Three-part Card Trays From Montessori Research and Development

I have made it no secret that I like many of the materials that are available through Montessori Research and Development.  This has always been purely because of many years of loving their work.  This is the first time I have ever gotten anything in exchange for a blog post, and I am so happy to do it.

If you have read some of my previous posts about Nomenclature or Three-part cards you will know that my classroom has had a big uptick in those cards being pulled off the shelves and used this year.  In fact it is almost certain that at any given time during the day there is at least one set of cards in use.  Since this is the case, I have felt it is in the best interest of the class to have more cards available in the areas at the same time.  I have owned and loved a few of the Three-part Card Trays from Montessori Research and Development for a some years, but really needed more.  I corresponded with Erik Nuno, who is the company director about hoping to get a few more for my classroom.  He shipped them right off and my class has been so happy to have them on the shelf ever since.  I currently have 9 on the shelves of my class.  3 in science, 2 in language, 1 in math, 2 in geography and 1 in sensorial.  Now that they have been set up for a couple of weeks I find that we actually could use a total of 5 in science (depending on what we are studying), 4 in math for currency, fractions, time, and golden beads (my colored bead stair cards are a different type).  I could also use a total of 5 in language for pink cvc cards, blue blends, parts of speech, the farm and metal inset cards, and 4 in geography regularly.  I would prefer to have 4 available for sensorial for sensorial apparatus cards, geometric cabinet cards, geometric solids cards, and color nomenclature cards.  I would lastly put one in art, not all the time but according to the lessons.  So that is a grand total of 23 that I would have in my classroom.  I am far from it, but will continue to order from Montessori Research until I have the number I want.

The Three-Part Card Tray from Montessori Research and Development is a economical and lovely tray for the classroom, running only $9.00 each.  The compartments are spacious enough to hold even larger cards, and certainly the cards that I create.  The depth of the compartments is a feature I like as well.  These are both something you want to watch for when ordering trays.  They are easily cleaned by even smaller children, with the control of error being a gleaming white surface.

The other tray that I looked at in the same price range had the control on the right.  That went against my core feelings when it comes to Montessori works.  I have always been taught, and ascribe to the standard that all work should move left to right.  Since we place the control first it should be on the left hand side.

I am so happy to recommend the 3-part Card Tray from Montessori Research and Development.

A Beautiful Blog About Montessori Work with the Elderly

Last year I came across The Moveable Alphabet blog and really liked the work that was happening in her Primary classroom.  I haven't been back until today.  She has changed her employment and is now working with the elderly using a montessori aproach.  I have spent half the morning pouring over her posts and weeping at the beauty of what she is doing for those who deserve it so much.  Maybe it is in part because my own loving father-in-law is slipping further and further away into dementia.

Her newest post is about Leaf Washing with seniors.

This sweet lady had the most beautiful and sorrowful things to say as she washed and cared for the plant tenderly.  It is a must read.

I hope that you will take some time exploring her site and let it fill your soul as it has mine today.

Circle Time & The Talking Mushroom

A couple of years ago I had another teacher observe my class and give me feedback.  I highly respect this woman and have made many of her methods part of my approach.  One bit of feedback to me was that during circle time, and during the reading of a book, I needed a better way to help the children in the class to learn respect for the person talking or reading, and a pleasant way to inspire the children in waiting a turn to speak.  In short... To practice grace and courtesy when we have something that is burning inside ourselves and we want so badly to share it.  She then left me with these thoughts to come up with a solution of my own.

I knew whatever I used it had to be special.  I wanted something they could hold that was small and preferably soft.  I rummaged around in a couple of drawers and found this little mushroom from IKEA.  When I held it in my hand it felt so pleasing that I was sure the children would love it.

  

I presented this as our TALKING MUSHROOM and explained that whoever is holding the talking mushroom will have a turn to speak.  We all get the chance to listen to the person who is holding the talking mushroom and take our own turn if we feel that we have something important to contribute.  Part of this discussion, that we do at the very beginning of every year, is to explore how we feel inside if someone talks over us.  No one likes the way it feels.  Everyone understands the desire to be listened to and to speak uninterrupted.  

Our Talking Mushroom has been a sensation ever since.  We make it a part of Circle Time and other group discussions.

Sometimes a discussion about a subject, book, project, or presentation will be so exciting, or bring up so many memories, that children will start talking over each other (much more at the beginning of the year).  When this happens I will take the mushroom out of the little basket that is it's home.  I will hold it in my hand and frequently that is enough to remind the children that we make it a point in our classroom to take turns respecting each other when we have something important to share.  I do a presentation early, early in the year about quietly raising our hand as a way to show courtesy when someone else is talking.

Great Place for Free Control Maps

I want to let all of my readers out there know about a fabulous site for free control maps.  It is d-maps.com.  It has all kinds of maps that can be used with Puzzle Maps for all kinds of work.  He is so generous to make it all available for whatever you want.  I am currently making the Cards of the Worlds Parts with the Continents maps.  I really like that he has so many different maps available for one part of the world.

For Example:
If you look under the heading for Africa -- you will find 40 maps for Africa, the continent, and then about 50 maps are available for EACH of the countries in Africa as well.  Not only that, but there are also historical maps!  The only thing I wish he had are the Eastern and Western Hemispheres Isolated.

there are unlabeled maps

and labeled maps

there are maps showing rivers (this is Botswana), and roads, and main cities

this map shows the Nile Delta with the cultivated areas

For information on how to use Control Maps in a Montessori Classroom, look here.

Metal Inset Nomenclature Cards

My newest creation here in my quest to create as many files as I can is this free download of the Metal Inset Nomenclature Cards.  I hope that you will enjoy them too.  I am sorry for the short post, but every minute that I can I am spending preparing for classes that begin so soon.

Metal Insets Nomenclature Cards
click on picture to link to file

Metal Insets Nomenclature Cards D'nealian
click on picture to link to file

Since there is already so much information about the metal insets already available I will forgo the lengthy explanation and give you some great links to metal inset work and explanations here and here and here.  This is my favorite place for manuals.

I love this place for purchasing the metal insets, and here and here are some great links to making your own insets at home.

Parts of the Seed Nomenclature Cards and Little Booklet

I just finished these free Parts of the Seed Cards for myself and for all of my wonderful readers.  YEAH!

You will notice that I have done something a little different for these cards.  There is actually not really a standard in the Montessori community when it comes to naming the parts of the seed.  I have made two cards for a couple of the parts so that you can choose which one you want to use at your place.

Parts of the Seed Nomenclature Cards
click on picture to link to file

The following terms are used:

• Seed Coat/Testa
• Seed Leaf/Cotyledon
• Radicle
• Embryo/Epicotyl

This is the Little Book to accompany the cards.  The child looks at the nomenclature card, colors the corresponding part on his/her page, and then writes in the name for that part.  You can cut them apart for the child, or they can do the cutting themselves.

Parts of the Seed Little Booklet
click on picture to link to file

This site carries my favorite bean seed puzzles to go along with these cards.  A Parts of the Seed Puzzle  could easily be made out of felt.  The following file could be used as a template.  I have used it on the shelf as a pasting activity for the children to make their own little seed to take home.  I will have to make an example in the next couple of weeks to show you.

Parts of the Seed Pasting Activity/Felt Puzzle Template
click on picture to link to file

Classes of Vertebrates Cards and Little Booklet

I am having so much fun making all these cards for our classroom, and I am having so much fun sharing them with all of you.

Classes of Vertebrates Introduction Cards
click on picture to link to file

This set of cards belongs with one of the beginning zoology presentations.  For a great idea on the presentation look here.  I recommend this source for purchasing albums.  This is also a great place for free culture albums.

Here is a file for making the Little Booklets to go along with the cards.The children can use the cards to help them color in just the spinal column on the little booklet.  The teacher can pre-make them into books, or the children can cut on the dotted lines and staple when finished.  Some classes like to hole punch and put rings in their little booklets.

Classes of Vertebrates Little Book
click on the picture to link to file

The second page of this booklet include two copies each of birds and the front cover.  Make half as many copies of that sheet.

Herbivore, Carnivore, Omnivore Sorting Cards

I am having fun here making and updating all the cards for the beginning of the year.  This free download set of sorting cards for the Herbivore, Carnivore and Omnivore presentation includes the following:

• a heading card for each of the categories of herbivore, carnivore and omnivore
• 18 cards for each category
• a control card that lists all of the animals correctly in their group (I have not included a picture control card so that you may choose the animals you want to include in your presentation)

Herbivore, Carnivore, Omnivore Sorting Cards
click on picture to link to file
this file is too large to show a preview

This is a great link of an Herbivore, Carnivore, and Omnivore presentation.

Land, Water And Air Presentation Cards

As I am getting prepared for next year, I am busily working over here.  This year I have decided to make as many of the cards I have used from elsewhere that my schedule will allow for.  One of the first presentations I give is about the sand and water globe.  Following that presentation, I then present the Water, Land, and Air cards.

Land, Water & Air Cards
click on picture to link to file

This free download includes:

• 1 header cards for each land, air and water with photograph
• 6 more cards for each of the three categories - 21 cards in all including the heading cards

This is the Control Chart for the Land Water & Air Cards.  With this Control Chart children can do this work on their own and have a control of error to see if they are putting the cards in the right group.

Land, Water & Air Control Chart
click on picture to link to file

For photos of the Sand and Water Globe and Land Water and Air Presentations with information that I really like you can look here.
I have also found a FABULOUS post at tothelesson.blogspot.com about Language Rocks that connect prewriting with these first geography lessons in an absolutely wonderful way!

Montessori Constructive Blue Triangles Activity Set

This free activity set for the Constructive Blue Triangles is a great springboard for exploration with the Constructive Blue Triangles.  After initial presentations to the set, you can introduce the child to this activity set.  I would only place a few easily produced cards in a basket to begin with.  For children at multiple levels I would recommend that more advanced work be kept separate from beginning work.

This is by no means a comprehensive set.  There are hundreds of possibilities.  This set can help to whet the appetite especially for children who are a little less sure of their own ideas.

Constructive Blue Triangles Activity Set
click on picture to link to file

I totally recommend Montessori Outlet if you want a great quality and inexpensive set of the triangles.  You could also opt for a printed set (this set does not give quite the same effect as the thicker sets).  You can find a great link to several free sensorial files here.

I have found that by the time I printed them out - using my ink - and laminated them for my own durability, I had almost spent as much as to purchase them.

This is a great link on the presentation of the Constructive Blue Triangles Set.

This is a file to make a Constructive Blue Triangles Pasting Activity that can be used along with the manipulative set and this activity set.  Several copies of this file need to be printed on blue paper and cut out.  No laminating is necessary.  You can set them out for children to cut by themselves or they can be set out already cut.  Let the children dry set them first and then paste them in place on white pieces of paper.

Constructive Blue Triangles Pasting Activity
click on picture to link to file

 

Insect Lore Life Cycle Matching Activities and Control Cards

 Now that I have finished all of the Insect Lore Life Cycle Matching Activities that I am going to create, I want a post where all of them can be found together.  I have updated these cards and fixed a couple mistakes.

In this collection you will find the following Life Stages Matching Cards:

• Butterfly
• Ladybug
• Ant     (use of photos has been graciously granted by Alexander Wild @ alexanderwild.com for educational - no commercial - purposes only)
• Frog
• Preying Mantis
• Silkworm Moth
• NEW - Mealworm/Darkling Beetle

Insect Lore Life Cycle Matching Activity Cards - UPDATED
click on picture to link to file

Each of these files has been created to be used with the Insect Lore Life Stages Figures

Insect Lore Life Stages Figures

There is a space on each card for the matching figure to sit.  You can see an example of the Butterfly Matching Cards Laid out below.

I have also included this file of Control Cards for all of the Matching Cards

Control Cards - UPDATED
click on picture to link to file

Instructions for use:

• Print both documents
• Cut out all cards on the solid black lines
• Laminate everything
• Place an entire set - matching cards, figures, control card - in a tray with a basket or bowl for the figures

This shows an example of the work laid out:

Life Cycle of the Butterfly Matching Cards

Dado Cubes

I picked up this new set of cubes as an extension exercise to the pink tower.  I've had my eye on them for about 4 months now.  Just as soon as I introduced them to a few children, they immediately began building and exploring (my first introduction was to lay them on their side and to build a tower with them).  They really love them.  I keep hearing giggles of glee whenever they discover something new that they can do with them.  Its like they have been reintroduced to a wonderful friend, that can do all sorts of great things now.

There are 10 cubes just like the tower.  I completely recommend the original dado cubes.

Original Dado Cubes
clicking on picture will take you to an ordering site

Montessori Phonetic Command Cards

This set of command cards are very simple and fun for children to do.  There are 4 levels of difficulty.  The first file is a bit of instructions about the materials.  The red cards are an indirect introduction to the red color coding used for verbs in the Montessori grammar program.

Prerequisites for the Phonetic Command Cards are the Phonetic Baskets 1, 2, and 3 for levels 1 & 2.  Phonetic Basket 4 needs to be presented before Phonetic Command Cards levels 3 & 4.

Phonetic Command Cards Instructions
click on picture to link to file

Phonetic Command Cards #1
click on picture to link to file

Phonetic Command Cards #2
click on picture to link to file

Phonetic Command Cards #3
click on picture to link to file

Phonetic Command Cards #4
click o picture to link to file

For children who are not yet reading, this is a great place for command cards with pictures.

Montessori Language Exercises

I think that many of the people who will eventually utilize my blog will be people who are working in a smaller or home environment, I am really geared toward you.  You will be looking for the best stuff for the best price, and you will also want help in getting set up (I know that is what I wanted).  I want to help you save money and spend wisely.

Let's start at the VERY beginning.

The following is a list of Traditional Primary Language Exercises Materials (these items go along with the Primary Scope and Sequence), and the BEST places to order them.

The Following Materials Come From Montessori Outlet:

• Sandpaper Letters - Lowercase - Print
• Sandpaper Letters - Uppercase - Print
• 2 Boxes for the Sandpaper Letter
• Metal Insets
• Metal Inset Stands
• Box for Metal Inset Paper
• Metal Insets Tracing Tray
• Set of 11 Colored Pencil Holders (I do have another idea for these)
• Holder for 3 Pencils  (you should get a few.  If you are teaching just a few children, get one for each)
• Small Moveable Alphabet - Print, blue vowel & red consonant (this link for ones to make yourself)
• Small Movable Alphabet Box - Lower Case Letters
• Blank Green Boards
• Green Boards with Lines & Squares
• Green Boards with Double Lines & Squares
• Wooden Boards
• Green Boards Stand
• Lower Case Double Sandpaper Letters - Print (presented after the child has learned phonetic reading and blends - not all people feel these are necessary)
• Box for the Lower Case Double Sandpaper Letters
• Small Movable Alphabet - Print, red  (I have put them later since they are used during later reading - These 2 sets of movable alphabets are used for the Green Reading Series)
• Small Movable Alphabet - Print, black
• 2 more Small Movable Alphabet Boxes (I have put them later since they are used during later reading)
• 2 Printed Alphabet Boxes - one for black and one for red letters.  This link takes you to a file I have made of the Printed Alphabet

Great Prices and replacement parts are my reasons for LOVING this place.  You may be able to find some things cheeper, but you probably will not be able to find replacements when you need them.  Not only that, but when you need to replace your item, you can turn them in for points toward purchases, and you get points for orders placed.  Fabulous all around.

* Paper for the metal insets is priced absurdly through any service.  It is COMPLETELY worth it to take a ream of paper to the local copy shop and pay them to cut it to 5 1/2 X 5 1/2 for you.  You will save at LEAST 50%

NOTE:  You will not see grammar materials on this list since the Primary Scope and Sequence I use goes through age 5 and not age 6.  In my manuals for Language Exercises the only grammar presentations for children by age 5 are... The First Noun Game, The First Verb Game, and The First Preposition Game.  None of these presentations require the Grammar Symbols.  *More for older ages later.

*For the Pink, Blue and Green Reading you will need A LOT of Phonetic Objects, Objects with Blends, and Objects containing Phonograms.  I have gone to all kinds of places to find my objects.  I have spent time at all the local thrift shops, at hobby and craft stores and I have found a couple of online places to order from.  Montessori Services and Montessori 'N' Such are my favorites.

The Following Items come from Montessori Services

• The Red Letter Alphabet Book - I truly love this book & it's blue number companion
• Writing Tray With Lid

The following is a list with links to Downloadable Materials I have created:
(if you are looking at this blog today, many of the links will not available yet.  I still need to upload them)

• Directions for making Wall Charts with Pattern
• Montessori Designs for Coloring
• Directions for making Large Moveable Alphabet with Pattern (this pattern is the same as Wall Charts)
• Movable Alphabet Pattern
• Pink Boxes Levels 1-6 (level 1 is objects and Movable Alphabet)
• Phonetic Baskets
• Blue Boxes Levels 1-6 (level 1 is objects and Movable Alphabet)
• Large Phonetic Word Cards
• Phonetic Command Cards
• Phonetic Reading Booklets
• Green Boxes Levels 1-3 (level 1 is objects and Printed or Movable Alphabet)
• Printed Alphabet - Black and Red letters
• 18 Baskets
• Phonogram Word Booklets
• Phonogram Word Lists
• Phonogram Word Cards and Pictures
• Phonogram Sentence Strips
• Phonogram Reading Stories
• Montessori Reading Books
• Puzzle Words
• Non-phonetic Command Cards

It bears noting that I do not use the Montessori Research and Development Language Arts Manual.  I have used for years and years the Language Exercise Manual from the Santa Monica Montessori Institute.  All manuals can be reconciled with each other when using the materials.  I will be happy to answer any questions about materials that I can.

This is a list of Other Exercises for Language I have made:

• Go-Go-Stop Writing
• Letter Wall Cards
• Letter Books
• Beginning Sound Matching Mats and Picture Cards
• Beginning Letter Sound 'Word Walls'

5 Senses Match & Sort

This is another favorite set from Lakeshore Learning.  Each mat has a picture of an item that corresponds with one of the 5 senses.  There is a object to match to the picture.

The 5 Seasons Match and Sort by Lakeshore Learning Store
clicking picture will take you to Lakeshore website

Seasons Match & Sort

Since I am showing all about seasons, I thought that this was appropriate.  I love this set of items from Lakeshore Learning.  Years ago, I used to get my miniature phonetic objects from them when they were still a very small company.  I have, and love to use, many of their items.

These little mats show an item that goes with a particular season, and the tub contains the same item.  A great little exercise for matching and sorting.

Seasons Match and Sort by Lakeshore Learning Store
clicking picture will take you to Lakeshore website