As Valentine’s Day approaches each year, I find myself eagerly anticipating the handmade Valentines cards. I enjoy seeing the creative artwork of my students. You can truly see how much hard work, effort, and time went into each card, making it that much more special than simply signing your name to a pre-printed, packaged card. … Eco-friendly Valentine's Day: Paper Making Montessori Practical Life Activity
Since it has been … necessary to give so much to the child, let us give him a vision of the whole universe. The universe is an imposing reality, and an answer to all questions…. All things are part of the universe, and are connected with each other to form one whole unity. The idea … What is Montessori Cosmic Education? The Keystone of Montessori Philosophy Explained
I recently read an alarming article from Michael Conlon of Reuters, entitled, U.S. school children need less work, more play: study. Conlon contends that there is a growing trend in U.S. public schools of reducing free play “because many school districts responded to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 by reducing time committed … Work / Play Balance: The Importance of Recess – Montessori Perspectives
Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. -Martin Luther King, Jr.The day before his inauguration, Barack Obama set an example for the American people by doing community service. Visiting wounded soldiers, painting a wall at a teen shelter, and visiting other volunteers, he modeled before the nation his “call to service”. I feel so … Montessori Students and Community Service: Volunteering and Compassion
Celebrating cultural differences in the Montessori classroom helps children understand that humans have different backgrounds and heritages as well as different ways of looking at the world. Helping children learn about different cultures prevents them from forming false opinions or even worse, false stereotypes for those with whom they may not be familiar. It also … Chinese New Year Activities for the Montessori Classroom
This week marks a historic first in the United States. It is estimated that 2 million people will have been in attendance to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama, the nation’s first African American president. Around the world, television broadcasts will have been seen by countless others. It is a time of change and hope … A History of Montessori Education and Obama’s Educational Reform
“Miss Michelle, do you know what the largest country in the world is?” Seeing this as a great way to promote research skills, I encouraged my students to go find out for themselves. They soon came back to report that China is the largest country in both area and population. Inspired by their research, several … Celebrating Chinese New Year in the Montessori Classroom
Recently, my son greeted me with “Mom! I need you to sign my sheet for the science fair”. As I looked over the permission slip, I noticed there was a space where he needed to fill in his topic. When I asked what experiment he would be testing, he looked at me with a young … Montessori Curriculum Resources – NAMC Scientific Method and Technology Manual
With the start of winter, the days are shorter and it is dark now before dinner. All over the country there are blizzards, ice storms, and even colder than normal temperatures in the southern part of the United States. It even snowed in New Orleans! While it is always difficult coming back to the school … Winter Enrichment Activities for your Montessori School
One of my favorite subjects in the Montessori curriculum is Peace Education. After all, Dr. Montessori herself told us, “Establishing lasting peace is the work of education”. I have often found that music has a profound way of instilling a sense of peace. For this reason, I have classical or “New Age” music playing quietly … Silent Night and The Profoundness of Peace: Montessori Curriculum
