(GIVEAWAY CLOSED)As soon as I read this post on Chasing Cheerios about John Bowman's "Montessori at Home" book I knew I had to get it. I have always been drawn to Montessori based learning activities, and am constantly looking for new activities and information on the subject. I was slightly disappointed when I learned that the Montessori at Home book is no longer available in print (however it is still available in CD and PDF formats), yet excited when I found that he printed another book, Help Your Preschooler Build A Better Brain.
I now own (and have already read) both the CD and the new book. There are enough activities between the two to keep us busy for a long time. There are many similarities between the CD and new book - the biggest differences I noticed were that the CD is a little more in depth, contains more background information and includes over 40 pages of printables corresponding to some of the activities in the book. I would say the book is just a more condensed version (yet still has plenty of activities and information to keep you busy for a long time).
Before reading the book one of my hesitations in doing Montessori activities with my children was that I lacked the supplies/material needed to do the activities, I love that Mr. Bowman provides several tips on where to find quality built (yet inexpensive) Montessori based materials or shares how to make them yourself. You'll be surprised how many activities you can already do using materials you have around the house.
My other hesitation was that I wasn't sure how to implement the activities using the correct teaching sequences. The book clearly explains The Three Step Lesson (a method which engages both the short and long term memory to help your child associate the proper names with objects, numbers, shapes, colors, sounds, etc.). The instructions for each activity are easy to understand and include an explanation of why the activity is done or what skills it is helping to develop.
I appreciated that Mr. Bowman included the use of modern and current technology in this book and how it can be used appropriately to help your child "build a better brain".
I look forward to sharing with you the activities that we use from this book, and am also very excited to give away a copy of the CD and book to one of you!!
Wanna win? I'm going to give you several chances . . . GIVEAWAY ENTRIES: Leave a comment on this post by Wednesday, May 4th @ midnight. Make sure you include your email address when you comment! To get a second chance, post about Toddler Approved AND this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and send us a link in the comments section so we can check out your blog/page too! For a third chance "Like" us on Facebook (and let us know that you do). Lastly - I will add an extra two entries for the first and last people to comment (it never seems like they have a fair shot at winning).
Oops! Think I may have been too late!
Kerri
Fabulous giveaway!
Thanks for hosting!
Kerri
ellebellesbows{at}gmail {dot} com
K-You are such a fun mom, I actually just found out about this part of your blog from Danielle Bahr-I'm a little slow. Anyway, love your ideas and would love to check out this montessori set for more ideas.
blogged about it:
celticmomma.blogspot.com/
celtic6momma {at} g mail {dot} com
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Really looking for ideas to share with our babysitter who is at home with our 3 two year olds and 4 year old. She just can't seem to come up with age appropriate activities
Facebook liked you
celtic6momma {at} g mail {dot} com
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blogged about it:
celticmomma.blogspot.com/
celtic6momma {at} g mail {dot} com
(no spaces of course!)
I liked you on Facebook.
celtic6momma {at} g mail{dot}com
I liked you on Facebook
lauramarne{at}gmail{dot}com
Oooh, I would love to win this. I have a 3yo that I want to do preschool activities with instead of sending her to a traditional preschool.
lauramarne{at}gmail{dot}com
and i facebook about this giveaway…
drenajordan(at)gmail(dot)com
i liked u on facebook!
drenajordan(at)gmail(dot)com
im excited to win!
drenajordan(at)gmail(dot)com
I have not tried montessori activities, but would love to try with my almost-2 almost-4 year olds. Thanks! annebauer01(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love this for my son!!
logans_momma09[at]yahoo.com
Thanks for the chance to win.
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I would love this for my two little boys. reedandkam[at]hotmail.com. Thanks!
we are planning on homeschooling – this would be awesome!
Would love to win this. Thanks!
emilylloyd[at]gmail.com
I liked ya on FB!! 🙂
Great giveaway! You didn't mention if it was open to those outside the US, but if it isn't, I do have a US address and would love to be entered. : ) (having trouble posting this–just delete any duplicates if it posts more than once)
Would LOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEE to own this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!! daniellewilson2[at]gmail.com
Just liked you on Facebook.
Would love to win this one!
Nice giveaway!! Thank you for the opportunity.
How neat!! I'm a stay at home mom to a 3 year old and 1 year old (previous EC-4 teacher) and planning on home schooling so this is perfect!!!