The stereotypes about teenagers abound: the eye rolling, the cliques, talking-back, faces in their phones. If you only believed what you saw in the media, you might think teenagers were universally unruly, antisocial, disrespectful and surly. Yeah, sometimes. But they're just as often, and often more often, kind and compassionate, engaged and idealistic, hopeful to change the world and certain that they can be the ones to do so. They have enough knowledge of the world to noti

Tis the season: Office Family Parties, Holiday Open-Houses, busy shopping centers, neighborhood get-togethers. Our children's social calendars are often as busy or busier than ours are this season. And since many of these events include communities that are not school-based and therefore not "prepared environments", it's a good time to prepare yourself and your child for these unfamiliar settings. Don't expect predictable behavior in unpredictable circumstances: Your child, a

As we recover from American Thanksgiving, it's a time to be aware of the things for which we are grateful. But how do we "teach" a virtue that we hope will come from within? As with all of the Montessori environment, we do so authentically and in a way that reflects what we know about children's development. For toddlers, modeling gratitude sets the foundation for children to express it themselves later. Teaching and parenting toddlers is all about modeling the care and atten

It's the American Thanksgiving, and across the country, families are gathering together to acknowledge the things for which they are grateful, to share abundant meals and family traditions, honoring the harvest and hearth, what we reap and what we sow. Today, I am grateful for Montessori, and for the thousands of teachers and parents across the globe who are committed to asking more of ourselves in the name of the Child. Much is made about the educational promise of Montessor

“Time Out.” “The Naughty Chair.” “Take A Break.” It’s got lots of names, but it generally works the same way. The child breaks a rule. The parent or teacher sends him or her to a special chair or bench to “think about it,” until enough time has passed that the child is welcomed to return to the regular activity. Some argue that “time out” is a chance for an overexcited child to calm down so he or she can make more appropriate choices. Others argue that it’s a necessary penalt

The stereotypes about teenagers abound: the eye rolling, the cliques, talking-back, faces in their phones. If you only believed what you saw in the media, you might think teenagers were universally unruly, antisocial, disrespectful and surly. Yeah, sometimes. But they're just as often, and often more often, kind and compassionate, engaged and idealistic, hopeful to change the world and certain that they can be the ones to do so. They have enough knowledge of the world to noti

The child is capable of developing and giving us tangible proof of the possibility of a better humanity. He has shown us the true process of construction of the human being. We have seen children totally change as they acquire a love for things and as their sense of order, discipline, and self-control develops within them.... The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind. - Maria Montessori, Education and Peace We believe this. We really do. We describe children's peacef

“Share with your friends!” “Remember to share!” "Give your friend some!" Children who share are seen as more generous, more kind, more social. Children who share are empathetic. Shouldn’t we insist on children sharing until they know how do to it themselves? Yes… it’s just a matter of how. When we chose to share, we demonstrate empathy. We prioritize equity over selfishness. We tend to others’ needs. We trust that our own will be met. When we chose to share, we enact those qu

Montessori classrooms are notable for their freedoms. Children seem to be following their own paths, unaffected by a whole-group-plan or the direct instruction of a teacher. While traditional classrooms track entire groups of children at a time, Montessori classrooms have as many lesson plans as there are children in the environment, and each one is incomplete until it's initiated by the child. This degree of freedom can come as a surprise to some observers, as children who w

The child is capable of developing and giving us tangible proof of the possibility of a better humanity. He has shown us the true process of construction of the human being. We have seen children totally change as they acquire a love for things and as their sense of order, discipline, and self-control develops within them.... The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind. - Maria Montessori, Education and Peace We believe this. We really do. We describe children's peacef