This CD is perfect for the Montessori school year because teachers can now play music that fits with the activities in the classroom. There is “Roll Your Rug” which reinforces children’s task of rolling and unrolling their work rugs every day. There is “Walk the Line” which is used many mornings at Montessori schools (like Montessori In The Park, Avondale, AZ) where walking, galloping, tip-toeing, simulated swimming and flying are followed to the music. “Hello Have a Fine Day” and “Goodbye Have a Fine Day” gives the opportunity to children to learn greetings in over 20 languages! You can play “Celebration of Life” to share in a child’s birthday!

There are songs about using manners (Please, Thank You, I’m Sorry, Excuse Me), learning the names of the Continents, Days of the Week, Months of the Year and more. There are also 2 classical guitar songs from my good friend Ed Sipos usable for work background music, circle time or walking the line. There is also a short 3 minute story: “Lizzy the Lizard”, again fabulous for circle time.

There is more information at http://www.MontessoriMomsMusic.com or http://www.papaGG.com. Snippets of each song are available to hear at CD Baby or ITunes. Just do a search on “The papaGG Band” . The CDs are available at our website (mentioned above), CDBaby (www.CDBaby.com/papaGGband) or downloadable on Itunes or Amazon.

Once again, thank you for mentioning us. Our next album is coming out shortly, it is called “Skipping Through Multiplication” where skip counting songs help children to develop their multiplication skills faster. My 5 year old daughter has her “times tables” figured out through listening to these in our car.

Enjoy! papaGG

Thanks for stopping by.

I am convinced that much of our educational system was designed to create reliable factory workers. As a result, it just doesn’t educate for success in our modern world.

Montessori really helps children learn and practice the skills they need to thrive in tomorrow’s world. Thanks for the resource list.

Thanks for stopping by!

As far as what led me to write the book, it was a palm-on-the-forehead aha! moment, sitting in a Montessori classroom and realizing that all of my previous educational experiences–as a child, a college student, in my career, and as a parent–were scattered jigsaw-puzzle pieces. Watching the classroom that day showed me how they all fit together. I had all the pieces. I knew them well. I just didn’t know how to put them together until that moment. That’s when we became Montessori fans. The book followed later as I started asking neighbors, family, and co-workers about their thoughts on education in order to start a conversation about this wonderful method we had found. But the conversations became one-sided when I found out noone had heard about Montessori. I was doing most of the talking and I’m not a talkative person. So that’s when I figured I could do more for my school, for my children, and for other children, then to sell sno-cones at school functions. I could make a real contribution!

As far as aha! moments, I’m in the early stages of putting together another book called Montessori Moments which will be a collection of others’ aha! moments–those moments when you have seen the beauty and brilliance of the Montessori method, as well as those traditional school moments when you have witnessed the worst that our current system brings out in us.

We must continue to find ways to reach out to those outside of Montessori and grab them by the collar.

Not only did it lead to tension in the home, but the child felt the negativity of the other parent and it affected their performance in school – almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. I think it’s a a really important issue.

Can you briefly mention your own experience, and what led you to write this book?

Thank you for posting this information on my book Montessori Madness! You write, “This is a great book for a reluctant spouse, grandparents, or other family members who might not be convinced that Montessori is the best educational option.” Yes! It is the folks who are not already convinced that I am trying to reach. These people fall into two categories: those who are reluctant family members (and thus will be the ones one must argue against at the kitchen table in these tough economic times when the Montessori school tuition bill comes due), and those who have simply never heard about Montessori and would sneer at the thought of touchy-feely alternative education.

This book helps Montessori schools in multiple ways:
1. Strengthens the connection of Montessori families to the philosophy/pedagogy of their school.
2. Persuades others in the community to come take a look at the local Montessori school, thus building enrollment.
3. Raises money for Montessori schools (for each book sold at http://www.montessorimadness.com, I pay a $10 referral fee to the school the purchaser designates on the online order form).

It’s a win/win/win.