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DEAR CATHIE: The Importance Of Montessori For The Kindergarten Year

DEAR CATHIE—    It will soon be time to decide if we send our child to her local public school or stay at the Montessori school for Kindergarten. We have loved the Montessori school for the last two years, and he has done very well there. But we want him to fit in socially and academically […]

DEAR CATHIE: The Peace CurrIculum

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?

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

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

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 […]

DEAR CATHIE: The Best Use of Time Off

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 […]

Dear Cathie: Art In The Montessori Classroom

Dear Cathie: Art In The Montessori Classroom

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

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?

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”

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 […]

Dear Cathie: Choosing Books For Your Child

Dear Cathie: Choosing Books For Your Child

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 […]

Variations: Helpful or Hampering?

Variations: Helpful or Hampering?

n our training, we all discussed the value of variations. I want to consider and explore the potential overuse of variations and the effect it can have on the child and the classroom. What is a variation? A variation, in a Montessori classroom, is an opportunity for a child to practice the same work at […]

Dear Cathie: Montessori For The Kindergarten Year

Dear Cathie: Montessori For The Kindergarten Year

Dear Cathie, How important is it to keep my child in the Montessori class through the kindergarten year? After all, she will have to transition to her neighborhood school at some point. Isn’t it best that she do it when all of the children are entering the local elementary school? If we don’t transition at […]

Dear Cathie: Setting Limits and “Following the Child”

Dear Cathie: Setting Limits and “Following the Child”

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 […]

Dear Cathie: Global Warming

Dear Cathie: Global Warming

Dear Cathie, We are hearing so much about global warming. Although I want my child to develop good habits with respect to the earth, I am unsure about how much information to give him. I want to be sure it does not come across as frightening to a preschooler. Do you have any thoughts on […]

Dear Cathie: Special Classes in the Montessori Classroom

Dear Cathie: Special Classes in the Montessori Classroom

Q:  As I begin to investigate Montessori schools for my preschooler, I hear two different philosophies about special classes provided outside of the regular Montessori curriculum. Both ‘camps’ seem proud of their position. But it seems vague to me. Why would a school choose not to have special classes for children unless they are just […]