I don’t want to
We’ve recently returned from a break, and it’s a whole jumble of emotions. Some of us are thrilled to be back in the expected routine. Some of us would still rather be in our jammies. →
Montessori Dictionary: Self-Discipline
What is self-discipline? In Montessori, “discipline” is thrown around a lot, but what does it mean? We thought we’d discuss some of these “Montessori Phrases,” rather than simply assuming we’re all on the same page. →
Never Help a Child
Maria Montessori writes, “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” Oh yes, of course! This is easy! But note, this is different from, “Never help a child with →
Spotlight Charlotte Cushman
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Your background, your interests, your dreams? Ever since I was a child I wanted to be a teacher. I majored in elementary education at Lewis →
Art Work in Montessori
Humans are creative. It’s a creative act to speak, to cook, to dance, to imagine, to create art. Children are particularly creative, since inhibition and worry about the end result haven’t set in yet. Creativity →
Noise in a Montessori Classroom
One of the aspects of a Montessori Classroom which people notice is the noise, or, rather, the lack thereof. It’s pretty quiet. A room full of this many adults would be louder. It’s not silent, →
My First Book of Patterns
Our founders, June and Bobby George, have written a series of Montessori-inspired children's books. The latest, published with Phaidon, is called My First Book of Patterns. One of the great beauties of Montessori is how everything →
Happy Children are Successful Learners
We’ve had countless conversations with families about the transformations they’ve observed in their children, and each one is unforgettable, special. When families tell us what they’ve noticed about their child, they don’t begin with, “She →
Words of Encouragement
We were recently asked, what’s the difference between “Good Job” and “Congratulations?” We were so struck by this fantastic, big question, we also recorded a podcast. Scroll to the bottom of this post, or subscribe →
Doing Nothing
“What did you do today?” “Nothing.” Or, perhaps, if we’re lucky, “Ate snack.” This is never accurate. A child is ALWAYS doing SOMETHING. The challenge comes in expressing that Something. A child cannot say they →
Snacktime
“What did you do today?!” We’re all eager to hear what happened during a child’s day. This is your absolutely most favorite person, how did they spend their time away from you?! What amazing things →
Gifts
Gifts are an expression of love. We give gifts and are giddy with anticipation as the receiver is opening it. We are given gifts and feel deeply known and deeply loved. Babies and Children, especially, →
Montessori Research
While we don’t have Tests in Montessori, per se, we do have Evaluations. We’re always moving forward from a place of mastery, and the only way to know if a child has mastered a material →
Geometry Cabinet
How do you use this material? The Geometry Cabinet is located in the Sensorial Area. There are six drawers, containing various triangles, polygons, quadrilaterals, and curved figures. The first shapes we introduce are circle, square, →
When It All Comes Together
Amazing things happen every day. Some days, we’re lucky enough to capture them. All the pieces come together, and a child is suddenly reading. It’s as though they have always read. It comes so naturally, →
