Overcoming Descartes: Movement in Montessori
February 19, 2018For all her might, Maria Montessori has yet to be taken seriously as a philosopher. Yet, as we hope this post shows, and The Absorbent Mind demonstrates, Maria Montessori was an exceptional thinker. Perhaps, even →
Defining Success in Montessori
February 15, 2018It’s true, there are no “tests” in Montessori. There are no grades or report cards, no “holding back,” no “skipping ahead.” But this doesn’t mean we don’t care about success. In fact, we care deeply →
Montessori Dictionary: Consequences
February 12, 2018There are these words we use all the time, and we assume we all have the same understanding, the same definition, of these words. But language comes with baggage. It comes with history and emotional →
Book Review: The Montessori Toddler
February 8, 2018In her exceptional new book, The Montessori Toddler, Simone Davies sets out to set the record straight: "Toddlers are misunderstood humans." The key part to this thesis, which is a subtlety that might go overlooked, →
Speaking and Silence in Montessori
February 5, 2018Montessori is an art and a science of balance. We believe in and implement individualized education, independent work carried out at primarily one-person tables, but the Montessori classroom is an incredibly social place, with children →
Math Always
February 1, 2018Math jokes are pretty common. We make jokes about how bad we are at math, jokes about how useless geometry and algebra are, jokes about how math teachers told us we wouldn’t carry a calculator →
Trustworthy
January 29, 2018The relationship between child and educator is special, and important. Nowhere near as important as the one between parent and child, but still one of mutual respect, and necessary. There are times when a child’s →
Book Review: The Art of Screen Time, by Anya Kamenetz
January 25, 2018Anya Kamenetz has written, what we believe to be, the definitive text for families concerned about the role technology plays in the life of their children. Her excellent new book, The Art of Screen Time, →
Self-Discipline in Montessori
January 22, 2018We Follow Through. It’s one of the ways we support children. We don’t just say something once, we’ll demonstrate and remind and model and assist and observe a thousand times, and then we’ll do it →
Tidy Like At School
January 18, 2018If we were to play a word game, thinking of ways to describe the Montessori classroom, a few words might naturally emerge. Even without knowing what happens in this space, even without the children and →
What Happens in Montessori Kindergarten?
January 15, 2018There are a few aspects which are fundamental to Montessori education. One of these aspects is the Mixed-Age classrooms. Children begin in a Montessori Primary classroom typically between two-and-a-half and three-and-a-half, and remain in the →
Montessori Encyclopedia: Cylinder Blocks
January 11, 2018How do you use this material? The Cylinder Blocks are one of the first materials a child might be introduced to in the Sensorial Area. There are four cylinder blocks. When they’re on the shelf, →
I don’t want to
January 8, 2018We’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
January 4, 2018What 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
January 1, 2018Maria 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
December 28, 2017Q: 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
December 21, 2017Humans 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
December 18, 2017One 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
December 14, 2017Our 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
December 11, 2017We’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
December 7, 2017We 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
December 4, 2017“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
November 28, 2017“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
November 23, 2017Gifts 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, →
