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What? An Evaluation?

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o one will ever know your child like you do, and you see aspects of your child that no teacher ever will, but the reverse is also true. Your child’s teacher sees aspects of your child that you may never get to see. Your child’s teacher sees him as he is learning to be part […]

Dear Cathie: An Excited Second Year Parent

Dear Cathie: An Excited Second Year Parent

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Dear Cathie— My child will start his second year in a 3-6 classroom. He spent much of last year doing activities in the Practical Life and Sensorial areas, and we understood the value of that. We have hopes that he will branch out this year and spend most of his time doing other activities and […]

Dear Cathie

Dear Cathie

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Dear Cathie— My children are not always nice to each other, and they sometimes admit they have been unkind to others at school or on play dates as well. I want them to learn to be kind and respectful. I have been expecting them to say “I’m sorry” when they act in this manner, such […]

DEAR CATHIE: Growing Global Citizens

DEAR CATHIE: Growing Global Citizens

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Dear Cathie— As fairly new parents, we are watching our children begin to develop into who they will be, and we realize that we should also be purposeful in molding them into the kind of people we want them to become. We are looking for ideas as to how to do that! Where do we […]

DEAR CATHIE: Cathie’s Montessori Journey

DEAR CATHIE: Cathie’s Montessori Journey

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Dear Cathie— I know you have been in the Montessori world for a long time. How did you find the Montessori Method and did your own children go to Montessori schools? If so, did it make a difference in their lives?   — A SET OF INTERESTED PARENTS Dear Parents, Thank you for your interest in […]

DEAR CATHIE

DEAR CATHIE

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Dear Cathie— We are new to the Montessori philosophy and want to make the most of it in our family and our children’s lives. We have come to this a bit late, as we just moved to an area with a Montessori school. We have enrolled both of our children and are trying to...
Dear Cathie

Dear Cathie

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Dear Cathie— We have been visiting Montessori schools and considering enrollment for our child. We notice that there is a lot of food work in the classroom. Often, children seem to wander around with food. We have also visited traditional preschools, and they usually have snack altogether. Why is there a difference?  — An enquiring […]

DEAR CATHIE: The Peace CurrIculum

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Dear Cathie— Our children are both in Primary Montessori classrooms. One is a young three-year old-who just entered, and the other is four and one-half. They talk in passing about the Peace Corner and peace works that they do. Although the peace curriculum has been mentioned in our parent education talks, it still seems vague […]

Dear Cathie: What to Look for in a Preschool?

Dear Cathie: What to Look for in a Preschool?

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Dear Cathie. I am looking for a preschool for my child, who will be three next summer. I hear good things about Montessori schools and plan to investigate them as a possibility. My friend said to go and observe. What exactly should I be looking For? -A Mom Beginning the Preschool Search Dear Mom, Observing […]

Dear Cathie: Dealing With Challenging Behavior

Dear Cathie: Dealing With Challenging Behavior

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Dear Cathie, Our daughter has entered a new stage, where she whines and pouts when she does not get her way. She is quite dramatic, and some of these incidents last a fairly long time. What can I do to help her snap out of it more quickly? Why is this happening? Her younger sister […]

DEAR CATHIE: Joining A New Community

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Dear Cathie— Our oldest child will begin attending the Montessori school in our area in just a few weeks. We are new to the neighborhood, the philosophy and the school. We are anxious to meet the faculty, other families and children and others in the community as we begin this experience. But we are not […]

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DEAR CATHIE: The Best Use of Time Off

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Dear Cathie, I have been thinking about days off from school and this winter, even snow days. What is the best use of this time off? Is it best to just have a regular day that is like a weekend day, schedule some activity each day, or just let the kids have time to hang […]

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Dear Cathie: Art In The Montessori Classroom

Dear Cathie: Art In The Montessori Classroom

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Dear Cathie, My four year-old son loves to cut, color and paste. He can spend hours and hours happily doing just these activities. I wonder if he gets enough opportunity for creative expression at his Montessori school. I know children are encouraged to repeat the exercises they have had lessons on, but do they ever […]

Dear Cathie: Allowing Children To Concentrate

Dear Cathie: Allowing Children To Concentrate

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Dear Cathie:  I like lots of parts of the Montessori system. But I am confused about why children are supposed to be quiet and calm all the time. When I watch my children at home, they seem to need to scream, run, and jump almost constantly. It seems that the Montessori schools go against what […]

DEAR CATHIE: Why Is Scrubbing The Table Important?

DEAR CATHIE: Why Is Scrubbing The Table Important?

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Dear Cathie: I heard my child say that she “scrubbed a table” at school today. I understand that this is a “big work” and that it is important, but I really don’t understand why or how it helps my child. Can you explain why that is for me and other parents who are also in the […]

DEAR CATHIE: Setting Limits and “Following the Child”

DEAR CATHIE: Setting Limits and “Following the Child”

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Dear Cathie, I understand the Montessori philosophy of “Follow the Child” and I really try to do that! But I also understand the importance of setting limits. Somehow that seems harder for me though. I seem to find these two tenets of the philosophy at odds with each other. How can I let my child […]

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Dear Cathie: Choosing Books For Your Child

Dear Cathie: Choosing Books For Your Child

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Dear Cathie, I hear that Montessori schools recommend books that are realistic and do not have talking animals. My preschooler loves books with animals as main characters, and many of these do talk. Is it negative to read such literature to her at this stage of her development? —A CONCERNED PARENT Dear Concerned Parent, I […]