Blog
Social Studies in Montessori School
By Kristi Larsen Culture is an integral part of the Montessori curriculum. Although it is only one topic within the Social Studies subject matter, it is important because of the diverse group of children we all have in our classrooms.…
How the Montessori approach was developed
By Erin Farney Maria Montessori (1870-1952) developed a beautiful and thoughtful approach to the quality education of children, stressing the importance of following the child. Many people appreciated her during her time, and even more people now continue to respect…
Grace and Courtesy in a Montessori Education
by Erin McFarland Have you ever entered a Montessori Children’s House and noticed that the children are naturally respectful of each other and often helpful? A younger child might ask an older child to sharpen their pencil for them or…
Freedom of Choice in a Montessori Classroom
By Brenda Nelson Through scientific study and observation, Dr. Maria Montessori made many discoveries in regards to child development and how children learn. From these discoveries, she developed the Montessori Method of education, which is different from play-based preschool programs. …
Intrinsic Motivation in a Montessori Education
By Sarah Vang Children are born with an innate curiosity, a desire to learn and need to explore. That’s what makes children the way they are and why they come up with never-ending streams of questions about the world they…
Montessori in the Home
By Francina Lelei As parents, we all want what is best for our child. We want them to grow and be healthy, learn and be smart, and love with empathy and compassion. However, a child is not born knowing how…
Developing the Whole Child in Montessori Preschool
At a Montessori preschool, the primary focus is on developing a well-rounded individual. Montessori educators aim their attention at developing what is called the “whole child,” meaning physical, social, emotional, and cognitive aspects. Unlike traditional preschools which just focus on…
How Montessori Differs from Daycare
As you look at different childcare options for your child, you may notice that a Montessori preschool has some key differences that set it apart from your traditional daycare. Each classroom in a Montessori preschool is unique, even though they…
Preschool Math in the Montessori Environment
By Erin McFarland Math in the Montessori environment is one of the richest subject areas. Maria Montessori was a great mathematician and scientist. She became one of the first woman doctors in Italy. She used this scientific approach to study…
Two Common Misconceptions about a Montessori Classroom
Two Common Misconceptions about a Montessori Classroom by Sheri Papke 1) The classroom is too permissive, and the children do no productive work or; 2) The classroom is too strict, and the children are not able to play or…
Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Krista
This month’s teacher spotlight is from our Corcoran School. Ms. Krista is a Children’s House teacher and has been part of Step By Step for over 10 years. Her experience at Step By Step started when she was just 18…
Why Practical Life in a Montessori Preschool
THE ROLE OF THE PRACTICAL LIFE AREA IN A MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL AND THE IMPACT ON DEVELOPMENT OF 3 YEAR OLD Practical Life exercises very simply put are the exercises of everyday living. These exercises found in a Montessori preschool are…