thinking I'm sure one day it will come in use for some sort of craft project inshallah!....agh I have just thought of something....window painting/glass painting! hurray!

Then roughly framed the area of the shirt I wanted and cut out - leaving a wife gap to allow the fabric to be pulled over the frame sides.

 Next, I folded over the top and bottom edges and stitched down to neaten

although I didn't take a picture- I folded the sides over the frame and sewed down, leaving what is shown above, the finished item (poppers closed)

This is the frame with the poppers opened. (picture also upside down!)





life cycle of a butterfly

Today we completed our lesson on the life cycle of a butterfly. Yesterday we watched a couple of video clips on youtube showing the life of a butterfly from the egg.
Then we did a couple of worksheets, the first a simple colour-in sheet showing the life cycle, followed by a cut and stick - arranging each stage of the life of a butterfly in order and finally another cut and stick, cutting butterfly halves and matching them up (which also served as a 1st introduction into symmetry!).

Today, we made a large poster display to stick up on the wall, showing each stage from egg to butterfly. We made an egg out of a small piece of playdoh, a Caterpillar out of scrunched up tissue paper which we stuck down with pva, a cocoon with wool stuck with pva (the glue still has not dried almost 12 hours later!) and the butterfly with paint.

ahlen wa sahlen! Welcome!

Asalaamu alaikum,

Innal hamdulillaah! All praise is indeed due to Allaah. We praise him and we seek his assistance, and we seek refuge with him from the evils of our souls and actions. Whosoever Allaah guides then none can misguide him, whomsoever Allaah misguides then none can guide him. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah having no partners and I also bear witness that Muhammad sallaahualihiwasallam is Allaah's slave and Messenger.

To proceed,

After spending countless hours trailing through blog after blog, trying to make sense of homeschooling, I found that these blogs written by complete strangers had helped me tremendously in making my decision to homeschool. Alhamdulillah. These blogs continue to inspire me, giving much needed ideas to use with my own children.
I've decided to document my experiences in order to share what we do in our home school, inshallah. Perhaps what I can share may benefit some one else, just as others have benefited me.

Also, it is a great way to store all my plans and ideas (in some sort of organised fashion!) ready to resuse with my younger children inshallah!