Cosmic Education: Maria Montessori’s signature contribution to elementary-age education. Cosmic Education is a vision intended to serve humanity in harmony. In Cosmic Education, Montessori saw the possibility of creating not only a new human being, but also a new world. We need that vision reborn in our lives, and we need it now. Cosmic Education …
There’s a lot of frustration in the Montessori community. By this time of year, experienced guides expect their classrooms to be buzzing with focused excitement. Typically, you’d find even the youngest students choosing work and finding interest in the prepared activities on the shelves. But this year is different. And Montessori teachers around the globe …
This is the fifth article in the series: Key Ingredients for a Learning-Inspired “Classroom” at Home or in School “The vision of the teacher should be at once precise like that of the scientist, and spiritual like that of the saint. The preparation for science and the preparation for sanctity should form a new soul, …
Mindfulness, Meditation and Montessori:
Why Observation is Key to Science and Sanctity Read More »
2020 and 2021 offered up incredible challenges to teachers and parents. You had to turn on a dime in March, 2020 and things didn’t get a lot better for many of you throughout 2020/2021. So with a return to the actual classroom, this fall is going to offer an opportunity for a genuine fresh start …
Three Things to Do NOW for
a Relaxed Montessori School-Year Start-Up! Read More »
Does your learning environment inspire independence? Has your environment gone stale? Is it cluttered or disorganized? Are your children engaged with it? In this article, I examine four fundamental areas to consider in creating a learning environment that works. This is the third article in the series: Key Ingredients for a Learning-Inspired “Classroom” at Home …
A Learning Environment Prepared for Independence:
A Key Ingredient for Inspired Learning Read More »
Yes, I know…a strong statement! But I truly believe this…not just because I drank the Kool-Aid, but because I’ve seen how it works over and over in my more than 30 years in the Montessori world. This week, I got even more positive reinforcement through the Montessori Home School Summit. There was some really valuable …
Maria Montessori called it deviant behavior…deviant from the normal, focused, concentrated attention to activity that she realized could be achieved by all children given a stimulating environment, freedom within limits set by a code of respect, gentle guidance and time to explore. The last few weeks, ever since the first four to six weeks of …
The problem we face are students whose behavior is not settling in to what we Montessori guides call normalized. It’s eight weeks into school and these children are still unfocused, talkative, and disengaged with the learning opportunities you’ve presented. In part 1 of this I suggested that I’d focus on building relationship with those students…any …
Behavior Challenges that Surface in the Fall, Part 2 Read More »
Concerns about behavior challenges often seem to arise at this time of year…after the honeymoon period of getting back to school. Especially this fall, when many students are returning to the classroom after more than a year of remote learning, the newness of being back with friends and enjoying the social aspects may have added …
Behavior Challenges that Surface in the Fall, Part 1 Read More »
“If a child carries out the will of a teacher because he is afraid or because his affection is exploited, he has no will, and obedience that is secured by suppression of the will is truly oppression. Such is often the obedience obtained in schools, but the finesse of discipline is to obtain obedience from …
