Christmas: A Season for Wonder and Giving If you grew up in the Western tradition, Christmas probably lives in your memory as a feeling as much as an event: of twinkling lights, familiar songs, and the warmth of family gatherings. As parents and teachers of Montessori children, we get the chance to pass along those [...]
Simple Ways to Nurture Your Child’s Connection to Nature This Season With all the evidence in hand, the question becomes: how do we make outdoor learning part of everyday life? Autumn provides countless ways to bring Montessori principles outdoors — at school, at home, and in the spaces in between. In the [...]
How Nature Boosts Children’s Health, Focus, and Academic Growth More than 100 years ago, Maria Montessori understood that time in nature supports a child’s development, and today’s research backs her up. Pedagogic studies worldwide show that outdoor experiences strengthen children’s physical health, capacity for learning, and emotional well-being. Neuroscience confirms that sensory exploration, [...]
Rediscovering Montessori: Wisdom in the Changing Season As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to fall, children’s curiosity stirs with the change in the season. For Montessori educators, this spark of interest becomes opportunity. Dr. Maria Montessori understood over a century ago that nature is a child’s first and most powerful teacher. [...]
Sustaining Engagement from Preschool to Middle School A Crisis of Disengagement Given our role as educators of the next generation, a recent article in The Atlantic, The Teen-Disengagement Crisis, struck a nerve. It should also concern parents. The article highlighted a troubling trend: by middle school, many students’ desire to learn “falls off a cliff.” Only about [...]
Sometimes it is difficult for parents to decide if preschool is worthwhile. It seems expensive, and how does a parent know if preschool really benefits the child? A new study by the University of Chicago and UNC Chapel Hill suggests that early childhood education is critical to fostering higher-level thinking skills in children as young [...]
If you’d like to learn more about the Montessori system and to connect with the wider community of Montessori parents and educators, the internet is the place to be! Here are some selected blogs and forums […]
Most people who send their children to a Montessori school believe in the value of the Montessori system to provide a rich, rewarding learning environment. So when Mr. and Mrs. Brin and Mr. and Mrs. Page sent their children to Montessori schools, perhaps they weren't surprised when their sons later went to college and then [...]
