Children developing fine motor skills through Montessori lacing and threading activities.

Normalization in a Montessori Classroom

By Melissa Bright Normalization in the Montessori classroom is not the forced act of conforming to the environment; rather it refers to the concentration, independence, and focus of the child through their choices. Children learn to find…
Montessori classroom shelves displaying sensory materials such as color tablets and fabric swatches.

The importance of real materials in practical life

By Archana Dalal  One thing that sets Montessori schools apart from other preschools is practical life activities. According to Dr. Maria Montessori, practical life is “The Montessori term that encompasses domestic work to maintain the…
Children engaged in practical life activities, cleaning and organizing the Montessori classroom.

Fostering the Love of Books During National Reading Month

By Kristi Larsen Caring for and Choosing the Right Books Imagine your favorite childhood book. What was the name of it? Why did you like it? Was it based in reality or fantasy? Did you introduce your students or your own children to it?…
Children engaged in collaborative learning, using Montessori zoology puzzles to identify animals.

Sensorial Sounds: What are they and why do we use them?

By: Krista Schroeder Sensorial sounds are everywhere in our Montessori environment. Children explore their environment through their senses and sound is often used in a variety of ways while they are in the preschool classroom. “The first…
Montessori teacher observing a student completing a pouring activity with precision.

Words + Movement = Reading

By: Connie Parker Within a Montessori classroom, movement is found everywhere. It has great importance in mental development, provided that the action which occurs is connected with the mental activity going on. Having purposeful movement…
Children practicing Montessori math using bead chains to learn multiplication.

Freedom in the Montessori environment

By Brooke Gosse In the Montessori environment, work time starts the moment the child walks into the classroom. Dr. Montessori stated that the children come into the classroom with a purpose, already knowing what work they want to start out…
Montessori classroom shelves displaying sensory materials such as color tablets and fabric swatches.

Maria Montessori: What You May Not Know

By Yelena Raskin Dr. Maria Montessori was born in the small town of Chiaravalle.  Her father was a military man, and her mother was a lady of peace.  Maria Montessori had a very close relationship with her mother.  As a child, Maria didn’t…
A child working independently with Montessori pink tower cubes to develop spatial awareness.

Tools in the Practical Life Area

By Amber Evans An essential part of the Montessori method is practical life. These activities are an increasingly challenging series of motor tasks involving real life goals. In addition to helping children master everyday tasks, the aim…
A child using Montessori binomial cubes to learn about algebraic concepts through hands-on exploration.

Let’s Take Another Look at Metal Insets

By Yelena Ostrovsky Metal insets serve a real and concrete purpose in the Children’s House. The metal inset work has 11 different stages, ranging from basic tracing to the more challenging design and embellishment work. Each stage provides…