Why Cursive is Still Important in Education

Children engaged in practical life activities, cleaning and organizing the Montessori classroom.

By Erin McFarland In our highly technical age, handwriting as a whole seems to be an antiquated concept in our education systems. How often do we handwrite things in our daily lives? Moreover, cursive writing seems to be an old-fashioned way of communicating. Is cursive a necessary skill to teach young children? Or is it an…

Read More

Sewing and Weaving in the Montessori Classroom

Montessori math materials arranged neatly on a shelf, including decimal system blocks and golden beads.

By Sheri Papke Why do we sew in the Montessori classroom? In the book, Sewing in the Montessori Classroom, a practical life curriculum, Aimee Fagan M.Ed., says, “The hand is the brain’s connection to the world around us. As our culture moves to being greatly screen-based, we are struggling with how to help the children…

Read More

The Absorbent Mind

A child using Montessori binomial cubes to learn about algebraic concepts through hands-on exploration.

By Nilanga Ericsson As a child, I spoke two languages, my mother tongue: Sinhala and English, which is considered the official language of Sri Lanka. I don’t recall anyone teaching me the vocabulary, the grammar or the syntax. Yet I spoke both languages fluently. It is a common occurrence that happens every day in every country…

Read More

Movement in the Montessori Classroom

Children developing fine motor skills through Montessori lacing and threading activities.

By Kristen Guzzi All the way through elementary school and into high school, we always sat in desks or at a table. It didn’t matter if we were doing worksheets, homework, or power points. As I got older, I remember just always wanting to get up from the desk to just go get water or…

Read More

Teaching Kindness and Respect in a Montessori Classroom

A child preparing a snack as part of Montessori practical life activities, fostering independence.

By: Connie Parker Being a part of a Montessori classroom is more than just academics, there is a social aspect to the classroom that is just as important. Children in a Montessori classroom learn to be a part of a community, where getting along with others is extremely important. Montessori teachers reinforce the values of kindness…

Read More

Montessori Phonetics – How and Why We Use Them

Students learning about geography with Montessori continent maps and flags.

Montessori Phonetics By Amber Evans Phonics is a reading method that allows a child to learn the sounds of letters by developing an understanding of how these sounds are used individually, in groups and whole words. Phonetic instruction is the foundational stepping stone in a Montessori Language Arts program. Learning phonics provides an excellent way…

Read More

Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten Academically?

Children using Montessori knobbed cylinders to refine their sense of size and dimension.

By Kristi Ockuly As a Montessori teacher for more than twenty years, and as a mother of five, I can attest to the fact that all parents wonder about the experience their young children will have in school. If they are in preschool, parents wonder about elementary school. Elementary school parents wonder about the middle…

Read More

Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten Emotionally?

A child working independently with Montessori pink tower cubes to develop spatial awareness.

By Kristi Ockuly As a Montessori teacher for more than twenty years, and as a mother of five, I can attest to the fact that all parents wonder about the experience their young children will have in school. If they are in preschool, parents wonder about elementary school. Elementary school parents wonder about the middle…

Read More

Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten Socially?

Montessori art corner where children are painting using natural brushes and materials.

By Kristi Ockuly As a Montessori school teacher for more than twenty years, and as a mother of five, I can attest to the fact that all parents wonder about the experience their young children will have in school. If they are in preschool, parents wonder about elementary school. Elementary school parents wonder about the…

Read More

Sensitive Periods in Child Development

Students participating in grace and courtesy lessons, learning to work cooperatively in a Montessori environment.

By Yelena Raskin Sensitive periods are periods of psychological development in the child. This period is a time of limited duration. During the sensitive periods, the child has very powerful capacities. The child is able to do great things and make very important acquisitions, like language and movement. But after some time, these powers disappear.…

Read More