Math Workshop follow up/Preparing for Final Workshop

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Nanci Olesen

Ah my friends, the days slip by.  We are enjoying spring at Mayflower Early Childhood Center!  We have only two weeks left of our program for this school year.  As a teacher, I am feeling sentimental–our little communities are thriving and I will miss the children dearly!

The math workshop two weeks ago was a great successs. Leah Vestermark spoke to a group of about 15 parents in Children’s House 4, and walked us through the process a child goes through as s/he works with the Montessori math materials.  I offered to send my essay about math in Montessori to any parents who are interested. One parent took me up on it– would you like to read it?  Just send me an email (nanci@mayflowerchildren.org).  Montessori’s approach to math is quite different from traditional education.  The first thing a child is exposed to is quantity.  The child learns to hold and manipulate 1, 2, 3, and to count it long before s/he sees the numbers that correlate with the quantity.  

The Introduction to  the Golden Bead material is the key to math work in Montessori, providing a solid example of large quantities and how they are formed.   Leah Vestermark walked us through the introduction, as well as some of the exercises.

Parents had the opportunity to see the materials in action.  It was a wonderful overview of the Montessori math materials.  Would you like the handout from this presenation or more resources?  Contact me, nanci@mayflowerchildren.org !

Meanwhile I am preparing for the final  parent workshop of the year, which happens tomorrow morning.  Kris Berggren will lead us in a discussion about family vacations:  “Planning Successful Outings and Vacations with Small Children.”  Kris will look at this topic from the point of view of our expectations of vacations, and help us think through our family’s philosophy toward ”vacating.”  Join us!  There’s room for you to just walk in and sit down with us… 

  • What: ”Planning Successful Family Outings and Vacations with Small Children”
  • When: Friday, May 11, 8:30-10:00 AM
  • Childcare:  YES! in Children’s House 4
  • Where: the Fireside Room, Mayflower Early Chilcare Center
  • Cost:  $5 suggested donation

JOIN US!

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Math workshop for parents– come see what it’s all about!

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Nanci Olesen

This Friday, we are hosting another parent workshop:  “Introduction to Montessori Materials: Math.”   

  • What: Workshop with Montessori Math Materials
  • Where:  Children’s House 4
  • When:  Friday, April 27, 2012 8:30 AM-10:00 AM
  • Childcare available? YES!
  • Suggested Donation: $5
  • RSVP: send an email to nanci@mayflowerchildren.org or stop into the Parent Resource Center to sign up on the clipboard there.

This is our second to last workshop (our finale is “Planning Successful Family Outings and Vacations with Young Children” on Friday, May 11)!  This is a hands-on presentation, with plenty of time for you to ask questions.  Come have the Montessori materials reveal their magic to you!  Find out how your child learns math!

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The Whole Brain Child

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Nanci Olesen

We have 5 weeks left of the school year at Mayflower Early Childhood Center, and the Parent Resource Center is teeming with books for you to borrow, as always.  Just today I received a new book that I ordered for our lending library:  The Whole Brain Child:  12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. I’ve been talking about brain development on this blog recently, and I’ve been pointing you in the direction of articles and resources about technology and its impact on your child’s developing mind.  This book will be a perfect complement to these discussions.  One chapter I found as I perused the book:   THE POWER OF FOCUSED ATTENTION.  Scientific evidence is showing that focused attention reshapes the brain.  

Meanwhile in the New York Times yesterday, there was an opinon piece by Sherry Turkle, who wrote Alone Together (which I highlighted a couple of blog posts ago).  Her piece, ”The Flight From Conversation” is important to read! 

To borrow something from the lending library at the Parent Resource Center, you simply walk in, choose your book, and sign it out on the form provided on a book shelf. Simple!  5 more weeks to access this library— although I will be here all summer and the PRC will be open to you too– and if you’re sending your child to our summer program, you can come in for your coffee and book reading anytime!  I always look forward to seeing you, but I also know how to just leave you alone and let you look at the books and articles in the PRC!

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Join us for a GREAT GATHERING YOGA CLASS!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Nanci Olesen

Parent Jill Patton (mom of Frances in Children’s House 2) will teach SLOW FLOW YOGA this Saturday at 10 AM at Mayflower Early Childhood Center.  For just $10 you get a one and a half hour yoga class taught by a professional!  Bring your own mat.  Meet other parents.  Enjoy a GREAT GATHERING– a Mayflower specialty.  Here’s a way to raise funds for Mayflower and have a wonderful time at the same time.    Sign up in the Parent Resource Center, or email nanci@mayflowerchildren.org.

The Great Gathering notebook is in the Parent Resource Center. There you can find all of the Great Gatherings that are currently being offered!  There are so many wonderful opportunities for families, children, and adults!

“WHAT IS A GREAT GATHERING?”

A Great Gathering is an event, hosted by a member of the Mayflower Community, with all proceeds going directly to Mayflower Early Childhood Center.  It can be a yoga class, a playdate for families at a park, a class in Indian cooking, a gingerbread house building party for children…. there are so many activities to think up!  Check the Great Gathering calendar outside of the Parent Resource Center for the current offerings and then sign up for whichever one you’d like! And while you’re at it, think of a Great Gathering YOU’D like to offer!  There are forms on that wall for you to write up your own description to be included in our Great Gathering calendar and notebook!

Meanwhile, come on over to Mayflower this Saturday for a yoga class!

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Dr. Gary Johnson— from C.A.L.M.

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Nanci Olesen

Seven parents and teachers from Mayflower Early Childhood Center attended a workshop on Saturday, April 14  led by Dr. Gary Johnson from CALM: the Clinic for Attention, Learning and Memory within the Loring Park Family Clinic.  Dr. Johnson discussed the effects of technology on the development of children’s brains.  He described the difference between current adults and children in terms of technology.  Adults are “immigrants” to the digital world.  Children are “natives.”  Our children are growing up with technology that many of us weren’t introduced to until 15-20 years ago. Because of the rate of change in technology (think about how recently ‘smart phones’ have become the norm), children adapt much more quickly to new technology. 

What is being noticed in current research is that children’s ability to understand subtle cues from adults and from their peers is weaker than it was in the past, because there is less face-to-face time with adults.  Dr. Johnson said that because parents are multi-tasking with a digital instrument while caring for their children (checking email on smart phones, talking on cell phones, looking at laptops, iPads or e-readers) children are not seeing their parents’ faces full on in the way that they used to.

Subtle non-verbal cues are therefore not being picked up, or given in the way that they were just ten years ago.  Evolutionary change that used to take 1,000 years is now happening in one or two generations. 

Because 70% of homes in the United States are currently wired for internet, and because internet use continues to grow each year, this is not a situation that will go away.

Johnson showed photos and links to the video game “World of Warcraft”, using this as an example of an addictive video game. He described the lifestyles of children and adults who become heavily addicted to video gaming and described the dangers involved, including lack of nutrition and sleep.  Johnson asks his own teenage children to put their cell phones and other electronic devices away before going to bed.  The sleep patterns of children and adults are becoming interrupted by text messaging and emailing/Facebook use in the middle of the night.  Many parents of young children know that being interrupted in the sleep cycle results in fatigue, as we never fully return to the deepest cycle of sleep after being awakened in the night.   Johnson referred to a New York Times article:  “Who’s the Boss? You or Your Gadget?”  and recommends this article for further research.

A discussion following Johnson’s presentation included parents’ perspectives on the importance of play, of turning off electronic devices, and of helping children use technology appropriately.  Big work, but we gotta do it!!  Our visit at St. Croix Montessori was inspiring.  They have a backyard area with access to their farm animals:  chickens, donkeys and alpacas!

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The “price” of technology– both “good” and “bad….”

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Nanci Olesen

I am reading all kinds of interesting articles about brain development and technology… particularly searching for articles that speak about children’s brain development.  I came across this article:  “Attached to Technology and Paying a Price,” by Matt Richtel.  It is two years old, and so I would assume that our habits as a society have continued to change, as we take in more and more from what is often referred to as our “gadgets” every day.   I recommend this article.  Conversations within your family are crucial about this topic I  believe, because we need to be responsible for how our activities on our gadgets are affecting our children and what effect the gadgets themselves have on our children’s brain development. 

Montessori is essentially a form of education that is devoted to concentration.  The main thing we are giving your children is the opportunity to focus on one material at a time.  Each material has several components to it, and there are a set of steps involved in working with the material.   I often give the example of pouring grain when giving a tour of our school.  This is an activity that shows the concentration that is expected and protected for a child in the prepared environment.  Take a look at how your child concentrates in any given moment at home, and see how you might be able to help protect that concentration.   It is essential for your child’s brain development!

As well, our own concentration and the focus we give to each other and to our family time together, is a part of the example we are setting.  As is pointed out in the article, “The Mixed News on Technology’s Effects on the Brain,” there are many ways that the use of technology (video games, for example) can make us smarter.  The study of all of this is still in its infancy.  But read up and find out what works for you!  What do you agree with?  What surprises you about current research? One thing I am constantly trying to help my own children understand is that multi-tasking has been proven time and again to be counterproductive.  We truly move more slowly through the world and break down our concentration by multi tasking.  Talking to my teenagers about this is an everyday ritual in our house.   Facebook, email, and internet surfing are the norm as a student does his or her homework. Perhaps by the time your children reach this stage there will be more research or more effective ways to help us untrain our wandering eyes/brains. 

I do try to use my Montessori techniques in all aspects of my life.  Take time to come observe in the classroom to see what we are talking about.

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The Impact of Technology on Child Development: “parenting while plugged in”

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Nanci Olesen

good times with dads and daughters

This is the first of several blogs relating to the topic of the impact of technology on child development.

The workshop on this topic for Wednesday, March 28 was cancelled.    Dr. Gary Johnson, a nationally recognized expert on brain development, will discuss this topic on Saturday, April 14 at St. Croix Montessori School in Stillwater. I will be attending this workshop and would be happy to carpool with anyone who would like to go. Contact me at nanci@mayflowerchildren.org if you’d like to ride together.

According to the flyer from St. Croix Montessori, Dr. Johnson will speak about the  expanding body of research on the effects of technology on attention.  These findings suggest that early and excessive stimulation may not only affect brain functioning, but stimulation may actually change physiological development of the brain. 

I have been researching this topic and have found many articles about brain development in our technological world.  This first entry will deal with information I found that relates to parenting while “plugged in,” a topic that was investigated by the New York Times in 2010. 

In her book Alone Together, Sherry Turkle talks about the feelings of hurt, jealousy and competition that young children feel when they are constantly playing second fiddle to their parents’ use of technology.  A distracted parent, checking for messages on a hand-held device, talking on the phone in the car while children are riding along, and huddled on the couch with a laptop, may be inadvertently sending a message to her child that the child is not as important as the information coming in and going out in the present moment from the virtual device. 

There are many emotions about this from a parental point of view also.  Feelings of guilt, responsibility and urgency all co-mingle, creating a stress pool for an already stressful job: parenting.  A parent feels guilt that she should be available to her co-workers and her boss 24/7.  She also feels responsibility to respond to her friends, family,  and partner virtually at all times. 

Meanwhile, what is happening in the developing brain, or in your brain, for that matter?  Scientists say that presenting a language-rich environment for children is one of the best things we can do as parents, especially in their early years.  Talking, even to an infant, about what we are doing and seeing, is formative for a child’s developing brain as they work to process language and experience.  The transfer of affection in the use of loving words has so much to do with how your child develops as a person in the world.  

These are indeed the years that children need us the most– they need our attention and our true presence.  In terms of brain development of a young child, we can contribute to their well being and their focus by turning off our devices to share as many moments as possible with them.  We are also of course role playing for our children, from dawn to dusk. 

So they will copy what we do and how we interact with others.

Here are some references that I used for this blog entry:

Alone Together: Why we expect more from technology and less from eachother, by Sherry Turkle

“The Risks of Parenting While Plugged In,” by Julie Scelfo, New York Times, June 2010

“Modern technology is Changing the Way our Brains Work,” by Susan Greenfield, Daily Mail (UK)

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Tonight: “How Sweet It Is!”

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Nanci Olesen

Tonight, Saturday, March 24, at 7 PM, Mayflower Early Childhood Center presents “How Sweet It Is: Celebrating Mayflower ECC.”

Our first annual fundraiser, the doors open at 7 PM in the dining room of Mayflower Church, 106 E. Diamond Lake Road, Minneapolis, MN 55419.

Tickets at the door are $10.  We will be serving Starbucks coffee (decaf and regular) with whipping cream, vanilla, and cinnamon.  We’ll also have homemade Chai!

Our desserts (cakes, bars and brownies) are brought to us by YUM and Breadsmith. The evening includes a raffle (for a “wall of wine,” a “wall of beer,”  tickets to several Twin Cities theatre events, and a weekend at a cabin in northern Wisconsin), a small silent auction of more performance tickets, and a wonderful slide show about Mayflower.

Music will be provided live by a couple of our parents, AND a staff “band!”

The evening concludes at 9 PM.

We would love to see you there!  We look forward to enjoying our parent community and celebrating an amazing year at Mayflower Early Childhood Center!

 

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What a Great Workshop: Food Preparation!

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Nanci Olesen

On Saturday, March 10, the Parent Resource Center hosted Beth Dooley for a morning workshop about how to prepare food with our preschool children.  15 parents were in attendance, and we had a great time!

Beth Dooley

I began by reminding parents about how we work with food in our Children’s Houses.  I showed the “carrot work” from my classroom, Children’s House 4.  Any “food work” that happens in a Children’s House classroom is done entirely by the child, from start to finish.  So, how do you incorporate these skills at home?

Look for tools that you already have that your child can use:  a small butter knife, little spoons, smaller bowls.   Check out the  Montessori Services catalogue for items you could purchase, and be on the lookout for kitchen tools for small hands when you are shopping  (I’ve found many items at Target, and many at thrift stores.  These don’t have to be expensive purchases).

As we got going, Beth divided our group into four, so that we could each prepare something from the menu she had designed for us:  Carrot and Parsley Salad, Roasted Potatoes, Garlic and Lemon Mayonnaise, and Yogurt Whip.  Jeff Siegel and Mike Haight prepared the mayonnaise (“Aioli” in French…)

adding oil to the egg yolk to make mayonnaise

As we worked our way through the recipes, Beth was available to help each group and to offer comments and suggestions.  It was a casual, fun morning, with lots of give and take between parents and with Beth and me.  Plus we had caramel rolls and coffee, and at the end we each tasted everything we had made!

The main points that Beth wanted to remind/teach us: 
  • Our children are very capable in the kitchen, and are very interested in what we do.
  • With a little planning, children can be involved in meal preparation everyday! 
  • Eating fresh food is best for your health. Eat organically when possible. 
  • Foods in season taste better and they are always a better use of the earth’s resources.
  • A slow cooker (crockpot) can be just the ticket for coming home to a meal already prepared.
  • Plan your week– make a menu on Saturday, shop on Sunday, and know what you’re cooking/eating each night.  Leftovers can be used in many ways!  Get your children involved in this! They will learn to love it.
  • Snack with your children before you start cooking– a square of cheese, celery and carrot sticks, apple slices….just to take the edge off.
  • Remember how much your children can focus if you set them at a “station” and they have a task (like taking the parsley leaves off of a bunch of parsley).
  • Expect your children to help with setting the table and cleaning up– make things accessible for them to reach in the kitchen!

Finally, I’d like to add the many resources we shared on that day.   In the Parent Resource Center I’ve got the handouts from our workshop. Stop by and pick one up.  Beth also gave the school a copy of her new cookbook, The Northern Heartland Kitchen.  You can borrow it from the lending library! 

Books we displayed and talked about:
Fanny at Chez Panisse, by Alice Waters and Bob Carrau, 1992, Harper Collins

Pretend Soup, by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson, 1994, Tricycle Press

Winnie-the-Pooh’s Teatime Cookbook, inspired by A.A. Milne, 1993, Dutton Children’s Press

American Heart Association Kid’s Cookbook, AHA and Mary Winston, 1994, Times Books

  • Note: Some people love cookbooks, some just use websites. If you are using cookbooks, I suggest writing in the margins and all over the recipes. Record when you made something and what the circumstances were in your family at that time, or a short sentence –”gorgeous day!  Nora is 4 today and this was the soup we had!”  It will be valuable to you later on, believe me!

    • 

Websites:

bethdooley.net – subscribe for weekly ideas!

cookingwithkids.net– for a healthy future– informative, recipes, updates… consider subscribing…

whatscookingwithkids.com– includes subscription information, menus, everything you could dream of. 

As always, this could be an ongoing discussion.  Are there cookbooks you love to work with, or websites you refer to often?  Post a comment, or email me at nanci@mayflowerchildren.org

We also had a great discussion about Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA’s.  From the Local Harvest website:

Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

Here are the CSA resources:

Land Stewardship Project: find a list here of many CSA’s in the Twin Cities region and lots of great information about organic food, farmers markets, and community gardens.

Lake Country School’s Garden Stewardship Project: a CSA, with benefits! (from a Montessori school, too!)

Big River Farms: a CSA with a drop off site at Mayflower!  You can sign up directly online, or email Andrew Schmidt at aschmidt@summite.com.  If you are sending your child to summer camp at Mayflower, you can pick up your vegies here too! 

There’s so much more to share.  Do you have a favorite farmer’s market you use in this area?  Post a comment or email me at nanci@mayflowerchildren.org

Kate Gregoire, parent of Stella and Maggie, suggested these farms as great places to visit:

Natura Farms : a great variety of fruits and veggies. We have picked grapes, raspberries and tomatoes.

Sweetland Orchard: awesome pick-your-own orchard

Cedar Summit Dairy: they do monthly tours May-October and they have a little shop where you can buy local products…also, very close to Sweetland.

Sam Kedem Nursery   :  Kate says: “We pick strawberries here and they are awesome!”

Enjoy your time in the garden, market, kitchen, and at the table with your young children! 

 

 

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“Food Preparation with Young Children”

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Nanci Olesen

On Saturday, March 10 at 9 AM in the Mayflower Church kitchen, food writer/speaker/”locavore” Beth Dooley will present “Food Preparation with Young Children” as part of our amazing Parent Resource Center workshops!

There’s still plenty of room for you to sign up! Childcare is available!   We will spend an hour and a half with Beth in a good old fashioned church kitchen as she shares with us her expertise about how to help your children help themselves and how to prepare simple meals together.  You can see our flyer about the workshop here.

This valuable and fun workshop is just the ticket for your tired selves at this time of year.  It’s getting lighter outside each evening… and the children WILL get over their colds and flu… and you CAN keep involving them in everyday food preparation, just like we do at Mayflower.   Try it out!   I’m standing by at 612-825-5914×105 to receive your reservation, or by email: nanci@mayflowerchildren.org.  Escape Saturday morning chores/errands and come take a class with us! and if you don’t have time to reserve, just COME!  Childcare is available!

  • “Food Preparation with Young Children”
  • Saturday, March 10, 2012
  • 9:00-10:30 AM
  • Mayflower Church Kitchen
  • Childcare Available
  • email nanci@mayflowerchildren.org to sign up!
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