UMA Audiocast-Earth Day!

No use in reinventing the wheel when it comes to information on Earth Day and environmental issues that affect all of us. In this audiocast I list just a few but what I think are valuable sites:

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Cultural Experience- The Norooz Table

The Norooz Table - A Cultural Experience

This Spring, UMA went for a visit to Harborpointe Montessori School in Mukilteo, WA and found a beautiful table display called “The Norooz Table.” Norooz in Persian means New Year Day. It is the traditional beginning of the new year in Iran and goes back 15,000 years. It begins at the beginning of spring on vernal equinox, March 21.

Generally, wheat, barley, lentils, and other vegetables seeds are soaked to grow on china plates and round earthenware vessels some ten days in advance, so that the sprouts are three to four inches in height by Norooz. A table is laid. Displayed here are typical items, such as candle, incense burner, bowl of water with live gold fish, the plate with green sprouts, fruit (apple), coins, fresh garlic, and painted boiled egg. Articles are prominently exhibited in small bowls or plates on the table. The whole table, beautifully laid, symbolizes the Message and the Messenger, light, reflection, warmth, life, love, joy, production, prosperity, and nature. It is considered thanksgiving table for all the good beautifully bestowed by God.

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Practical Life: Putting away Dishes

At least once a week, we are posting old blog entries and they are great! What a treasure trove of goodness!

Here is one sent almost 4 years ago to us by Jenny Bright – Hollywood, CA
"Put Away the Dishes"

1. Dish Cabinet

2. 3 Tea Cups

3. 1 Teapot with Lid

4. 1 Vase with 5 Spoons Inside 5. 5 Plates

Thanks Jenny!

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Parents: Article on Strollers, "Looking Back to Look Forward"

So much controversy over the ergonomics we utilize for children.

Check out this article in the ThrivebyFiveWA.org blog:

http://www.thrivebyfivewa.org/GlobalPages/ThriveBlog/BlogRoot.aspx?post=Strollers&blog=ThriveBlog

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification

News to Use: "Chemicals in Baby Products"

Our naturopathic doctor, Dr. Tamara Cullen, was recently featured in this local newscast, alerting parents to the potential risks of harmful chemicals in baby products. To view, click on the link below:

http://www.king5.com/video/topvideo-index.html?nvid=214460&shu=1

If you have other links related to this topic, please share with us through posting a "Comment" below.

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Sensorial Exercise, Material Composition Board

It is great posting materials demonstrations from past blogs UMA has hosted. Here is one from Tracy Charlesworth-John of Port Orford, OR.

She writes:

"The idea for the "Materials Composition Blocks" was inspired by my daughter and her friend.

We were all sitting around the table, drinking and eating. My daughter's friend says, "I know what that is," (pointing to a glass), "That's glass.”
And my daughter replied, "That's plastic," (pointing to another cup). And her friend continued, "That's ceramic.”

So I held up a lid to a mason jar, and my daughter replies, "metal.” And we continued with the different materials that we see in our everyday settings. They were both really proud of their ability to identify and feel the varying textures and weights and seemed excited to express their knowledge!

The sensorial exercise is in the style of the "rough and smooth" boards and the "material match". There are 6 pairs of wooden blocks- each pair mounted with one of the following compositions: Metal, plastic, wood, cork, rubber, glass or ceramic. (Blocks are sorted into baskets, one of each pair (6 total) per basket."

Thanks again Tracy!

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The Eco-kitchen, (courtesy of PCC Natural Markets)

Here is a great article to share with parents and staff! And it may even be something you could work into lesson.
Go to: http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com-Eco-kitchen

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Going back in time!

Emilia Gomez of San Salvador, El Salvador is a student at UMA. As part of the UMA training, she has been recalling some of her own early childhood experiences. Emilia sends a precious photo of her and her sister when they were little in San Salvador. Thanks, Emilia, for giving us permission to do so. What a treat, as your evaluator, to go back in time with you, visually!

Trudy Shepard

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Creative Art idea, submitted by Ann Mannie of Greenville, NC.

The following is a conversation Trudy and Ann had about the use of balloons:

Ann: My question to you is a safety issue. The project uses partially inflated balloons as a tool for painting. The children loved the bright colors and the squishy, bouncy feeling of the balloons and enjoyed mixing primary colors. I used helium balloons and only partially inflated the balloons so that they were less easy to pop, but I started to get concerned about balloons as a choking hazard with young children (and that they can be inhaled and not easily dislodged) so I have taken up the project for now. What are your thoughts about balloons in the classroom with young children?

Trudy: I am aware of the standard warnings on latex balloons for children under 8 years old. I am very big on safety, however, I believe this balloon Art exercise poses no threat to children. First, no primary-aged child is going to be tempted swallow a balloon with paint on it. Second, the Montessori classroom is all about observation. An adult is always aware of who is working with the balloons and observing. Any child working on this particular Art exercise will have had a proper demonstration, which could include a “safety warning.” Naturally, you would not put this activity out until the class was normalized. If we carried each “safety issue” to the extreme, then certainly we would have to remove all knives, sewing needles, magnets, marbles, small beads, glassware, etc. from the Montessori classroom. In this case, the three balloons sitting in paint are just fine!

Ann: Thanks for your reassurance about the balloons in the classroom. My daughters agreed with you, saying that if we have knives and pin punching tools in the classroom, we should be able to handle balloons also! That said, I feel comfortable with the balloons and will use that as my art activity. 

So, readers...what do you think? We welcome your comments!

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Seven Essential Traits of Leaders (cont.)

Leaders must be a member of the group and share in the group's basic values and goals. This does not imply that to lead one must fraternize or be informally friendly with the group. Acting as if no differences in responsibility and status exist between you and the group may decrease your effectiveness as a leader.

 This can be a fine line to walk. You must be member of the group in the sense that you identify with your employees and they identify with you. If you move too far from the group, you will lose your leadership. To be a leader, you must be identified by your employees as a group member. At the same time, you must not become "one of the guys or girls" to the extent that you submerge your position and status. This means that you should be sociable, friendly, and helpful, but not necessarily an intimate friend of each or any of the members of the group.

This has a great deal to do with boundaries which is worth exploring. Make a mental assessment of the boundaries you have within your group or school staff. Perhaps even with parents of students.

A blog of the United Montessori Association- Montessori Distance Learning - Montessori Teacher Certification