Showing posts with label Introductions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Introductions. Show all posts

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Adolescent Montessori Discussion Group

Erdkinder refers to the farm school for the adolescent Montessori child; and there is even more to it!





With so much growth at the elementary level, we have more and more families looking to do Montessori at the adolescent ages at home as well.

I am putting together a small online discussion group specifically for this age, with reading assignments on a suggested schedule, discussion topics and sharing of ideas and resources. Everything will be from a homeschool perspective, but classroom teachers are welcome and encouraged to join in as well.

If you are part of our Keys of the Universe discussion board, you are already in! I will begin the official group June 21 in the adolescent section and Keys of the Universe participants have full access as part of their regular participation.

If you are not part of the Keys of the Universe discussion board, join us here:

Keys of the Universe Individual Album Support - Adolescent Montessori Discussion Group Access

One-time payment; life-time participation

We will begin June 21 in earnest; but join now so you're ready to go when I post the first discussion topic.

The ideal participant:

  • you have a child age 10-16 right now, with or without elementary Montessori experience

  • you have an older child and would like to contribute from that perspective

  • you have Montessori adolescent experience

  • you have extensive other experience working with the adolescent group and you are familiar with Montessori principles; and want to apply those principles to the adolescent group




Anyone with any age child can be participate, but the earliest stages of this group will be better suited for someone in the field right now or very soon; or who has been there and can provide some insight, as we are going to share ideas, insights and develop resources as we go.







If you are looking for something totally put together with all the answers handed to you - we're not there yet! This initial group is for those who want to explore and share, together.


Goals - Main Topics:

  • establish foundation of understanding of the adolescent age

  • including their needs, tendencies; how to meet them

  • difference between societal expectations and reality of needs and tendencies

  • What if we provide all that Montessori suggested? What will happen?

  • Compare our own experiences and work through personal barriers.

  • Establish the universal principles of an adolescent Montessori homeschool

  • Lend support to filling in the specifics for each individual home

  • Establish collection of resources for use by homeschooling families for this age


Already part of Keys of the Universe: no cost

Join separate from Keys of the Universe: $15 - permanent access




Outline of the discussion group is coming soon, but a general overview of each week follows:

  • Reading assignment will be posted to the group

  • During your reading, note your reactions.

  • For the next day or so, observe around you and consider your past experiences - how do your experience match or contradict the reading?

  • Respond to the discussion board with whatever you are comfortable sharing.

  • Also respond with how you might respond to what you have explored in the reading and reflection.

  • Develop conversations on the adolescent age, such that we are working out the practical how-tos and what does it look like.




Reading assignments: some will be posted on the group; and some will come from the book Childhood to Adolescence; other reading sources will be listed as soon as possible. You will want to purchase this book if at all possible.
















Come join us!








See you there!











Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Catholic Handmade - a new site!

There is a new Catholic site starting soon - to buy and sell handmade items, artwork, etc. It is designed to be a truly safe place for Catholics to shop online for quality items, without any chance of "funny business" showing up. You can see more about it here:
Catholic Handmade Blog
Click here for the Facebook Page

The projected start date is September 1, but we could use your feedback as we finalize our plans for the start of Catholic Handmade :)

If you are a SELLER (that may or may not be a buyer as well), please consider taking the following two surveys:
Survey 1: Main Survey
Survey 2: Category Lists


If you are a BUYER only (most likely will not be a seller on our site), please take the following two surveys:
Survey 1: Main Survey
Survey 2: Category Lists

Please forward the above links to anyone you think might be interested.

3/28/11 - The surveys are now closed, but we welcome you to continue to visit our blog and our Facebook page - please consider "liking" and "following" us on each.

And if you are interested in signing up for the prestigious designation of "start-up shop", please submit your information to us via the blog.

Thank you all so much and have a truly blessed day!

~~~The Catholic Handmade Team~~~

Monday, July 12, 2010

Please excuse our clean-up procedures...

After a black-out a bit over a month ago, with much information lost on our blog, we are just now pulling the pieces back together. We'll be back with updated blog posts soon.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Gardening 2010 - the beginning - We're Planted!!!!!

At long last, and very much delayed, we are finally planted! We are SO excited!

Bins 3

First we had to get approval from our apartment complex to have a garden on the balcony.

.............

Then we had to make the gardening plans – ok, we faked this step ;) We rarely plan anything except on the fly.

.............

We did pick up this book which was promptly plowed through by the voracious new reader in the house – now the in-house expert on gardening of course:
Onions in My Boots – Catholic Heritage Curricula
Onions in My Boots - CHC
.............

We got our bins set up and ordered our seeds… We kept forgetting to get some rocks to use as drainage. Finally managed that one, 3 days *after* the seeds arrived and on our return trip from purchasing soil (purchasing soil??? Yep. When you live in an apartment complex; not many people appreciate you digging holes in their yards so you can have some free soil…. $1.50 for a 40 lb pound isn’t bad – and I didn’t have to dig it up myself – just carry it upstairs and out to our balcony!).

.............
StClareHeirloomSeeds

Our seeds came from St. Clare Seeds who specialize in non-GMO, non-hybrid, non-treated heirloom and open-pollinated vegetable garden seeds…. and worm poop!

.............

I’m NOT kidding. My son LOVES the worm poop. We use it in our compost bin now and it is just the coolest thing ever for him!

.............

Ok, ok, ok, so it’s actually called worm castings. But when you’re a 6 year old boy, what is cooler than worm poop in a bin of rotting food that will become soil and compost to make the food that you will be eating, some of which will be turned into…. well, I won’t go there. I’m not a 6 year old boy. ;)

.............

We wanted <a href="http://www.outdora.com/lawn---garden-composters.html">these compost bins from Outdora.com</a>, but money being what it is, we'll have to wait. So our makeshift compost bins are thriving (one is full and sealed up to finish up its business; just got the second started yesterday). Compost Bin

.............

And our other bins are full of rocks, soil and seeds.
Bins 1

Bins 2

Oh… did someone ask,
So, what did you plant in each of them?

Oops.

We’ll get back with you in about 2-3 months. ;)

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Garden of Francis






My website is finally up and running!

I have several items in progress, but the ones visible are all available right now. Next week, I'll have the clothing posted (modest long skirts and other *girls* clothing (boys clothes will come soon)) and a few Montessori materials; more added all the time ;)

From the main page:

We strive to provide the items that are so hard for our own family to find: modest clothing, educational materials, homemaking resources, Montessori materials - for a reasonable price.

Free shipping on orders over $200. All books ship free all the time.

We take special orders on homeschool and Montessori items as well - right now, items are added as they are used in our home or as other circumstances allow or dictate, but if a request is made, materials will be created :)

Come on over and take a look (and come back later to see what I've added) :)

Here it is! Garden of Francis

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Hello world!

Having wanted to do a family blog for a couple of years now, and spending the weekend home sick, what better time than the present?