I was so tired last week! A week ago Sunday, at 2 am, the United States returned to observing Daylight Saving Time. That is to say, most of the United States, Canada, and many other countries, set their clocks ahead one hour, causing the majority of us to “lose” one hour of sleep. Read on … Studying Time Zones in the Montessori Classroom: History and Activities
When I was growing up, I thought one of the best things anyone could say to me was “You’re such a good girl.” I tried hard to be good and to live up to the expectations set before me. I wanted to be good; I wanted my parents to be proud of me. Later in … Montessori Philosophy: Praise vs. Encouragement
I was shocked last week when my assistant came back from walking my Montessori class to art and told me that one of my third grade boys had punched one of the second grade boys three times in the stomach. Apparently, this happened while he was holding the door open for the rest of the … Peaceful Solutions to Bullying in the Montessori Classroom
I was doing some research on the Media Awareness Network website and came across an interesting headline: The Good Things About Video Games. I know as both a parent and a teacher that I cringed when my son received his first hand-held video game. I was on the verge of telling my father that his … Video Games in a Montessori Home
Montessori teachers are models of peacemaking and compromises. We teach our children to choose their words carefully, keeping in mind the feelings of others. We actively promote and encourage peace in our Montessori classrooms by having a peace corner or peace rose as a symbol of working together to work out problems. We make sure … Modeling Peace Between Parents and Teachers in the Montessori Classroom
Ahhhh…February. While the cold and flu season officially begins as early as October, it seems to really culminate during the month of February. Cold temperatures have forced children to be inside for months and the germs seem to be passed from one child to another. Sneezes, coughs, runny and snuffly noses have added to the … Staying Healthy in the Montessori Classroom
Montessori education doesn’t begin at 8:30 am and end at 3:30 pm. Montessori is education for life. Therefore, it is crucial that the behaviors that we expect in our Montessori classrooms are reflected in our homes as well. Many parents have asked me “What’s your magic? My children behave so well for you, but at … The Peaceful Home – A Montessori Way of Life
The child can only develop by means of experience in his environment. We call such experience work. —Maria Montessori For the past two weekends, we’ve been building a fence in our backyard. Its primary use is to contain my son’s miniature dachshund, Toby. The project has been a real family affair, involving my husband, my son, my … Montessori Philosophy – Building Character Through Work
I’ve heard a lot of grumbling about Valentine’s Day this year. People are complaining about the cards (“What’s the point? They just get thrown away.”). There are complaints about feeling obligated to bring in treats (“Who needs more sugar?”). They complain about the phoniness of it all (“The kids only want the candy”) or about … Valentine's Day in the Montessori Classroom: Why Should We Celebrate?
Who doesn’t remember painting as a child? I remember the excitement of being able to use watercolors during the summer, at home with my mother. Back then, we had “magic” books where you painted the pages with water, and they became colored as the ink was released. In school, there was such wonder and joy when we … A Guide to Painting in the Montessori Early Childhood Classroom
