“…no one can do for the child the work he has to do to build the man he is making.” — Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind, p. 30. If you have ever watched a young child as their birthday approaches, you know that this is a time full of excitement and expectation. My niece, who … The Absorbent Mind, Chapter 4: The New Path — Joy and Excitement
The beginning of the year has been tough, with extreme weather conditions causing difficulty around the world- but blowing in with the wind and snow of winter is the whirlwind of energy and excitement that is the 2014 Winter Olympic Games! Held in Sochi, Russia, the XXII Olympic Games are the perfect opportunity to forget … Montessori Values and the Spirit of the Olympic Games — Special Moments
Elementary-age children, who are in the second plane of development, have an increased sense of justice and moral order. To them, following rules is extremely important. During this sensitive period for values and fairness, some children spend an inordinate amount of time observing others for infractions. This internal need for social order drives them to … Fairness and Character Development in the Montessori Environment
“It may be said that we acquire knowledge by using our minds; but the child absorbs knowledge directly into his psychic life. Simply by continuing to live, the child learns to speak his native tongue. A kind of mental chemistry goes on within him…Impressions do not merely enter his mind; they form it. They incarnate … The Absorbent Mind, Chapter 3: The Periods of Growth — Unconscious Learning
“In states that make it a priority to educate our youngest children…studies show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own. We know this works. So let’s do what works and make sure none of our children … The Absorbent Mind, Chapter 2: Education for Life – Studying the Works of Montessori
“All too often children’s spontaneous active play has been transformed into passive audience participation.” — David Elkind, The Power of Play, pg. xii Recess duty was a new experience for me when I became a Montessori teacher, and my first day on the playground was an eye opener. I thought that it would not be … The Freedom To Play: Skills and Development on the Montessori Playground
Being able to observe, recall, and sequence events is an important life skill. In sequencing, we learn about patterns in relationships and we learn to understand the order of things. By learning to sequence, we develop the ability to understand and arrange purposeful patterns of actions, behaviors, ideas, or thoughts. Included with this post … The Importance of Sequencing in Montessori — With Snowman Printable!
“But although education is recognized as one of the ways of raising mankind, it is nevertheless, still and only, thought of as an education of the mind.” – Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind, p. 3. As we begin our journey of discovery through reading Maria Montessori’s book The Absorbent Mind, we must, as Dr. Montessori … The Absorbent Mind: Chapter 1 – Studying the Works of Montessori
Have you ever played peekaboo with an infant or toddler? I love to hear that gurgle of laughter every time the person hiding appears. Why does this game appeal so much to young children? Adults know that when someone ducks out of view does, he has not disappeared forever, but for the young child, it … Developing Object Permanence Skills in the Montessori Environment
“We know how to find pearls in the shells of oysters, gold in the mountains and coal in the bowels of the earth, but we are unaware of the spiritual germs, the creative nebulae, that the child hides in himself when he enters this world to renew mankind.” – Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind, p. … Studying the Works of Dr. Montessori: Exploring the Absorbent Mind
