A child concentrating on a practical life task, using a small broom and dustpan to clean up.

The Art of Observation: Why this is a teacher's most important skill

By Francina Lelei “Wait while observing. That is the motto for the educator. Let us wait, and be always ready to share in both the joys and the difficulties which the child experiences. …Let us have endless patience with his slow progress,…
A child preparing a snack as part of Montessori practical life activities, fostering independence.

Building the Mathematical Mind: Mastering the concrete before the abstract

By Brenda Nelson What is the Mathematical Mind?  According to AMI’s (Association Montessori International) website, the glossary of Montessori terms describes the Mathematical Mind as, “All babies are born with mathematical minds, that…
Students participating in grace and courtesy lessons, learning to work cooperatively in a Montessori environment.

Music in the Montessori Classroom: How We Integrate Music into Everyday Activities

By Erin Farney Picture a group of children singing together and it will most likely bring on a smile. Singing songs is typically a fun and joyful experience, but it offers much more value than only being for pleasure. Children in Montessori…
Children engaged in practical life activities, cleaning and organizing the Montessori classroom.

Why Cursive is Still Important in Education

By Erin McFarland In our highly technical age, handwriting as a whole seems to be an antiquated concept in our education systems. How often do we handwrite things in our daily lives? Moreover, cursive writing seems to be an old-fashioned…
Montessori math materials arranged neatly on a shelf, including decimal system blocks and golden beads.

Sewing and Weaving in the Montessori Classroom

By Sheri Papke Why do we sew in the Montessori classroom? In the book, Sewing in the Montessori Classroom, a practical life curriculum, Aimee Fagan M.Ed., says, “The hand is the brain's connection to the world around us. As our culture…
A child using Montessori binomial cubes to learn about algebraic concepts through hands-on exploration.

The Absorbent Mind

By Nilanga Ericsson As a child, I spoke two languages, my mother tongue: Sinhala and English, which is considered the official language of Sri Lanka. I don’t recall anyone teaching me the vocabulary, the grammar or the syntax. Yet I spoke…
Children developing fine motor skills through Montessori lacing and threading activities.

Movement in the Montessori Classroom

By Kristen Guzzi All the way through elementary school and into high school, we always sat in desks or at a table. It didn’t matter if we were doing worksheets, homework, or power points. As I got older, I remember just always wanting to…
A child preparing a snack as part of Montessori practical life activities, fostering independence.
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Teaching Kindness and Respect in a Montessori Classroom

By: Connie Parker Being a part of a Montessori classroom is more than just academics, there is a social aspect to the classroom that is just as important. Children in a Montessori classroom learn to be a part of a community, where getting…
Students learning about geography with Montessori continent maps and flags.
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Montessori Phonetics – How and Why We Use Them

Montessori Phonetics By Amber Evans Phonics is a reading method that allows a child to learn the sounds of letters by developing an understanding of how these sounds are used individually, in groups and whole words. Phonetic instruction is…
Children using Montessori knobbed cylinders to refine their sense of size and dimension.

Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten Academically?

By Kristi Ockuly As a Montessori teacher for more than twenty years, and as a mother of five, I can attest to the fact that all parents wonder about the experience their young children will have in school. If they are in preschool, parents…