"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

Do you find pastry intimidating? Children don't! Any child who has played with modeling dough will be eager to use the same techniques to create a pastry-based snack. And any parent can make it happen, with ready-made pie crust, realistic expectations, and Montessori-style step-by-step skill-building.Fiddling with scraps of... Read More

"Caution must be taken by the teacher to let the children do the exploration by themselves and not pour out the information."—Lakshmi A. Kripalani, More Montessori in PracticeSummer is here, and whether you have summer camp programs or year-around school, many hours will be spent outside. Summer and water go together, even ... Read More

Maria Montessori urged us to "give the child a vision of the whole universe..." so that children might better understand Earth's place in the cosmos. Books, card materials, and star charts take children only so far - no photograph can replace the awe-inspiring vision of millions of diamond-bright stars twinkling overhead.Wh... Read More

"There are many ingenious ways of 'fixing up' your child's room."—Elizabeth Hainstock Teaching Montessori in the HomeOnce your child has learned to crawl and toddle, it's time to redesign the nursery. The baby's room was originally organized to make it easy and convenient for parents and caretakers. At this stage, it's time... Read More

In summer it's hot! But with no beach, pond or pool, At home water is cool.I have many fond memories of the hot, lazy days of summer. When air conditioning was rarely in every room, we would go to the "air-cooled" movie theatre for relief from the heat. I recall a fan blowing air over a block of ice at my grandmother's. She... Read More

Montessori Inclusion: Strategies and Stories of Support for Learners with Exceptionalities is a collaborative anthology featuring the voices of 20 distinguished contributors, offering a roadmap for accommodating children with special needs in mainstream classrooms. We interviewed three Montessorians who have been instrument... Read More

"The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one's self."—Maria Montessori, The Absorbent MindCafeteria style, it's not! In a Montessori classroom, preparing, serving, and cleaning up are all on the children's menu. What could be more meaningful to a young child's developing independence than mastering the... Read More

"During the pandemic I learned to let go a little and it worked. Imagine that!" —Parent of three young children How we are looking forward to getting back to normal! Now that things are beginning to open up, many of us are embracing a better normal. We have struggled to fulfill the new responsibilities created when school ... Read More

"You don't have to go far or plan a big, expensive vacation to see great stuff. In fact, some of the greatest places may be right around the corner."—Joanne O'Sullivan, 101 Places You Gotta See Before You're 12!Parents often have mixed feelings with the approach of vacation time. It's nice to have a more relaxed routine and... Read More