Category Archive:
Understanding Montessori

Think Big With Montessori Education

Think Big with Montessori Education

It was a quiet September morning, sitting around drinking coffee.  We were on vacation with friends and talking about what to do for the day. Then an email came in announcing that Jeff Bezos was investing $2 Billion for free Montessori-inspired preschools.  All plans for the day were put on hold. The game began. The […]


FREE EVENT | Childhood Potential Conference

2024 Childhood Potential

The Childhood Potential Online Montessori Conference 2024 is coming up January 29 – February 2 and I’m excited to be one of the speakers. I’ll be speaking on the first day on Building Brains the Montessori Way. This conference is not just an event, it’s a five-day festival of learning and inspiration! Each day is a […]


FREE WEBINAR | What About Kindergarten? A Montessori Perspective

What about kindergarten?

It’s a perennial problem for Montessori schools. How can we show parents the importance of the third year of our programs for children 3 to 6 years old? Because the third year in a Montessori program is truly a leap year! This is a session that you will want to let all of your school […]


Expert Montessori Tips

Expert Montessori Tips

I’m pleased to let you know that Porch.com has added a lengthy piece into their advice section about using Montessori in your home. Contributions from fourteen Montessorians (me, too!) are included in this article entitled, Adapting Your Home and Life to a Montessori Lifestyle, Tips from the Experts.


The Normalization Series

allowing opportunities for movement

NORMALIZATION: The Process of Natural and Normal Child Development Another Montessori idea closely aligned with the child’s sensitive periods of development is the idea of the process of normalization, or natural and normal development. You may enjoy these articles about how to see your child’s natural and normal development:


BOOK | Understanding Montessori: A Guide For Parents

Understanding Montessori Second Edition

What is Montessori Education? Montessori education more than anything is about understanding and aiding the natural process of child growth and learning. The principles, methods, and materials used in Montessori education for over a hundred years are scientifically supported, researched and time-tested, plus based on common sense. Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents seeks to […]


BOOK | Understanding Montessori

Cover Understanding Montessori

Ten years ago I wrote and published Understanding Montessori: A Guide For Parents. Over the years I wanted to do an update, but there was always another project that called.  But this summer I went to work on the second edition and am now pleased to let you know about it.  The paperback and ebook have […]


What Are Sensitive Periods?

What Are Sensitive Periods?

Before the age of six, human beings are in a unique period of learning and development. At this time in our lives, certain information is absorbed by our personalities without conscious effort. Young children learn to walk, talk and do hundreds of things without formal instruction or being aware of learning. Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), […]


Spontaneous Self-Discipline

spontaneous self-discipline

An indicator of healthy and normal development in children (and adults, too!) is the presence of self-discipline that seems to appear almost out of nowhere.  In reality, there are factors that contribute significantly to the development of self-discipline in the child and adult. As a child’s will is strengthened by the use of free choice, […]


Independence

independence

We are raising adults, not children. Our job as parents (and parent support systems) is to guide our children to complete independence. Little by little, day by day, we help our children develop skills and take on more responsibility until they can run at full speed on their own two feet. Unfortunately, it is often […]