“Follow the Child” is a key philosophy of the Montessori method of education. Maria Montessori (visionary leader, doctor, founder of the first Montessori school in 1907) observed children in their natural environment and discovered that all children instinctively follow a similar developmental path, albeit at their own pace. The key was to identify where the…
The Business of Relationships
The effectiveness of our teaching, not just academic teaching either, is completely dependent upon the relationships that we build. Contrary to my earlier thinking, it is not exclusive to the relationships we build with the children. The relationships we build with parents allow us to partner with the most valuable and knowing individuals on the…
That’s a Wrap!
Our first week of the 2015 year was nothing short of what I had hoped. It actually exceeded my expectations! We all know the beginning of the school year can be a bumpy and busy ride and we teachers often brace ourselves for the impact that is the first week of school. I speak on…
Think Like a Montessorian
Many of our teachers have earned their formal Montessori certification. Still, many of our teachers you would think are certified have not yet taken the formal training. Montessori is more than a certification. It is a way of life. It is viewing the child purely for who he or she is. It is taking the…
Developing Self-Concept
Self-concept are the ideas we have conceptualized about our whole being – our abilities, our qualities, and disposition. The first five years of our lives are critical in the development of this self-concept. The absorbent mind of a child knows nothing but to internalize every experience and message sent to them during these years. The…
The Pyramids of Egypt
African studies this summer brought us to Egypt where we studied the great pyramids. The content of our lessons ranged from the limestone the pyramids are made from, to the traits of a cube, and also what is inside the great pyramids of Egypt. As an extension to our pyramid lessons, we gave the children…
The Montessori Work Cycle
Three is the magic number when it comes to a Montessori work cycle. Three hours of uninterrupted time for the child to explore, choose and fully engage in a lesson. To a traditional teacher a three hour child led work cycle is unsettling – maybe even risky as the child is fulfilling his own desires…
Our Staff, One Vision
Educators do their work because they have a deeply rooted calling to serve and help build a better world. It is a consistent challenge to find a passionate, qualified and intrinsically motivate educator. As a privately owned small business, it is even more challenging. Resources are limited and with recent political changes these challenges are…
How Do You Decompress?
A parent watched me leave the school the other day while my three little children trailed behind me like good little duckings. He asked me what I did to decompress after being with a large group of children all day then going home to three of my own. My quick response was that I work…
