Our lives are made up of stories. Consider for a moment how your mind recalls almost every experience with a story. As parents, we have a treasure trove of stories within us to share with our children and use to help them mature and learn history, manners, morals, family lore, and appropriate behavior.As technology becomes ... Read More

As a parent interested in the Montessori method, you may have heard about the three-period lesson, a hallmark of Montessori education that helps young children learn vocabulary and concepts.In simple terms, the three steps, or periods, are: 1. Naming (Introduction) "This is a dog." 2. Recognizing (Identification) "Show me... Read More

A Book Review by Kelly Griffith-Mannion, M. Ed.As a Montessori mom, I've just found the perfect best friend—a well-informed, articulate "Montessorian, " always ready to give me succinct, detailed advice on how to pull off the best parenting job ever! Well, all right. My new best friend is an invaluable book from the Sandpip... Read More

"Kahoho kuhuma madzi is the Giriama/Kenyan name for toddler. It means 'a youngster who can be sent to fetch a cup of water.'" —David F. Lancy, Child Helpers: A Multidisciplinary Perspective As a struggling new mother, Michaellen Doucleff was frustrated that her two-year-old was slapping her. Doing research for a story... Read More

"And so we discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being."—Maria MontessoriMontessori Education Week: The Last Week of FebruaryThis time of year, we Montessorians celebrate the history and success of the Montessori method, ... Read More

Ah, summer... When magic words like "sleep-over" and "camping trip" nudge the older child's inclination to stretch beyond their immediate circles... When younger children clamor to explore their immediate outdoors... When parents juggle schedules to make outdoor experiences available to all their children... immediately!Exp... Read More

"I'm so excited Grandma is coming, " said the five-year-old to her mother. Puzzled, the mother asked her daughter why she thought that Grandma might be coming for a visit. The little girl replied, "The sewing machine is out, and Grandma is the only one who uses it."Our busy lives today leave little time for mending or sewin... Read More

"Spring came again to the northern garden and so did the bluebirds." —R. Bruce Horsfall Bluebirds Seven The dawn chorus of birds is a universal sign of spring, and you might listen for it with your early-rising children - even from inside your home. Morning is a perfect time to hear birds as they greet the rising sun. It's ... Read More

"I went to a session last week at my daughter's Montessori school where they talked about how they believe in overestimating what kids can do. So today I decided to break from my usual routine...and explained to her that we were going down to the laundry room and she was going to help. It was amazing. She started loading th... Read More

In 1914 Maria Montessori wrote a succinct guide to her discoveries, Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook. According to Nancy Rambusch's introduction, Montessori aimed to deliver "a practical message of Montessori to the American home, " offering parents the means for understanding and applying basic Montessori themes in the home.O... Read More