So, maybe by now you know that observing in your child's classroom is going to be its own special adventure. You'll see some things that make you curious, some that make you proud, and maybe one or two that make you think you might be a little wacky to have agreed to this Montessori thing. Visiting your child's Elementary classroom promises to be all these things and more. First, buckle up. If you're expecting the quiet, peaceful wonderment of the Early Childhood classroom, t

The first question most parents ask when they visit their child's Early Childhood Montessori classroom? "Why don't they do this at home?" When you're visiting your child's environment, don't be surprised if you see them doing things or caring for themselves in ways that, at home, you wish they'd do. While you might wonder why you have to keep reminding them to hang up their own towel in your bathroom, you''ll observe them preparing food for friends, from opening the refrigera

It's a time of transitions for many Montessori schools here in the US, when children are saying goodbye to familiar environments and preparing to join new ones. Even the children who will remain for another year in a multi-age classroom will have some change to accommodate, as the children who have moved on are replaced with younger children and as they assume new roles in the classroom. If your child is preparing for one of these moves, you might be spending more time than u

Montessori's Grace and Courtesy lessons are a beautiful component of our Early Childhood environments, offering engaging, playful ways for children to learn the customs of social graces and to care for each other and their community. You'll notice them at work when you visit and are offered a freshly brewed cup of tea, or when you see a child gently place their hand on a teacher's shoulder to interrupt, and when children pass each other freshly baked bread. We protect childre

It's a good time of year to take stock of the people who have helped your child to get this far: the teachers and classroom assistants, the school support staff and after-school guides who've walked with your child from those early, frightened days of school, the support staff around your school who may have lent a hand to you, or offered a smile on one of those mornings when you just needed to be reminded that you're ok. The other adults with whom we share service to childre

Does this sound familiar? Your summer break is starting, and you've decided that this is the year you're going to engage in some self-care. You've chosen just enough summer work to not sweat the bills, picked one or two professional development days to keep the old gray matter in shape, and are looking forward to relaxing time to rejuvenate and reconnect with yourself outside of the classroom. And then. Summer has flown by and it's time to get ready for school to start again

By the time your child is in Middle School, you may think their days of summer camps are waning. They're probably mature enough to stay on their own now more, and they may not be as interested in the themed camps that were more attractive to them when they were younger. But summer programs for Middle Schoolers, if you find the right one, meet some important needs that just don't pause themselves when school is not in session. Middle Schoolers, while seemingly responsible, sti

If, like many American students, your child is transitioning from the "school year," to "summer vacation," you may be surprised when it's not all backyard adventures and laughter. For Elementary children, though, the mix of summer adventures often brings with it new challenges in the most important areas of their lives: their social world. As children spend more time in summer activities, they are often exposed to more children or different groupings of children than they've

By the time your child is in Early Childhood, they likely have a better ability to discern between different kinds of days: school days, weekend days, holidays, etc. They may be contributing to the end of the school year, cleaning their classrooms or helping to put things away and, while they still are developing their understanding of concepts of time, they may demonstrate a wide range of emotions as they get ready to leave their classrooms for the summer. If your child's sc

While many Montessori programs offer summer care, most American schools are shifting gears at this time of year, moving from a more formal, school year calendar to more relaxed activities for the longer days of summer. While your infant or toddler may be attending school less often, or not at all, there's still so much development happening. If your child will experience a change in their daily routine, be prepared that the transition may not be as relaxing as you imagine you