March 2, 2008 10:27 AM
Montessori at home - reviews of Mommy, Teach Me!
I know the feeling of wondering whether or not to invest in another book - will this be just another book to add to the pile I try but can't get into?
And when it comes to parenting books, there's a whole other dynamic: if I do get into it, will it make me feel guilty and overwhelmed?
This is why I always recommend reading the reviews at Amazon from readers like us - readers who are really trying to find their bearings as moms.
So just in case you've been debating whether or not to invest in Mommy, Teach Me!, I thought I'd share these reviews from Amazon. I notice Amazon has used copies for as little as 7.66. And remember, you can always ask your library to order my books if they don't already have them.
Amazing!! By Kasey "mom & teacher" November 25, 2007I would highly recommend this book to anyone with young children. It not only discusses the 5 things we should be teaching our preschoolers, but it gives small beginning exercises that we can do with our kids. I went to the dollar store and got most everything I needed. I put together the first exercise and it kept my son busy and focused for hours. I don't think it's intended to keep them busy that long, but I was amazed.
As a teacher, I did not feel offended or defensive at all by the way the book was written. Most likely I will still send my children to preschool, but now I have some great ideas of things I can do at home to help prepare them for school. I'll be buying her other book also.
Buy this book!!!
Indispensible preschool curriculum
By Rebecca Miller (Northeastern US) - September 1, 2007
This book, paired with Mommy, Teach Me to Read! is going to become indispensable to me. I'd been overwhelmed at the thought of what to do with my 10-month-old daughter Katherine when she reaches preschool age - what activities will help her learn basic skills. "Mommy, Teach Me!" makes me feel completely equipped to be an excellent preschool teacher for Katherine.The first part of the book goes through Barbara's history as a mom of 12, Montessori teacher, and homeschool teacher, and also explains a basic philosophy of teaching your children (God made you the perfect teacher for your kids, you can learn how to be a great teacher, your kids learn by observing you so slow down and do things carefully, etc.). The second part of the book has page after page of "work" for your young child to do (calling it "work" helps children understand that learning is an important undertaking, she says). Activities like sorting, pouring, and tweezing help children master fine motor skills and are also the building blocks for later academic pursuits like math and reading. Each activity is fully explained, and many include pictures of children doing them, submitted by readers of Barbara's blog. The instructions tell the supplies you need (mostly basic household items, so you don't have to go buy expensive manipulatives), how to teach your child the activity, what skills it teaches, and how to teach them to clean up afterward. I can't WAIT to start doing these with Katherine.
This book is a God-send!! By Joan M. Glasgow "Joani" (Sherwood, AR USA) - August 14, 2007I had been looking for a "curriculum" for my daughter and I'm so glad I found this book!! It's full of simple exercises and ideas to teach independence and self confidence in learning. And it gives a great insight into how children learn (things that we sometimes take for granted.) The materials required for each exercise are very common items found around the home. No big, expensive kits or toys to be purchased. It's very easy to read and understand. There's no psychology jargon to have to interpret to understand the concepts. I can't wait to read Mommy Teach Me To Read as well!!
Here another review by Danielle Hanley, which says in part:
I think the biggest difference between Barbara's books and other Montessori books is the fact that Barbara is a writer who happens to be a Montessori teacher, not a Montessori teacher who wants to write a book. She explains things in a way that helps you understand not only what you need to do, but why. Most preschool education books might present an activity and list that its stated purpose is concentration, but Barbara spends a couple of pages on concentration, self control, order and other goals of early education, then provides a very detailed descriptions of how to introduce the activities. Having homeschooled five children through the preschool years I've picked up a lot of things along the way, but there's lots of information in here that I can't wait to implement with Mairead and our next child.
Thank you to these moms for taking the time to review my books and in so doing to help other moms make a more informed decision!
Posted in Homeschooling, Montessori, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink
