Saturday, June 27, 2009

Montessori Math

Here is a link to a great article on Montessori math. You can also find other articles of interest regarding Montessori here as well: Education Infos

Friday, June 26, 2009

Religious Education: Life in Jesus Christ by Maria Montessori and more..

To my French or Italian readers, have any of you ever read or come across the following books by Maria Montessori?

Book 1: Religious Education: Life in Jesus Christ / Maria Montessori
Livello bibliografico
Monografie
Autore
Montessori, Maria
Titolo
L'éducation religieuse : la vie en Jésus-Christ / Maria Montessori
Mater.
Altre respons.
avant propos du R. P. Pierre Faure
PUBBLICAZIONE
DESCRIZIONE FISICA
Luogo
Paris
Estensione
207 p., [21] p. di tav.
Editore
Desclée De Brouwer
Illustrazioni
Data
1956
Dimensioni
Luogo stampa
Paris
Materiale allegato
Tipografo
Imprimatur


Data di stampa
1955


Lingua
FRE


Paese
FR


Collocazione
FSMM 1956FR EDUC/1956FR EDUCbis/1956FR EDUCter
ISBN
NoteTit. orig.: La vita in Cristo (1.ed., 1931)


BOOK 2, Life in Christ: Liturgical years / Maria Montessori:
Livello bibliografico
Monografie
Autore
Montessori, Maria
Titolo
La vita in Cristo : anno Liturgico / Maria Montessori
Mater.
Altre respons.
PUBBLICAZIONE
DESCRIZIONE FISICA
Luogo
Milano
Estensione
88 p.
Editore
Garzanti
Illustrazioni
Data
1949
Dimensioni
Luogo stampa

Materiale allegato
Tipografo


Data di stampa


Lingua
ITA


Paese
IT


Collocazione
FSMM 1949IT VITA/1949IT VITAbis
ISBN
NoteCalendario liturgico, si veda una precedente 1.ed. nel 1931

Indice:
" Calendario Anno liturgico Natale e Pasqua Il tempo in relazione a Cristo I due cicli Tempo di Natale Tempo dell'Epifania Il ciclo di Pasqua La Quaresima La Vittoria Il colore bianco Il cero pasquale Le feste del tempo di Pasqua Pentecoste Pasqua di Rose Il numero pasquale Tempo dopo Pentecoste La festa del Corpus Domini Il calendario liturgico Le Quattro Tempora La vita dell'uomo Fine e principio d'anno."

Index:
" Calendar Liturgical year Christmas and Easter Time in relation to Christ The two cycles Christmas Time Epiphany time The cycle of Easter Lent Victory The white The paschal candle Holidays time for Easter Pentecost Easter Rose The number of Easter Time after Pentecost The feast of Corpus Christi The liturgical calendar Four Tempora Human life End and the beginning of the year. "

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Blessed...


Today my eldest son, (6 going on 7) fell and cut his leg open. He sliced his leg right on top of another scar he already had. He takes after his mama in that he cuts and bruises so easily.

My heart was absolutely broken as I held his little skin together trying to hold it closed with gauze and band aids. I called my husband and had him take our son to the doctor for stitches. When he came home, as we sat at the table together I said to him, "Pobrecito mijito". Meaning, "My poor little son". At this, my boy looks up at me and says, "Mami, don't feel sorry for me. I'm offering this up. Feel sorry for Jesus and how he suffered for our sins". I was just in awe at his words. Such wise words said with such confidence. My little son. I get choked up thinking of his words to me. How I love him, how I love them all. Each and every little gift God has blessed me with. They are truly His, and I see Him working in them and through them and I blessed because of it.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Dreaming, Praying, Hoping...

This is the place of my dreams for a traditional Catholic Montessori school. It used to be a spa, and has beautiful wood and tile floors inside. Directly behind are a few beautiful acres for sale as well. This place seems perfect for going from a 3-6 class and growing beyond with the lower, upper elementary and high school grades.

"Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." ~ St. Francis of Assisi

















I have the following in one of my earlier blog posts titled, Childhood, Pure and True but I will repeat it again below:

-I will leave you with a snippet from the book (there are much more detailed descriptions in the book), in which Maria Montessori is asked what her ideal school set up would be if money were no object:
"Dr. Montessori: I would have a little fountain in the garden with a pond containing fish. The children themselves would look after the fish, and I would have a little tablet near the pond - a replica of one of the ancient inscriptions from the catacombs showing the fish as the ancient symbol of Christianity.
Question: Where would you have your pond?
Dr. Montessori: In the cloister garden. You told me that expense was to be no object! So, adjoining the Atrium, I would have a special garden for the children. The ideal thing would be to have the school arranged like a monastery round a little cloister. The church could be on one side, the Atrium on another, and on the other two the ordinary schoolrooms. I would have statues at the end of the cloister walks to which the children could bring flowers. The children could play in the cloister garden, and I would like a tree in it with a little house up in the branches into which the children could climb, as they had in one school I visited in California. In this garden I would like the children to keep as many as possible of the Evangelical Animals and Plants.
Question: What do you mean by the "evangelical" animals and plants?Dr. Montessori: I mean the various animals and plants that play a conspicuous part in Bible history and symbolism. For instance I would like the children to have a pet lamb to remind them of the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." They could have a dovecot and keep doves, because of the two turtle-doves our Lady offered up at the Temple, and the dove that was sent out of the Ark and also because the dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. They could keep bees, too, and have some candles made with the wax their own bees had made. These could be blessed and placed on their school altar. Nature study would form an essential element in the work of the Atrium. In my description of our work at Barcelona I have indicated the reason for this, viz., that from the observation of created things the child's mind should be raised to their Creator. As the psalmist says: "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork."
-The Child in the Church by Maria Montessori and others, Edited by E.M. Standing- pp. 40-41.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Wish List: $2 Million Please!

How do you raise 2 million dollars to start a traditional Catholic Montessori school including academics with certified teachers, atrium for Catechesis of the Good shepherd, gardens and farm? ;) Just wondering...

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Montessori Fraction Cones

Thanks to Tammi at Northstar Montessori for her wonderful videos! I wish she could put together a training DVD on how to present all of the Montessori curriculum materials in order!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Just got Back from Kansas!

Hello All! We just got back from an almost 2 week vacation visiting family and friends out in Kansas. It was a great trip and I'll be back to blogging and posting pictures soon!
God Bless!

-Susana