"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

Creating art and learning how to appreciate art take place at school, of course. Why not help children unleash their creative abilities at home? Art is an important part of a child's world. Art is a way for children to express themselves and it also helps them develop their fine motor skills. Learning how to mix two colors ... Read More

There is a lively debate going on in the country about whether, in this age of electronics, cursive handwriting is a necessary skill. Cursive is not required by the national educational Common Core Standards. Many states across the country are removing or reducing cursive instruction from the curriculum while only a few sta... 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'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

"The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge."—M. Shannon Helfrich Montessori Learning in the 21st CenturyIn amazement we watch as the newborn responds to the world. We notice how infants startle at loud sounds, cry when hungry or wet, listen to mother's soothing voice, and follow movements with thei... Read More

"The artist is not a special kind of person; rather each person is a special kind of artist."—Ananda CoomaraswamyIt's the first month of the year and you may still be making room for holiday gifts. In my house, these gifts traditionally included fresh, new art supplies. As the children grew up, the size of the crayon box al... Read More

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."—Desmond Tutu Earth Day (April 22) is an annual reminder to go outdoors with our children and celebrate the beauty and bounty of the Earth. The first Earth Day was held in the United States in 1970 when conc... 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

"Children of three years already know how to count as far as two or three when they enter our school. They therefore very easily learn numeration, which consists in counting objects."—Maria Montessori, The Montessori MethodMaria Montessori wrote the above over a century ago. Today children entering pre-school or kindergarte... Read More