Practical Life Lessons: Greeting Someone

The purpose of Montessori education is guiding the child on their journey to independence.

The foundation of this journey lies in the Montessori practical life curriculum. 

Montessori Practical Life engages children with real life experiences using specific lessons to teach them the steps to take, skills needed, and materials to use for the child to be able to "do it myself." 

The curriculum is organized into 4 different categories:

Control of Movement

Care of Environment

Care of Self

Grace and Courtesy

Today, we are going to spotlight a lesson included in the Grace and Courtesy curriculum:  Greeting a Guest

The Montessori guide (a..k.a. "teacher") presents the lesson by extending an invitation to the child.

1. Invite the child to learn how to greet a guest, "I would like to show you how to greet someone."

2.  Face the child and look them in the eyes (using direct eye contact - in a friendly manner).

3. Say, "Hi (or Hello/Good Morning/Good Afternoon/), how are you?"

4. Ask the child to repeat the words back to you.

5. When the child replies, state "I am very well, thank you."

6. If you have more than one child present, they can practice greeting each other.

7. Have the child/children practice greeting someone daily (or frequently).  

    Use variations and extensions by providing different scenarios after the child has mastered
    the basic greeting. For example:

    a. Learn how to greet someone you do not know (how to introduce yourself and ask for their
        name)

    b. Learn how to greet someone that you cannot remember their name. This would include
        how to politely ask for their name again.

    c. Learn about formal and informal greetings and when to use them (friends versus adults,
        etc.)

    d. Learn how to introduce people to each other.

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What is that used for? Practical Life and First Aid

I have been looking for a way to organize our first-aid supplies for a while. I wanted a place where we could access it anytime. My first choice was one of the bathrooms, but with so many of us in the house, it seems as if they are occupied just when we need to access the supplies. I tried to place them under the kitchen cabinet in a tub, but the kids had to dig through items to get to a band-aid when needed.

 I finally settled on mounting a pocket organizer in the laundry room where everyone could access it. Every time I did laundry for the next few days, I patted myself on the back for finally solving my problem.

Everything was in plain sight and easily accessible.This was a positive, but I also saw how it could cause some issues too. It hadn't occurred to me until this moment that so many supplies looked so similar. I saw an opportunity for a practical life lesson. 

I placed all the topical application items on the table. I called each child individually to study the items more closely.  I had each of them read the words on the label (great for expanding the vocabulary). We discussed what each of the words meant (i.e. antiseptic, antibiotic, etc). We discussed the proper use of each item - for cuts, burns, stings, washing small wounds, etc.)

We used a rendition of the  "three-period" lesson method. I pointed to each of the item and they told me the use of each item. I mixed the arrangement of the items and then asked the use of each item again. I then posed questions to my children, "if  I am stung by a bee, which would I use", "if my nose is stuffy, which would I use", etc. 

I also reiterated and stressed very firmly that they are not to use any of the items without informing me first. We discussed that although these items are in our first aid kit to help us, they can still be dangerous if not used properly. We flipped each of the tubes over and looked at the warning signs and also discussed how misuse could be dangerous.

I have to admit that these type of lessons are my favorites - they are practical, require no preparation, and I know that they are gaining knowledge that they will use throughout their adulthood.

Subtracting Money: Real-Life Experiences

My husband and I have worked opposite work schedules for years so one of us would be at home at all times to care for the children. While this has been a blessing, it was not always easy. Errands were always a bit challenging when alone, doing the shopping, with three children (that were not quite 4 years apart). I had to set some boundaries.

One of the things that worked well is that I designated some errands as "getting only needed items" errands. When we were on these errands, the kids knew that we were not going to look at toys/candy, etc. However, from time-to-time I would designate an errand as a "toy-looking" errand. This really helped the stress level and allowed me to totally relax and allow the kids to leisurely browse the toys without rushing them. During this time, we do not buy toys, but the children are allowed to write things on a "wish list" for their birthdays, Christmas, etc.

While I was at the bank this weekend (we have a branch inside our grocery store and it is sooo nice to be able to take care of business on Saturday/Sunday!), I spotted these debit card recording booklets. They were so cute - I asked the guy if I could have a few.

We took these booklets and created a different twist to our "toy-looking" day. I told the older two children to pretend they had $100.00 saved in their account. Then, they were to "shop" for items and spend the money. They had to record the date/description and subtract the amount from their balance.We also rounded to the nearest quarter to make the subtraction simpler (and it also helped us practice our rounding skills!)

They had so much fun "fake-shopping." I also liked the fact that it doubled as an introductory teaching experience on how to balance your checkbook. I allowed them to check their work in the concession area after we were done as we enjoyed an Icee (my favorite drink of all time!)

Mindfulness Lesson 1: Lessons of Grace and Courtesy - Table Manners

This week, our mindfulness goal is table manners. It was very tempting to try to correct everything in one sitting, however, I tried my best to just stick to one new goal each day and then add on another goal the next morning. It was hard and I had to bite my tongue a few times, but hopefully, the knowledge become more ingrained this way.

First, we reviewed how to set the table. We had this work before and the children had explored it till they tired of it, but now seemed to be a wonderful time to review it. This time, we talked about the placement of the plates and glasses and I had them to brainstorm why the placement of the dishes matter. I asked questions such as:
"Why should we wipe the table before setting the dishes on it?"
"Why do we place the plate closest to us and the glass on the other side of the plate- why not put the glass in front of us and the plate farther away?
"What is helpful about our placement of the silverware?"
"Why do we need napkins - why don't we just lick our fingers or wipe them on our clothes?"

The responses were funny at times.... I received everything from "cause you told us to" 
to "I put the fork close to my plate so no one else licks it" ... to finally we came to more realistic conclusions as to why we do things this way.

The mindfulness aspect really came into play as we placed each piece down on the table slowly, and with purpose... and taking the time to step back and reflect on our work. Too many times, I have rushed myself, or them to get the plates on the table quickly so we can rush and do the next thing....without stopping to appreciate the work we have done.

If you need the initial place setting lesson, My Montessori Journey has a beautiful post on this topic. 

If you have any mindfulness activities that you do with your children at school or in your home, please feel free to link up to this post! 



Fun with Coupons

I have attempted "couponing" on and off my entire married life. I have cut many out, left many more at home, and wound up using few of them after my hours of hard work. After being reminded once again how much "couponing" can save (and paying for the countless number of car repairs, home repairs, etc.), I have vowed once again to coupon once more.

As I was searching through the paper and cutting out my "two for ones," I quickly realized the interest my kids had in coupons. I decided that making it more of a family activity would encourage me to be more adamant about using the coupons and also teach my children valuable practical life skills about budgeting, saving, and decision-making.

We also had quite a bit of fun with the coupons:

• sorting coupons into food categories
• ordering coupons from least to greatest and greatest/least (respective to the amount saved on coupon)
• alphabetizing products on coupons
• ordering coupons by expiration dates

I also created a Coupon Math Activity where the child chooses and reads a problem card that tells how much a grocery product is. Then, the child finds the corresponding coupon and subtracts the amount from the initial product cost. It was a hit (and a great review of subtracting money/decimals). 
 

Click montessori materials to find this activity.

My daughter was so inspired that she even created a home-made coupon holder.

Fingernail Clipping Activity

I was in need of an activity that reinforced fine motor skills with my children. Interest in playdoh and push pin work has waned for right now. Therefore, I pulled out an old favorite --- fingernail clipping.

When I first introduced this activity a while ago, we traced our hands and drew fingernails on them and practiced cutting the paper nails. 

I decided to try an updated version this time when I brought the fingernail clippers back to the shelf. I cut small strips of paper (I used three different colors) approximately 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. I used red, green, and blue for this activity (mainly because these are the colors that I found first in the art bucket).

I pulled out our measuring spoons and separated the 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, and 1 tsp from the ring.

I affixed red, blue, and green bands around each spoon.

I used a white sheet of paper and labeled the placement of the objects. This also teaches the measurements of 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, and 1 tsp. The child uses the fingernail clippers to cut small pieces of paper and fills up the spoons according to the color of the band on the spoon. 

The aspect I really liked about this variation is that the children spent more time actually practicing cutting with the clippers as they had the goal of filling up each spoon - which helped my goal of them practicing their fine motor skills longer!

Visit Montessori For Learning by Insightful Brain for more montessori materials!

Practice Makes Perfect - And New Lessons Don't Hurt Either!

I opened up our bathroom closet and I could feel my blood pressure rise. Towels were everywhere -  squished together, falling off the shelf and onto the floor. My first instinct was to yell for the kids to come and look at the mess they had created and make sure they knew that this kind of thing caused extra work for me. However, rationality set in and I (thankfully) decided to take a different approach. 

I had been meaning to reorganize the bathroom closet anyway. I decided to take this opportune moment and rearrange our towels and toiletries. After I placed everything back in the closet, I called for the kids. It had occurred to me that I had taught the kids how to fold clothes, but not the proper procedure on how to actually place them in the closet and take them out.

Rearranging the closet made it easier to introduce the "lessons." It created a natural reason for introducing a procedure.  I explained that I had fixed our closet so we could now have a neater, more organized closet which gave us more space - and hopefully our towels would no longer fall on the floor. I demonstrated where to lay the towels on the sink (after checking for wet/dirty spots) and then place them in the closet a few at a time. I also demonstrated on how to remove a towel and washcloth by sliding one hand under a cloth/towel and placing the other hand on top of the towel. We all practiced this procedure until we all mastered it.

The change in the bathroom closet has been remarkable. I am going to try very hard from now on not to lose my cool when I see a challenge around the house - to  see it more as an opportunity for a new lesson. 

Now, my next challenge to conquer --- the toothpaste tube!!!!

Ribbon Curling - Practical Life Activity

Ribbon curling is a family favorite practical life activity. I try to put this out close to brithdays or holidays/events in which we wrap gifts/use gift bags. I place a curled ribbon (for an example reminder), scissors, and ribbon strands that have been tied together in a basket. I demonstrate the procedure as a reminder for my younger children. I usually leave about 5 ribbon strands in the basket. Sometimes, I will actually create 2 baskets because 2 of my children really enjoy this activity and they would be disappointed if there were not enough ribbon strands to curl.

 

We have also used the curled ribbons to create birthday decorations and hair decorations. The part I really like about this activity is that they enjoy it so much (it is magical to them how the ribbon just curls), and it is economical and really helps during gift-giving time. They really gain a sense of confidence and feel like they have really helped the family when I use what they create in our daily lives.

Visit Montessori for Learning for more great montessori materials!

Practical Life Skills

This month, our practical life skills have focused on "what to do in case of an emergency" so to speak. I can truly say that I haven't planned these "emergency" situations, they have been brought to us.


A background tidbit of information is that we have recently purchased a $500 van in our hopes of not having a car payment and saving money for a newer model. Our previous 10 year old van had decided it was ready for retirement. I will have to admit that I never saw this van in my future, but we are trying to get ourselves back on track from when I ditched my corporate job a few years back to work at a montessori school (which was literally 1/2 the pay of my other job). Now, I go to work after hubby gets home (I teach computer skills). While I do not regret my decision to ditch the high-paying job- as it allowed me to find a teaching philosophy that I truly love and the time with the children has been priceless- it has been very stressful the last few years to try and get our finances "balanced" once again.


As my husband pulled the van in the driveway, I committed to being  as positive about driving this van as I could be. I even named the van, as I believe every vehicle with "character" such as this one, deserves a name. I dubbed it "Old Christine" from the TV show - saying this was going to be the "new adventures of our Old Christine." I don't personally watch the show, but thought the name was fitting. Little did I know, it was more than a cute nickname, but a peek into our future. Old Christine has brought us many practical life lessons this past month. Here are a few just to name:

• When the van died while leaving the grandparent's neighborhood on July 4th weekend, I was able to model for the children how to politely decline rides from strangers. There was also a lake within a few feet from the place where the van broke down, so I walked the kids over to it while my husband and kind stranger pushed the van into the lake dock parking lot. Here we learned how to approach ducks and other wildlife in an appropriate manner.
• When the van died while traveling down the interstate as we were headed home (once again from grandma's, after supposedly getting it fixed), the kids learned how staying calm in an emergency was important. They saw mom calmly coast to the next exit (and how prayer works -- I was praying loudly, to get us off the interstate while cars were whizzing past) --- we got off the interstate and  almost off the exit ramp. 
• We also learned social etiquette tips, such as do not announce "I smell something really horrible" while standing next to an obviously intoxicated gentleman when we had to wait at a McDonald's at one of the roughest neighborhoods in the city. Thank goodness they did notice the woman with her head down on the table in the back of the restaurant wearing a tube top, mini-skirt, heels, and no undies (evidently in her sleepy state, she had decided to stretch out her legs). I'm not quite ready for that practical life discussion!
• Grandpa informed us after they picked us up that we were right across from the hotel that had the greatest number of murders that year. Of course, my husband had left the day earlier to get to his new job and wasn't there to enjoy the fun!   
• We learned how it is important to stay far away from the road and traffic while walking to a safer destination.
• We learned how to offer a good apology for blocking the gas pump of the filling station when our van died in front of it.
• We learned that complaining and whining only makes the situation worse, that using your energy to figure out how you can take care of your self and get yourself out of the situation is a much more effective use of your energy. We also learned that complaining makes mom grouchy!

The most important thing I believe they have learned is that life is not always smooth. I had tried to shelter my children from the negative aspects of life. So much, that I began to see a trend in their inability to handle unplanned, or disappointing situations. I do not like seeing my children unhappy or disappointed, but it is part of life. We had something fun planned when each of the events happened. While we were not able to proceed at the time, we still tried to make each adventure as unpleasant as it could be... while I told them and reassured myself "at least we are spending time together and we are safe." 


While my children are still a little young to really absorb everything we learned, I do think that it helped set a foundation for our future. I will try to not shelter them from every negative thing and make sure I model how I am handling the situation out loud so they will be able to see problem-solving skills in real-life situations. Hopefully, our adventures with Old Christine will have been valuable for something when I look back on this 10 years from now!

Tying Shoelaces

It was one of those eventful moments of parenthood, a milestone in your child's life and one that you were an integral part in helping them to achieve - the tying of shoelaces.  

We were outside, she ran in to get her "tie shoes" as we called them. She brought them back out and was determined to get them tied. I did not interrupt, just observed. I loved watching her concentrate. After about 15 minutes, she looked up at me and asked for some assistance. I smile and was ready to be "Wonder Woman" and save the day.

I bent down and started to show her the first step- cross the laces to make an "x." We practiced this step until she was a master. "This was going to be a piece of cake," I thought. Then, I went to show her the second step. This is when reality hit. She leaned over trying to see my hand movement, she could not get a clear picture. We tried from different angles.

Finally, I looked at her and said, "You know, I have taught children many different skills over the years, but I have not had to teach anyone to tie their shoes. I am going to have to think about this and we'll try again tomorrow." Thankfully, she is a very flexible child. She nodded and went on to catch a few fireflies before we had to go inside.

I racked my brain, thinking of a better way to teach her to tie her shoes. I decided to "google" it. Gratefully, I found a tip that helped us get over our obstacle. On eHow, there was an article outlining the steps in how to teach a child to tie their shoes. It was the same old routine, however, the bottom of the article contained the most valuable piece of information --- use a jump rope so they can see a larger view of what is happening.

I found our jump rope and practiced a couple of times that night. The next morning, I informed my Sunshine that I thought I had found the solution. Sunshine sat down on the floor and we placed the middle of the jump rope under her legs (right above her knee area). I was sitting right behind her so I could reach over and demonstrate the steps one at at time. I crossed the rope, she practiced a few times until she mastered. I tucked the rope under. She tucked the rope under until the skill was mastered. I made the loop-she made the loop. We swooped and pulled under and tightened. We stopped at each step and practiced until we mastered  the steps before going on to the next. The entire "lesson" took about 20-30 minutes. I quietly tiptoed away as she twisted and looped for the next 30 minutes. She was actually independently tying. Now, I said, let's try it with your tie shoes. She transferred the knowledge seamlessly. By the end of the afternoon, she was tying as quickly and skillfully as a child who had been tying for a year! Thank goodness for Google!

Character Box

Practical life and character education can many times get put on the back-burner. I sometimes forget to include those in our education, even though they are some of the most important things I can instill in my children.

These traits have a large impact on their success as adults and their happiness in life.

One of the ways I am trying to remind myself to teach these important life skills is by starting a "Character Box." Each month I write down 4-5 character words to study (the number depends upon how many weeks there are in each month). At the beginning of each week, one of the children pulls a card out of the box -- it is the character word of the week. We unfold it, read it, and talk about what it means. Each night at dinner, we talk about how we were able to use that particular character trait (the word of that week) during the day and also discuss if we let any opportunities slip by. So far, the children have really enjoyed the character box and it has really added more "meat" to our dinner conversation!

Lesson In Etiquette

Many times I forget when my children are not showing their best manners that I have forgotten to explain "the etiquette rules" to them beforehand. Then I feel guilty about reprimanding or criticizing their behavior when they weren't aware of "the etiquette rule." My hubby thinks I am being too hard on myself, but I explained it to him as 'what if he were reprimanded at his workplace for a new rule in which we he was not told.' He gets it, but still thinks I worry about it a little too much! To help keep me reminded on what I need to teach my children in the area of manners/etiquette, I found a cute book that is not too formal (I am not a real formal, structured person). It is called Dude, That's Rude by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick. It explains everything from washing your hands, to buttering a roll, to what to do when you hear the national anthem at a sporting event. My children ABSOLUTELY LOVE participating in the etiquette role-playing. It is great family bonding time, we have fun and giggle, and I witness more confidence in them.

As I looked up the book on Amazon, I found other titles by the authors that seem very intriguing....How to Take the Grr Out of Anger, and See You Later Procrastinator. I'll definitely have to check them out!

Cleaning the House while Gaining Practical Life Skills

These learning experiences are my favorite. Not only do my children learn valuable practical life skills to use in their adult life, I get a cleaner house in return! They really enjoy helping me make our own cleaning products. We turn this into a learning experience. First we read the back of an everyday store-bought cleaner, then we pick out a few of the ingredients on the back and research what they are and if they are hazardous. We talk about how we might could make safer cleaning products. I found some great make-your-own cleaning products at eartheasy and care2. They offer some great alternatives. I do have to say that my favorite is the cleaning wipes. I could not survive without them at this stage in my life. My children love mixing up the solution. We are also able to get some math (concept of one-half - cutting paper towels in 1/2; measurement using the teaspoon, etc.) and science (learning about essential oils and their properties) and history (origination of essential oils -- they love learning about how they used them in Egypt.) We also discuss the importance of labeling items correctly and I have one of the children label my container of cleaning solution with a warning and skull and cross bones. This way everyone knows that it is not ingestible. I love the fact that after this practical life lesson, I wind up with a whole new box and cleaning wipes and it is a great lesson that naturally leads up to doing a few jobs around the house!