Aline D. Wolf is the author of 27 books, including the classic, A Parents' Guide to the Montessori Classroom. Highly regarded as a modern interpreter of Maria Montessori's philosophy, her books also address parenting, teaching peace, spirituality and reading. She is the founder of Parent Child Press, which was recently acqu... Read More

From attending a one-room schoolhouse and growing up on a wildlife preserve in northern Minnesota to his Montessori teacher training in Bergamo, Italy and consulting for schools around the world, Michael Dorer has had a fascinating life. In this interview, Michael shares his history, insights, and humor, and discusses his n... Read More

In summer it's hot! But with no beach, pond or pool, At home water is cool.I have many fond memories of the hot, lazy days of summer. When air conditioning was rarely in every room, we would go to the "air-cooled" movie theatre for relief from the heat. I recall a fan blowing air over a block of ice at my grandmother's. She... Read More

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

"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

"If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders."—Abigail Van Buren (the original "Dear Abby")It's still July, but it's not too early to think about the beginning of the school year. Taking a hint from the stores filled with school supplies and back-to-school specials, we c... Read More

"The pressures and fast pace of today's society have taken away the times of quiet togetherness which we should have with our children... We all know how quickly they grow up and leave us, so let us not wait until it is too late."—Elizabeth G. Hainstock, Teaching Montessori in the HomeWhen the family navigates major transit... Read More

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 accomplishment, help the child to grow up strong and secure. When we begin to draw the child into family chores, there are, of course, difficulties. But taking time to show ... Read More

"The value of cosmic education, as I see it, is that it places the child's life in a spiritual perspective... Fast foods, designer sneakers, video games and sports heroes all pale beside the wonder of the universe."—Aline D. Wolf, Nurturing the Spirit of the Child in the Non-Sectarian Classroom One of my favorite lessons fo... Read More

Many teachers think of language objects only as those in boxes used for I Spy or sound games or the First Phonetic Object Box. But language objects are everywhere - they don't need to come in a box.In the Montessori classroom, everything has a place and a purpose. This principle is apparent in how we go about placing small,... Read More