Jean Kermode

Montessori Consulting

Montessori Materials and Recommendations

The Montessori Teacher’s Guide to Intentional Time Off

Here are three ways to be the best teacher you can be, even if your classroom is closed.

As a teacher, do you relish your school breaks? Or do you spend them missing your students and wondering what you’re going to do with yourself and all that time off?

It can be a little of both for me. So when schools started closing and open dates started getting pushed back, I had to think about how to spend this time intentionally.

(To fill you in if you’re reading this at a later date, I wrote this in the midst of the 2020 COVID 19 pandemic. Schools are closed around the world.)

For those of you still teaching, but online, I’m cheering you on.

And for all you Primary teachers out there whose efforts just got abruptly cut short, this is for you.

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Take Time to Recharge

Teaching is hard work, and, like it or not, you just got a little break. Whatever your other obligations may be, try to take some of this time away from the classroom to recharge.

And by recharge, I don’t mean tackle your to-do list.

While you might find time for that too, it doesn’t count as recharging. (At least not for me.)

Some ideas:

  • Swap your travel mug for a pretty mug and enjoy your morning coffee/tea/chaga on the couch, in comfy clothes.
  • Go for a long walk. Or a short walk. I’ve been walking pretty much every day, and it’s amazing. Where I live, there aren’t too many others out walking, but you might want to time your walks to avoid larger crowds.
  • Read a book for fun.
  • Go sensorial. It’s good for us too! Baking, gardening, bird watching, playing an instrument…

Revisit Your Training

“Stay close to your training.” I used to hear this a lot, and when I started putting it into practice, I understood why. It’s amazing how many little things that seemed so important during training I forgot just a few days into real life teaching.

When I started writing my weekly newsletter, I began reading a chapter per week of The Absorbent Mind, by Maria Montessori. Though I had read it before, I was reminded of important aspects of the method, and new things stood out to me as well. This was just what I needed to help keep me close to my training.

After you get good and recharged, this time away from the classroom could be great for revisiting and reflecting on your training.

Some ideas:

  • Choose a favorite or frequently-given lesson and review it in your training manual. How do your notes line up with they way you typically give this lesson? Is there anything you can practice to make the lesson even more effective?
  • Go over your observation notes. What’s been working? What hasn’t? Take some time to brainstorm ideas for struggling students, or to reflect on how much growth has happened.
  • Re-read, or read for the first time, Maria Montessori’s books. I’d start with The Absorbent Mind or The Discovery of the Child. Read with a pen in hand to underline and double underline new gems as they pop out. If you’d like, you can join our free book club of Montessorians across the globe. Each week in my newsletter, I focus on one or two pieces of wisdom from Maria’s books as we go through a chapter a week. Join us here!

Continue Your Education

There is always more to learn, and more to understand.

Did you know there is a wealth of quality education online, courtesy of Montessori masters such as Dr. Silvia Dubuvoy? Most of it is available for free.

Go deeper into the concepts of Freedom and Obedience, or into the connection between Montessori and Neuroscience, in these free videos.

Or check out these upcoming webinars hosted by Montessori Northwest, and these hosted in the past by Montessori Institute of San Diego.

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I hope these ideas help you stay positive during these days away from school.

And I’d love to hear from you.

How is this time going for you? Any thoughts, tips, or stories that could help or inspire other teachers? Drop a comment below.

~ Jean Marie

free montessori printables

How to Create a Routine Book to Help You Stick to Your Child’s Routines (With Free Printable Template)

Struggling to stick to your kid’s routine? This simple, DIY routing book involves your child in setting and following family routines. Consider making one or two for your preschool or kindergarten classroom, as well!

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Making a routine is one thing. Sticking to it is another altogether.

It’s easy to get sidetracked during your child’s daily routine, especially when a thousand distractions are hurled at you from the kid’s themselves.

And while the beauty of a routine vs. a schedule is that it is flexible, there’s still a trick or two you can use to help your kids and students follow their routines with less fuss.

Enlist your child to help you make a routine book!

I first heard of this idea during a Montessori seminar. A mother was asking for help with her bedtime routine. A suggestions was offered: make a routine book for the child. In the book, list each step, e.g. brush teeth, ask one last question, etc. And the last step? Wake up in the morning!

The idea is that by creating her very own routine book, the child will understand better what is expected of her. (This is half the battle.) Plus, an illustrated book is the perfect reference for you as a parent or teacher to point her to when you are reaching the end of your patience and starting to veer from the routine yourself.

Related: How to Create a Simple Routine for Preschoolers

How to Create a Routine Book for Kids

Here’s how to make a simple routine book:

1. Include your child in listing the steps of the routine on a sheet of paper.

By involving your child, you encourage her to feel a sense of pride as she later follows the steps she helped to write down.

Keep it simple, listing the most important steps. For example, the steps to a lunch time routine might look this like:

  1. I wash my hands.
  2. One at a time, I carry plates, forks, cups, and napkins to the table.
  3. I sit at the table and wait for mom to bring the food over.
  4. I enjoy lunch!
  5. When I am done eating, and I am excused, I get up and carry my dishes one at a time to the sink.
  6. I check to make sure my chair is pushed in.
  7. I clean up any crumbs or spills I see at my place.
  8. I wash my hands and check my face in the mirror to see if it needs to be wiped.
  9. I go play!

If that’s too many steps, you can simplify further.

It’s helpful to keep the steps positive, e.g. “When I am done eating, I get up.” vs. “I don’t get up and play during lunch.”

Ending on a happy note can encourage your child to go through all the steps to get to that last fun step. This is especially helpful with the bedtime routine. The last step isn’t: “Mom turns off the light and leaves the room.” It’s: “I wake up in the morning and start a new day!”

2. Print your free routine book template from my library here, or make your own.

Print as many of the middle pages as you need to for your particular routine. (The template includes a cover page, a “first” page, a “then” page, and a “lastly” page. Print as many of the “then” pages as needed.)

3. List each step of the routine on a separate page, and illustrate.

If your child is old enough, he can write the steps. If not, he can draw accompanying pictures to each step.

These pictures can help your child remember the steps. For example, he can draw a picture of each thing he needs to bring to the table at lunch time.

I recommend using a blank page for each illustration. When you set up the book, you can put the picture on the left of the spread, and the written steps on the right.

4. Invite your child to decorate the cover page.

The more the child participates in making this book, the more likely she will be to want to use it later. Let her decorate it how she likes, using the tools that you give her. (e.g. crayons, markers, etc.) If she can’t yet read, encourage her to include a picture that will help her remember which routine this book is for. You can help to write her name on the front if she can’t do it herself.

5. Assemble the book.

You can use a binder, putting each page in a sheet protector, or just simply use a three-hole-punch and some ribbon to bind the book.

6. Read the book with your child.

Read it once together after you have finished making the book. Then, read it again the next time you need to transition to that routine. For example, the next time you are about to make lunch, get out the lunch time routine book and read it together before you start lunch. You can repeat this as many days as you need to, but it may be enough to let your child look at the pictures by himself next time. Eventually, your child will learn the routine and won’t need to look at his book each time. Just find a convenient home for it so it’s there for reference if/when the routine starts falling apart again.

7. Make as many routine books as needed!

You might not need a book for every routine. (That could actually get a little out of hand…) But, when there is a particular routine that you are struggling with or just trying to get down pat, make a routine book with your child!

Here are some routines that might benefit from a helpful bookl:

  • morning
  • snack time
  • lunch time
  • cleaning up toys
  • various chores
  • getting home from school
  • dinner time
  • bed time

Does A Routine Book Help For Multiple Children or a Classroom?

Of course! Be as creative as you need to be. You can let each child illustrate one page. You can make a routine book for each chore, and assign each child to one chore.

aqua background with the words, "how to create a routine book to help your child stick to routines free template included jean kermode.com

What are your tips for sticking to routines as a class or a family? Share them with us in the comments!

Jean Marie

Print your free routine book template from my resource library below!

free montessori printables

Music for Kids That’s Not The Wiggles (Plus Free Playlists!)

Broaden your kids’ musical horizons with this collection of 21 recommended CD’s and playlists. From blues to bluegrass, classical to classic country, you’ll find music for kids that will keep you humming, too. (And not in the I-can’t-get-that-annoying-nursery-song-out-of-my-head kind of way.) Great for home, the classroom, as well as the drive to and from.

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To all the teachers and parents out there who can’t take another version of the baby shark song, (unless that’s just me?) here’s some good news: kids like other music, too!

The Gipsy Kings are just as fun to dance to, trust me.

A sometimes forgotten Montessori principle is, “give the children the best.” And, surely, it gets better than a cartoon soundtrack. (They agree.) So whether you plan on setting up a music nook in your home or classroom, or just switching up the car tunes, check out this list of 21 CD’s and playlists to introduce your kids to music that they’ll love for life.

Maybe little Bert will discover he has a thing for zydeco.

Related: How to Introduce Kids to Great Music with a Music Nook

Music for Kids That’s Not the Wiggles

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see here.

😍 denotes my very favorites

Bluegrass

Leading Off, Christ Thile

👉🏻Bluegrass Playlist (Alison Krauss and Union Station, The Stanley Brothers etc.)

Classical

Copland: the Music of America 😍

Granados: Escenas Románticas; Bocetos; Cuentos de la Juventud

Romance of the Violin (Joshua Bell playing Puccini, Debussy etc.)

Vaughan Williams: Greensleeves, Tallis, Lark 😍

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

Classic Country

👉🏻Classic Country Playlist (Johnny Cash, Dave Stamey, etc.)

World

African Blues (Putumayo Presents)

African Dreamland (Putumayo Kids Presents)

Celtic Tides (Putumayo Presents)

Fair Thee Well Love, The Rankin Family (Canadian folk music) 😍

The Gift of the Tortoise: A Musical Journey Through Southern Africa, Ladysmith Black Mombaza

The Red Crow, Altan (Traditional Celtic) 😍

South Pacific Islands (Putumayo Presents) 😍

Quebec (Putumayo Presents)

The Very Best of The Gipsy Kings 😍

Ukulele Nahenahe, Herb Oha, Jr.

👉🏻Zydecko Playlist

Other

Chez Toots, Toots Thielmans (harmonica) 😍

Going Places, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

👉🏻Get ideas for how to incorporate music in your classroom or home here!

This list is just to get the wheels spinning! There’s so much wonderful music out there that kids can appreciate. And if they’re not interested in the first CD or playlist that you try, don’t give up! Pay attention to what your kids are interested in, and use their interests to help you discover new music together.

Share your music recommendations with us in the comments!

Jean Marie

free montessori printables

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How to Introduce Kids to Great Music With a Music Nook

Set up a simple Montessori music nook in your home or classroom to introduce your child to a variety of wonderful music. You don’t have to be a music buff or concertmaster to help your child discover the world beyond the Wiggles. Maybe she’ll be inspired to learn an instrument herself!

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In a world that is saturated with so many noises, how can we help our students and children to appreciate good music?

While we don’t want kids to get too plugged in, we can use technology to our advantage. If we keep in mind a few helpful Montessori principles, we can introduce kids to music in a way that helps them to truly appreciate and savor it.

One way to do this is by creating a Montessori music nook.

How to Set Up a Montessori Music Nook

Begin by choosing an area of your classroom or home where your kids can sit, one at a time, and listen to music. You can make the music nook part of your reading nook, or you can set aside a separate area. Another option is to set up a music basket on a shelf and allow the children to take it to a table or floor mat, as they would any other work.

Next, gather a few supplies:

  1. A CD player or iPod, etc. (If you can get ahold of a small walkman CD player, that – in my opinion – would be perfect. Then it’s easy to make one or two CD’s available at a time. An iPod would be fine as long as you don’t mind switching out the music every week or so. See below on limits.)
  2. A set of earbuds or headphones
  3. A few CD’s or playlists
  4. A small basket to hold everything
  5. A dedicated chair or cushion (optional)

Then invite one child at a time to use the music nook. Show him how to carefully use the materials, and explain that the headphones are so he can listen to music while the other students are concentrating on different work. Show him where the volume needs to stay (mark it in red on the dial, if possible.) Explain the routine and any other limits.

Related: DIY Reading Nook

Montessori Principles to Keep In Mind

  1. Give the child keys to the world. In a Montessori classroom, children see glimpses of the world, enough to spark their interest and encourage them to discover more. When setting up a music nook, don’t just sync your entire iTunes library onto an iPod and hand it over. The goal is to introduce the child to the world of great and beautiful music, so he can be inspired to enter more deeply into that world if he wants to. (e.g. through music lessons, music study, etc.) The best way to do this is to give a little at a time. (See below.)
  2. Freedom within limits. This principle will help keep our kids from getting too plugged in. It’s up to you, the parent or teacher, to set the specifics, but here’s what freedom and limits might look like for a music nook. Freedom: the child can choose when or if he wants to listen to music. Limits: there is only one CD player, so only one child can use it at a time; you choose which one or two CDs will be set out each day, how high the volume can be, (mark it in red on the dial) how long she can stay in the music nook, etc. (Read more about freedom and limits here.)
  3. Give the child the best. Aaron Copland and the Beatles, if you’re asking me. Don’t give her Baby Mozart, just give her Mozart. Nobody is too young for symphonies.
  4. Follow the child. The above being said, if your kids love “The Muffin Man,” give them “The Muffin Man.” Or if a student expresses interest in the harmonica, find him a Toots Thielemans CD.

Related: Music for Kids That’s Not the Wiggles (Plus Free Playlists)

A Few More Tips

  • As a class or a family, you can study a new composer, band, or type of music each week or month. For example, one week you can set out a Chopin CD, and later a Beethoven CD. Then next month, you can move on to world music, or storytellers, or bluegrass. You can listen to the music altogether outside of class/work time, e.g. during lunch, in the car, or at the end of the day.
  • Supplement the music nook with other Montessori music materials, such as the bells, musical instruments, or classified cards that teach the names of instruments, notes, etc.

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Got any tips for introducing music to children? Share them, and your favorite music, with us in the comments! 

Jean Marie

50+ Montessori Appropriate Children’s Books

Stock your bookshelf with these 62 Montessori appropriate books. Stories about pancakes, books about trains, old classics and new finds, there is something here for every child. Check them out!

Get ready for the school year with this list of reality based, Montessori appropriate books for preschool kids at www.jeankermode.com Plus find other back to school pre k resources, Montessori printables and other free downloads. #jeankermode #montessori #montessoriathome

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One of the trickiest parts of abiding by the Montessori philosophy is finding beautiful children’s books that don’t have talking animals, flying children, or meatballs falling from the sky. In Montessori primary rooms (ages 3-6) the focus is on the real world.

→ Read more about fantasy and Montessori here.

Montessori appropriate books are out there, but sifting through shelves at the library can get a little time-consuming.

So I did that for you! Here is my list of Montessori appropriate books for three to six year-olds.

I’ve included several of the books I loved growing up, as well as many new ones I’ve found.

Montessori Appropriate Books for 3-6 Year-Olds

This post contains affiliate links. I only link to books I love. For more info, see here.

Many of these books are great for reading aloud, and all of them have beautiful pictures for the child to look at even before he is reading. The poetry books at the end can be used as a reference for you, for teaching sight words, or just for the child to look at.

Whenever I come across another awesome book, I’ll update the list over here, so make sure you bookmark this page to come back for more!

*A few notes to keep in mind when purchasing books:

  • Always choose the best quality book you can find. (New and hardcover, if possible.) This is one way to show respect for the child. She will learn to treat books well if you show her how, and if she starts out with a beautiful book in perfect condition.
  • By the age of 3, children are ready for real pages. No need for board books.

Table of Contents

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Books About People

The Gardener, by Sarah Stewart

The Journey, by Sarah Stewart

Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans

Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, by Tomie de Paola

Pancakes for Breakfast, by Tomie de Paola

The Baby Sister, by Tomie de Paola

 Now One Foot, Now the Other, by Tomie de Paola

Days of the Blackbird, by Tomie de Paola

The Holy Twins, by Kathleen Norris, illustrated by Tomie de Paola

Nana In the City, by Lauren Castillo

Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney

Pelle’s New Suit, by Elsa Beskow

A New Coat for Anna, by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Anita Lobel

The Seven Silly Eaters, by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Marla Frazee

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, by Michelle Cuevas

Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel, by Leslie Connor

My Red Umbrella, by Robert Bright

Umbrella, by Taro Yashima

Policeman Small, by Lois Lenski

Cowboy Small, by Lois Lenski

Cowboy Slim, by Julie Danneberg

Firefighters A to Z, by Chris L. Demarest

It Takes a Village, by Jane Cowen-Fletcher

The Keeping Quilt, by Patricia Polacco

Hello Ocean, by Pam Muñoz Ryan (This one’s about the five senses.)

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Books About Nature

Growing Vegetable Soup, by Lois Ehlert

Jack’s Garden, by Henry Cole

My Farm, by Alison Lester

A Prairie Alphabet, by Yvette Moore

Time of Wonder, by Robert McCloskey

One Morning in Maine, by Robert McCloskey

When the Rain Stops, by Cole Sorensen

First Snow, by Kim Lewis

Come On Rain!, by Karen Hesse

Nature’s Sketchbook, by Marjolein Bastin

Atlas of Islands (First Discovery Book) by Donald Grant

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Books About Animals

The Butterfly Alphabet, by Kjell Bloch Sandved

Animal Babies, by Harry McNaught

Deer at the Brook, by Jim Arnosky

Frozen Wild: How Animals Survive in the Coldest Places on Earth, by Jim Arnosky

Shimmer & Splash: the Sparkling World of Sea Life, by Jim Arnosky

Raccoon on His Own, by Jim Arnosky

Biggest, Strongest, Fastest, by Steve Jenkings

Flocks of Birds, by Charlotte Zolotow

Black Bear Cub, by Alan Lind

Here is the Arctic Winter, by Madeleine Dunphy

Emma’s Lamb, by Kim Lewis

Antelope, Bison, Cougar, by Stephen P. Medley

The Ocean Alphabet Book, by Jerry Pallotta

Song of the Swallows, by Leo Politi

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Books About Things That Go

Airplanes and Flying Machines (First Discovery Book) by Pascale De Bourgoing

The Little Airplane, by Lois Lenski

The Little Saiboat, by Lois Lenski

The Little Fire Engine, by Lois Lenski

The Little Train, by Lois Lenski

Train, by Elisha Cooper

Freight Train, by Donald Crews

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Poetry

Under the Sun and the Moon: And Other Poems, by Margaret Wise Brown

A Brighter Garden, by Emily Dickenson, illustrated by Tasha Tudor

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Art

Look! Zoom in on Art, by Gillian Wolfe

A Family: Paintings of a Bygone Age, by Carl Larsson

DIY Reading Nook

Want to encourage your kids to read? Give them their very own, special space to fall in love with reading. Follow these 5 simple steps to set up your own DIY reading nook for kids in your home or classroom. 

Want to Encourage Kids to Read? Set up a peaceful reading nook. | www.jeankermode.com | diy reading nook for kids | diy reading corner | library for kids | how to encourage reading | #montessori

In every Montessori classroom there is a reading corner. This little library gives the children a place to explore the world through books, or to rest while looking at beautiful pictures.

A peaceful environment set aside just for books can help children learn to love reading, too.

Ready to set up your own reading nook? No matter how small your home or classroom, you’ll be able to find a space to show your kids the magic of a book or two.

Let’d do this.

DIY Reading Nook for Home or Classroom

1. Choose the area.

Choose an area of your home or classroom that will be conducive to quiet reading, with plenty of light. If possible, it should be slightly out of the way, but still part of the general living area.

2. Choose simple furniture.

Only two things are essential:

  • something to hold the books
  • somewhere for the child to sit

This can be as simple as a basket with a few books and a pillow. Get creative if you want, but don’t be intimidated by all the “99 unique reading nook ideas” on Pinterest. Work with the size of the area you have, and remember that the focus should be on the books.

The bookshelf/basket can be found second-hand and freshened up, or built, or purchased new. Here are some ideas.

3. Choose good books.

Choose a variety of good quality books in perfect condition. If you always give kids ripped books, they will start to think ripped books are ok. If you give kids beautiful, well-taken-care-of books, they will learn to treat them as the treasures they are.

Choose books based on reality. Books are keys to the world. Picture books, realistic fiction, books about nature, encyclopedias, atlases, books of rhymes, etc. Avoid fantasy books. (Fairy tales, though…)

Choose books based on your child’s interests. If he loves tractors, find a book that teaches him the names of different types of vehicles. If she loves animals, find a book about animal habitats, or the cat family.

Choose beautiful books. Books can be kid-friendly without being dumbed-down.

Change the books occasionally to keep your kids interested.

Related: 50+ Montessori Approved Children’s Books

4. Choose one or two simple decorations.

This is optional, but can help make the reading nook an inviting, peaceful place.

Some ideas:

  • a fishbowl (with real fish)
  • a beautiful rug
  • a potted plant
  • a framed piece of art

5. Invite the child to use the reading nook.

Once everything is set up, invite one child at a time to see the beautiful new space. Show her how to choose a book, carry it carefully, turn the pages gently, and put it away when she is done. Set limits appropriate for the ages of the children, e.g. one child at a time, stay as long as you like, (or not) etc.

Want to encourage your kids to read? Find out how to set up a cozy reading nook. | www.jeankermode.com | diy reading nook for kids | diy reading corner | library for kids | how to encourage reading | #montessori

Do you have a reading area in your home or classroom? What are your favorite books for children? Let me know all about your home/classroom library, I can’t wait to read and respond to your comments! And of course, please let me know if you have any questions, too.

Jean Marie

free montessori printables