Denton County Living Well Magazine March/April 2019 | Page 29

Classrooms have four areas of work Practical life: This consists of self-care, daily living (sewing scrubbing, etc.) and care of the child’s environment. Sensorial: Colors, shapes, size, textures, sounds and smell. The pink tower is a great example of this type of work. Language: Naming and matching words of objects and pictures. Writing sentences with the moveable alphabet. Using sandpaper letters for texture. Math: Using concrete items to know what a thousand cube looks like before they can even verbalize the information. The bead cabinet is a great example of this work. When we made the choice for our daughter to begin Mon- tessori, we were surprised as parents how much we had to learn also. When you begin to raise an independent student it will carry over into your home life. My daughter became curious about everything and we wanted to give her the same open and challenging learning environment that she had during the day. This meant I was no longer allowed to do things for her that she could do for herself. Even if it meant on those days, where you just need to get out the door, we had to slow down because she had to tie her shoes or put on her own jacket. Or having to pick up a thousand rocks everywhere we go so that she can take them home and look at every inch of them. I have a 10 year old that we have also chosen Montessori learning for. Our home environment is still ever-changing. Every child is different. Instead of picking up rocks all the time we now pick up sticks. I am still learning and growing as a parent and I am very thankful for the Montessori com- munity that supports us. Being a photographer and a supporter of Montessori, I was over the moon when Holistic Montessori Solutions, a con- sulting resource specializing in supporting effective Montes- sori ownership, leadership and administration, invited me to document Montessori for them. Being a professional photographer, I have found another way to support my love of the Montessori environment by telling the story of these classrooms through photography. I absolutely love my job helping Montessori schools docu- ment their classrooms. I am invited to come into the class- room and capture the children working. They are always so excited to share their work with me and sometimes I even get a lesson from them, which is my favorite part of my day! When I am invited to schools to document what Montessori is all about, that is my favorite work to photograph. I am helping them share something that is so close to my heart and something I truly believe in. To learn more about Jennie James Photography and how I can help document your school or family, visit me at www.jenniejamesphotography.com. DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MARCH/APRIL 2019 27