Is there anything more rewarding than being able to care for one's own self? Help your child on the path to independence with home activities that support similar self-care "lessons" in the Montessori classroom. A little planning and a lot of patience will go far!The most important (and the hardest!) part? Allow plenty of t... Read More

In order to survive, humans have basic needs which fall into both material and intangible categories. As parents, we strive to provide these essentials so our children will grow and prosper. The list of necessities is not long, but each one takes conscious time and effort to manage.The Montessori elementary curriculum inclu... Read More

Continuing the Interview with Lakshmi Kripalani By Irene BakerIn the first part of our interview, Ms. Kripalani, now almost 93 years old, described her life growing up in India, her early teaching experiences, and taking the primary training course with Maria and Mario Montessori in 1946 in Karachi, India. In this second in... Read More

What do you do when you meet a legend? I watched as Lakshmi Kripalani was honored by AMS with a Lifetime Achievement Award this year and was completely uplifted by the many ways in which the Montessori community embraced a true Montessori sage...Lakshmi Kripalani: An Authentic Montessori LegendI have had good fortune and a ... Read More

"Music matters. Encourage your child to listen to all kinds of music and to clap, dance and sing along."—Tim Seldin, How to Raise an Amazing ChildFrom the soft chimes inside their soft, furry toys to the full orchestration of "Carnival of the Animals, " children learn how to distinguish different sounds, rhythms, and melodi... Read More

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Montessori Services, and we are pleased to share an interview with founder and owner, Jane Mills Campbell. Jane shares her memories about the history of the company, which is part of the fascinating story of the Montessori movement in America.(Irene Baker) How did you ... Read More

"Look!" My seven-year-old's finger pointed up, to the top of the wainscotting - a butterfly! It calmly fanned its new wings as we set the groceries down. I scanned the paneling and sure enough, there was the second butterfly, wings still damp and crumpled, perched on the edge of the coffee can that had served as its nursery... Read More

"The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one's self."—Maria Montessori, The Absorbent MindCafeteria style, it's not! In a Montessori classroom, preparing, serving, and cleaning up are all on the children's menu. What could be more meaningful to a young child's developing independence than mastering the... 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

We often take for granted the natural growth of children that happens without our direct involvement. Just think of the physical changes that take place in the first year of life. We do so many things to encourage and support our children's growth, but often without knowledge of what we do or how we do it.We help children l... Read More