When my son was around three years old, he suddenly became aware of words and their spelling. It seemed every time I turned around he was asking me how to spell something. “Momma, what spells Nathaniel? Momma, what spells Humphrey [our dog]? Momma what spells Grandma?” He didn’t ask me textbook words like dog or … Using Letter Sounds in the Montessori Environment — Phonetic Spelling
While the approaching holiday season is full of hustle and bustle, it is also a perfect time to step back and reflect on the many people that contribute to making our lives happier, better, and easier. Showing gratitude is an important part of who we are as humans. It strengthens our relationships and our connection … Teaching Gratitude – A Look at Montessori Values During the Holidays
I became a Montessori teacher when my son was in the lower elementary environment. It was wonderful because we were able to go to work together each day. He would then go to his class and I would go to the upper elementary class in which I was teaching. I knew his teachers and knew … Having Your Own Child in Your Montessori Environment
It was my first day as a Montessori lower elementary teacher, and I was excited and nervous at the same time. Would the children like me? Would I be able to teach them how to read? How on earth was I supposed to remember all of those Montessori lessons? I planned and revised my plans … Crying in the Montessori Classroom — Understanding Children's Emotions
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! When I first became a Montessori teacher, I had a group of children that would race through their morning work so they could be … The Montessori Environment: A Whole Classroom of Learning
The Montessori method and environment is built around the concept of a three-year, multi-age classroom. The purpose of the multi-age classroom is to encourage older children to serve as leaders, both academically and socially. Younger children learn more readily from their peers through imitative learning and peer-to-peer teaching. Peer teaching often develops spontaneously, after all, … Developing Student Mentors in the Montessori Environment
The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences. —Maria MontessoriThe Absorbent Mind, p. 92. When we think of the Montessori environment, we think of a well-prepared environment that maximizes both exploration and independent learning. The world of the child is full of … A Free Flowing Montessori Environment — Indoors and Outdoors
“Sharing the holiday with other people, and feeling that you’re giving of yourself, gets you past all the commercialism.” ~Caroline Kennedy It seems that the holidays start earlier each year. Why, just before Halloween I saw the first Christmas commercials magically appear on television and my local drugstore has been selling Christmas decorations since September. … Observing Holidays as Cultural Celebrations in the Montessori Environment
“Be humble for you are made of earth. Be noble for you are made of stars.” ― Serbian Proverb Maria Montessori gave children the greatest gift — she gave them the universe! She felt that no creature in our vast universe was too small to explore. Nor was dirt something to be discarded. … Exploring the Earth – Montessori Sensorial Work with Soil
“Human Beings, indeed all sentient beings, have the right to pursue happiness and live in peace and freedom.” – The XIVth Dalai Lama In the Montessori environment, children make connections with humans throughout the ages by learning that all people have the same common needs, regardless of when or where they lived. Maria Montessori divided … Cosmic Education and the Common Needs of Humans: Spiritual and Material
