As a parent interested in the Montessori method, you may have heard about the three-period lesson, a hallmark of Montessori education that helps young children learn vocabulary and concepts.In simple terms, the three steps, or periods, are: 1. Naming (Introduction) "This is a dog." 2. Recognizing (Identification) "Show me... Read More

"Children at this stage are fascinated because this story [about early humans] concerns them personally."—Mario M. Montessori, Jr., Education for Human DevelopmentThe Hand Chart, a key lesson in the Montessori Elementary history curriculum, gives children a first look at the Story of Humans in a condensed form. This lesson ... Read More

"Even when helping and serving the children, she (the teacher) must not cease to observe them, because the birth of concentration in a child is as delicate a phenomenon as the bursting of a bud into bloom."—Maria Montessori, The Absorbent MindRecently I observed something marvelous in a primary classroom. A child of almost ... Read More

"Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water; and when the grass of the meadows is wet with dew, let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet..." —Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child One spring day I took m... Read More

There is a lively debate going on in the country about whether, in this age of electronics, cursive handwriting is a necessary skill. Cursive is not required by the national educational Common Core Standards. Many states across the country are removing or reducing cursive instruction from the curriculum while only a few sta... Read More

Let Me Help: Supporting the Young Child at Home By Karin Salzmann. Reprinted from Montessori Talks to Parents, NAMTA; with permission from NAMTA and the author. In primitive societies, and even in quite recent times, children always participated in the life of the home. A sense of belonging, along with pride of accomplishme... Read More

"If we try to think back to the dim and distant past... what is it that helps us reconstruct those times, and to picture the lives of those who lived in them? It is their art... It is thanks to the hand, the companion of the mind, that civilization has arisen."—Maria Montessori, The Absorbent MindArt is one of the many ways... Read More

Our lives are made up of stories. Consider for a moment how your mind recalls almost every experience with a story. As parents, we have a treasure trove of stories within us to share with our children and use to help them mature and learn history, manners, morals, family lore, and appropriate behavior.As technology becomes ... Read More

"You don't have to go far or plan a big, expensive vacation to see great stuff. In fact, some of the greatest places may be right around the corner."—Joanne O'Sullivan, 101 Places You Gotta See Before You're 12!Parents often have mixed feelings with the approach of vacation time. It's nice to have a more relaxed routine and... Read More

"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder... he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in."—Rachel Carson, The Sense of WonderOne of the many gifts a Montessori education often brings is a life-long enthusiasm... Read More