Blog on...Updates...

I know it's been a long time since I last posted. I see amazing things in my class and snap photos with every intention to share...but somehow never get round to posting them. The demands of life take over and before I realise, almost a year has passed. I am grateful for all those readers who still message me here or on Facebook, to ask me for the next post and to tell me how much they miss my regular photos and comments. I am amazed that I still get 100s of visitors on this page every day despite my infrequent updates.

I have every intention to renew my blogging traditions and bring life back to this page. My life has moved onto a new stage. One that is more focused on being a Montessori Trainer that truly supports student teachers to become the best Montessori teachers possible. I hope this new focus allows me more time to blog and the opportunity to achieve some of my other Montessori goals. As a Montessori trainer, I will not only be focused on training teachers but as a homeschooler, I would love to support families who decide to use Montessori as the way to educate their children.

Little-N...is also not so little anymore...he's twelve and well on his way to the next plane of development. It's fascinating to see the transition and to see how he compares to peers who didn't attend Montessori. I would like to share the success of his 12 years Montessori journey and show those of you how are still on their journey with younger children that Montessori education really works. The fruits at the end of the Montessori home-schooling journey are well worth the struggles.

So, I hope and pray this post is the first of many more to come. And if my blog goes quiet again...please send me a little nudge to keep it alive...X

Free Downloads Updated

I have updated my download page and fixed any broken links.

Please find the latest verion of my downloads here. I will continue adding to this list as I post new material. Please let me know if a link is not working or if there is an error on a file. Feel free to download and use these files but link back to my blog when you share them. Do not copy or sell these files.

Language

Dotted alphabet for tracing

Capital and lower case letter matching - post

Beginning Letter Matching Cards

Mathematics

Practice with ten beads - Post

Checkerboard Cards - Post

Make A Clock

O'clock Three Part Cards

Large and Small Number Cards

Geometry

Congruent Similar and Equivalent - Post

Triangle Cards - Post

Science

Organ Cards - post

Animal Question Cards - Post

Sun Game - Post

Geography

Land Water and Air Cards - Post

Animals and transport for Land Water and Air - Post

Compass Rose - Post

Country, City and Flag Sheet - Post

Months of the Year 

New Job

Remember the post I wrote some months ago about the Montessori pre-school I was helping set up? Well initially I joined the team as a consultant, but things have changed. I am now the pre-school manager. This is a position that I swore I'd never accept, it's a big responsibility and a lot of work, however after working with the team for months and seeing their eagerness to make the school perfect I realised that I could do more to help create a school that will be amazing and touch the lives of many children.

I've spent these last weeks preparing mountains of paper work for Ofsted [official body for inspecting school]. Ordering and buying and materials to set up the classroom and preparing training session for teachers. I am lucky to be part of a wonderful team of teachers, all coming with years of experience and amazing talents. Everyone is working to the same goal, creating an outstanding Montessori school that will not only change the lives of children but also change the community.

I was extremely nervous about my suitable persons interview with Ofsted [official body for inspecting school] in which the inspector grilled me for more than three hours asking many difficult questions. But I was glad to know that it's hard for people to get a job as a manager and Ofsted are thorough in insuring that people in these positions are good people with sufficient experience. Today we received the glad news that I have passed the interview and we have got registration certificate.

This summer will be spent setting up the school, making resources and ensuring the the school is ready for September. I have stopped my homeschooling classes that I run from home. Having a full-time job in September will mean that I can no longer homeschool Little-N :( . I will set up my classroom in the school so that he can come in to the pre-school and continue his learning with me.

Writing A Secret Code

The other day Little-N sat quietly at the dinning table writing something. He was being very secretive. He then explained that he was writing a secret code! He said that when he needs to keep a secret he'll write it in code so no one can read it. He reminded me of myself! Little-N doesn't know this but when I was younger I too made up a code with a friend and till now I'll use it when I need to make note of something secret. I'm amazed that out of nowhere he came up with this code and actually used it too.

Making materials

I am constantly making Montessori materials for my classroom. I have a list of things to make that is almost as tall as me. Every time I cross something off the list, I end up adding five more things. Everyday there is something I have to cut, print, laminate or make. I'm beginning to wonder when is this going to stop? Or at least when will it calm down?

Everything that I am making has to be made, so there's no way out of it. I wish I had some help, but I don't. I can't see a child's interest and let it go. I can't see them ready for something and not provide the activity. I have to keep going, I have to make the materials. I just wish I had more time in a day.

Anyone have any tips or ideas, so that I can manage to get more done?

Little-N is 7

Little-N turned 7 a few days a go. Seven is a special age. I'm really excited for the year ahead. He has matured so much lately and learning is on a completely different scale. His thoughts, character and personality are far beyond anything I could imagine my child to be. I'm so proud of him and person he is growing into but most of all I am so HONOURED to be his mother.

Thank you God for blessing me with this lovely child.

Cats caught something interesting

The other day my cats were acting strangely in the garden, it looked as if they were chasing a beetle or something. After a little while my cat Olly ran into the garden with something large hanging from his mouth. Initially I thought he'd caught a mouse. He dropped it on the floor and in front of him was a huge frog. He picked it up again and started to run away from me and the frog screamed!!! I managed to stop Olly and he dropped the frog. Before I could get there, we had a frog playing dead on the grass and 4 cats ready to pounce on it.

I managed to shoo the cats away and Little-N went looking for a box. We picked up the frog [using a spade] and it started hoping again. Little-N was delighted. We bought it indoors for safety and observation. Little-N looked up and found out that is was a British common frog, just like the frogs we raised last year, but this was much much much larger. We kept it for a few hours, in which Little-N decided to do a research paper on him. We later released him safely in a relatives garden [with a frog pond] far away from my cats.

Boys with long hair, what is the problem?

I've been growing Little-Ns hair for most of his life. Occasionally I will give it a cut, not too short, but then I always leave it to grow again. He does have very unusual hair! It only looks neat if its very long or very short. I love it when its long, I love to play with it and curl it round my fingers. You may have noticed in his recent pictures that he is always wearing a hat, he does that for two reasons, one is that we are growing the front so that he can brush it to a side, and as it is still not long enough it gets in his eyes. A lot of people [family] have been commenting on his hair saying that he is now too old to have long hair. Some people have even said he looks like a GIRL!!!! I'm not sure whether I should cut it or continue growing it! He will be seven next month and I need to make a decision soon! What do you think?

Moving houses again

I have just moved houses again. This is the sixth time I have moved in the last three years! Hopefully we will be staying in this new place long term. I will be setting up my classroom as usual and luckily I have a bigger room [although still quite small]. This new house is a lot bigger and also has more than one toilet, so the children will no longer be using our main bathroom. Those of you who haven't been to the U.K, houses here are tiny, more like rabbit hutches.

The new house is in a different part of London, there is a lot more demand for my class here. Many parents are homeschooling and I am expecting to take on more students.

I've managed to unpack most of the house things and hope to start setting up my classroom on Wednesday. Will post pictures soon.

The Learning Ark Montessori Materials Shop

Finally after many years of making Montessori materials and years of waiting for my brother to make my website, I am happy to say that I now have a Montessori download material shop. The website isn't perfect yet and my brother has to finish the design and hopefully make it match my blog.

You can now buy my files from my online shop and I will be constantly adding new files. I am aiming to add at least one new file a week. You can sign up to the newsletter at the shop for updates.

I will still be making free files, but they will be moved and posted on my shop where they can be downloaded for free.

I will be preparing some discounts and giveaways for followers on this blog and those who sign up to my newsletter.

I have already added a free download to my shop, I have blogged about it here and you can download the file here.

My wish is that people who use my files will gain benefit from it and more importantly that the children/students will enjoy working with the materials. If you have any questions or problems with my shop feel free to email me thelearningark@gmail.com.

The Learning Ark Montessori Materials Shop

I've been very busy lately teaching, making materials and preparing my new shop which will be launched soon.

A Montessori shop in French

A friend of mine has recently open a Montessori material shop which sells downloadable materials in French.

She has translated many of my documents to French and made some of her own files. Pop over to her shop and take a look.

La boutique de Family & Co

Same blog different design

I have been playing around with the design of my blog to suit my new logo, I intended to use purple as my main background colour to suit my wardrobe but some of my followers have informed me that the purple is too strong hence I have chosen to side with the blue theme.

I may take a few days to decide what design to stick with. Comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Missing teeth!

Little-N is loosing all his teeth!

New addition: Aslan

Although I already have four of my own cats I could not resist having one of Annabel's kittens. I fell in love with this kitten: Aslan right from the beginning. He's grey, fluffy and so clever! There is something special about grey tabby cats, clever, affectionate, cute and funny. I was really worried about how my four other cats would react to a new addition, thankfully it all went well.

Tinkerbell [above] and Smittens [below] are Aslans sister and brother from the previous litter. Tinkerbell immediately took the role of a mother, cleaning him and teaching what to do. Smittens took the role of a big brother protecting him and playing with him. I didn't expect my cats to react to him in this way, as you can see from the pictures Aslan is very comfortable in my home.


He follows me round the house all day and sleeps besides me in bed at night. He is always climbing onto my lap where he manages to get under my top and falls asleep. And as I write this he is nibbling and licking my hand as if he knows this post is all about him!

I Passed!!!

I received an unexpected letter the other day. I opened it up expecting it to be another bill or some junk mail. But too my surprise the letter read 'You have successfully passed your Foundation Degree'.

I'm so happy, the course took a lot of effort. I wrote many essays and read so many books. During the middle of the course I felt like giving up, I wanted my life back. Somehow I found the strength and I continued and now I feel really proud of myself.

This leaves me wondering what is should do next year. I have the opportunity to take the Montessori 9-12yrs course or I can take a BA Montessori course. Both will take one year of intense studying . However the BA course is heavily essay based, while the 9-12 course has a lot of practical work that I love.

So the choice is between having a BA in Montessori or Being trained up to the age of 12.

What would you do??

Blog Awards

Many thanks to Montessori En El Hogar who passed these awards on to me. Her blog is amazing.

I also received the 'Versatile blog' award as well as the 'Outstanding blogger' award from Little Blossoms. Thank you so much

Three awards at once, WOW!! I am so glad that people enjoy reading my blog and find it beneficial.

The rules for awards are:

Give this award to 10 sweet bloggers.
- Make a post about the award including the picture and mention the person who gave it to you.
- Put the award on your blog.
- Let your nominated 10 know you’ve awarded them by leaving a comment on their blog.

For the Outstanding Blogger Award I must share 7 things about me. This is going to be tough.

1- I went to Montessori school as a child.

2- I have 4 cats. My cats are my other children.

3- I love Making Montessori materials, sometimes when I am stressed it's the best way to calm me.

4- I recently started painting again.

5- My favourite colour is purple.

6- I'm just about to move to a new home.

7- During the last year of studying I was too busy to exercise or eat healthy food, unfortunately I have put on a bit of weight. Now I'm on a diet and trying to loose the excess. I've promised myself I will keep dieting and exercising until I like what the scale says.

There are many blogs that I love reading. I'll try to pick those who don't already have the award.

Adventure of Rainbow Mama

Mondorfment

Montessori Spanish

What Did We Do All Day

Leptir

Beautiful Sun Montessori

A Bit Of This And A Bit Of That

No Pink Here

Little Blossoms I'm passing the sweet blog award to you!

Mi Escuelita Montessori

Enjoy!!!

Finished Assignments

I have just finished all my assignments and portfolio for my Montessori Degree course. I will be handing them in tomorrow morning. Hours, days, weeks and months have gone into completing this course. Wish me luck!

Montessori Materials on the I-phone and use of computers

I was checking out the Montessori Goldmine and saw this post. I to got the emails from Montessorium. I am against young children using computers. My father has an IT software company and we grew up with the latest computers and programs. I saw what it did to my younger brothers and our generation as we grew up addicted to looking at a screen and pushing buttons. I decided to keep Little-N away from it as much as possible.

If he needs to play a game, we play a board game, if he needs to write a letter he writes it by hand, if he needs to draw a picture he does it on paper and if he needs to research something he uses books, loads of books and he always get the information he needs. What would a computer or I-Pad offer him? I ask my self, what is missing from his life that a computer will give him. Now that he is 6 and I have kept him away for digital media, it is safe to say he has learnt to use all the real materials. No just use them, but enjoy them and they have become a part of him.

Even though I have kept him away from computers, he has surprised me by already knowing how to use a computer. He can switch it on, open a google and search for something. He can type if he talks to his dad. and he knows what everything is and for. He learnt that through observation as he sees me use my computer.

A Montessori teacher that I studied under [an 80yr old, who studied with a direct student of Montessori] often spoke about how she believed Montessori would be against the use of computers in the classroom. She said that when you weigh it up, it causes more harm that any good to a child especially when the child is young.

I can easily say that each child I taught who had problems in concentrating or learning watched to much TV or computer games. As soon as the parent agreed to cut down the TV and computer to only weekends the child changed. This doesn't mean that every child if badly effected, but it does effect them in some way or another.

For now Little-N wont be using a computer and TV is very limited. When he is older, probably 10 or more I will begin teaching him the use of a computer. Starting with the use of the Office applications and followed by using graphics programs. Until then, I am prepared to keep his environment rich enough to provide him with the correct materials he needs to learn and be happy.

Unexpected changes

I never thought I'd say this, but very sadly my class closed today. It hasn't sunk in yet, I feel broken. My class is packed up. Things started to go wrong a couple of months ago, problems with the head and her daughter. The 6-9 class was a trial, but I never imagined it would end so quick. I tried so hard to make things work, I put my heart and soul into the school. I think I was probably the only person taking it so seriously and now its gone. On Monday this week I had no idea the class was closing just yet, but on Wednesday the decision was made to close by the end of the week. When I started the school, I was warned not to do so too much for it, but being the way I am I had to do all the extras. I now know my lesson that I will only put so much effort into my OWN school, when I know its there for good.

The Montessori method was perfect for the children and benefited all of them. However the school building was to small to accommodate for the needs of the older children. Some of the children I taught this year will continue with me and the rest will be going into mainstream. Those who are staying on, are committed to the Montessori method.

My plan is to set up my own home-schooling support centre, where I have children coming for 4 days a week and evening session for home-schooling parents who want advice on using Montessori. I'm excited, but sore. I have one week to set up another class at home for those children I am teaching. I'll keep you informed on my progress.