Authentic Montessori Classroom Since "Montessori" is a word in the public domain, it is possible for any individual or institution to claim to be Montessori. But an authentic Montessori classroom must have these basic characteristics at all age levels: Teachers, credentialed in the Montessori philosophy and … [Read more...]
Montessori Education & Your Child
Montessori is a unique educational approach that nurtures a child’s intrinsic desire to learn. Montessori focuses on the whole child—his cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Montessori education is right for children of any age. Some Montessori schools provide all levels of learning, from … [Read more...]
Prepare A Child’s Lunch Montessori Style
There’s something different about lunch in a Montessori classroom… Preparing, serving, and cleaning up are all on the menu! What could be more meaningful to a young child’s developing independence than mastering the skills required to meet a fundamental human need? “The essence of independence is to be able to do … [Read more...]
Why Montessori Education Is Priceless
By Sunitha Pailoor, MEd One of my favorite commercials, even though it is simple and sentimental, is the MasterCard ad that shows family time or human interactions and calls them priceless. To me, Montessori education is priceless in the same way. It is beautiful, comprehensive, and, in its most authentic form, a … [Read more...]
Toileting Checklist
Some do's and don'ts to keep in mind. Look for physical cues that your child is ready: staying dry for two hours or so at a time, seeking a retreat or quiet space for a bowel movement, or signaling parents to change diapers. Use real underpants whenever your child is awake, and reserve … [Read more...]
The Montessori Primary Curriculum
There are 4 major areas of the Montessori curriculum in the Primary classroom: practical life, sensorial, math and language (including the cultural subjects of geography and science). Below is a brief description for each area. Practical Life The exercises of the Practical Life curriculum are designed to foster … [Read more...]
On the Topic of Toileting
It can be a tool for independence learned as easily and painlessly as any other in the Montessori environment Throw away the M&M's! Or, at least hide them in the cabinet to enjoy. Helping your child to master the toilet doesn't require candy, stickers and rewards. Children have a natural desire to care for their … [Read more...]
The Moveable Alphabet
The Moveable Alphabet was developed by Dr. Montessori when she realized that children had the mental capacity to analyze the sounds in words way before they could synthesize them. The former is what we do when we write, while the latter is how we read. During a child’s first year in a Primary environment, a lot of time is … [Read more...]
5 Facts About Montessori Schools
Here are five facts about Montessori schools to bear in mind when exploring preschools and primary schools for your child. Montessori is a very popular approach for teaching preschool and primary age children. The movement was started Rome by a visionary medical doctor by the name of Maria Montessori. Her work was … [Read more...]
101 Things Parents Can Do to Help Children
by Barbara Hacker 1. Read about Montessori education and philosophy and how it applies to your child. 2. Purchase a copy of The Michael Olaf Catalog(s). These wonderful publications are a clear introduction to Montessori for parents as well as a source book of ideal toys, materials, books, etc. for the home. 3. … [Read more...]