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The Purposes of Practical Life in Montessori In a Montessori classroom, practical life activities play a foundational role in supporting children’s development, independence, and connection

The moments immediately after birth mark the beginning of a new yet deeply connected relationship between mother and infant. Though they are now separate beings,

Adolescents are in a new stage of development. So, how can the adults in their lives adapt? In Montessori adolescent programs, we open our hearts

This is the final post of a series focusing on each of the four stages (or planes) of development: birth through age six, ages six

This post is the third installment in our series exploring four stages of human development from a Montessori perspective. The Montessori approach takes a holistic

Understanding human development at each stage is crucial to fostering optimal growth. This belief forms the foundation of Montessori education, which is deeply rooted in

Imagine education from a fresh perspective—one that sees children not as empty vessels waiting to be filled but as whole individuals embarking on a lifelong

Whether we embrace math or not, humans have a tendency to think in patterns, quantify, and make logical connections. Some even say we have a

Most of us have had the experience of a child walking into the room and proclaiming, with exasperation and desperation, “I’m bored!” Without even thinking,

Almost 120 years ago, when Dr. Maria Montessori created the first Children’s Houses in the slums of Rome, she saw a curious phenomenon. Young children,

Do you ever feel annoyed by throw-away apologies? So often, our children pick up the habit of tossing out “I’m sorry” like a used tissue.

We recognize that Montessori education can have some lingo that might need a little explanation. So in this Montessori Dictionary post, we’re going to focus

We often get asked the question, “How do you handle discipline issues?” We love this question because in Montessori we think about discipline from a

We have seen how children feel more grounded and cooperative when they have a role to play. Thus, whenever possible, it’s helpful to find little

The Wooden Hierarchical Material takes up a great deal of space in our primary and elementary classrooms, and for good reason! This key math material

As children approach their elementary years, they can truly access the power of their imagination. As a result, they begin to ask big questions and

As children move from early childhood into their elementary years, they become very attuned to heroes. In fact, in Montessori we call this “hero worship,”

One of the gifts of Montessori education is that we can truly focus on the whole child —cognitive, social, emotional, and physical. Our approach is

Children adore animals! Our elementary students (and even some older primary students) often love to start researching animals. To capitalize upon this interest and use

Many of us didn’t grow up with Montessori. As a result, we often find ourselves drawing upon a great deal of trust. We may intellectually

Music is a form of language. Because our young children effortlessly absorb language, we, of course, provide them with opportunities to express themselves musically! One

Many of us grew up with some form of homework, so it can feel a little strange when our Montessori kids come home without it.

In Montessori education, we look at milestones for babies and toddlers through three key lenses: movement, language, and social/emotional development. Each child progresses at their

You’ve experienced the scene before. All is quiet and calm. The kids are playing outside. Maybe you are even focused on something you’ve wanted to

Tanesia R. Hale-Jones is a Montessorian, educator, social activist, poet, artist, and parent, who believes deeply in the importance of community engagement and teaching young

Memory is such a critical component of learning. We perhaps take this for granted without fully understanding how memory works and how to support our

As is often the case, specialties or practices have their particular lingo. Montessori is no different! In this Montessori Dictionary post, we’re focusing on a

Even though they don’t have a written narrative, wordless picture books can be an essential part of young children’s language development. These books have pictures

While there has been a certain amount of awareness of how COVID has impacted young children, we thought it would be helpful to shift our

Do you see your child throwing their clothes on the floor in a heap? Maybe leaving things out on the kitchen table? Interrupting during mealtime?

Part of being part of a community is participating in the daily routines to care for our surroundings. In Montessori, we provide numerous ways for

Throughout history, human survival has depended upon finding, preparing, and consuming different kinds of food. It is certainly understandable why food is a central part

Our society knows teachers. Teachers give information. Teachers provide an education. Teachers instruct. In a Montessori classroom, however, the role of the adult is rather

During the holiday season, we can unintentionally become a bit edgy or stressed. Routines change. We might travel or have out-of-town guests. While our children

Have you ever noticed how sensitive young children can be to changes in routine? Even the slightest schedule adjustment can throw things off. On the

All too often the holiday season becomes about “stuff”–presents, decorations, more presents. How do we wean our children away from their focus on getting gifts

Dr. Maria Montessori was a scientist and physician, first and foremost. She stumbled her way into education when she observed the mistreatment of children put

Montessori is a method of education as well as a general philosophy on human development. If we could summarize it into one sentence it might

In this second installment of our new materials spotlight series, we celebrate and explain the Montessori puzzle maps. Beautifully, colorfully painted and carefully crafted out

Graphic novels are having a moment. There was a time not long ago when it was easy for most adults to view them as “not

There’s no doubt about it: Montessori is different. From the moment you step foot into our school, you know it’s unlike any conventional school. We

As your child nears the end of their early childhood years and edges toward elementary, you may begin hearing the term cosmic education. Ever wonder

A study published in 2019 was one of a number that have aimed to determine whether Montessori education contributes to creativity in students. While continued

Today we extend the appreciation of quality children’s literature by sharing a list of the most recent winners of the Newbery Award. Named after a