"The dugout in the weeds or leaves beneath a backyard willow, the rivulet of a seasonal creek, even the ditch between the front yard and the road—all of these are entire universes to a young child."Maria Montessori? Not this time. This insight into the young child's relationship with the everyday world comes to us from Rich... Read More

"There are many people in the world who want to make children into performing seals. And as long as children can perform well, those adults will applaud. But I would much rather help a child be able to say who he or she is."—Fred Rogers, in Maxwell King's The Good NeighborIn answer to the question, "What do you want from li... Read More

In 1914 Maria Montessori wrote a succinct guide to her discoveries, Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook. According to Nancy Rambusch's introduction, Montessori aimed to deliver "a practical message of Montessori to the American home, " offering parents the means for understanding and applying basic Montessori themes in the home.O... Read More

Glass at Home—by Tim Seldin, How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori WayWhenever possible, try to build a control of error into each activity so it becomes clear to your child when she has made a mistake. The rationale behind letting children use cups and bowls that break if they are dropped or misused is that children... Read More

"The children who surround us in the classroom are the adults of the future who will be making critical choices affecting the quality of our air, land, water, forests and wildlife."—Aline D. Wolf, Nurturing the SpiritThis is the year to make your school as green as possible! Create some new ways for you and your students to... Read More

How often I wished for some "peace and quiet" as a multi-tasking parent! Some moms say they retreat to the bathroom for time alone, only to find their children knocking or calling through the door. How can we keep our own inner composure and help our children learn to be thoughtful of others and content with themselves? In ... 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 damp with dew, let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet; let them rest peacefully when a tree invites them to sleep beneath its... 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 us have endless patience with his slow progress, and show enthusiasm and gladness at his successes. If we could say: ' We are respectful and courteous in our dealings with children, we treat them as we should like to be treated ourselves,' we should have mastered a great educational principle..."—Maria Montessori, Dr. ... Read More

There are so many opportunities for teachers to optimize oral language in the Montessori classroom. It starts in the morning when we greet the children and welcome them into the classroom. "Good morning, Taylor. It's nice to see you today. How are you?" The children respond.Greeting the teacher and having a conversation bec... Read More