My Blog

Montessori, Quick and Simple

Here's a great article that describes what goes on in a Montessori Children's House classroom, and offers a quick overview of the history of the method.  Great reading to introduce anyone to the Montessori approach!

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How School Should Be

I must admit I have mixed feelings about Trevor Eissler's newest video.  I find the first half   a little harsh and melodramatic (and hey, I'm clearly not a fan of traditional education).  Some public and private schools are making an effort to think outside the box and buck the testing trend, and they're having some success.

I also don't understand the title of the video. Seems a bit over-the-top, as if saying that Montessori children are somehow "better" than children educated by other method. …

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Annoying... Because the truth hurts?

A lot of people are annoyed by the recent slew of parenting articles and books that claim that parents in other countries do a better job of raising their children than do American parents.  We're just beginning to find out exactly how detrimental it is to have a helicopter parent and to be a bubble-wrapped child, but the full impact won't be known for many years to come.

My husband, a university professor, can share with you countless stories of coddled undergrads who whine at an assignment th…

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How To Observe in a Montessori Classroom

The wonderful guys and gals at Montessori Madmen have shared this insightful guide to observation (originally provided by Little Things Montessori).  A Montessori classroom can seem as odd and confusing as an exotic foreign country, so consider this article your travel guide!

When I was a teacher, I was often frustrated by how parents behaved when they came to observe the classroom.  They would talk to each other, walk around the room, talk on their cell phones (yes, I'm not kidding), engage the …

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Bedroom Transition

I am writing this post at the request of a very dear friend and fellow Montessorian who is expecting her first child.  This was our personal experience with our child, but every parent has to choose what works best for them and their child.  As with everything in a child's life, it's important to make decisions based on THE CHILD'S development, and not on the adult's needs or emotional attachments.  Just sayin'...

During the first four weeks of his life, Zachary slept in a travel bassinet on the …

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Montessori Weaning: Food and Independence (with video)

When Zach was around 4 months old, we started noticing that he was extremely interested in watching us eat.  He would follow our fork from plate to mouth, opening his mouth in imitation of our actions and salivating madly!  We knew the time had come to begin the weaning process.

The word "weaning" strikes fear in the heart of many parents.  It is associated with the end of breastfeeding and connotes depriving the child of the nourishment and affection he has come to know and love.  However, Monte…

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Biology for all ages

The new Michael Olaf newsletter has fascinating information on exposing children of all ages to the wonders of Mother Nature.  In Montessori, subjects generally taught in high school, such as biology, are made accessible to even the youngest children.  We identify the child's "sensitive periods" (windows of opportunity in which the child is driven to develop certain psychological/cognitive characteristics) and "teach to the sensitive periods" by providing aspects of each subject that will intere…

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As easy as a ribbon, a bracelet, and a bell

While Zachary observed his Gobbi mobile recently, I realized that from one day to the next he had started moving his arms. These movements weren't the reflexive jerks of a newborn; they seemed to have a different energy and trajectory.

I mentioned this to my husband, so he decided to hold out a rattle near Zach's right arm to see what would happen. Zach flung out his arm repeatedly while keeping his eyes fixed on the rattle, and several times struck the toy, causing it to chime happily.

This d…

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