Keep trying. To understand the value of this lesson, all we have to do is look to the children in our Montessori classrooms. That’s exactly what they do every day. Through trial and error, they learn incrementally – always moving forward and building their knowledge. And the lessons they learn best are not the ones … NAMC 20 Lessons from 20 Years: Keep Trying
Going on a job interview can be very stressful. In fact, changing to a different line of work ranks 18 out of 43 on the Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory. (Holmes & Rahe) Whether you are a new Montessori teacher going on your first Montessori interview or a seasoned veteran looking for a new opportunity, … New Montessori Opportunities: Preparing for Interviews
I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me … all I ask is that you respect me as a human being. — Jackie Robinson (1946 Montreal Royals, the first professional Black baseball player in the major leagues) February is Black History Month in Canada and the United States. This year marks Canada’s 20th … Celebrating 20 Years of Black History Month in Canada
The idea of making a mistake sometimes prevents us from trying something new or making a change. Often, we can reduce our worries by thinking about potential outcomes. What’s the worst thing that could happen if you made a mistake? Maybe it’s not that bad after all. And if it is bad, maybe there are … NAMC’s 20 Lessons from 20 Years: Make Mistakes
Of all things love is the most potent. —Maria MontessoriThe Absorbent Mind, p. 269. Love… it’s a complicated emotion. We can love our child, our partner, or our pet. We can love pizza, the smell of rain, or cheering for our favorite football team. We can love a good book, a walk along the beach, … Valentine’s Day in the Montessori Environment: Lessons in Grace and Courtesy
“The child’s development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behavior towards him.” — Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind, p. 281. One of the big buzz terms in American education today is “Response to Intervention” (RTI). RTI is a multi-tier approach “to the early … Response to Intervention (RTI) in the Montessori Environment
When I began NAMC 20 years ago, I had no way of knowing for sure whether my idea would be successful. I knew from my own experience that NAMC filled a need in Montessori training, but there was still a lot of uncertainty. Fortunately, I decided to take the risk. Taking risks can be intimidating … NAMC’s 20 Lessons from 20 Years: Take Risks
Montessori education is designed to help all children reach their full potential at their own unique pace. This is equally true for children who have learning challenges and those who are considered gifted learners. I was reminded of this when I had a gifted student begin our elementary classroom. Ty, as we will call him, … My Experience Working with a Gifted Child in the Montessori Classroom
Have you ever worked on a project where people had differing opinions or offered different ideas of how to get things done? When everyone is given the freedom to respectfully voice their thoughts, it can be an amazingly creative process. Challenging yourself to listen to differing points of view can generate unexpected and surprisingly successful … NAMC’s 20 Lessons from 20 Years: Seek Out People with Different Ideas and Beliefs
When founder and program director Dale Gausman began NAMC, one of his goals was to make Montessori learning an inclusive experience that students could fit into their busy lives. From his own training and from running his local Montessori early childhood program, Dale knew how important well-written, complete Montessori manuals were to a teacher’s success. … NAMC Montessori Manuals: Twenty Years of Innovation and Distinction
