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Friday, April 18, 2025

Montessori-Inspired Teacher Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

With both Teacher Appreciation Week and Teacher Appreciation Day in May, this is a perfect time for a teacher theme! Our new unit has Montessori-inspired activities using free teacher printables along with a new Montessori-inspired teacher pack for subscribers to our free newsletter at Living Montessori Now! This unit is designed to celebrate teachers as community helpers.

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through early elementary throughout the year in my previous PreK + K Sharing posts. You'll also find ideas for using free printables to create activity trays here: How to Use Printables to Create Montessori-Inspired Activities.

At Living Montessori Now, I have a page with lots and lots of free printables.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with Teacher-Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired teacher-themed themed numbers, letters, and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)

Go to my Free Teacher Printables and Montessori-Inspired Teacher Activities at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Teacher Pack

Montessori-Inspired Teacher Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).

Teacher Appreciation Resources

Teacher Appreciation Books

Teacher Appreciation for Kids

More Community Helper Resources

Community Helpers Books for Kids

Community Helpers Toys

If you'd like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout April and May, see my April Themed Activities for Kids and my May Themed Activities for Kids.

Be sure to go to my Free Teacher Printables and Montessori-Inspired Teacher Activities for lots of free printables and activity ideas.

Have fun celebrating teachers!

Deb Chitwood is a certified Montessori teacher with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies from Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England. Deb taught in Montessori schools in Iowa and Arizona before becoming owner/director/teacher of her own Montessori school in South Dakota. Later, she homeschooled her two children through high school. Deb is now a Montessori writer who lives in San Diego with her husband of 49 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live).

Monday, January 16, 2023

Helping Children to Transition Between Activities

I'm the author of the book LOVE, LIMITS & LESSONS: A PARENT'S GUIDE TO RAISING COOPERATIVE KIDS and I've been working with parents and teachers for a long time. How would you like to have some easy-to-implement tools in your parenting or teacher toolbox to help you gain your child's cooperation when you're in a rush or need to suddenly change gears? That's what you're about to learn in this episode of the COOPERATIVE KIDS PODCAST.

As a parent educator and behavior specialist, I spent over 25 years talking to parents about the things that frustrated them most about their kids. And it was easy for me to agree with them, having 3 children of my own who drove me absolutely crazy. The fact is that children don't naturally transition well, and parents need some strategies for helping them to do this. In this episode of the podcast, I'm speaking to a group of parents and teachers who invited me to offer advice on creating cooperative kids. Here are some solutions to helping children and teens to transition easier.

THE COOPERATIVE KIDS PODCAST

To summarize quickly, 3 techniques for helping children to transition between activities is to
provide as much advance notice as you can, have them help you set up rules before a segment begins, and use visual timers to help them see the passing of time. My favorite device can be found at www.timetimer.com. One last bonus tip is to create some motivation for a child to stop an activity and to want to follow your lead to the next. One day I couldn't get my son to stop an activity in the playroom and to put his shoes and get in the car. I suddenly had somewhere I had to go and I needed his full cooperation. I could have pulled the toy out of his hands and picked him up kicking and screaming and put him in the car, but no effective parent ever wants to do that. So in that moment, we needed to drive to a relatives home. I thought to myself, "what does my son really like about going to that home," and I remembered that he loves playing with his cousin. So getting to my son's eye level, I said in a very excited voice, "Hey buddy, we're going to your uncle's house and I bet Timmy is waiting right at the door for you to show up and play with him!" Instantly, he dropped the toy he was playing with, ran to get his shoes and coat on and off he ran to get into the car. What motivating factor can you come up with the next time you need your child to transition suddenly.

Thanks again for listening and please consider subscribing to the Cooperative Kids Podcast. All information in the podcast is the property of Bill Corbett and Cooperative Kids. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Back-to-School: Begin with the End in Mind Resources

"BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND!" -- Steven Covey

August first.

School is about to launch for many children.

School buses will begin chugging up and down their routes.

I've fallen in LUV with Lizz the Kinder-teacher.

We got to hug and visit yesterday in real life.

She has set things up for my author-illustrator visits in the past.

These memories below are from a previous visit.

Seeing her so enthusiastic for the return to her kinders,

reminded me of these earlier photos.

{Why, YES. I do enjoy my work! Thanks for asking.}

By the end of the school year we return back to WI!

I got invited BACK to attend the 'graduation' of these kinder-kiddos.

Walking into the kinder hallway,

there were pictures of *MOI* in the year's highlights review!

So, yes. I took pictures of the pictures!

Cue Barbara Streisand: "Memories."

Took my breath away to know I rate the highlight reel!

---------------------------------

Last month I was able to complete a TeacherTribute iMovie.

With the help of many of my PreK+K Sharing #TeacherFriends.....

I give you inspiration to BEGIN with the END in Mind!

Now let's take a closer look at Lizz' Kinder graduation.

Take a look at these colorful, Kindergarten mortar boards!

Make note of the drawings on this wall.

They are a set of 'then' and 'now' self-portraits.

I'll give you a closer look momentarily.

Kindergarten Graduation: Class of 2026

Everyone in Lizz's class gets a two sided, laminated diploma. The front is the official and signed memento, but even more touching is the drawing on the back, with the caption, "When I am older I will be a __________. Just you wait and see."

"When I am older I will be a pilot. Just you wait and see."

As if the diploma is not enough of a memento.....
each child has a class shirt,
complete with self-portraits of everyone in the class!
The shirts are ordered LARGER than the kiddos.
Rumor has it that many graduating seniors still sport their kindergarten t-shirt lo, those many years later.

I have LOTS of favorite parts of this event.

As a former elementary art teacher, parent and now grandparent?

My FAVE FAVE is the self-portrait drawings captured at the beginning of the year,

and then mounted with a final portrait as the year concludes.

Laminated together.

PROGRESS.

Real. Live. Tangible. PROGRESS!

Right there as a reminder!

Who remembers how far we've come?

Who can go back that far?

Here is the evidence.

So it is that we:

Begin with the End in Mind

Look at the first day self portraits on the left.

Compare to the end-of-year progress on the right!

Kindergarten is the year that many children gain their bodies in self portraits.

Many of these children have gained hands and feet.

Most have gained clothing.

Clothing with details!

Incredible skills have been mastered in observation and rendering.

Look at this Kindergarten photo booth backdrop!

August is the perfect time to begin planning for me to come to YOUR school for an author/illustrator visit!

For the first time in recorded history, I will be making at least two trips to CA this year. It is a HUGE honor to announce that I have been selected to present at NAEYC in November!!! I will return in February for the Southern Kindergarten Conference.

Debbie Clement Welcome for Author-Illustrator School Visit

Debbie Clement Welcome for Author-Illustrator School Visit

NOW is the time to plant the seeds to have me come to YOUR school.

It all begins with your brainstorm.

I have an entire slideshow of my travels -- to get your wheels turning.

Author illustrator slideshare from Debbie Clement

YES!!! ALL of my books may be ordered from me directly.

They are also over at Teachers Pay Teachers.

*I also have digital files of 'just' the song, in Mp3 format with pdfs of the support material at TpT.

Begin the Year Performance Songs by Debbie Clement

If you are reading this article in 'real' time,

you can take advantage of the BTS sale at TpT!

ALL of my digital files are on sale!

My newest digital file includes the Mp3 for the End-of-Year slideshow song, from the video.

Now more than ever, we need to encourage our fellow educators.

Would you consider sharing the video from your FB page?

It was made with LUV.

Many of our contributing authors here at the collaborative contributed images.

I have outlined all of the contributors in this article at my own blog.

A Teacher Tribute: End of Year Reflections (Begin with the End in Mind) iMovie by Debbie Clement

The response to "our" Wobble Seats has been incredible!
Teachers that started with a couple are now back for MORE!
It is mostly a matter of budget realities.
Perhaps you have some 'new' dollars to spend with the 'new' year?

When you order your wobbles at WobbleSeat.com you support our extended family.

We can accept purchase orders.

We offer discounts for quantity orders.

We can also give you free shipping on LARGE quantity orders.

So get your whole team together for the best pricing.

If you have questions, please call my husband Allen.

He takes care of all the wobbles!

I am so very grateful for every pin that you initiate.

That is often how people discover me!

Such a kindness.

Thank you!!!

Join my 193,500+ Pin Followers, Click the pic!

Did you see my article here last month?

I gathered 83 favorite edu-quotes into one article.

Sometimes we just need something pithy to encourage.

Here are some of my other favorite RoundUPs over on my blog.

These are labors of love created from the photos that I take on my school visits.

Just click the photo below to go to the article.

THE Collection of over 200 Back-to-School Bulletin Boards at RainbowsWithinReach

185 Ideas to Organize your Classroom NOW! {RoundUP at RainbowsWithinReach}

What Teachers Wish Parents Said to Their Child (the night before school starts) via RainbowsWithinReach

Friday, May 1, 2015

Critical #TeacherFriends Twitter Chat: "Over the Top" Kids

"Over the Top" Kids

recap by Debbie Clement

This past Tuesday we had an incredibly insightful Twitter Chat!

Actually EVERY Tuesday is an amazing Twitter Chat!

This one just resonated with me. Personally.

Our #GuestEduCelebrity was Wendy Young.

She is co-author of the forthcoming book, "BLOOM."

I'm going to screen shot several of Wendy's tweets from our chat.

She is a wealth of information, insight and support.

My hope is to support you as you support children who have challenges.

At the same time I'd like lure you into our weekly Twitter chat!

WE HAVE PRIZES EVERY WEEK!

I know. I know. You don't even have a Twitter account.

Or you started one ages ago and then just couldn't see the benefit.

Let me tell you. Honestly. Twitter is an acquired taste.

You just have to find some tweeps that resonate with you and your experience.

THEN you can have professional development 24/7!

IN YOUR JAMMIES!

I'm @Kweezlequeen on Twitter: long story, just follow me!

Let me see if I can capture just a little bit of what you missed.

I am the moderator of our Tuesday night chat.

I ask our guests five questions over the course of an hour.

Everyone that 'attends' also answers the question.

For Tuesday, the first question I asked was:

"TeacherFriends What's your favorite suggestion

for helping angry, 'Over the Top' Kids?"

Now here come some of Wendy's answers............

*****These are screen shots....

Just click on the images below

to go directly to the article quoted.

We are working diligently to get the entire chat into an organized, archived format.

Several tech gliches have kept us from having that ready at this time.

I will add it here, just as soon as it is captured.

In the meantime, come wading in the Twitter pool with me!

Can you believe that the month of May has arrived?

I think May and I think Mother's Day.

A while back I created this 'subway' art of my mothering thoughts.

I titled it, "Things I Learned in Mom School."

Download and print: VOILA!

Give it to your favorite mom.... or better still?

Give it to your favorite GRANDMOM!

Mother's Day FREEBIE Printable by Debbie Clement

If we've arrived at May, then it is seriously time to get your End-of-the-Year Program together.

I have two songs that I've written and recorded that are each perfect for this time of year.

They are each in digital format, with Mp3s included in the zip file.

Start today and I *PROMISE* you will be performance ready in time.

They are each THAT simple!

End of Year Performance Songs by Debbie Clement (with sign language support)

Depending on the focus of your program,

you can either go with the three tissue self-esteem anthem,

"You're Wonderful"

or go patriotic and use

"Red, White and Blue"

which has also been known to incite tears.

They are each available at our Early Education Emporium.

Or perhaps you are more familiar with TeachersPayTeachers.

I've had a couple of AMAZING school visits since last month,

to some of your favorite cyber-friend/bloggers.

I just visited Mr. Greg in Nashville..... read all about it on my blog here or on Greg's blog there!

I absolutely ADORE this picture of their preparation for my arrival!

Kindergarten Authentic Art Exploration in Preparation for Author-Illustrator Visit

They are making quilt square art in response to my first picture book!

Greg is going with the "no table" approach to his kindergarten classroom this year.

Give the room a whole new feel.

Opens it up and allows for my kinder-sprawl!

Can you find my book?

RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THE ACTION!

Be still my heart!!!

AUTHENTIC ART IN THE MAKING!

As if that wasn't enough.... two days ago I visited with Cheryl of "Primary Grafitti" fame.

Here's the tweet that she sent out right in the middle of #TeacherFriends chat.

The mature students are 'freezing funny faces' in response to my song, "Jumpin' Jiminy.'

Debbie Clement Author-Illustrator School Visit with Primary Graffiti

If you EVER wanted to take a peek at an 'organized' classroom,

come look over my shoulder as I mozy around the perimeter of her room!

Prepare to be amazed!

{Click pic below}

Debbie Clement Visits an ORGANIZED Classroom at Primary Graffiti

Here's one more FREEBIE for you for your End-of-Year gift.

You can download it in pdf format over at our Early Education Emporium!

End of Year Poem: FREEBIE Download from Debbie Clement

I'll sign off with a HUGE sense of gratitude for yet another of my blogging friends.

Mary, over at "Sharing Kindergarten" has embraced the Wobble Seats that we distribute.

I don't have to put words in her mouth, as she's written at length about her excitement over our seating alternative.

Dynamic Seating Alternative! "Wobble Seat" the stool that rocks at WobbleSeat.com

She started with a set of four WobbleSeats and then got a dozen MORE!

When you order a dozen we can have them shipped for free.

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