Ask Maitri

Question: 

Currently I’m amidst our third year of homeschooling our two boys (11 & 9), and still repairing holes left from the public school. After IEPs, tutors, different curriculums, I’ve discovered my boys (dyslexic and brilliant!), benefit from the ways I learned - old school, Montessori, tried and true.

I have gathered many of the resources and even have the primary albums for teaching. However, at the same time I’m trying to “catch them up” without hurrying their mastery. My oldest overthinks spelling and I have literally started from the beginning to break old habits and correct understanding. I find starting with “very easy” gives the momentum of accomplishment and fosters confidence.

Would you mind offering any feedback you have and even better, a sample daily routine that incorporates appropriate subjects? With language as their biggest struggle I tend to focus on that in particular but I want our homeschool experience to feel less like “English tutoring” and more well-rounded. This has been my biggest struggle as I need to focus on their language skills without taking the joy from holistic learning. I get stuck with how to teach all the LA parts together (ie. What to teach at the same time? Grammar before Writing mechanics?) how much time to allow for the subjects. I wish I could rewind and afford Montessori for both of them, but this is our journey and we’re embracing where we are. I truly appreciate your willingness to help.

Question:

My father is determined to buy my 8-year-old son a computer for Christmas (would have internet access). Why would this be a good/bad idea in your opinion? What age is a good age for computer access? I have strong opinions myself, but I want to see if I am being too rigid.

Question:

Hello! Thank you for your blog. It’s really interesting. I’ve been reading your article on “Accommodations in Primary” and I am intrigued by your claim that there are 54 steps involved in flower arranging. I would like to learn more about these steps and indeed about the steps involved in other activities. Where would I be able to find some information on this? Or could you kindly write a blog piece about it?

Question:

My question is back to the cursive vs print. I am teaching the children cursive SP letters, cursive moveable alphabet, and all writing (latter just getting started with many) are all in cursive. So, as I start showing the vocabulary card labels for the phonetic matching game and, soon after, the "three part cards", shouldn't these cards also be in cursive?

I am worried it is too soon to bring out print labels for the vocab, 3-part, and Parts of cards/books. All of my card labels and definitions are print. Is this ok or should I at least print out cursive words and tape over print (temporarily)?

Question:

The head of our school asked me to look into learning profile assessments for students. He mentioned the MMTIC and my mind went to the Herman Brain dominance. Do you have any resources you could recommend me check out? The goal is to help students learn about how they like to learn and incorporate this all into the work we are doing with MBE.

Any thoughts or sources you think of off the top of your head, would be much appreciated!

Question:

My daughter is going to be homeschooling her 1st grader. She homeschooled last year with the help of video chats and lesson plans written for her, however, that source does not do 1st grade. My daughter has a baby due in October and has purchased the Mainly Montessori program that's available, however, she is totally overwhelmed and doesn't feel confident in doing the weekly lesson plans. Would you happen to know anyone that we could get to write the yearly lesson plans for her 1st grader? Thank you so much.

Question:

I absolutely love your take on language in the classroom, neuroscience, dyslexia--thank you for providing this much-needed resource!

My question for you is: Do you know of any resources that cover integrating th Muriel Dwyer method with use of the Grammar Farm?

Question: I wanted to ask your thoughts on this because I am a total research mom nerd and found some interesting research. The good Lord did not gift me with the mental capacity for in depth neuroscience work but I do love reading about it!! :)

So, this research (I discovered in a TED talk by Joy Hirsch) basically shows that children with autism process spoken language differently than typically developing peers, but when music is played it seems they process it the same.

Do you think that this could mean, if my son isn’t understanding letter sounds when I’m teaching them (spoken language with Ispy) I could possibly make a song about the sounds and he may retain it better? I’m excited about this possibility because it feels like I may have found the key to connecting the dots for him. But we will see. 

This research is a bit dated so I’m interested to know if you’ve heard of anything more recent.

Here’s a link to a short summary of the research

https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/neural-systems-speech-and-song-autism

And the Ted talk

https://youtu.be/86zDlL-Bjwg

Thank you! 

Question:

My son is 4 years old and is on the autism spectrum, “high functioning” although I don’t think that phrase is used often anymore. I am teaching him with the Montessori approach and sequence at home. It is very challenging to get him engaged in the material, but when I do it typically is with the math materials, which is wonderful! However, I have noticed he seems to shy away from anything to do with letters. His oral language skills are good, but still developing- he was a “late” talker.

What I’ve observed is that he doesn’t hear the parts of words. If by chance I do get him interested in “I spy”, he either doesn’t really understand the game or won’t answer correctly- and so I will quickly change to something else as to not make him feel discouraged (I learned that very early on)

Should I just completely forgo segmenting sounds right now? Maybe he is just not ready yet.

Do you think that it is possible that he may catch on eventually? Or do some children have to learn to read by memorizing words and not the phonetic sounds?

Question:  Would you suggest I receive professional Montessori training experience? I have only completed one e-course from a Montessorian by the name Ashley Hapa (Hapa Family on YouTube) who is a certified Montessori guide for infants and toddlers through the North American Montessori Center, as well as a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator with the Positive Discipline Association.