Educational Resources : The Human Torso Model

This is another one of Budsy's human body model for the children to work on. This version is more easily seen in hospitals, clinics and schools. The pieces are hard plastic. Details on the human body are pretty clear for upper primary children to work on their Science revision on the organs of the body.

In Budsy's honest opinion, ALL schools should make 3D models available to teachers who are teaching Science in schools regardless of the levels they are teaching. This encourages children to apply Science concepts much better and of course, makes learning the subject waaaaayyyyy more interesting, instead of just getting them to watch slides and more slides, followed by notes and more notes and definitely not just the talking.

As a side project, primary school children can be tasked to present different parts using their own models made from different craft materials for example, clay, play dough, plasticine, foam and so much more as the sky is the limit. Interactive teaching also discourages children from falling asleep during class. 

Budsy is learning from painful experience(s), not to wait for the schools to implement interactive lessons for children. As long as parents can observe the sensitive periods to a particular subject of fascination, just work on it. Children learn so much better and grasp concepts faster when they are interested in what they are doing. It ignites that curiosity to dig deeper and learn more. That self-motivation alone is one of the strongest pull for a child's learning curve.

The Human Torso Model Kit can be purchased from this company that Budsy had the 

pleasure of patronizing on many occasions.  

From early childhood to primary level teaching aids and a wonderful range of learning tools from Math to Science, they have it! Play N Learn also offers a separate (pssst… cheaper) range of kits amongst other stuff during their school visits/sale. Children will normally get to bring home their cute little catalogue booklet to bring home to show their parents. Some of their kits can also be found at Popular Bookstores.

You may also peruse them and ehemm purchase online over at their official website.  

> http://www.play-n-learn.com/

Watcha waiting for? Get your wallets ready!

Educational Resources : SmartLab Toys

For parents who are keen on the Squishy Human Body that Budsy's kiddies are engaged with at the moment, here's what's in it!

The kit comes with a handy manual and a chart to help your children organize the body parts neatly.

 The manual includes concise information on what you need to know about the functions of the different organs of the body. It comes with kid-friendly illustrations that even chubs was attracted to and wanted 

to find out more about them.

If you aren't sure how to rebuild the model once the pieces have been dismantled, there's step-by-step reference pages to come 

to your rescue. ;)

You can get this kit via 2 avenues.

(1) SmartLab @ Amazon

(2) Official SmartLab Toys webbie

MONTESSORI PHONICS Do-It-Yourself Alphabet Object Boxes

Interested to set-up a language corner for your baby and not sure how? Budsy will share with you how to create your own cosy corner in the comfort of your own home.

(1) If it sounds too daunting to work on all 26 alphabet boxes at one go, just start out with one box.

If you're feeling more optimistic, go for a set of letters. You can choose to work on abcd boxes first. If you'd like to replicate your language corner and execute your lessons using the Montessori Language method, you can start digging up for objects beginning with the letter c first. If you can manage a couple more boxes, you can work on cfim boxes, so you can carry put the first set of lessons using the Montessori way.

Ransack your children's toy boxes for unused objects and dig up your store room (if you know there's treasure in there somewhere) for any old toys that you may have forgotten you ever had.

Start out by finding at least 3 objects for each letter you've decided to work on. Once you've managed to collate enough objects; (between 3 to 5 objects for one alphabet box is good), you can move on to the next step of making the matching word cards.

(2) Word cards can be typed out on your computer to be printed out. Lamination of cards is highly recommended to preserve their lifespan. If you don't own a printer or laminator, purchase thick cardboard-type paper for your word cards & just use a marker to write the names of your objects on them.

Imagine this...

If your child can sight-read 5 word cards for every letter box you have done up, it will mean that he or she would've accumulated the encyclopedic memory of 130 words by the time all 26 letter sounds of the alphabet.

(3) Make your own sandpaper letter cards. Some ideas and detailed steps shared at this link.

(4) Get a box that can fit all your objects and word cards.

(5) This is optional, but Budsy highly recommend this. I have had many successes with my students and my own children by trying to find time to fit this in daily.

Find books that tell simple stories to reinforce the letter sounds you are planning to introduce. For example, this Mixed-up Chameleon book by Eric Carle can be used to reinforce the sound /c/. ie. /c/ as in the first letter sound in the word chameleon.

Imagine this...

If you read a book for every letter of the alphabet you have taught your child, it will mean you have read 26 books to your child upon completion on single letter sounds.

If you start out (single letter sounds) with your baby at a younger age and babies, as we know it, will enjoy variety as much as he does repetition... and say you tell 4 different story books for the 4 different times you reinforce your lessons on every letter sound, it will mean that your child has had 104 books read to him/her.

Consistent reading session with our babies offers calm bonding time and the amount of vocabulary absorbed by the child is immense. A child's journey towards learning to read can be easily catapulted with regular reading sessions. Reading age-appropriate books that interests our young children has been known to accelerate their reading progress.

(6) If you have other relevant resources that you think might interest your child and reinforces the letter sounds at the same time, you can choose to make them accessible to your child on your shelf. (Note : Ensure items that are made accessible are safe for your child to use at all times)

It can be, letter books, letter puzzles, musical instruments, fun letter worksheets or crafts to make, (etc) or even say baking cupcakes (to reinforce letter c), go fishing or get a pet fish (to reinforce letter f), (etc)..

Just be sure to display what you have neatly. Montessori shelves should look orderly and uncluttered. Even if we have a lot of resources, we don't have to display them all at once. We can rotate them to keep the interest going. 

Colour code your shelves by using similar coloured trays and boxes to help with the order of materials in your Montessori nook. Too many colours may look cluttered and disorderly.

(7) Finally, put up your stash already! Display your language corner with pride and you're ready to work with your child in your nice new set-up.

Sequence of lessons using the Montessori Pink Scheme Kit

The Montessori Phonics Pink Scheme kit is a complete ready-to-teach kit for children who are ready to progress from single letter sounds to 3-letter phonetic words.

This is the lesson sequence using the Montessori Phonics Pink Scheme Kit :

(1) 5 pink object boxes

(2) 5 pink picture boxes

(3) 5 picture sheets and cards

(4) 5 word lists

(5) 10 reading cards (phrases)

(6) 10 attached reading cards (sentences)

(7) 10 detached reading cards (sentences)

(8) 5 word charts

The Pink Object Boxes are labelled Box 1 to Box 5 for a reason. Each box number on each box represents the middle vowel sound used in the object boxes. Each box consists of 6 objects of a certain middle vowel sound. 

For example :

Box 1 - Contains objects with middle vowel /a/ sound like in the objects rat, can, mat, etc

Box 2 - Contains objects with middle vowel /e/ sound, like in the objects peg, hen, jet, etc

Box 3 - Contains objects with middle vowel /i/ sound like in the objects pin, bib, pig, etc

Box 4 - Contains objects with middle vowel /o/ sound like in the objects pot, rod, mop, etc

Box 5 - Contains objects with middle vowel /u/ sound like in the objects bug, gun, tub, etc

In executing lessons, start from Box 1 onwards. Regardless for word building.. or working with object boxes with corresponding word cards or picture boxes.

Ideally, children should only be able to move on to the following box(es), AFTER  they can confidently read or blend the words for each box.

*Note* : Prior to using the Pink Object Boxes, I highly recommend that educators and parents work on word building! Very effective. Results may seem to unfold a tad slower, however, once this skill is imparted and honed, the acceleration for reading is rapid. 👍

See here for a video sharing on how to carry out a word building session. 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qdi8n30elcfahgd/IMG_6091.MOV

Object Boxes are the bigger ones. These object boxes are used first in the pink scheme for word building followed by…..

....... reading n matching corresponding word cards to the objects arranged on a table or work mat.

The lessons for Pink Object Boxes & Pink Picture Boxes, can be used with or without the LMA.

Likewise for pink picture boxes. Attempt from Picture Box 1 onwards, right up to Picture Box 5. The picture cards in the picture boxes can also be used as/for word building activities if you own a set of the Large Movable Alphabets (LMA). If not, you can blend the 3-letter sounds on each word card to match to the objects arranged on the mat.

Box 1 - Contains pictures with middle vowel /a/ sound like in the pictures; pan, tag, lad, etc

Box 2 - Contains pictures of things with middle vowel /e/ sound like in the pictures; keg, red, ten, etc

Box 3 - Contains pictures of things with middle vowel /i/ sound like in the pictures; wig, six, rib, etc

Box 4 - Contains pictures of things with middle vowel /o/ sound like in the pictures; dog, rod, mop, etc

Box 5 - Contains pictures of things with middle vowel /u/ sound like in the pictures; mug, bun, bud, etc

MONTESSORI PHONICS Do-It-Yourself Sandpaper Letter Cards *DIY Part 2

In this post, I share another type of material you can use to make your own sandpaper letter cards. Here's sharing how you can use foam boards to make the same Montessori sandpaper letter cards.

Foam boards, although soft and light, can offer a prolonged lifespan from usage if compared with vanguard papers. Remember, Montessori education is not rigid. As long as it serves the objectives nicely, any ideas are acceptable ideas. No hard and fast rule.

Included in this post, are the templates to the next two sets of letters covered in the single letter sounds.

These are coloured foam boards. The foam board set on the left, comes in five colours, two boards of each colour. I used the dark blue from this pack for the vowels. If it comes in single colour there'd be 10 boards in a pack. Retails less than S$4 at our local Popular bookstores.I used the single-all-pink pack for the consonants.

Here in this picture, I place both vanguard and foam boards together to show the difference in thickness of each material.

I observed that the colours on foam boards 

are brighter than vanguard papers. 

As you can see here, the foam board 

is a brighter shade of pink.

 You can stick your sandpaper letters using craft glue of any brand you prefer. 

I used Halo Bond. S$2.05 for a small bottle.

The letter q of this font (Century Gothic) does not come with the tail, so I drew 

in the tail to make my letter q.

In this set, the four letters are g, u, w and k. I used the n to make the letter u as the letter u of this font (Century Gothic) does not have the straight line on the left.

MONTESSORI PHONICS Do-It-Yourself Sandpaper Letter Cards *DIY Part 1*

If you find that the wooden sandpaper letter cards are a tad pricey, you can do up your own sandpaper letter cards for your home set. In this post, Budsy will share the how-to's to get you started.
Materials :

1. Vanguard Paper / Manila Card
> Pink for consonant cards
> Blue for vowel cards

2. Sandpaper (Bought mine from Daiso)
> 120 range for coarser feel to the touch
> 240 range for a less coars-y feel to the touch

If you aren't sure which range of coarse-ness you'd prefer to use for your cards, you can always get this small pack first to have a feel since most of the sandpaper packs in Daiso cannot be opened for touch test.

*Note* : I am not sure if this sandpaper pack is still available at Daiso however, you should be able to get sandpapers from any hardware stores near you. Coarse range between 80 to 120 should be okay.

When doing stuff for DIY, I prefer to do at the very least; two sets, because in case one gets torn, missing, spilled on by something, vandalized.. (the list goes on)..... then there is a spare for immediate use.

It contains rectangular strips of sandpaper of varying coarse range.
> 2 pcs of the 60 range
> 1 pc of the 100 range
> 2 pcs of the 150 range
> 1 pc of the 180 range
> 2 pcs of the 240 range

Once you've decided, then you can get the pack of the exact range in a bigger sized pack consisting of 5 pieces of sandpaper.

3. Sharp scissors / pen knife

4. White craft glue / UHU glue

5. Ruler

6. Alphabet Templates

*Note* : I am attaching the first two sets of the eight letter sounds that we first introduce to children in our Montessori classroom in this post. These are the closest alphabet impressions i could get. I used the hollow WordArt feature on my desktop using the Century Gothic font.

You may need to tailor it a bit to make the letter "f" tip slightly more curved down.... or the letter "p" a little longer.... (etc), you know what i mean… Just make the letter shape as how you would want your child to see it, trace it and write it, yuup! Don't have to die-die follow my templates, ya? 

7.Old newspapers or magazines as base for work space

(1) Cut square vanguard paper / manila cards measuring approximately (plus-minus) 6.4 inches or 15.4 centimetres.

(2) If you wanna prepare all 26 cards one shot, cut 21 pink squares (consonant cards) and cut 5 blue squares (vowel cards).

(3) Cut out alphabet templates and trace them out behind the sandpaper letters in reverse shape. It is easier to trace the letters on the smooth side of the sandpaper. 3. Cutting out the alphabet templates can help you save sandpaper material as you can trace them closely next to each other with the space you have.

(4) A sharp scissors is required to cut through the sandpaper to avoid those ugly torn marks at the corners. Sorry, I'm a bit perfectionist especially when it comes to cutting stuff.

(5) Cut out all the alphabet letters that have been traced on the back of the sandpaper and put them aside.

(6) Use good quality white / craft glue or UHU glue to paste at the back of the cut-out sandpaper alphabets and stick each of them in the centre of each coloured square card. Remember : pink for consonants and blue for vowels, okie?(7) Leave all the finished sandpaper letter cards to dry completely.

(8) Voila! And soon, it's ready for use.

I have many different variations of letter cards that you can easily DIY to share with you. Will save those for another time. In the meantime, Budsy hopes this provides a clear start for parents who are keen to start their children off with Montessori Phonics in the comfort of home.

One fact you MUST know!

DIY projects aren't for the faint hearted. It can be a laborious job. If you are a stay-home mom, do set small targets to complete certain parts of the projects you wanna do. You don't hafta complete it all at once. When Budsy first did it, she took two weeks to complete the first set. Budsy knows that it is no excuse - but household chores are never-ending! There's also cooking and stopping to care and spend time with the children as well. So, take it at your own comfortable pace. This way, you'd be assured of the best quality results at the end of all your hard work. *hugs*

Before i end off this post, here are the objectives of having a child work on the Montessori Sandpaper Letters.

1. Provides tactile experience for both left and right handed children.

2. Provides awareness to the different letter shapes.

3. Guides children with the proper way letters are written.

4. Early introduction to sounds in letters.

5. Combines muscular impressions & visual memory to each letter shape.

6. Material is self-correctional. ie. Tracing should be done only on the sandpaper part of the material. The control of error is when the child's fingers moves away from the sandpaper shape... touching the smooth material of the vanguard paper / manila card.

7. Lightness of touch for the preparation of future writing.

8. Preparation for reading.

Alternative to Montessori Sandpaper Letter Cards

This is the set of cards I used to teach chubs the alphabet. These wonderful board type cards are thick, has embossed letters for excellent tactile experience and has little lift-the-flap surprise on each card to engage a young child's attention and generate interest in learning the alphabets.

These wonderful cards by Georgie Birkett were bought quite some time back at Tom & Stephanie. Sadly, I don't see this there anymore.  Fishpond.sg once carried them as well, not sure about now.

Budsy bought both the Small Alphabets version to teach both chubs and dragon_boi the letters of the alphabets, used Montessori sandpaper letter cards to teach letter sounds and the numbers version of Georgie Birkett's Count With Me board-type cards to teach the boys their numbers.

If you're looking for alternatives to Montessori's sandpaper letters and numerals, you may consider this range from Georgie Birkett. 

http://www.amazon.com/Count-Trace---Flip-Smart-Kids/dp/1589258738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404292884&sr=1-1&keywords=Georgie+Birkett+count+with+me

Bed time reading with chubs

I have been working with chubs on the topics, Shapes & Colours. He is finally getting more of the colour names right.  We have this Melissa & Doug colour puzzle for him to work with while waiting for our Montessori Colour Boxes to arrive. Of course, if you guys already know me by now, that's not the only thing I have to work on colours, aye? 

Share with you guys this other great material I bought for chubs to work on his colour sorting practice. I was so pleased that I finally got my hands on the Counting Bears from Learning Resources that I have been eyeing for so long.. 

Just this one material can be used for so many other concepts, like patterning, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, counting in groups/sets, rote counting to 100 (since there are 102 pieces/counters in this set) and so much more!

I secured a good deal over a forum bulk purchase for about $34.20 inclusive of 6 corresponding coloured plates.

The bulk purchase promotion is now expired but if any of you are interested to purchase any of the gazillion fun items from Learning Resources, you can still get them from her... my new-found friend, who shares the same fetish as me when it comes to quality hands-on materials... Starry Mummy, if you have a facebook account. I had the most pleasant shopping experience with her. Highly recommended seller. *Two thumbs up!*

As for when chubs and I am working on shapes/shape recognition, we play fishing together. Yeah, we play fish-the-shapes-game when the lil brother is taking a nap. Why? Cos that lil one is at the phase where he puts everything in his mouth. Besides, dangling interactive games like fishing games help chubs work on keeping quiet while I breastfed his brother to sleep. He'd either nicely wait for me to come out of the room (after putting the baby in the cot) on the sofa, watching the telly or he would play with his trains first. There were some days where I was lacking sleep and breastfeeding the babe was like cuddling a nice warm cuddly pillow... and *gasp*... this bad mommy fell asleep! However, I was pleasantly happy that instead of crying or screaming for me, chubs daintily walked into the room and softly nudged me whispering, "Mommy mommy.. wake up. Don't *sweep..(He meant *sleep*) lol!

Here's our fishing game. 

Got this from Learning Thru Play from IMM, Jurong East during DD1's time. Yes, I keep my materials in pristine condition so they last real good till today.

Two weeks ago, he took a purple triangle (from this shape matching set above) and put it on his daddy's back and he said, "Wook, mommy.. Daddy has perwple pwickles all over his back!" His daddy didn't know what he was talking about unfortunately...  ...but I thought it was clever of him to apply what he read from his Gruffalo story book..

This week, on one of our evening reading time, chubs suddenly quipped... "I will read to you, mommy." He told me to take his current favourite : The Gruffalo and tried to read the pages like he knew how to really read.  

Hear out the *perwple pwickles bit! 

*purple prickles*

This video was taken the following morning with him in proper attire. The night before when he read to me, he was in his *jumamas. He meant *pyjamas, of course.