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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…
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…
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…
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…