If teaching is to be effective with young children, it must assist them to advance on the way to independence. It must initiate them into those kinds of activities, which they can perform themselves. We must help them to learn how to walk without assistance, to run, to go up and down the stairs, to … The Importance of Practical Life Activities in the Montessori Preschool Classroom
Children love to go outside! And, unless it’s extreme weather, so do teachers. I have had very positive experiences taking my upper elementary Montessori students out for a nature walk at various times of the year. The children gathered pine cones and leaves to take back to the classroom to identify or took my book … Montessori Classroom – Take Students on a Nature Walk
Young children learn language by learning the names of things. They are constantly asking “What is that?”, wanting to assign a name, and thus meaning, to the objects in their world. Montessori Nomenclature cards (from the Latin nomenclatura – “assigning of names”) are often used for building vocabulary and concepts in all subject areas. Also … Montessori Nomenclature Cards: How to Create and Use Nomenclature Materials
Wars are not acts of God. They are caused by man, by man-made institutions, by the way in which man has organized his society. What man has made, man can change.Frederick Moore Vinson (1890-1953) Speech at Arlington National Cemetery (Memorial Day, 1945)Established in 1968 to commemorate those who gave their lives fighting in the American Civil … Memorial Day Activities – Peace Education in the Montessori Classroom
In the Montessori Classroom, the day begins with morning circle. This is a time for the classroom community to come together and to greet one another. It’s also a time where the teacher might review concepts such as calendar, time, and weather or introduce a new work or group lesson. Often, songs are sung, poems … Circle Time Activities in the Montessori Classroom
Celebrations and rituals are important in the lives of children. Through them, they learn that we experience the circle of life, death, and the large milestones in between. Children feel deeply; they express joy and grief openly without reserve. It is therefore important that the circle of life be celebrated within the Montessori community. Celebrating … The Circle of Life in the Montessori Classroom: Activities for Sharing Birth, Marriage, and Death
God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers. – Jewish Proverb The history of Mother’s Day dates back to ancient Greece, where festivals were held to honor Rhea, the mother of the gods. Later, early Christians honored Mary, the mother of Christ, on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This holiday came to include all … Celebrating Mother's Day with Montessori Activities
The one thing that frustrated me the most when I was in college was the feeling that this “theory” and “philosophy” is all well and good, but how do I apply it? How do I make it work? I felt the same way when became a Montessori lead teacher in my first Montessori classroom. I … Gluing and Redirecting Behavior in the Montessori Classroom
April is Autism Awareness Month, and Autism is on the rise at an alarming rate in the United States. It is estimated that there are approximately 259,425 children (ages 3-22) who have been diagnosed with autism. (http://www.fightingautism.org/) Autism is a developmental disability that is typically diagnosed during the first three years of life. It is … Autism and Special Needs Children in the Montessori Classroom
Last weekend, while shopping at a large chain bookstore, I came across several books on the bargain rack that were designed to help children gain independence by practicing the skills necessary for learning to dress themselves. Excited, I opened the books, only to be disappointed. Sure, they were colorful, slick, board books with popular TV … Montessori Classroom Practical Life Activities: The Montessori Dressing Frame
