The sensorial curriculum is one of the brilliant foundations of Montessori education. The materials that Dr. Montessori created are elegant in isolating each of the senses, and the Bells are among the most beautiful and fascinating of the sensorial materials.Even if you have no experience with the Bells, or they were not in... Read More

"When the children had completed an absorbing bit of work, they appeared rested and deeply pleased."—Maria Montessori (author), Paul Oswald (editor), Basic Ideas of Montessori's Educational TheoryChildren as young as three-years-old, after several months in a Montessori classroom, are able to choose their own work and focus... Read More

"Solicitous care for living things affords satisfaction to one of the most lively instincts of the child's mind. Nothing is better calculated than this to awaken an attitude of foresight."—Maria Montessori, The Montessori MethodChildren can plant a seed now and nurture the seedling for next year.Planting an Arbor Day tree t... Read More

"Poems are like the flower arranging of spoken language."—Joen Bettman, "Building Spoken Language in the First Plane, "NAMTA Journal, Winter, 2016All over the world, poetry touches the hearts and minds of adults and children alike. In Chile, everyone - from teachers to truck drivers - knows the poetry of their country's bel... Read More

"The teacher shows the children how to clean out the little corners where dust has accumulated and shows them how to use the various objects necessary in cleaning a room - dust cloths, dust brushes, little brooms, etc."—Maria Montessori, The Montessori MethodLet's do some spring cleaning with our children!In "those good old... Read More

In Part I of our interview, Aline Wolf, author of 27 books including the classic A Parents' Guide to the Montessori Classroom, discussed opening the third Montessori school in the United States, the early days of the movement, bringing Montessori teacher-trainers from England to train Americans, and more. A Passion for Writ... Read More

"One of the most important practical aspects of our method has been to make the training of the muscles enter into the very life of the children so that it is intimately connected with their daily activities."—Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the ChildOnly the rare primary Montessori classroom has a work bench or woodwork... Read More

"Eventually we gave up either punishing or rewarding the children."—Maria Montessori, The Secret of ChildhoodIt's a new year and many of us make resolutions. As parents, in spite of our best intentions, we sometimes get stuck in patterns that are no longer working or may not be the most beneficial for our children. What are... Read More

The holidays are almost here and many of us are wondering how we will find our way through the maze of our strange new world. Despite many losses, our children often remind us that we can find joy every day. With some creative thought and planning, we can feel the season's spirit and create some special memories filled with... Read More

Maria Montessori herself said, "The greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.'" You have prepared the environment with the child's inner needs foremost in your mind. Now you're probably thinking ahead to the day when your classroom will be normalized... Read More