Educational Toys & Family

Can’t believe Barnes & Noble.  Seems like they just can’t get it right.  Ordered something online as a preorder and then wanted to add something else to the order.  They refused to change the order — even though I wanted to order more!

Then, wanted to exchange a book that my daughter had gotten for her birthday, but they refused!  Unbelievable.  I will NEVER shop there again.

For Christmas my kids got this great ride on toy  from Rideables.com  It’s a super motorcycle and since the snow is finally melting we can take it around and cruise the neighborhood.  They love to put their toys in the sidecar and go for a ride!

My daughter got some Wikki Stix for her birthday and has been loving them.  Heard from the Wikki Stix company that there was a knock off on the market from China.  Wikki Stix are made in the USA and are guaranteed 100%. Given everything we’ve heard from China, i would be leary about giving my kids the Bendaroos, especially since there is a clear alternative available.  

Eggspert is a great curriculum tool!  The kids love the multi-colored egg shaped buzzers, and the teacher can use this system to generate fun and learning.  The wireless version is coming in 2009 so check it out then.  We’ve even taken it home and used it with our own questions.  Kids love coming up with their own questions.  Some of the most memorable questions are “what has 4 legs”  “what color is the sky”!

Maria Montessori wrote “The concept of education centered upon the care of the living being alters all previous ideas.  Resting no longer on a curriculum or a timetable, education must conform to the facts of human life.” This is profound.  Imagine a school where respect and learning reigned.  I am so excited by the impact of montessori education.  Teachers are called “guides” as the guide the child towards knowledge and learning.

Some basic differences between traditional classroom environment and montessori:

• Montessori: Based on helping the natural development of the human being
• Traditional: Based on the transfer of a national curriculum

 

• Montessori: Children learn at their own pace and follow their own individual interest
• Traditional: Children learn from a set curriculum according to a time frame that is the same for everyone

 

• Montessori: Children teach themselves using materials specially prepared for the purpose
• Traditional: Children are taught by the teacher

 

• Montessori: Understanding comes through the child’s own experiences via the materials and the promotion of children’s ability to find things out for themselves
• Traditional: Learning is based on subjects and is limited to what is given

 

• Montessori: Learning is based on the fact that physical exploration and cognition are linked
• Traditional: Children sit at desks and learn from a whiteboard and worksheets

 

• Montessori: The teacher works in collaboration with the children
• Traditional: The class is teacher led

 

• Montessori: The child’s individual development brings its own reward and therefore motivation
• Traditional: Motivation is achieved by a system of reward and punishment

Read a neat post today about some great green plant kits  If you want to make a small dent in the green movement, try your hand at sprouting some greens!

There’s a great revolution in plants, the Portland Library Roof is now an eco-roof with stuff growing on top.  What a great idea!

Went to a fascinating lecture by Dr. Steve Hughes about the science of montessori education.  His website iw www.goodatdoingthings.com and he has some fascinating data about the benefits of montessori education.  Children learn with their hands and so having a multi-sensorial environment for them to learn about the world is the best way for them to be taught.

There are a ton of great montessori teaching tools.  Also a contemporary of Maria Montessori was Fredrick Froebel who had similar ideas.  You can see the Froebel’s Gifts at babyclassroom.com

Ants are a great way to observe the cycle of nature.  Ants are very active, busy creatures and the AntWorks kit is a great way to see them.  These gel-based kits are a high-tech ant habitat you can see from both sides.  Watch the ants tunnel and build homes.  Ant Works also as an LED light to illuminate from the bottom giving the ant habitat an unearthly glow.

You can collect ants from your backyard or send away for some in the mail.  Be aware that they cannot be sent via mail during extreme heat or cold.

Indiana Jones Trivia: 

Did you know that…..

• In 1989, one of Indiana Jones’s kangaroo0hide bullwhips was sold at Christie’s auction house in London for $43,000.
• In keeping with the break-neck speed and action of the movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was shot in a only 79 days
• Harrison Ford had to outrun a 300-pound rolling boulder 10 times before director Steven Spielberg got the shot he wanted for the opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

They’re not available yet, but rumor has it that there will be some new science kits for the holidays. Indiana Jones Science Kits will be available soon. Check back for more details later!