TrDL (Montessori writing work)

TrDL is my favorite example of developmental spelling from this list by J, but LAdEEBug is terrific too. 

Problem Solver: Dedicated Read-Aloud Tray

Thank goodness I had this tray in the garage. I have an ongoing problem where I completely lose our current big read-aloud. (If you see our copy of The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet, please let me know. ) 

We read all over the house and at all times of day, so the current book would often vanish into couch cushions or be mindlessly placed out of the way in some later unfindable place. 

But since I've cleared off the boys' bureau and added this dedicated tray, our read-aloud go smoothly, because the circulating "active" books have an inbox/outbox. As the old saying goes, "A place for everything and everything in its place."

What goes here: The "active reading" holds longer multipart novels and story collections that we are currently dipping into on a regular basis. 

What doesn't go here: To keep things simple and neat, this space is not for picture books, which come on and off shelves with regularity, but won't necessarily be consulted tomorrow. 

Materials: Tray or basket should ideally be out of reach of any "borrowers" in your house, namely disorganized children or other mammals (ferrets, dogs) with hoarding tendencies. 

What's in your family's reading basket right now?

Montessori Kid at Work

Montessori hundred board work

Last year, we got a Montessori hundred board for home--I think on the recommendation of HomeschoolDad--and we are still using it with great pleasure. This particular instance was totally instigated by J, and he did the entire thing himself, which takes quite a bit of concentration. Well, not the whole thing--we've lost tile 59 (aaagh!)--but 99 percent, and it's so fun to see him growing with it.

If you're looking for a math-y "toy" for your home, and you don't mind the inevitable 100 tiny tiles scattered all over your kitchen table, this is a terrific object to have on hand.

The Elephant's Child - Kipling - Feodor Rojankovsky

For more Rojankovsky illustrations of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories, see also: How the Leopard Got His Spots, How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin