Where's your other mitten?

Someday I would love to know how many times I've asked the children "Where's your other mitten?" over the course of just one winter. It's ridiculous how quickly things can go missing.

(Psst! Parents! Teachers aren't just trying to make your life hard when we say label clothing. Trust me you want to do it because everyone shops at Target and gets the SAME IDENTICAL MITTENS)

Anyways, obviously this post is not as relevant for those living in warm climates, but my experience is teaching in Minnesota and Alaska. Winter gear is around for a good chunk of the school year. And there's always the struggle of what to do with it. How to make sure it has a chance to dry, how to make sure it doesn't get mixed with someone else gear, and how to make sure parents are actually sending their children with warm gear! In an age of car commuting it blows my mind how many don't even wear their jackets to school because they go right from a warm home, to the warm car, into the warm school. And yes, it happens then that they sometimes forget the entire jacket at home!

We've tried having the children stow their gear in a sleeve of their coat. And that's fine when everything is warm and dry in the morning, but after recess who wants to put sopping wet gear inside something you're going to wear again later. Boots had the same problem. And giving things a chance to air out was especially important for those children who had a second outside period.

I"m sure that it's true at every school that space is usually at a premium. Students need to cram their things into too small cubbies already and there's no extra space to spread out hats and mittens to dry.

Enter my favorite fix: The clothesline.

So let's just pretend that I didn't just make a post about giving children beautiful things and recognize that sometimes functionality supersedes it!

Now I've done a similar set-up at both schools. Basically providing each student with three clothespins to hand up a hat and two mittens. The system allows the children to hang up these small items as soon as they take them off to help prevent them from getting lost in the chaos of a transition. When dropping off or picking up parents can quickly get a visual about whether or not their child has these accessories. And it helps keeps getting the clothing from being mixed up with another students.

Now I know this is the wrong season for those in the northern hemisphere but if you are interested in replicating this at your school here are a few tips:

1. Find sturdy string/rope from the hardware store (not twine or cotton string)
2. Super glue the metal clasp to both sides of the clothespins to keep them from snapping apart
3. If possible thread the string THROUGH the metal clasp to keep them on the string better
4. Color code the clothsepins if using one long line for all students instead of individuals
5. Keep some spares handy

And as always, be sure to give a lesson on HOW to use this material. Becasue that's what it really is. A material for the children to use that works best when it's presented, rather than just assuming they'll figure it out!

Make it accessible

I have a lot of eye droppers in my classroom. Like a lot. Usually about 16 out and available to the children. That's not including the numerous spares I've squirrelled away in the high cupboards for the inevitable breakages.

Opening an eye dropper for polishing

Part of the reason there are so many is because I've found eye droppers to be the most practical tool to hold polish  And so not only do we always have 3 bottles out on the shelf for the three different polishing activities. (wood, metal, glass), but there are 3 identical ones tucked away in the resupply cupboard.

The resupply cupboard (or shelf like in my last classroom) holds duplicates of the consumables items in the classroom. Bottles of polish, full spray bottles for window washing, cotton balls, buttons and fabric for sewing, etc. Anything the children might use up during the course of the day and need to replenish. These are kept "out of sight out of mind" to keep a student from simply fiddling with them and making a mess. However at the same time they're in an area the children are free to access if they need more of something specific.

Obviously not everything is in this space. Most paper supplies for language, math or art are stored elsewhere due to space and are replenished by an adult before class. Or the tasting bottles which would require an extra set of 8 more eyedroppers! (and something that is usually used up due to overly silly activity anyway!).

Generally though the idea of making things accessible to the children without adult help is key to a Montessori environment. The more the children can do for themselves the less dependant they are on adults. And the easier it makes our work!

Sometimes making things accessible requires a new space, sometimes it just requires a stool to allow the child to reach an existing supply. You don't need to put out a separate apple on the child's table if you feel comfortable letting them use a stool to grab one off the counter instead.

Think about what your students or children commonly come asking you to get out for them. Is is something you would feel comfortable giving them access to? How could you put it within their reach so they could be more independent? And once you have relax in the extra time you're not wasting fetching the crayons out of the highest drawer again!

Our tasting activity