I recently traveled to Southern California to visit my sister and her family. While there, I met some of her friends who also have preschool-age children. As we were walking back to the car after school, one of them asked me what I did. “Oh, Montessori. I’ve heard of that,” she responded. “How is that … Talking About Montessori: Building Links to Your Community
“Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence.” — Maria Montessori, Spontaneous Activity in Education (p. 240). There is a lot of talk these days about assessing student performance. Montessorians … Formative and Summative Assessment in the Montessori Classroom
When my son was born, our pediatrician gave me a schedule of solid foods to introduce. I had already decided that I would not use jarred food but would make his baby food myself in an attempt to cut costs. The first food that the doctor advised using was powdered rice cereal, followed by … Introducing Foods by Following the Child – A Montessori Approach
The Montessori environment is created to develop focus, stamina, and motivation to learn through the use of a well-prepared environment and developmentally appropriate materials. The desire to learn is intrinsically motivated by the environment and the gentle guidance of the Montessori teacher. But how do you keep the momentum of that motivation as children mature? … Cultivating Motivation in the Montessori Environment
Modeling dough brings smiles and giggles to children because it is fun to play with — but there is so much more to modeling dough than that. As Dr. Montessori told us, play is the work of children and modeling dough, which has a multi-sensory appeal and fosters creative play, provides children with valuable learning … Modeling Dough: A Multi-Sensory Work in the Montessori Environment
“Scientific observation then has established that education is not what the teacher gives; education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment.” ― Maria Montessori, Education For A New World I recently had a NAMC student ask me … The Order of Presentations in the Montessori Environment
“Peace is all around us.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh It is hard to be good all the time when you are a child. And with the buildup of holiday anticipation, children, especially the youngest ones, are bound to experience some frustration. Montessori told us there is no such thing as a naughty child. She believed that … Encouraging Peace in the Montessori Environment with a Peace Basket
If you are looking for ideas to present in the days before winter break, why not take a cue from the season and celebrate snow! For children, snow is full of wonder and can inspire great excitement — which makes it a great catalyst for sparking their interest in a range of topics. Using snow … Celebrate Snow in the Montessori Environment with Curriculum Activity Ideas
NAMC recently welcomed two grade nine students to our office for Take Your Child to Work Day, a career exploration day that takes place annually in Canada and the US. Though it occurs on different dates depending on where you live, the intention is the same. Young students are introduced to the work place to … Learning About Montessori Training on Take Your Child To Work Day
Recently a NAMC student asked a question about toddler nap time in the Montessori childcare environment: I am seeking advice for toddler nap time. We have one toddler who fights napping by rolling, climbing, getting on all fours, and generally not being still. We have moved his cot away from the others so … Tips and Ideas for Naptime in the Montessori Infant/Toddler Environment
