The Absorbent Mind

A child using Montessori binomial cubes to learn about algebraic concepts through hands-on exploration.

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 both languages fluently. It is a common occurrence that happens every day in every country…

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Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten Academically?

Children using Montessori knobbed cylinders to refine their sense of size and dimension.

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 wonder about elementary school. Elementary school parents wonder about the middle…

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Sensitive Periods in Child Development

Students participating in grace and courtesy lessons, learning to work cooperatively in a Montessori environment.

By Yelena Raskin Sensitive periods are periods of psychological development in the child. This period is a time of limited duration. During the sensitive periods, the child has very powerful capacities. The child is able to do great things and make very important acquisitions, like language and movement. But after some time, these powers disappear.…

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Mindfulness in a Montessori Environment

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

by Andrea Beier There is no doubt that almost everyone has heard of the term “mindfulness” in the last few years.  It seems there has been quite an explosion of interest in the concept; complete with varying definitions of what mindfulness even is. I became interested in the term as a friend of mine was…

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Intrinsic Motivation in a Montessori Education

Children practicing Montessori math using bead chains to learn multiplication.

By Sarah Vang Children are born with an innate curiosity, a desire to learn and need to explore. That’s what makes children the way they are and why they come up with never-ending streams of questions about the world they are observing around them. That intrinsic motivation is the driving force behind a child’s early…

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Developing the Whole Child in Montessori Preschool

Montessori teacher observing a student completing a pouring activity with precision.

At a Montessori preschool, the primary focus is on developing a well-rounded individual. Montessori educators aim their attention at developing what is called the “whole child,” meaning physical, social, emotional, and cognitive aspects. Unlike traditional preschools which just focus on a child’s cognitive abilities, the Montessori approach to education values the human spirit and takes…

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