The Montessori Way

Observation begins with giving a child respectful space to concentrate. "Follow the child" may be one of the most frequently repeated phrases in Montessori education, and one of the most easily misunderstood. To someone hearing it for the first time, it can sound as...

Even a difficult morning can become an opportunity to notice what children are ready to do for themselves. It's 7:42 in the morning. Someone can't find a shoe. The lunch isn't packed. Your child suddenly remembers something that absolutely must go to school today. You...

Walk into a Montessori classroom for young children and you may see something that seems a little surprising. A young child carefully pours water between two small pitchers on a simple tray. A child may be carefully pouring water from one small pitcher into another....

  Your child comes home excited about numbers. Naturally, you want to help. So you pull out some paper and show your child the way you learned to add. Or perhaps you begin teaching letter names, handwriting, multiplication, or borrowing and carrying. You are...

  Dear Cathie, I like many 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...

If your child's teacher could sit down with you for an unhurried hour, there are a few things she would probably want you to hear.   Your Child Doesn't Have to Love Every Day Adults do not love every day at work either. Children do not have to love every day;...

The first weeks of school lay the foundation for a child’s confidence, connection, and learning throughout the year. By Montessori Foundation Staff The first few weeks of a new school year are unlike any other time of the year. Whether your child is walking into a...

When Montessori schools work together, children gain opportunities to build friendships, develop skills, and participate in a wider community. By Tim Seldin Most Montessori schools are intentionally human in scale. Their classrooms are carefully designed communities...

The partnership between home and school begins when children see the adults they love trusting and participating in their Montessori community. By Montessori Foundation Staff Every September, we ask a great deal of children. We ask them to walk into a new classroom—or...

In a calm home environment, a caregiver observes a toddler’s emerging independence without pressure. Few topics generate more anxiety for parents of toddlers than toileting. Is my child ready? Am I pushing too soon? Should we wait? Modern disposable diapers have made...