In the Waldorf tradition, children and adults create nature tables, flat surfaces where you collect elements of nature that represent the season, or specials items that reflect your feelings and mood.
I am still searching for a better table, ours is rather small (old end table) for our needs. I ordered the following items:
Wooden Stacking Fire Element
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Wooden Stacking Water Element
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Cave Stacking Toy
Other items that are on our table, small pictyre depicting the season, animals of the season and small silk playsilk.
To find some of these items try: Willow Tree Toys, Three Sisters Toys, Etsy.
Posted on January 23rd, 2009 by karen
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Is Spring around the corner? Maybe, this will help- Bits of Yarn Birds Nest
I am new to knitting, so I often have odds and ends of yarn lying around.
Materials Needed-
Bits and pieces of yarn
Small balloon
Elmers glue
Water
Container to place balloon on while you work
Instructions-
Mix elmers glue in a bowl with a bit of water. Soak the pieces of yarn in the mixture.
Blow up a small balloon (water balloon would work well)
Place balloon on container with the knotted end in the opening.
Slowly add layers of yarn onto the balloon, working in a circular fashion.
Allow to dry
Pop balloon
Posted on January 22nd, 2009 by karen
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As a Mom do you feel you have a voice? Do you feel your voice is heard? Do you want to yell? Do you whisper? Are you a changemaker?
Please visit this site and watch the video! Now is not the time to be silent!
Posted on January 21st, 2009 by karen
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How my heart warms saying those words outloud- President Barack Obama.
The girls and I watched the inauguration live and listened to his speech and I wept. I continue to write President Obama, encouraging him and his team, making comments and suggestions and voicing concerns as I use my voice as a tool for change.
“Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.”- Barack Obama
Posted on January 20th, 2009 by karen
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Local, handmade, WAHM goods are under attack. The CPSC, CPSIA has created laws that are suppossed to protect our children from harmful substances found in toys and some clothing. In theory this is a good idea, no? The answer is Yes, it is a bad thing.
Most, if not all, handmade and WAHM products are all ready safe. Remember how I have blogged about Etsy, well many Etsy stores would go under becuase they can’t afford to have their products tested. The issue here is not only the unfair cost of the testing, but the unfair and unjust laws that are a kneejerk reaction to Big Business doing unsafe things. Remember my rant about Fisher Price/Mattel?Â
( know I haven’t given details as to what is really going on (Erin is getting into things so keeping this short) I will add more after Erin goes to bed, but below is what some people/companies are doing.
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What you can do:
- Go to handmadetoyalliance.org to read up on the law and many current news articles and press coverage about the law as well as signing the HTA petition. If you are a toy maker/seller, please join the HTA.
- Go to change.org to vote for this issue to be one of the top 10 issues the Obama administration will look into. It will just take a couple minutes, you’ll need to register with your name and email address, then click on the email from them to confirm your registration, then go back to the website to place your vote. A couple steps but it is worth it and every vote is vital. This issue is currently #4 on the list.
- Follow the links and print out the forms at the Handmade Toy Alliance’s website to write, email and call your congresspeople. This is important and is having an affect. All but 1 member of Congress voted for this law but most hadn’t read and didn’t understand it when they voted for it!
Posted on January 19th, 2009 by karen
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This article appeared as an Exchange Everyday email. Please be aware that I am merely sharing this article. Enjoy!
ExchangeEveryDay
Two-Armed Hugs
June 5, 2008
The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don’t know what to do.
John W. Holt, Jr.
In their Exchange article, “Supportive Social Learning,” which serves as the basis for the latest Exchange Out of the Box Training Kit, Ellen Hall and Jennifer Kofkin Rudkin talked about their belief in creating compassionate communities rather than compliant individuals as part of the practice of Supportive Social Learning (SSL). Here is an excerpt discussing one aspect of SSL:
“SSL requires empathy and perspective taking. Teachers ask themselves, ‘How would I want to be treated if I were that person?’ and consider the viewpoints of all the children.
“When one child acts out against another, it can be tempting to assign blame and interact wi th the children, not as unique individuals but in their roles as victims or perpetrators. This often entails a focus on the feelings of the victim. The feelings of the perpetrator may not be similarly honored. In SSL, teachers recognize that the child who acts out is hurting as well. The Boulder Journey School teachers talk of the ‘two-armed hug’, a hug that embraces victims and perpetrators alike.
“Too often, efforts to hold a misbehaving child accountable for his or her actions alienate that child from the social group. ‘You go stand in the corner,’ or ‘You stay in the classroom during recess.’ In more extreme cases, children may be suspended or even expelled. These practices may exacerbate problems. For example, conflicts often occur when a child attempts to enter a social group. If a teacher intervenes by removing either the child seeking to enter the group or a child who rejects these advances, this does not help and likely hinders the children’s ability to neg otiate such situations more effectively in the future.”
Posted on January 14th, 2009 by karen
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Company Name- Montessori Services
They also own For Small Hands
Web address :http://www.montessoriservices.com/store/
Snail Mail Address: 11 West 9th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
1-800-214-8959
If you are looking for Montessori curriculum products this is a good source. As a teacher who follows many Montessori philosophies, I find their product descriptions, price and quality excellent. If you sign up for their news letter it is very beneficial, with many great ideas and support for your teaching principals.
As a Mom I wanted to encourage my children to do as much for themselves as possible, or “don’t do for a child what they can do for themselves”, which mean’t I needed to find quality products that were child sized so that I could help foster their life skills. I ordered a childs mop, broom, and pitcher for my first purchase. Each item has been first rate quality.
I recommend this company during trainings and meetings.
http://www.montessoriservices.com/store/?utm_source=admail&utm_medium=email&utm_content=mslogo&utm_campaign=090113_astronomy_1ind
Posted on January 13th, 2009 by karen
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Well, for my blog at least. After reading many, many blogs I have decided to add content that falls under the “day a week” theme. So, beginning today, you will find the following additions to my blog:
Monday-Free for All
Tuesday- Product or Company review, notes and generally comments
Wednesday- Articles
Thursday- Art Ideas
Friday- Scents, Feelings, Connecting with the Elements
Posted on January 13th, 2009 by karen
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I created a blog that is devoted to homeschooling- bloggingdowntheroad, it is dedicated to what the girls are learning and articles, stories and websites that relate to learning.
Posted on January 11th, 2009 by karen
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Isabella is fond of the Magic Tree House series and has asked for an Annie and Jack party, so using the book Dragon of the Red Dawn, will hold a theme party.
Food
1. Sweet Sushi
2. Tea
3.
Games
Poetry Games (magnetic words?)
Decorations
Lanterns
Posted on January 6th, 2009 by karen
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