Art in our Montessori classrooms is woven throughout the curriculum and is one of the many ways children express themselves; it is a way for children to communicate their feelings. Through art children develop their fine motor skills and build concentration. In our Montessori classrooms, we provide open-ended art activities that help children explore and…
Exploring the World – One Sense at a Time
Maria Montessori studied children in their environment. She observed that children with physical disabilities limiting one or more of their senses were able to sharpen their remaining senses in order to take in information. She took that knowledge and designed the Montessori classroom and its rich sensory experiences. She purposely intended for each Montessori material…
The Work Cycle
The classroom “work cycle” … it is such a mundane name to refer to such a magical period of time in our children’s day. This extended uninterrupted period of time fosters independence and confidence. The work cycle is where children can choose their activities from what they have been presented, can join a small group…
Words of Wisdom
We teachers can only help the work going on, as servants wait upon a master. — Maria Montessori
Take a new path
Education should no longer be mostly imparting knowledge, but must take a new path, seeking the release of human potentials. — Maria Montessori
Normalization
The signs of spring are emerging: chirping songbirds, fluttering butterflies and budding blossoms can be seen outside. With this time of year, we also witness a fresh energy in our classrooms. This is my favorite time of year. Teachers and I delight in the explosion of mastery happening in the classroom. Children’s reading, mathematics and…
Imagination
Imagination does not become great until human beings, given the courage and the strength, use it to create. — Maria Montessori
The hands are the instruments
The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence. — Maria Montessori
Words of Wisdom
The Life and Work of Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori’s life and work is the epitome of the saying, “timing is everything”. She lived in an era of pioneers in the work of human development and developments of the senses. Jean Itard and Edouardo Seguin worked to establish research based evidence of the sequence of development and how to guide proper development with…
