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# Montessori for Everyone Blog

Montessori for Everyone Blog

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## Posts

- [Helpful Foreign Language Resources](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/helpful-foreign-language-resources/) - Since many people have emailed me and asked for foreign language resources in a Montessori style, I thought I’d put together some helpful links. Keep in mind that even if the material isn’t inherently Montessori, it certainly can be used in the Montessori classroom or home. I like using a variety of materials when studying a language so that different kinds of learning styles are covered.
- [Oh, Baby! Preparing a Montessori Environment for the Littlest Ones](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/oh-baby-preparing-a-montessori-environment-for-the-littlest-ones/) - Many people do not realize that Montessori can begin at birth, or even before, as preparations are made for the baby's arrival. Many Montessori schools offer infant programs, and it's very interesting to see how the classrooms are arranged. The focus is always on freedom of movement, quality over quantity, and natural materials over synthetic.
- [Responsibility in the 9-12 Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/responsibility-in-the-9-12-classroom/) - I have only a little knowledge about the 9-12 age group (I taught them music when I was a 6-9 teacher); otherwise, my experience is limited to having actually been 9-12 at one time, but not in Montessori. I know that Maria Montessori believed that the 6-12 period was one of stability, but times have
- [Recommended Books for the Elementary Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/recommended-elementary/) - A couple of months ago, I received an email from a Montessori elementary teacher. In it, she posed this question: "If I bought only one reference book for my classroom, which book should I buy?"
- [Montessori Basics 3: Ultimate Guide to Montessori Materials](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-3-ultimate-guide-to-montessori-materials-links/) - Here some helpful lists for recommended Montessori materials for every age group: Essentials of a Toddler Classroom Essentials of a 3-6 Classroom Essentials of a 6-9 Classroom Essentials of a 9-12 Classroom
- [Montessori Basics 11: Materials and Resources for Elementary 9-12](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-11-materials-and-resources-for-elementary-9-12/) - I get more and more questions about 9-12 all the time, and I think it's great! It means that parents and teachers are so thrilled with the way children progress in 6-9, they want it to continue. I've been assembling some helpful 9-12 information and thought it would be nice to put it together in one post.
- [The Ultimate Post About Montessori Albums](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-ultimate-post-about-montessori-albums/) - I get a lot of questions about albums, so I'm going to try and answer them all in one helpful post! In this post, I will also give an in-depth review of the printed Montessori albums that are available, and give some links to online albums as well.
- [When Children and Culture Collide: An Interview with P. Donohue Shortridge](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/when-children-and-culture-collide-interview-with-p-donohue-shortridge/) - P. Donohue Shortridge works with schools and families as a consultant, helping them implement Montessori ideals in their practice and in their lives. I thought it would be good to talk to her about the topic of children and culture, and she was kind enough to answer my questions. Let’s jump right in!
- [Dealing with Dyslexia](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/dealing-with-dyslexia/) - Dyslexia is something that I've heard about my entire adult life as a teacher. But my knowledge has been fairly superficial until now.
- [Is Dramatic Play the Best Way for Children to Learn?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/is-dramatic-play-the-best-way-for-children-to-learn/) - A few days ago, I stumbled across a parent asking for information at Yahoo! Answers about the benefits of Montessori education. One of the replies they received echoes a concern Montessori teachers and parents are very familiar with:Children learn best through play and the Montessori method does not offer a chancefor dramatic play - playing
- [Do Outlines & Blackline Masters Stifle Creativity?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/outlines-creativity/) - I recently read an interesting article by Julia Volkman in the Jola Montessori newsletter Public Montessorian. In it, she talks about the creative limitations of having kids color outlines like those found in coloring books or blackline masters. In Montessori, blackline masters are black and white outlines of our nomenclature cards (see the Parts of
- [Leading Children to True Discoveries](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/leading-children-to-true-discoveries/) - I loved my high school physics class, but looking back, we didn’t do physics in a very scientific way. I remember learning about “g” – the acceleration of any object due to gravity, which is 9.8 m/s2 – and then doing an experiment in which we dropped objects from various heights and used stop watches to see how long it took them to hit the ground.
- [Designing a Montessori Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/designing-a-montessori-classroom/) - The wide range of glorious Montessori materials is one of the best things about the Montessori method, but putting it all together in a classroom so that everything is neatly arranged (and easy to find) is a challenge. I often get questions from both parents and teachers on how to arrange a classroom, and I've blogged about it quite a bit, but the posts are spread around so I'm going to bring them together in one giant post.
- [Children Can Draw and So Can You](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/children-can-draw-and-so-can-you/) - I've written about arts and crafts many times; it's a favorite subject of mine, and has always been a focus in every classroom I've had (at schools and at home). I've always made sure that children have plenty of time for art, as well as all the art supplies they might want: paint, colored pencils, clay, markers, and plenty of paper. One area that's always scared me, though, is that of drawing or sketching. It's not my strong suit, yet it's something that I want my children to know how to do. That's why I was so excited when I picked up a copy of Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes.
- [Two Terrific Tools for Teaching Science Successfully](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/two-terrific-tools-teaching-science/) - So, you've managed to face up to your misconceptions of science. You've acknowledged that you need accurate information in order to teach kids correctly. Good for you! Now the question is, how can we actually help kids learn about science in a way that doesn't lead to their own wrong conclusions?
- [The Difference a Father Can Make](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/difference-a-father-can-make/) - Fathers have it a bit rough when it comes to being involved in their children's educations. It's often the mother who drops kids off at school and picks them up, and many times the mother is the only one who attends the parent/teacher conference. Speaking generally, mothers are also more likely to help their children
- [My Secrets to Organizing Montessori Materials](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/my-secrets-to-organizing-montessori-materials/) - I've been wanting to do this post for awhile, since so many of you ask me about how to organize materials - both behind-the-scenes and in your classrooms. I'm going to share some of my favorite ways of organizing and storing materials, and hopefully you'll come away with some new ideas (and of course, share your own!)
- [The Montessori Method: Understanding the Mind of Maria Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-montessori-method-understanding-the-mind-of-maria-montessori/) - Maria Montessori's groundbreaking book,The Montessori Method, was first published in 1912, and has since been translated into 20 different languages. Maybe you have read this book already, or you've always heard about it but haven't had a chance to pick it up yet. Either way, I think you'll enjoy this, the first in a three-part
- [Eight Tips for Fantastic Teacher Presentations](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/eight-tips-for-fantastic-teacher-presentations/) - Ah, the presentation! Therein lies the magic of Montessori…that’s where the beautiful materials come alive for the children. It seems to be so simple, right? Just demonstrate pouring, or the checkerboard, or Parts of a Volcano. But it’s actually more complicated than it appears. It’s easy to say too much, or not enough, or forget
- [All About Math Bingo Games](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/all-about-math-bingo-games/) - One of my astute readers from South Africa, Lesley, emailed me the other day with a question about the elementary workplans. In them, I mention Bingo Games under "Math", but I don't explain what they are. I sometimes forget that the names of materials may differ from training center to training center (or country to
- [Looking Closer at the Fundamental Needs Card Sets](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/looking-closer-at-fundamental-needs-card-sets/) - I have a lot to share about the new Fundamental Needs of People Card Sets, but it seemed like too much to put in the description of the item. So, I thought I'd blog about it!
- [Shattering Common Science Myths](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/shattering-common-science-myths/) - Humans are always looking for explanations. From infancy onward, we are drawing conclusions about the things we see around us. The trouble is, our conclusions about how the world works are often wrong.
- [Finding Leaders for the Next Generation](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/finding-leaders-for-the-next-generation/) - Yesterday I was surfing the internet when I happened upon the website of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. If you’re not familiar with it, Bill Gates (founder of Microsoft) and his wife, Melinda, run a charitable foundation that funds projects all over the world, including those that combat poverty and disease.
- [What Montessori Really Looks Like](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/what-montessori-really-looks-like/) - I'm frequently asked these kinds of questions: Do children really do well in Montessori? What kinds of traits does a Montessori child develop? Is Montessori really a better way to learn? I decided to ask for input, and posted this question on Facebook: "Parents, can you share some positive results you’ve seen in your child from being in Montessori?" The answers were amazing!
- [Will My Child Do Well in Montessori?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/will-my-child-do-well-in-montessori/) - People frequently ask me whether or not their child would do well in a Montessori setting. Many parents find out about the Montessori method and think it sounds like a great way of learning, but they are unsure as to whether it would work for their child.
- [Finding a Montessori School](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/finding-a-montessori-school/) - A common question I hear frequently is "How can I find a Montessori school near me?". I thought I'd put together all the resources I know about in one helpful post. There are several ways to go about finding a Montessori school.
- [Grammar, What Is It Good For?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/grammar/) - Okay, okay, I know I shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition (although I've heard that rule is more relaxed now than it used to be). Some of us remember grammar studies from grade school with all the joy of a dentist visit. The thought of teaching it is daunting and unpleasant. Fortunately, just as
- [Music in Montessori 1: What are the Benefits?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/music-in-montessori-1-what-are-the-benefits/) - I’m surprised that I haven’t blogged about this yet, but it’s just been sitting in the back of my mind for awhile. When it comes to music (and art, generally) in Montessori, I feel some shame. It’s an underdeveloped area that doesn’t have the same thoughtfully-laid-out curriculum that other areas have. Truth is, none of
- [Montessori Basics 8: Pink, Blue, and Green Series](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-8-pink-blue-and-green-series/) - The Pink, Blue, and Green Series work is an integral part of Montessori language. Many people have questions about these materials, though. They don’t seem quite as self-explanatory as other common Montessori work. There’s a lot to know about the history and usage of these materials – so read on for more info!
- [Montessori Basics 9: Sandpaper Letters](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-9-sandpaper-letters/) - In Dr. Montessori's day, children were made to practice forming letters by first writing an almost endless series of vertical strokes. Montessori immediately saw that this method completely ignored the fact that so many of the letters in our alphabet are based on curves (think about 'o', 'c', 'b', etc.).
- [The Shape of Geometry in Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-shape-of-geometry-in-montessori/) - As with many curricular areas, geometry in Montessori is quite different than it is in traditional education. Almost all of the study is hands-on, using wooden shapes and nomenclature cards to teach geometric concepts. This is very important when it comes to geometry, as research shows that it takes children a long time to be able to picture shapes correctly in their minds, and even longer to be able to mentally "rotate" them. Working with them in a hands-on manner helps immensely.
- [All About Montessori Math](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/all-about-montessori-math/) - Let’s talk math, shall we? I believe that Montessori math is just about the best thing going. Sure, there are lots of other educational methods that have wonderful ways of teaching language, science, history, art, and music, but for me the Montessori math materials are truly unique.
- [Introducing Grammar with Games and Activities](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/introducing-grammar/) - Learning about grammar can be fun the Montessori way! The shapes and colors of the grammar symbols help the child to remember the different parts of speech and their meanings. In order for the child to begin the study of grammar, there is a fun, beginning activity for each part of speech. Take a look!
- [Learning Styles of Children - Summary](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/learning-styles-of-children-summary/) - Whew! There were more learning styles to cover than I initially thought. The more research I did, the more styles I uncovered. But, along the way I was able to combine many of them together – they are the same style, just called by a different name depending on which study you are looking at.
- [Grammar Materials Bring Language to Life](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/grammar-materials/) - In Montessori, we have many different kinds of activities to teach the parts of speech. Some may be a bit of a surprise - who would think that a farm play set could be used to teach grammar? I love the idea of kids using familiar objects and animals to learn more about language. Here
- [Doubling Your Grammar Materials with Simple Extensions](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/doubling-your-grammar-materials-with-simple-extensions/) - Today, we're going to look at some fun grammar extensions that can be done inexpensively, using the grammar materials you already have or common items from around your classroom. I like the sound of that! I've also included some recommendations for helpful story books about grammar.
- [Setting Up Pink Series Work](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/setting-up-pink-series-work/) - Many years ago I taught at Midwest Montessori School, the school that was run by the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center. Because it was a training center school, our classroom was visited by many Montessori teachers and interns. One thing I noticed was that any people who visited were very interested in the set up and layout of the materials on the shelves. It seems that no matter how long you've been doing Montessori, there's always a new way to arrange the work.
- [Making Language Work More Exciting](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/making-language-work-more-exciting/) - If you've been following my blog for awhile, you'll know that one thing I love about Montessori is how we use small objects to enliven our materials. There are some great ways to use objects, especially in the Language area, so I had some fun today taking pictures for all of you. Hopefully you'll find a few new ideas here.
- [6 Terrific Tips for Working with Toddlers](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/6-terrific-tips-for-working-with-toddlers/) - A little while ago, I wrote a post about the effectiveness of logical consequences. In it, I mentioned that logical consequences generally don't work with very young children (say, under three), because they don't yet understand cause and effect. Several people contacted me to ask, "What should we do, then, to guide young children towards
- [Another School Year Begins!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/another-school-year-begins/) - Exactly a week ago, my kids and I started another year of homeschooling. I was pretty excited about it, since they are one year older and ready for new, exciting materials. I do use the workplans with my son, although I make some changes to account for the specific materials we have and his own
- [10 Reasons to Be Glad You Homeschool](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/10-reasons-to-be-glad-you-homeschool/) - I truly value all of my readers who have made the commitment to homeschool their children. This post is my greeting card of praise and encouragement to each of you!1. Your child is spending the majority of her time with the people she loves best in the world - her family.2. Your child knows that
- [A Long Overdue Homeschooling Update](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/a-long-overdue-homeschooling-update/) - It’s been awhile since I talked about where we are in our homeschooling efforts. My children and I have continued to work every day in spite of the move to a new house and the construction going on as we finish our basement. It’s been wild, actually!
- [Our Home Classroom Part 2: Language](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/home-classroom-language/) - As I mentioned in an earlier post, my family recently moved to a new house and I have had a great time setting up a classroom in the basement for my children, ages 9 and 6. Today I'd like to cover what I've done for their language studies; while this is in a home classroom, it's very similar to what I did in my school classrooms, just smaller.
- [Music in Montessori 2: Rhythm Activities](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/music-in-montessori-2-rhythm-activities/) - One of the most basic musical components is rhythm. I often catch my kids tapping or hitting things in a steady beat. Kids seem to instinctively be drawn to rhythmic sounds. So, it's a great place to start when doing music activities. What is rhythm? There are a couple of definitions. Here is a quick
- [Grace and Courtesy 2: Broadening a Child's Horizons](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/grace-and-courtesy-2-broadening-a-childs-horizons/) - Young children are naturally very self-centered. This is a normal part of infancy and toddlerhood, but as children get older it’s important that they start to notice the needs of people around them. This typically begins with family and friends. Once children start studying other countries and cultures, the idea of grace and courtesy can
- [Music in Montessori 3: Learning About Pitch](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/music-in-montessori-3-learning-about-pitch/) - Along with rhythm, pitch is a basic part of music and one that kids respond to readily. As always, it helps to define what “pitch” is. At a scientific level, pitch is the frequency of sound. In the context of music education, it’s basically whether or not a note sounds high or low. There are
- [How I Found Montessori (Or, How Montessori Found Me)](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/how-i-found-montessori-or-how-montessori-found-me/) - The year was 1994. Newly married, I had nothing to offer the job world but a degree in History and a winning smile. By that point, I had figured out that I liked working with kids and was pretty good at it. As I scanned the local job ads, I saw that a Montessori school in Niles, IL was advertising for an assistant.
- [Music in Montessori 4: Musical Instruments & the Symphony Orchestra](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/music-in-montessori-4-musical-instruments-the-symphony-orchestra/) - This is the next in the music series posts, and probably one of my favorite ways of studying music: learning about musical instruments. A delightful way to introduce kids to musical instruments is to have them make some themselves. This can be as simple as putting beads in a container and shaking it, or as
- [Grace and Courtesy 4: Skills for a Lifetime](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/grace-and-courtesy-4-skills-for-a-lifetime/) - If you’ve been following my Grace and Courtesy series so far, hopefully you’ve realized a few basic things about these important life skills. To sum up: 1. Grace and courtesy skills should be taught very early 2. These skills have both a narrow application (home, classroom) and a broad one (community, world) 3. Grace and
- [Montessori Basics 6: Essentials of a 6-9 Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-6-essentials-of-a-6-9-classroom/) - Ah, the Montessori 6-9 classroom! One of my favorite places in the whole world. Here’s a look a the essential materials that every Montessori elementary classroom should have.
- [Seven Things to Do in Elementary Every Day](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/seven-things-to-do-in-elementary-every-day/) - No two days are alike in any elementary classroom. Students buzz with activity, moving in and out of projects and conversations like busy bees. But there are ways to include some consistent (but not very time-consuming) activities each day that teach important skills and help establish the tone for work time. Here are my favorites.
- [Montessori Basics 10: Homeschooling with Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-10-homeschooling-with-montessori/) - I receive many, many questions from people who are interested in homeschooling with Montessori. Even though I've addressed this topic before, I thought it would be helpful to answer some of these questions in one big, comprehensive blog post so that I can refer people to it as a resource.
- [10 Ways to Promote Peace in Your Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/promoting-peace/) - While you're setting up your classroom for the new school year, you'll be planning lessons for language, math, history, and geography. But one thing we sometimes forget to plan for is peace education.
- [Music in Montessori 5: Music Theory](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/music-in-montessori-5-music-theory/) - As with all of these topics, it helps to first define what music theory is. Music theory is the study of all the elements that make up music, the most basic of which are rhythm, melody, harmony, and notation. In a classroom setting, I consider basic music theory to be note-reading and the knowledge of
- [Sleepless Kids in Serious Trouble](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/sleepless-kids-in-serious-trouble/) - Modern medicine prescribes doses of daily sleep for children in increments along the following lines:Infants 0-12 months - 13-15 hours per dayChildren 1-5 years old - 12-15 hours per dayChildren 6-12 years old - 10 -12 hours per dayTeenagers - 8 - 9.5 hours per dayFor infants and toddlers, some of these sleep hours may
- [Music in Montessori 6: Movement and Drama](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/music-in-montessori-6-movement-and-drama/) - Movement is a great way for kids to experience music – not only is it enjoyable, it burns lots of energy. Moving to music helps kids internalize concepts like rhythm and tempo; it also gives them body awareness and increases coordination and large motor skills. Dancing is an obvious way to move to music. There
- [Can Children Be Paid to Learn?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/can-children-be-paid-to-learn/) - Whether a child receives a traditional education or an alternative one, there is always a desire on the part of educators and parents to know just how much the child is learning. Test scores continue to be the holy grail of traditional education, but what happens when you pay children to get higher test scores?
- [Bringing Art to the Elementary Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/bringing-art-to-the-elementary-classroom/) - As I mentioned last week, I believe that every Montessori classroom should have a dedicated art area. This lets kids know that art is important, and also gives them a chance to explore different kinds of art and different art media. In elementary, projects can be more sophisticated, especially if kids have had a good
- [Welcome to Our Blog!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/welcome-to-our-blog/) - We're so glad you've found us! Using the categories at the top (or the search box, if you like), you have access to hundreds of helpful posts about Montessori, education, child development, and more! Interested in homeschooling with Montessori? Start with Homeschooling with Montessori and then check out the other posts in the Homeschooling category. We hope you enjoy our Montessori blog!
- [History Doesn't Have to Be Dull and Boring](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/history-doesnt-have-to-be-dull-and-boring/) - Last week, I wrote about math. Later I realized that I've written about math many times, but was astonished to realize that I've never written about the study of history in Montessori (unless you count the Great Lessons article). And me a history major! For shame. Here's my chance to rectify that oversight. History in
- [Setting Up Your Preschool Art Area](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/setting-up-your-preschool-art-area/) - Art. What does that little word mean? It can encompass a huge variety of pursuits, from drawing to dance, from sculpture to movie making. The one thing all artistic pursuits have in common is that they involve some sort of creation – making something that didn't already exist. As you may remember from our study
- [Our Home Classroom Part 1: The Art Area](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-art-area/) - As many of you know, this past fall my husband and our two children and I moved to a new house. We had lived in our previous house for 10 years, and while it was a lovely house, we felt that with homeschooling and a home-based business, we needed more room. One thing we were looking for was a basement that could be a combination classroom/playroom for the children. The house we chose not only had a spacious basement, but it was a walkout with sliding glass doors leading to our backyard and a large picture window (lots of natural light!)
- [Great Ideas for Toddler Activities!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/great-ideas-for-toddler-activities/) - Time for a little more about toddlers! I will share what my daughter is currently doing right now. She loves the set of three hex bolt boards available from many Montessori retailers. She has been working on the easiest one. The first time she tried it, she became frustrated and threw it to the ground.
- [Taking a Look at Santa Again](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/taking-a-look-at-santa-again/) - It's that time again - time for family, friends, festivities, and traditions. What would Christmas be without Santa? And what would Santa be without another fun Montessori discussion? Well, it's a topic that seems to need some re-visiting. As many of you might remember, a few years ago I addressed the burning question about whether or not parents should tell their children the truth about Santa. Maria Montessori thought that telling kids about Santa and letting them believe he really exists was wrong, and would lead to doubt later on when they found out the truth. I personally feel somewhat similar, and have not told my kids that Santa is real or that gifts come from Santa.
- [Looking Beneath the Surface](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/looking-beneath-the-surface-2/) - Recently, my children and I stopped to take a walk around a small lake. As we were walking, we found a circular abandoned garden with large hedges around it, shielding it from view. The garden had been divided into sections, but there was nothing growing.
- [Montessori and the Child with Special Needs](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-and-the-special-needs-child/) - Recently I have received quite a few questions about children with special needs (autism, ADHD, and others) and how they can fit into the Montessori environment. Since many of the questions were similar, it seemed like a good idea to jot down some thoughts about this topic. There are several things about the Montessori philosophy and materials that make it a wonderful option for special needs children, and several things that can cause some difficulty also. Please note that I am speaking in generalities; every school is different so there’s a lot of variation out there.
- [A Comparison of Beginning Phonics Readers](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/comparing-beginning-phonics-readers/) - My daughter, age 5 ½, is currently using phonetic readers. Because I like to try different things to see which works best, I’ve ended up purchasing quite a few different sets for her in addition to the ones I already had.
- [Happy Birthday, Maria Montessori!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/happy-birthday-maria-montessori/) - August 31st is a special day for Montessorians all over the world - it the celebration of Maria Montessori's birthday! Google chose to honor her on that day with a special "Google Doodle" made up of the familiar Montessori materials we know and love.
- [Grammar Symbol Boxes - A Delightful Addition to Your Classroom!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/grammar-symbol-boxes-delightful-addition-classroom/) - A great extension for grammar studies is the Grammar Symbol Boxes. They are fun and easy to make, and children love them! You can start small and make the Noun, Article, and Adjective Boxes first. Then you can add Verb and Adverb, and later add the rest of the parts of speech. Or, if you’re ambitious, you can make all 9 at one time!
- [Following the Child](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/following-the-child/) - Recently I’ve seen or heard a few questions about what it means to “follow the child”. It’s one of those Montessori phrases we throw around, but what does it really mean? Since Maria Montessori divides ages into 6-year cycles, it’s helpful to do so for this topic as well. In the 0-6 age group, following the child typically means observing the child in the classroom and using their interests and level of ability as a guide.
- [Is It Okay for Children to Think They're Special?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/is-it-okay-for-children-to-think-theyre-special/) - "Oh sweetie, you're so special." I found myself saying this to my 6-year-old daughter the other day and afterward, began to think about the implications of that statement. This MSN Mental Health article warns us that the results of a 24-year-long survey of college students indicate a serious rise in a narcissistic approach to living.
- [Can You Get an Education in Spite of School?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/can-you-get-an-education-in-spite-of-school/) - A few weeks ago my family and I attended a large homeschooling conference in St. Charles, IL. This is the 13th year this conference has been held and it is attended by hundreds of homeschooling parents and children. The featured speaker this year was John Taylor Gatto, a former New York state public school teacher who now speaks out against traditional schooling. He challenged us to completely re-think our view of education and what's really important for children to learn.
- [Montessori Basics 7: Essentials of a Toddler Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-7-essentials-of-a-toddler-classroom/) - Welcome to the next post in the Montessori Basics series! This one is an overview of basic materials for the toddler classroom. While Maria Montessori put 0-3 year olds in a subgroup of the 0-6 plane of development, most schools have an infant room and a toddler room, separating the environments.
- [Music in Montessori 7: Music Series Round-up](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/music-in-montessori-7-music-series-round-up/) - I thought it would be helpful to put all the music links in once place; here you’ll find all the resources I’ve mentioned in the past six posts, as well as some new links. Take a look around!
- [9 Great Places to Find Educational Gifts for the Holidays](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/9-great-places-to-find-educational-gifts-for-the-holidays/) - This is the time of year for gift-giving, and it's not a surprise that I like to give my children educational gifts mixed in with the toys. The great thing is there are lots of fantastic places offering educational games, activities, books, kits, and crafts for every age group. Here are some of my favorites!
- [Homeschooling Update](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/homeschooling-update/) - I know that many of you are interested in the types of things I'm doing with my kids (son, 6; daughter, 3) right now, so I thought I'd give a little update. My son has memorized the addition tables up to 6. I must say right off the bat that he has done this completely
- [Working with Elementary Kids](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/working-with-elementary-kids/) - Working with elementary kids is both fun and challenging. Once they can read and write independently, the world really opens up to them in terms of learning and research. Kids this age are generally curious, helpful, and ready for lots of new presentations. Workplans and ChoicesI use monthly workplans in elementary, but I also try
- [The Power of Reading Aloud to Children](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-power-of-reading-aloud-to-children/) - I don’t think I could overestimate the importance of reading aloud to children, even after they have learned to read. Sure, we all read to babies and toddlers, although some of us may not do it as often as we should. But many times we stop reading out loud to children in older grades. We're missing out on a great opportunity.
- [The Neurology of Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-neurology-of-montessori/) - Those of us in Montessori education see the positive effects of Montessori on a daily basis. We watch as children’s fine motor skills are strengthened, their reasoning skills sharpened, and their independence encouraged through daily interaction with the prepared Montessori environment.
- [Building Your Classroom Community with Line Time](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/building-your-classroom-community-with-line-time/) - Most Montessori classrooms have some sort of line time before, during, or after the work period. Activities can vary, but they often include songs, lessons, and stories. Line time can be a powerful way for a group of children to build a sense of family – to really bond together. It builds community and gives
- [Montessori Basics 2: A Guide to Montessori Books](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-2-a-guide-to-montessori-books/) - I'm excited to continue my "Montessori Basics" series with this next post. I've assembled a list of the best printed resources for parents and teachers. Most can be found at Amazon; some are harder to find but you might be able to find them on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Often, you can find them at
- [Montessori Basics 1: The 3-Period Lesson](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-1-the-3-period-lesson/) - I'm starting a new series of posts over the next few weeks. I'm really excited about them! Many of you email me with questions that are basic to the Montessori method, so this will be a way to answer them for everyone. The first post in the series will be on the 3-period lesson. We
- [My Top Ten Favorite Montessori Materials](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/my-top-ten-favorite-montessori-materials/) - There are so many beautiful materials, it's hard to choose. Still, it was fun to sit down and try to narrow it down to my ten most favorite...the ones I wish I could have worked with when I was a kid! 10. The Sandpaper Letters – brilliantly enabling children to see, touch, and say (hear)
- [Is the Montessori Classroom the Right Place for a Gifted Child?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/is-the-montessori-classroom-the-right-place-for-a-gifted-child/) - After taking a brief look at giftedness in the first post of this series, I’m ready to answer the question, "Is the Montessori classroom the best place for a gifted child?" I believe the answer is a qualified "yes". Just as in many educational conundrums, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Each school and family will
- [Montessori Basics 5: Essentials of a 3-6 Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-5-essentials-of-a-3-6-classroom/) - Welcome to the next installment of the Montessori Basics series! According to my visitor tracking program, the first four posts in this series have been extremely popular. I actually did a variation on this post a few months ago, but I've updated and expanded it for this series.
- [Join Me on Facebook!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/join-me-on-facebook/) - As I mentioned in my email newsletter, I now have a Montessori for Everyone page at Facebook. I'd love it if you became a fan!
- [Public School Montessorian Article](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/public-school-montessorian-article/) - Recently, I had the opportunity of being interviewed by Dennis Shapiro of the quarterly newsletter Public School Montessorian. Their current fall issue has a special section on Montessori and the internet, and they felt like my store fit into that topic very nicely. In case you missed it, here is the article in its entirety.
- [Word Lists for Pink, Blue, and Green Series Objects](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/word-lists-for-pink-blue-and-green-series-objects/) - Children love to use objects when studying Pink, Blue, and Green Series words. Objects can be used for matching, rhyming, spelling, and story writing. They're so cute, kids can't keep their hands off of them!
- [Clearing Up Some Confusion](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/clearing-up-some-confusion/) - I’ve been thinking about this post for a long time, wondering if I should really go ahead and write it, and it seems like a good idea that I do it. Running a business like mine is interesting. On one hand, I do not need a warehouse or inventory, which greatly simplifies my business; on the other hand, the items I sell could be passed around and used by multiple people without me knowing.
- [Filling in the Gaps for Elementary 6-9 Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/filling-in-the-gaps-for-elementary-6-9-montessori/) - I was reminded recently that Maria Montessori did not provide us with an elementary curriculum, simply with materials and the instructions on how to use them. (This is aside from the underlying philosophy—I am speaking simply of the tools we have in the classroom.) This can mean that we have, as my trainer Sister Mary called them, “gaps” in what a Montessori child learns.
- [A Big Change for Us and You](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/big-change-for-us-you/) - If you're subscribed to our email newsletter, you will probably have already read that as of February 1st, we are no longer selling printed materials. (In case you're new here, "printed materials" refers to us printing the PDFs and mailing you a hard copy). We will continue to sell our PDFs and Collections, as those
- [A Closer Look at Our International Versions](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/closer-look-international-versions/) - Many of our customers hail from other countries, and we are so glad to have you! Because there are certain variations in spelling, we offer what we call our "UK Versions" to anyone who uses these alternate spellings or terms.
- [Taking a Closer Look at 9-12 Materials](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/taking-a-closer-look-at-9-12-materials/) - The materials in my store span the ages of 2-15, but sometimes teachers and parents are interested in only the 9-12 materials. So, here's a helpful list of everything I sell that can be used in 9-12...
- [Unchallenged and Disenchanted: The Dilemma of the Gifted Child](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/unchallenged-and-disenchanted-the-dilemma-of-the-gifted-child/) - A friend of mine recently forwarded me an interesting article from Time magazine on gifted children; more specifically, on the idea that we may be failing our geniuses by not allowing them to pursue academics at their own rate. Schools often refuse to let gifted children skip grades; instead, they are sentenced to study information
- [Updates, News, and More!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/updates-news-and-more/) - Tomorrow is an exciting day for me. My children and I are traveling to Canada to see my dad's family, including my grandmother who will be 101 at the end of the month. Some of you might remember that my grandfather passed away last December at the age of 106 (longevity runs in my family!). I didn't get to see him before he died so I am anxious to spend some time with my grandmother.
- [Spring Means Outdoor Fun!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/spring-means-outdoor-fun/) - My kids are playing in our backyard right now, so it seems natural to post about spring and all its attendant activities. Truly, their favorite thing is to be "nature detectives" - they use binoculars, magnifying glasses, and bug huts and roam the yard looking for interesting bugs, plants, rocks, and sticks. We've discovered nuts,
- [The Benefits of Hands-On Learning](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-benefits-of-hands-on-learning/) - Recently I've been pondering the way in which humans assimilate information. I've been observing my own kids, and in so doing, learned a lot about, well, how we learn. We've been taking a break from our regular work cycle to "go out" as we say in Montessori; we've been taking weekly field trips, enjoying the
- [And Now for Some Non-Montessori Materials...](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/and-now-for-some-non-montessori-materials/) - Time for a little change-up - a break from Montessori. We know our kids can't live in a "all-Montessori-all-the-time" world. I like to think that there are many toys and educational products out there that are Montessori in spirit, if not in actuality. I'm going to share a few of my kids' favorites. One super-creative
- [Television and the Montessori Child: Part 3](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/television-and-the-montessori-child-part-3/) - If you've read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, you'll know that television can be very good or very bad, depending on the content, but that we as parents and teachers do have quite a bit of control over what our children see. However, there are times when children end up seeing inappropriate
- [The Montessori Method 2: The Science of Observation](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-montessori-method-2-the-science-of-observation/) - Please join me for part two of an in-depth look at the seminal book that started it all: The Montessori Method. The first post in this series looked at the world and beliefs of Dr. Montessori in order to take a more holistic approach to how a book like The Montessori Method came to be
- [Getting Ready for Earth Day, Montessori-style](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/getting-ready-for-earth-day-montessori-style/) - Next Tuesday, April 22nd, the northern hemisphere will celebrate Earth Day for the 37th time. Now more than ever, it seems like a great time to talk to kids about the amazing planet that we live on and how we can best use and protect its resources. If you find yourself experiencing feelings of fear
- [How I Learned to Relax and Enjoy Homeschooling](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/how-i-learned-to-relax-and-enjoy-homeschooling/) - As many of you know, I am currently homeschooling my two kids (ages 6 & almost 3) using Montessori methods and materials. This fall was the first time I worked with them together. It's definitely been a challenge! Sometimes I feel like my whole job is to keep her (the younger of the two) away
- [Using Multi-Drawer Cabinets to Organize Materials](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/cabinets-organize-materials/) - Montessori materials take up a lot of room – that’s a fact. Shelf space always seems to be in short supply, no matter how many shelves you have. One way to fit more materials on a shelf is to use a cabinet (sometimes called a “tower”) with small drawers. Just like a skyscraper, cabinets make use of vertical space rather than horizontal.
- [Why Should Children Study Art?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/why-should-children-study-art/) - When setting out to help children learn about art, I think it’s important to spend some time thinking over the subject first – what is the purpose of art, and why should kids study it? To some, art is nice but sort of a fluffy distraction; possibly not even completely necessary to human existence. To
- [Do Montessori Kids Need Homework?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/do-montessori-kids-need-homework/) - Yes, I'm on to another controversial topic right after the last one; I'm having fun, actually, talking about these issues and I love to hear from you guys about them!Sister Mary (my Montessori trainer) taught that homework shouldn't be necessary for a child in a Montessori school. For starters, the child won't usually have access
- [What Kind of Reading Program Belongs in Montessori?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/reading-program/) - One question I'm frequently asked is, "What kind of reading program should Montessori classrooms be using?" The Montessori curriculum covers every imaginable topic, but there is no specific set of books that is firmly linked to the Montessori method. I'm going to look at a few different possibilities for reading programs in the Montessori classroom,
- [The Day Montessori Met the iPhone](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-day-that-montessori-met-the-iphone/) - Bobby and June George have been making a name for themselves in the field of Montessori education for quite a while. They are the founders of The Baan Dek Montessori in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the first school accredited by the Association Montessori International (AMI) in South Dakota. Recently, they have begun to develop iPad and iPhone applications based on Montessori materials, specifically the sandpaper letters and wooden math materials like the red rods. Called Montessorium, this idea has been met with some skepticism on the part of Montessori teachers and parents. I had a chance to ask them some questions about this new combination of Montessori and technology.
- [Books, Books, Books](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/books-books-books/) - I've always loved books. Growing up, my friends and family knew that so I often got books for birthday and Christmas presents. I have numerous memories of being at someone's birthday party and curling up with a book in a bedroom while everyone else watched the birthday child open presents. Anyway, by the time I
- [What Can You Do with the Language Basics?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/what-can-you-do-with-the-language-basics/) - The great thing is, most Montessori materials have multiple uses for different age groups. So, here are a few things you can do with the Language Basics!
- [If John Taylor Gatto and Maria Montessori Could Meet](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/if-john-taylor-gatto-and-maria-montessori-could-meet/) - When New York State Teacher of the Year, John Taylor Gatto, published his essay The Six-Lesson Schoolteacher in 1991, something seemed to resonate within the minds of people across the nation. Perhaps they remembered only too well the intense boredom, frustration, and enforced conformity of their own public school years. Perhaps the truth in the
- [Soothing Work for Troubled Kids](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/soothing-work-for-troubled-kids/) - Many children today have trouble adjusting to the pressures of schooling. Causes are varied: they can be external, like the loss of a loved one or an acrimonious divorce. Other causes are internal, as in the case of behavioral issues or learning disabilities. With many children, there is no obvious cause – just an anger
- [Anything But Standard: How Standardized Tests Diminish Learning (Part 1)](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/anything-but-standard-how-standardized-tests-diminish-learning-part-1/) - In a city in Northern California, teachers in the district's poorest public school anxiously prepare each year to give California's own STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting) test to their students. These students hail from predominantly Hispanic families, many of whom have just arrived in the country and are living in the city's poorest neighborhood. Gang
- [What's in a Game?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/whats-in-a-game/) - Most of us remember playing games as kids; I had my favorites, and it’s a lot of fun to introduce them to my own kids now. Sometimes we forget, though, just how much is going on when kids play games. Behind the fun, kids are learning life strategies and sharpening their aptitude for thinking and
- [Fine Motor Skills and Montessori Materials: A Perfect Combination](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/fine-motor-skills-and-montessori-materials-a-perfect-combination/) - We tend to throw around the phrase "fine motor skills" a lot without really thinking about what it means. What are fine motor skills? How are they best developed? To start, let's define fine motor skills as commonly used in educational circles:Fine motor skills are coordinated small muscle movements in the hands, wrists, and fingers.
- [Quality Online Games for Kids](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/quality-online-games-for-kids/) - This week, I've been researching websites offering games for children. I was unhappy, though not surprised, to find that every one of Google's top 10 sites for a search on 'educational kids games' features either advertising or a required login. It's understandable that website owners want to see a profit when they make an effort
- [How To Find Your Way Through the Standardized Testing Dilemma (Part 2)](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/how-to-find-your-way-through-the-standardized-testing-dilemma-part-2/) - I hope you were able to read part one of this series on standardized testing: Anything But Standard: How Standardized Tests Diminish Learning. In part two, we'll take a look at alternatives to standardized testing, as well as things that parents and teachers can do to either avoid standardized testing altogether, or at least find
- [Transitioning from Montessori to a Traditional School](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/transitioning-from-montessori-to-a-traditional-school/) - When I was teaching, I was asked about the transition from Montessori to traditional school many, many times. Because few regions of the world offer a complete Pre-K-12 Montessori program, transitioning is something the majority of Montessori kids will have to accomplish at some point in their school careers. The good news is, studies suggest
- [What You Might Not Know About 'Stranger Danger'](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/stranger-danger/) - Adam Walsh. Polly Klaas. Elizabeth Smart. Jessica Lunsford. Madeleine McCann. Children are abducted by total strangers so rarely that when it happens, their names are seared into our consciousness forever. Here's the trouble: when we teach children about safety practices, most of what we say involves "stranger danger", even though stranger abduction is rare. We
- [Are Kids Harmed or Helped by Computers?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/are-kids-harmed-or-helped-by-computers/) - I sat down to research this topic with the hope of providing you with some concrete answers. Instead, I discovered a world of contrasting opinions on the effect computers have on young children. Doctors, scientists, teachers, and parents have published scores and scores of articles on this subject, but few of them seem to agree,
- [Children, Nutrition, and the China Study - Part 1](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/children-nutrition-and-the-china-study-part-1/) - I love browsing through vintage cookbooks. I like the retro illustrations and the funny, helpful advice for what to do when the electricity goes out, someone spills grape juice on the carpet or you find yourself having to balance your bridge club date with serving a formal dinner to 40 select guests. The situational comedy
- [Is Labeling Kids a Mistake?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/is-labeling-kids-a-mistake/) - It's really, really easy to label kids. "She's so artistic" or "He's such a troublemaker" are phrases that fall from our lips without a second thought. The sad thing is, we come to expect from kids exactly what we've already decided they are, and they usually fall in line with our expectations.Some people see only
- [Famous People Who Were Montessori Kids](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/famous-people-who-were-montessori-kids/) - Since Montessori has been around for awhile, there are plenty of adults around who were in Montessori schools as children. Every so often I’ll meet someone, and when they find out I’m a Montessori teacher, they’ll exclaim, “Oh, I went to a Montessori school when I was little!” Many times it was only for preschool,
- [My New Store is Here!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/my-new-store/) - Hello, everyone! After a little bit of an absence, I am back. During the past three months, my incredible web designer, David, and I have been hard at work designing a new store that keeps the best parts of Montessori for Everyone but with an updated look and more features to make it easier for
- [The Ups and Downs of Life](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/ups-and-downs/) - As I sit down to write this post, my heart is heavy and my feet are a little cold. It's a chilly -6 F in Chicago tonight, and I can hear the wind whipping around outside. This has been an unusually busy and stressful few months for me and my family. In November, my mom's
- [Homeschool Montessori Q & A](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/homeschool-montessori-q-a/) - Recently one of my readers, Dawn, emailed me with some questions about using Montessori methods in a homeschool environment. I thought our dialogue might be helpful, so I'm posting her questions and my answers here. Q. Where do toys fit into a Montessori household? How do you keep children from choosing toys over Montessori materials?
- [Short Term Homeschooling: How it Could Work for You](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/short-term-homeschooling-how-it-could-work-for-you/) - If there's one objection to homeschooling that I've heard from almost everyone, it's "But what do I do when they reach _______?" Fill in the blank with "junior high", "high school", or especially "advanced algebra". Sometimes we get carried away by thinking much further ahead than we need to. I recently read this very interesting
- [Montessori Homeschooling Q & A, Part 2](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-homeschooling-q-a-part-2/) - Recently, Meredith of the blog Sweetness and Light asked me to participate in a Q & A about Montessori and homeschooling. Here are the questions she asked me: Q. I am wondering about what time frame it takes for the children to learn how to use their work spaces (mats and trays). By "use" I
- [The Challenge of Teaching Science Correctly](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/challenge-of-teaching-science-correctly/) - In my last post, I talked about Shattering Common Science Myths, and how it can be difficult to understand (and then teach) scientific principles correctly. This raises the obvious question: how can we be sure we are teaching scientific principles correctly?
- [Yes, Children Can Love Math!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/yes-children-can-love-math/) - First, a confession. I hated math when I was growing up. There are lots of reasons for this – boring math teachers, stultifying textbooks, and repetitive busywork would be among them. Not to mention that I enjoy subjects where the "right" answer can be any answer you can adequately defend, not one where the answers
- [Studying Ancient Japan in the Montessori Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/studying-ancient-japan-in-the-montessori-classroom/) - Japan is a beautiful country full of history and tradition. Our newest history set, Ancient Civilizations - Japan, extends over the past 14,000 years to take a look at the fascinating history of Japan. We cover famous people, places, and things that made up Ancient Japan.
- [Helping Kids Find the Artist Within](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/helping-kids-find-the-artist-within/) - Art programs are invariably the first to go when funding cuts happen in public schools, and a friend of mine who is an award-winning artist tells a touching story of being invited by a teacher to visit such a school to give a presentation. As the artist walked onto the campus, carrying beautiful, colorful canvases,
- [Ten Ideas for Going Green](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/ten-ideas-for-going-green/) - After generations of gas guzzling SUVs, prepackaged convenience items, and people using the earth as their personal dumping ground, many argue that that earth is now in a dire situation. It has recently even become trendy to become more environmentally conscious, a process deemed “going green.”
- [Homeschool Montessori Q & A, Part 3](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/homeschool-montessori-q-a-part-3/) - Here's the last of the questions from the recent Q & A at the early childhood learning forum at 4RealLearning (this forum has since closed and they have a Facebook group instead). I will be on vacation for the next week, and I've promised my family that I won't blog (it hurts to stop!), so
- [Continent Boxes Add Excitement to Geography](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/continent-boxes-add-excitement-to-geography/) - A few years ago, I spent some time putting together a box for each of the seven continents. As you can imagine, I used card materials from my Continent Kit Collection, but I also bought books, objects, and memorabilia to make each box special.
- [A Review of NAMC's new Montessori Homeschool Program](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/a-review-of-namcs-new-montessori-homeschool-program/) - It’s no secret that homeschooling is growing, and with that explosive growth, the number of people wanting to implement Montessori at home is growing too. Most available resources, especially Montessori albums (instruction manuals) are geared towards classroom teaching – few are targeted to homeschoolers. But now a new resource has entered the field!
- [Are Kids Punished by Rewards?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/are-kids-punished-by-rewards/) - I recently read the book "Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, ‘A’s, Praise, and Other Bribes" by Alfie Kohn, a noted author and outspoken critic of traditional education, including grades, test scores, and homework. Much of what he says is in agreement with the Montessori approach to education. As I read, I thought about this question: In Montessori, we often talk about the harm of external rewards, but are we using them without realizing it?
- [My 5 Favorite Craft Store Finds](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/my-5-favorite-craft-store-finds/) - I love craft stores! When I step inside, I immediately feel more artistic and creative. I love to walk down each aisle slowly, imagining all the wonderful things I could make if I had the time—and money! Craft stores are a gold mine for the Montessori teacher. Of course, we all need art supplies in
- [Workplans for Elementary](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/workplans-for-elementary/) - Well, many of you have asked me to share more about how I work with my son, who is now 6 (just had a birthday). Basically what I do with him is very similar to what I did when I taught 6-9, just on a smaller scale. Almost everything I do is what Sister Mary
- [New Materials by Month](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/new-materials-by-month/) - Many of you purchase CD-ROMs from me, and then are interested in buying new files when they come out. So, I thought I'd put up a handy post with a list of new materials by month. My records go back to February 2008, so that's where I'll start. I'll be updating this list every month, and linking to it from the New Materials page. So, you'll always be able to check back here and see the new items every month.
- [Using Our Package Deals as Instant Downloads](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/using-package-deals-instant-downloads/) - Because we offer instant download PDFs, our Package Deals are combined into large PDF files or zipped files to make them easier to download. Here's how to use them!
- [Bringing Montessori to Colombia, South America](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/bringing-montessori-to-colombia-south-america/) - Please note: This post is from many years ago. I was able to make a one-time donation to this school because my children had outgrown some Montessori materials I had. I do not have any information on Montessori in Colombia, including schools, materials, homeschooling, or any other area of Montessori. I wish I could help
- [Trying to Understand Toddler Behavior](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/trying-to-understand-toddler-behavior/) - I've been doing a lot of posts about working with my son, so I thought I'd sneak one in about toddlers. My daughter is 2 1/2, so she's nearing the end of the 0-3 cycle. Still, much of the work we do could be considered 0-3, and definitely many of the behaviors she exhibits are
- [Are Montessorians Snobs?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/are-montessorians-snobs/) - I'm sure all of you have had conversations with non-Montessorians where you've been explaining Montessori, and getting really excited, only to see a certain look on their faces. You know the look - it's somewhere between "I'm not really interested in learning more about Montessori" and "Why would anyone feel so strongly about something like
- [The Story of a Gift](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-story-of-a-gift/) - Most children start Montessori at an early age. They quickly grow accustomed to the beautiful materials. They grow accustomed to being treated with respect. What happens when a child who has never been in Montessori sees Montessori materials for the first time? What happens when a child who has never been in Montessori is treated with respect?
- [Why Our World Needs Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/why-our-world-needs-montessori/) - In today's crowded world of power struggles and ego trips, the Montessori method serves as a guide to raising unselfish, self-regulated, caring human beings who are problem solvers and have the self confidence to lead successful lives by their own efforts, rather than at the expense of their fellow citizens. The world needs Montessori!
- [Using 3-Part Cards in the Montessori Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/using-3-part-cards-montessori-classroom/) - In Montessori, 3-part cards are used in Primary (3-6) to teach the names of things found in our world. In Elementary (6-9), definitions are given to add another layer of information.
- [Top Ten Things to Look for in a Montessori School](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/top-ten-things-to-look-for-in-a-montessori-school/) - This is the time of year when parents start looking at options for schooling in the fall. It can be hard to know what to look for in a Montessori school, since schools are all different and can vary widely in quality. Still, there should be some traits that you can spot at every Montessori school; here's my list!
- [Learning Styles of Children 4 - Analytic/Sequential Learners](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/learning-styles-of-children-4-analyticsequential-learners/) - Children who are analytic learners always have more questions. “How do you know that?” “Where did that happen?” “Why are we doing it this way?” Analytic children learn best when they are given lots of details. They focus on specifics, sequence, rather than the “big picture”. This can be especially challenging to parents and teachers
- [Learning Styles of Children 3 - Tactile/Kinesthetic](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/learning-styles-of-children-3-tactilekinesthetic/) - Children with this learning style are movers and grabbers. They are active to the point of being restless and fidgety if you try to get them to sit still. They like to interact with their world. They learn best when they are moving; not just random movement, but movement that relates to the subject they
- [All About Montessori Greeting Cards](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-greeting-cards/) - I love the Montessori online community! It's a great place to meet new people and learn about exciting things. Recently I've had the privilege of getting to know Frida Azari, a fantastically talented photographer and wonderful Montessori educator. Frida uses photos from her Montessori classroom to create stunning greeting cards for holidays, birthdays, and thank-you
- [The Optimization of Classification](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-optimization-of-classification/) - In Montessori, we pay particular attention to the skill of classification. At its simplest, classifying means organizing objects by their similar or dissimilar characteristics. The process of classifying helps children obtain information about the world around them, as well as developing their thinking and reasoning abilities. Being able to manipulate objects is essential to internalizing
- [Organizing Your Montessori Materials](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/organizing-your-montessori-materials/) - A common issue in Montessori classrooms is finding a way to organize card materials on the shelves. There are lots to choose from - baskets, folders, fabric pouches, bins with drawers - and many classrooms use more than one kind of method. I like to use Akro plastic bins to organize cultural materials (especially 3-part
- [What Can You Do with the Math Basics?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/what-can-you-do-with-the-math-basics/) - One of the best things about Montessori math is that materials can be used over and over for a variety of activities. Here's a beginning set up for 6-9 math:Addition strip board, charts, & equationsSubtraction strip board, charts & equationsBox of bead bars (55 of each, if possible) Large & small number cardsMath symbols (+,
- [Working Montessori Math into Homeschooling](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/working-montessori-math-into-homeschooling/) - The other day I received this question from a customer and I thought it was an interesting dilemma. Here's what she said:"I have a question for you, and I wonder if you can help me out when you have some time. As you know, I am homeschooling my daughter. We use Montessori materials for language
- [Using Stories to Teach Math Concepts](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/using-stories-to-teach-math-concepts/) - Anyone who knows me – even casually – knows that I love books. I mean, I really love books. Growing up, I was not a big fan of math. Luckily, the Montessori training changed all that, but I still like using storybooks to teach math concepts. I think they work really well in a classroom, and can provide a boost for children (like I was) who aren’t naturally gifted in math.
- [Starting the School Year Successfully - You Can Do It!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/starting-the-school-year-successfully-you-can-do-it/) - No matter how long you’ve been teaching, the first day of the new school year is always a little nerve-wracking. Even if some of your students are returning, some will be new – and there will be new work for everyone. Luckily, there are some easy things that you can prepare or have one hand
- [What Makes a Great Montessori Teacher?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/what-makes-a-great-montessori-teacher/) - Recently, I received an email from a friend. He’s not in the teaching or education field, but he is doing some research about what makes a successful teacher. He told me that after searching my blog, he was unable to find a post that centers completely around this topic. Boy, was I embarrassed! It's true;
- [5 Practical Suggestions for Montessori Parent Education](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/5-practical-suggestions-for-montessori-parent-education/) - When I was teaching, I observed an interesting phenomenon. Many of the parents deliberately chose Montessori for their child over "easier" options, like public school, but after the child began attending, they questioned and doubted everything that makes the Montessori method special. It was as if they wanted the results of Montessori without the "Montessori-ness"
- [A Little Bit of Thought Goes a Long Way](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/a-little-bit-of-thought-goes-a-long-way/) - When I was a 3-6 (preschool) assistant, I vividly remember what would happen each August: I thought the classroom looked perfectly fine, but a few weeks before school, the directress in the room would suddenly pull everything off the shelves, re-arrange and swap materials, and keep tweaking right up until the first day of school.
- [Student Self-Evaluation](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/student-evaluation/) - I recently read an article where the author referred to a phenomenon known as "mommy deafness". It seems that by the time children enter preschool, they've heard their mom's voices so much that they've learned to tune it out. I think when I was young, this was called "selective hearing", but the results are the
- [10 Steps to Outstanding Student Presentations](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/10-steps-to-outstanding-student-presentations/) - At one of my former schools, every spring the elementary students (grades 1-6) chose a topic to research and prepared a short (5-10 min.) oral presentation about it. Topics ranged from "how cellphones work" to "frogs", and anything in between. Sports, animals, technology, science, and other countries all seemed to be popular subjects. Projects were
- [The Ten Best Posts of 2007](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-ten-best-posts-of-2007/) - Hard to believe that 2008 is almost here, isn't it? In looking back over my blog posts for the past year, I thought it would be fun to compile the 10 Best Posts of 2007. I used a few different criteria, including number of comments, the amount of traffic (visitors) that a post generated, and
- [Take Learning to the Next Step with Research](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/take-learning-to-the-next-step-with-research/) - Learning begins with naming. Young children have been carefully observing their surroundings since infancy; the key to unlocking all that knowledge is to give them the names of everything they see. Think about the very first words a baby responds to: his or her own name, and "mama" and "dada". Picture a toddler, frantically pointing
- [Taking a Closer Look at Online Montessori Training](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/online-training/) - Recently I posted a link on Facebook to United Montessori Association, an online Montessori training program. To my surprise, several people left negative comments, along the lines of “Can’t agree with online training…sorry.” and “Online training is not possible…it requires a lot of practical learning”. I realized as I read through the comments that I actually don’t know very much about how online training works - and I decided to find out more.
- [Updated Workplans - and 4th Grade Too!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/updated-workplans-and-4th-grade-too/) - Workplans are a great tool for elementary-age children - read on to learn more!
- [Do Logical Consequences Really Work?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/do-logical-consequences-really-work/) - Parents and teachers in today's world seem to be diligently seeking ways to teach kids discipline and self-control. A quick look at any bookstore will turn up hundreds of books about discipline, child-rearing, and behavioral issues. A form of discipline that has been around for decades is that of "logical consequences". One pioneer in this
- [Holidays and the Montessori Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/holidays-and-montessori/) - We Montessorians never tire of running contrary to cultural expectations. Whether it's introducing sounds at age 3, discouraging dramatic play in favor of real activities, or delaying fantasy and fairy tale stories until elementary school, we're always making waves. One such area is that of celebrating holidays. I've seen some schools go to extreme lengths
- [Misconceptions About Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/misconceptions-about-montessori/) - It's pretty common to hear lots of misconceptions when talking to people about Montessori. Maybe their brother's mail carrier's aunt's stepsister said that in Montessori schools, kids run wild! Maybe they just have a tendency to reject any idea that is a little bit "outside-the-box". Whatever the case, I like to view those comments as
- [Primary 3-6: What About Socialization?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/primary-3-6-what-about-socialization/) - One of the major criticisms of Montessori preschool – one I’ve heard dozens of times – is that it doesn’t allow for enough social interaction because of the nature of individual work. Is this true? And more than that, if Montessori doesn’t allow for much social interaction between children, is this a negative or damaging
- [Raising Strong-Willed Children](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/raising-strong-willed-children/) - If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I homeschool my children using the Montessori method and materials. My son, who is about to turn seven, is doing second grade work. My daughter, who is 3 ½ , is enjoying all the materials of the 3-6 level classroom. You might think that
- [Conference Summary 2: The Preparation of the Adult](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/conference-summary-2-the-preparation-of-the-adult/) - As I mentioned in the first post of this series, the recent conference I attended in Indiana, "Unsettled Children in an Unsettled World" aimed to give knowledge and ideas about how to provide safe environments for children in a culture full of distractions. Many factors are beyond our control, but one is not - ourselves.
- [10 Tips for Successful Classroom Management](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/10-tips-for-successful-classroom-management/) - One of the most difficult parts of Montessori education is managing a large classroom of multi-age children. It's easy to stray in one direction or another: too much freedom, and the kids run wild; too much control, and the children don't get to make their own choices. What is the best way to maintain a
- [Does Jessica Seinfeld Ever Take Her Kids to McDonald's?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/does-jessica-seinfeld-ever-take-her-kids-to-mcdonalds/) - The recent publication and Oprah coverage of Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook Deceptively Delicious has stirred up a kettle of buzz in the kitchen and across the web as curious parents test recipes, seeing if this cookbook's methods really work with their kids. The basic premise of the book is that by adding pureed veggies to popular
- [Are Competitive Sports Essential to Survival in this World?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/are-competitive-sports-essential-to-survival-in-this-world/) - "I'm the fastest runner in my class.""I can't hit the ball as far as Jessica can.""I always get picked last for kickball teams.""I'm the worst in my P.E. class."The outcome of most children's sports, intended or not, is that kids discover their place in the pecking order of their peers. A few will be held
- [Sterling Qualities of the 'Normalized' Montessori Child](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/sterling-qualities-of-the-normalized-montessori-child/) - I've been in Montessori (as a teacher, parent, or both) for over ten years. It's become so much a part of my DNA that I automatically approach almost every situation - educational or not - from a Montessori perspective. When I think, "That child is normalized", or "How can we work towards normalization?", I don't
- [The Montessori Method for Adults](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-montessori-method-for-adults/) - A reader sent me an email today wondering it there is any research about using Montessori for adults. Great topic! I'm just going to brainstorm here, and we'll see what happens. First: what did Maria Montessori think of adults and how they learn? We already know about the learning cycles most evident in ages 0-6
- [Children are the Heart of Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/children-are-the-heart-of-montessori/) - August 31st was Maria Montessori's birthday. As I paused on that day to think about her remarkable life, I realized that I sometimes lose sight of the person behind the method. I say and write the word "Montessori" so much...Montessori..Montessori..Montessori. This word encapsulates the method of learning that I love so much, but it means
- [Brothers and Sisters in the Montessori Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/brothers-and-sisters-in-the-montessori-classroom/) - I recently read a really interesting article in Public School Montessorian. Called "Fostering Community Through 'Brother-Sister' Relationships in the 6-9 Classroom", it describes how one teacher paired up kids - in groups of three - to work together throughout the year. Because of the multi-age classrooms, students in Montessori naturally have more of a family
- [Recommended Reading for Toddlers & Preschoolers](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/recommended-reading-for-toddlers-preschoolers/) - I came across this list the other day - it's something I put together for a mom's group that I spoke to about reading and children. I thought it might be helpful, so take a look!For Babies and Toddlers — Board BooksThe Very Hungry Caterpillar and other books by Eric CarleBut Not the Hippopotamus! and
- [Trial and Error in the Classroom and at Home](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/trial-and-error-in-the-classroom-and-at-home/) - I get lots of questions from parents and teachers all around the world. Many times, the questions are related to Montessori theory or lessons, and there's a definitive answer that can be given. But other times, the question is more of a, "Should I try this with my class?" "Would such-and-such material help my child?"
- [The Underlying Organization of a Montessori Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-underlying-organization-of-a-montessori-classroom/) - This is the time when many schools and homes are setting up for the coming school year. Commonly, classrooms go through several incarnations before teachers and parents hit the combo that’s “just right”. Arranging and rearranging the materials, shelves, tables, and chairs can be a lot of fun, but it's tempting to always wonder if
- [Observation in the Montessori Environment](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/observation-in-the-montessori-environment/) - After my recent post on using trial and error to make changes to your Montessori classroom, one reader asked me to elaborate on how to observe children while they work. This is a great topic, because when you observe you are getting to the heart of what Maria Montessori did to develop her method in
- [Grace and Courtesy 1: Building Blocks for a Satisfying Life](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/grace-and-courtesy-1-building-blocks-for-a-satisfying-life/) - About ten years ago, the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) held its annual conference in Chicago. I was privileged to attend the conference with several other teachers from our school. The title of the conference was Grace and Courtesy: A Human Responsibility. I remember thinking beforehand, “Grace and courtesy is about shaking hands and speaking politely
- [Grace and Courtesy 3: Making Skills a Part of Every Day Life](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/grace-and-courtesy-3-making-skills-a-part-of-every-day-life/) - Grace and courtesy skills sound so nice. Wouldn't we all love to have homes and classrooms where the children were courteous, helpful, and kind? Sometimes it seems like an unachievable goal. It's true that kids need much repetition to master these skills, but the sooner you start the better. How and when do we go
- [Primary 3-6: Where it All Began](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/primary-3-6-where-it-all-began/) - The 3-6 age group is where it all began, back at the first Montessori school (Casa dei Bambini, or "Children’s House") in a housing project on the outskirts of Rome, Italy. The reason for starting with this age group was simple: children age seven and older attended school, while younger children ran around unsupervised. The
- [7 Tips to Setting Up a Montessori Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/7-tips-to-setting-up-a-montessori-classroom/) - This is it! The countdown is beginning, laminators are heating up, and the difficult task of setting up the classroom for the new year is underway. While every classroom (home and school) will look different, there are a few guiding principles to keep in mind while putting together your environment. 1. See things from a
- [In Loving Memory of My Daughter](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/in-loving-memory-of-my-daughter/) - Today, my blog post will be very personal and bittersweet. On this day, 11 years ago, I gave birth to my firstborn baby, who was stillborn at 26 weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes I can hardly believe it’s been such a long time since this momentous event. And even though it was so many years ago,
- [Primary 3-6: The Developing Mind of the 3-6 Child](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/primary-3-6-the-developing-mind-of-the-3-6-child/) - When thinking about the Montessori method, many things stand out: the prepared environment, the didactic materials, the intensive training for the teachers. The children are often the last (but most important) component of the Montessori classroom. The classroom is designed for them, prepared for them, and presented to them. It’s when they begin to interact
- [An Honest, Behind-the-Scenes Look at Montessori in Action](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/an-honest-behind-the-scenes-look-at-montessori-in-action/) - My children and I began our school year a few days ago, and as we plunged headlong into presentations, ground rules, and expectations, I started thinking about the difference between the ideal Montessori method and how it really plays out in day-to-day situations. My last post was rather heavy on theory – and deliberately so
- [Discovering the Potential in Every Child](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/discovering-the-potential-in-every-child/) - Children have enormous potential. There's almost no limit to the things they can do. One of the wonderful things about the prepared Montessori environment is that it makes every kind of task accessible. It can be a chore, like sweeping, or a complicated math concept, like the binomial equation; in every case, our goal as
- [Oh, the Joy of a New Discovery!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/oh-the-joy-of-a-new-discovery/) - I'm always looking for a better way to organize the materials on my shelves, especially since I am working in a very small space. Recently I discovered that combining one of my teacher store favs (library pockets) with brochure holders from Office Max results in a perfect way to display card materials. First of all,
- [Conference Summary I: Unsettled Children in an Unsettled World](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/conference-summary-i-unsettled-children-in-an-unsettled-world/) - Most people would acknowledge that children today are being raised in a fast-paced culture with more choices and more distractions than ever before. The question that interests parents and teachers is, "How is this fast-paced society affecting children?" which leads to further questions about how we can counteract the effects of our culture. The workshop
- [Reflection on a Year of Blogging](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/reflection-on-a-year-of-blogging/) - It's been exactly a year since I started my Montessori for Everyone blog. How nervous I was the first time I posted! I wasn’t sure who was going to read it, or what I was going to say. I just knew that I had some thoughts to share, and a blog seemed like a great
- [Cursive vs. Printing: Is One Better Than the Other?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/cursive-vs-printing-is-one-better-than-the-other/) - There are many other ways to strengthen fine motor skills than learning cursive. The question is this: is cursive necessary for the refinement of fine motor skills? Is it the best way to teach fine motor skills? We offer all sorts of work in 3-6, from small puzzle knobs and tweezing to punching and bead
- [Television and the Montessori Child: Part 1](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/television-and-the-montessori-child-part-1/) - Television has always been an option - never a life requirement, but you wouldn't know this from the following statistics:* The average child spends nearly 4 hours per day watching TV* If there is a TV in the child's bedroom, add another 1.5 hours to that totalNumbers like these appear to put the need for
- [Television and the Montessori Child: Part 2](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/television-and-the-montessori-child-part-2/) - As I mentioned in the first post of this series, television today seems like a "must" for most households. Since it is ever present, we become habituated to it - we don't notice the commercials, the violence, the sexuality, and the manipulation. It's important to take a step back and be honest about the possible
- [On Planting Fall Bulbs and the Montessori Method](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/on-planting-fall-bulbs-and-the-montessori-method/) - Across the United States, we are feeling that nip in the air, watching skies darken, watching trees take on glorious hues. It's a time of old things and new things. Many of us have had a delightfully mild autumn so far - giving us plenty of time to plant some bulbs for next spring. While
- [Top Ten Montessori Videos on YouTube](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/top-ten-montessori-videos-on-youtube/) - Montessori teachers, parents, students and the media are harnessing the power of the video sharing website, YouTube, to share and spread the Montessori message. The following is a list of most popular Montessori videos on YouTube, based on the number of page views each one has received. I've included a short summary of each -
- [How Children Benefit from Adult Conversations](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/how-children-benefit-from-adult-conversations/) - We hear so much about the importance of talking and singing to babies – and how it aids in their brain development - but not as much is said about talking to children three years and up, even into the teenage years. Older children actually need as much direct adult communication as babies do, but
- [Real Work for Real Kids](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/real-work-for-real-kids/) - It's a quiet afternoon, and I have been looking through a Michael Olaf Company catalog with a sense of thankfulness that this business has dedicated 25 years to giving us such fine choices of real tools and implements for our children. From cutlery and cleaning equipment, to basins and buckets, the offerings are simply beautiful.As
- [Google Makes Sense When You Think Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/google-makes-sense-when-you-think-montessori/) - Google is, by far, America's most powerful and popular search engine. Driving some 60+% of the Internet's traffic and enjoying market values as high as $600/share, Google is at the top of the search game. Today's fun fact from Montessori for Everyone is that Dr. Montessori stands at the heart of the Google empire. Google
- [Should Parents Tell Their Children the Truth About Santa?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/should-parents-tell-their-children-the-truth-about-santa/) - For many people, Santa is a cherished part of their holiday traditions. They remember writing letters and mailing them to the North Pole, leaving out milk and cookies, and running downstairs on Christmas morning to see what Santa had left for them under the tree. However, ask a few adults about how they reacted when
- [Musings at Midnight](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/musings-at-midnight/) - It's midnight and I'm sitting at the computer. No surprise there – with two young kids running around the house all day, I usually wait until they're in bed to work on my business. Tonight I've put the finishing touches on some new materials and spent a little time surfing the web. Today was a
- [Top Ten Reasons to Be Glad You've Chosen Montessori for Your Child](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/top-ten-reasons-to-be-glad-youve-chosen-montessori-for-your-child/) - This post is dedicated to all my wonderful readers and customers who've taken the leap and chosen to send their child(ren) to a Montessori school. This can mean making sacrifices to afford the tuition, fielding frequent questions from skeptical family members, and driving past the public school that's much closer to home...but you know your
- [10 Reasons To Be Glad You're a Montessori Teacher](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/10-reasons-to-be-glad-youre-a-montessori-teacher/) - Here's the last in a series of posts celebrating all of you - the parents and teachers who devote your time and energy to making sure that the kids in your care receive the best education possible. Montessori teachers, you spend countless hours preparing your classrooms, your presentations, and yourselves. The parents and children may
- [The Montessori Method 3: The First Children's House and Beyond](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-montessori-method-3-the-first-childrens-house-and-beyond/) - If you've read the other posts in this series, Part 1 and Part 2, and I hope you have, you might have felt a little uncomfortable from time to time, especially if you haven't ever read The Montessori Method before. It's not quite as timeless a book as one might hope; some of Dr. Montessori's
- [How to Evaluate the Progress of a Montessori Child](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/how-to-evaluate-the-progress-of-a-montessori-child/) - Most Montessori schools and homes do not use grades or test scores as a way to evaluate children's progress. While it's wonderful that we don't subject children to these sorts of assessments, which are often arbitrary and biased, it can be hard to find a meaningful way to estimate their progress. How can we measure
- [5 Smart Activities to Beat the Winter Blues](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/5-smart-activities-to-beat-the-winter-blues/) - Are you buried up to your ears in snow in Norway or wondering if the rain will ever stop in not-so-sunny California? We all get feeling a bit cramped in wintertime and children may be feeling especially constrained, their abundant energy pent up from being inside all the time. Here are five suggestions for fun
- [The Secret of Successfully Recording a Child's Work](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-secret-of-successfully-recording-a-childs-work/) - In many ways, the work done in a Montessori classroom is ephemeral. A child takes out the red rods, puts them back, and there is nothing tangible left. Putting aside the intangibles gained from the Montessori materials (which are numerous and have been outlined pretty clearly here), is there a way to record Montessori activities,
- [Write What You Know, Write What You Love: Two Things Every Kid Should Hear](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/write-what-you-know-write-what-you-love-two-things-every-kid-should-hear/) - Nothing blocks the creative spirit of the writer like an unwanted task. Nearly all of the world's finest authors have suffered writer's block at one time or another, and if they have to force themselves through a project in order to meet a deadline, the joy of the process disappears. It's much better if they
- [Can Montessori Work in Public Schools?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/can-montessori-work-in-public-schools/) - Some people have the mistaken idea that the Montessori method is strictly for wealthy or privileged children. Unfortunately, due to the cost of materials and training for the teachers, Montessori is often relegated to the private sector. A growing number of school districts, however, are paving the way for Montessori in the public schools. As
- [5 Easy Travel Games for Kids on the Go](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/5-easy-travel-games-for-kids-on-the-go/) - Spring is just around the corner for many of us, and with the milder weather come field trips, vacations, and other adventures. Sometimes it's tempting to let kids bring hand-held game players with them on trips (it certainly does keep them quiet), but it also keeps them from talking, laughing, and learning. So, here are
- [Making the Most of Spring - Some Great Activities for Kids](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/making-the-most-of-spring-some-great-activities-for-kids/) - Can you feel it in the air? I can! Even after a surprise snowfall this past weekend, the first signs of spring are definitely showing up in my neighborhood. I can see some bulbs sprouting their pale green leaves in my garden box, and a certain turtle dove keeps hanging around our bird feeder, looking
- [Taking a Break](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/taking-a-break/) - Just wanted to let you all know that I'll be taking a 'blogging break' for the next two weeks. We've got a lot of summer fun planned, including our church's vacation Bible school (I'm one of the leaders) and some time with our extended families. See you in August with some awesome new posts!
- [An Interview with a Montessori "Kid"](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/interview-montessori-kid/) - I am delighted to share with you a conversation I had recently with Andrea Coventry, a Montessori-child-turned-educator. She's a writer as well, with lots of interesting articles to her credit. I felt like talking to Andrea could help us, as parents and teachers, better understand how Montessori shapes a child's mind, and what kind of adults our Montessori children will turn out to be.
- [Can You Use Worksheets in Montessori?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/can-you-use-worksheets-in-montessori/) - This is a touchy subject. We all recognize the educational value and beauty of Montessori materials. We shun the idea of teaching from textbooks. And yet, there might be a place in Montessori for workbook exercises.
- [Why We Use Mixed Age Groups in Montessori ](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/why-we-use-mixed-age-groups/) - Because traditional schooling generally groups children of just one age together, mixed age groups is a striking difference between Montessori and traditional educational programs. There are pros and cons to the idea of mixed age groups, but I believe that the benefits definitely outweigh any possible negatives.
- [Sensorial Work Leads to Sensory Awareness](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/sensorial-work-leads-to-sensory-awareness/) - I love the materials in the sensorial area of the Montessori classroom - they speak to the tactile learner in all of us. What impresses me most about how humans learn is how often we use more than one sense to explore.
- [The Best Change of All ](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-best-change-of-all/) - I know you haven't seen a lot of me lately, but I'm still around. This move has been a huge effort and things are calming down. Soon, I will have more time to put into blogging and making new materials...but not just because the move is almost over. For several years, my husband, Bruce, and I have talked about him quitting his job in the corporate world and joining me full time with Montessori for Everyone. There's so much more that could be done with MFE, but with me also homeschooling it's hard to expand the business.
- [Using Carts to Organize Materials ](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/using-carts-to-organize-materials/) - One of my favorite topics related to Montessori is how to go about organizing all the wonderful materials. Being "hands-on" means lots of stuff, and that means finding a place to put all of it. One thing I've used successfully for many years is wheeled carts. These usually have three drawers, and can be found all over (from Target to the Container Store). I currently have three of them, one drawer per curricular area: Art, Science, and Practical Life; History, Geography, and Math/Geometry; and Biology, Language, and Math.
- [Bringing Yourself Into Your Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/bringing-yourself-into-your-classroom-2/) - One of the neat things about Montessori is how "customizable" it is. I doubt that any two Montessori classrooms anywhere are identical - not only do the materials and the set-up vary, but the way everything is done can differ greatly. This can be a negative, too, but right now I want to focus on the positive aspects of it. When I was knee-deep in the Montessori training (you know, making materials day and night, talking non-stop about Montessori theory), I asked my husband this question: "What do you really think of the Montessori method? Is it a viable way to teach children?" I figured by then he had heard enough to form some kind of opinion. His response: "It really depends on the person doing it."
- [Celebrating Milestones](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/celebrating-milestones/) - A few weeks ago, my husband and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary. It was hard to believe that 16 years have passed since we said “I do”, and that in a few years, I’ll have known my husband for as long as I didn’t know him (we met when we were both 20). Pretty much all I can think of when I see this picture of us is how young we look...
- [Helping a Child Transition from Primary to Elementary](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/helping-a-child-transition-from-primary-to-elementary/) - This is a question that I am often asked by parents: how can I help my child make the transition from primary (preschool) to elementary? Or, from an elementary teacher, how can I help the incoming first graders make a smooth transition? My Montessori trainer, Sister Mary, used to tell us that transitioning from the 3-6 to 6-9 environment was one of the hardest things a child had to do. Most of that was because of the differences between primary and elementary.
- [Homeschooling - Illegal in California?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/homeschooling-illegal-in-california/) - Homeschoolers in California and across the United States are reeling from the ruling of a California appeals court declaring that state law requires parents to send their children to full-time public or private schools or to have them taught by credentialed tutors at home. This ruling has the potential to affect more than 150,000 children.
- [Geocaching for Kids - Fun for the Whole Family](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/geocaching-for-kids-fun-for-the-whole-family/) - Geocaching is an exciting treasure hunt game that families around the world are playing. It requires a GPS device and a love of adventure. The basic steps to the game are that you visit a site like Geocaching.com, enter your zip code and receive a list of hidden caches in your area. Then, you set
- [Children, Nutrition, and the China Study - Part 2](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/children-nutrition-and-the-china-study-part-2/) - Hi! Thanks for your great responses to the first part of this series! If you haven't read it yet, please take a moment to do so - it will set the stage for this second post. Here we go!For generations, parents have attempted to follow the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for protein and other nutrients
- [Helping Children in Need](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/helping-children-in-need/) - I sat down to write a blog post tonight, but before starting my post I surfed a little bit. As I glanced at CNN's homepage, I saw a few headlines about Myanmar and thought I'd catch up on the most recent news about the cyclone survivors. Almost immediately, I found that tears were running down
- [Hands-on Projects Bring Nature Indoors](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/hands-on-projects-bring-nature-indoors/) - Kids love nature. The endless varieties of trees, bugs, rocks, and flowers provide unlimited opportunities for learning and exploration. Naturally, they love nature-themed projects, too. Here are a few of my favorite ways to bring the outside in:1. Construct a Miniature BiomeThese are one of my favorite projects. I start with an inexpensive glass bowl
- [Blog Update - Exciting Things on the Way!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/blog-update-exciting-things-on-the-way/) - At the beginning of the summer, the blogging program I had been using stopped working correctly, and the company who makes it refused to fix the errors. What had once been fairly easy - putting up a new blog post - became a difficult and time-consuming task. Clearly, something needed to change. I decided to
- [A New Homeschooling Article!](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/homeschooling-article/) - As many of you know, I homeschool my children using Montessori. A little while ago, I was approached by Sharon Caldwell, a representative in South Africa for The Montessori Foundation (and one of my longtime customers!), to write an article about Montessori and homeschooling for one of their publications. I jumped at the chance, and
- [The Purpose of School](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-purpose-of-school/) - For the past few years, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time studying online marketing. That’s one of the big reasons why my business has grown so quickly. As I’ve researched, one name has popped up over and over again as a thought leader in the world of marketing: Seth Godin.
- [10 Easy Ideas for Pre-Reading Activities](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/10-easy-ideas-for-pre-reading-activities/) - In Montessori, we are blessed with wonderful materials like the sandpaper letters, movable alphabet, and the Pink, Blue, and Green Series. But, it's sometimes nice to to include some games and activities to encourage a pre-reader or emergent reader.
- [What Are the Geography and Botany Charts All About?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/geography-and-botany-charts/) - Yesterday I debuted two new items at my store, the Geography Impressionistic Charts 6-9 and the Botany Impressionistic Charts. I’ve spent the past two months doing research, writing, and picture hunting to make these items and I’m very pleased with the results. However, I realized that it might be helpful to talk about the charts, how they originated, the thought process behind them, and how they are used.
- [A Tribute to My Mom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/a-tribute-to-my-mom/) - Growing up, I always enjoyed Mother’s Day. My dad would buy a corsage for my mom, and we would take her out to lunch and shower her with cards and presents. I always looked forward to the day I would celebrate Mother’s Day as a mom. Then, after the loss of my stillborn daughter in
- [Connecting Children with Nature](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/connecting-children-with-nature/) - Many parents and teachers today can remember hours spent in the great outdoors, called in only for dinner or when the last ray of summer light disappeared. Bookworm that I was, I can personally remember being told many days, “It’s a much too beautiful day to be inside. Go read that book in a tree!”
- [A Tribute to My Dad](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/a-tribute-to-my-dad/) - My dad was raised on a farm outside Regina, Saskatchewan, by his German parents. While there was always food on the table, there was not much else. Everyone worked hard to make the farm successful. My grandparents were devout Christians, and raised their children to love and serve God.
- [Some Homeschooling Myths Debunked](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/some-homeschooling-myths-debunked/) - The other day I was talking to another mom and the subject of schooling/homeschooling came up. She mentioned that she thought homeschooling sounded great, but she felt like she didn't have the patience to do it. I hope I was gentle when I assured her that none of us homeschooling moms have an extra-special helping
- [Physical Science in Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/physical-science-in-montessori/) - I've been pondering Physical Science* in the Montessori curriculum...or rather, the lack of it. We certainly do a fantastic job of covering Biology, Geography, and History, but when it comes to Physical Science there isn't much to be found. Update: When I first wrote this blog post (back in 2007!) I had not yet made
- [Montessori Basics 4: A Montessori Glossary](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-basics-4-a-montessori-glossary/) - The next post in this series is a quick overview of some commonly used terms in Montessori education. If you're new to Montessori, it can be a little overwhelming at first (almost like learning a new language!) so it's good to get an idea of what these terms mean. Absorbent Mind: Montessori believed that children
- [School Performance: How Much Do Parents Matter?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/school-performance-how-much-do-parents-matter/) - I recently read the book Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. Subtitled "A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything", it's a look behind-the-scenes at the economics of everyday assumptions and decisions. One of their chapters was entitled "What Makes the Perfect Parent", which described how they used data from a
- [The Defining Characteristics of Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-defining-characteristics-of-montessori/) - How do we know when the Montessori method is being done correctly? We will see certain results in the children we work with. Here are some of the outcomes of authentic Montessori: 1. Children will show respect to others 2. Children will be interested in cultural diversity and learning about other cultures 3. Children will
- [Learning Styles of Children 2 - Visual/Spatial Learners](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/learning-styles-of-children-2-visualspatial-learners/) - Children with this learning style react to visual images. They like to see pictures of what they are learning. Often, it’s not enough just to see a picture – they need to draw their own picture to really internalize concepts. Visual/spatial learners may score poorly on tests. Most standardized tests cater to children with auditory/verbal
- [Balancing Mixed Ages](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/balancing-mixed-ages/) - Many of you have mentioned how difficult it is to balance different ages when you're homeschooling, or even just doing activities with your kids at home after school or on weekends. I certainly don't have this mastered, but I'll share about what I do. Up until last year (fall of '05), I had only been
- [Nametags & Such](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/nametags-such/) - I thought of one more thing I use to help balance mixed ages. This is something that works very well in the elementary classroom. The way it works is that each child has a nametag with their name on it. They put it on their rug when they're working, which helps mark the work rugs
- [Montessori Basics: What Is Montessori? ](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/what-is-montessori-2/) - Everywhere I go, I find that people are interested in Montessori education. But most of them aren't exactly sure what it is. I get these kinds of questions: Is it exclusively for smart children? Is it for developmentally disabled children? The classes are always taught in foreign languages, right? Oh, that's the one where children
- [Learning Styles of Children 1 - Auditory/Verbal Learners](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/learning-styles-of-children-1-auditoryverbal-learners/) - Recently I prepared a talk for a church group about the learning styles of children. I learned quite a bit while researching this subject. In the next few posts, I'll explain each common style and share a little bit about how they play out in everyday life. One kind of style is auditory learning. Many
- [Learning Styles of Children 5 - Global/Intuitive Learners](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/learning-styles-of-children-5-globalintuitive-learners/) - A global/intuitive learner is always waiting to hear the big picture. They wait through the whole lesson to hear this phrase: “In other words…” Suddenly the sun comes out and they understand what you are saying. Or as my dad (a preacher) says at the end of his sermons: “Folks, here’s the bottom line…” Global
- [Learning Styles of Children 6 - Sensing/Reflective Learners](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/learning-styles-of-children-6-sensingreflective-learners/) - Sensing learners like to solve problems using well-established methods rather than thinking up unusual solutions. They enjoy hands-on activities and experiments and are practical and careful about their work. Sensing/reflective learners like to know that the information they are receiving has a connection to the real world. They aren’t overly interested in abstract theories and
- [A View of a Typical Montessori Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/a-view-of-a-typical-montessori-classroom/) - I thought it might be nice to share some pictures I have of my last classroom. The school I taught at was The Montessori School of North Hoffman - a really fantastic school in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. While I was there, they became accredited by the American Montessori Society - only the 42nd
- [Children and the Nature of Observation](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/children-and-the-nature-of-observation/) - I read a fascinating article about a month ago in the Washington Post, and it's kind of been simmering in the back of my mind all this time. Called Pearls Before Breakfast, it involves the brilliant and gifted violinist, Joshua Bell, and a busy morning in a large Washington metro station. I highly recommend reading
- [My Homeschool Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/my-homeschool-classroom/) - I thought I'd start by showing you a picture of my living room - should I say, "former" living room! I explained to my husband when we started homeschooling that whatever is important to you is reflected in your house, so if homeschooling was important to us it was okay to devote our living room
- [Tricks & Tips for the Montessori Classroom](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/tricks-tips-for-the-montessori-classroom/) - As promised, a few more pictures of my elementary Montessori classroom. As I browsed through the pictures, I noticed a few things that I used to do with the materials to make them easier to organize and display. I'll share that info at the end. Enjoy!The first of two language shelves:And the second language shelf:And,
- [Montessori Centenary - A Special Celebration](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/montessori-centenary-a-special-celebration/) - Today, Jan. 6th 2007, is the 100th anniversary of the first Montessori school ever opened. On this day 100 years ago, Maria Montessori opened the first Casa de Bambini (or Children's House) in the slums of San Lorenzo in Italy. Part of me wishes there were pictures (or videotape!) of that first school. But another
- [What Would I Do Differently Now?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/what-would-i-do-differently-now/) - Now that I'm a homeschooling mom, I sometimes look back at my teaching years and think about what I could have done differently. Truth be told, I was a pretty good Montessori directress but I think the experience of being a mother has made me a better one. I know for sure that I would
- [Socialization: Montessori School vs. Montessori Homeschool](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/socialization-montessori-school-vs-montessori-homeschool/) - Recently one of my readers emailed me to ask about socialization in the homeschool setting. Specifically, she wondered how homeschooling could bring about the same benefits as a Montessori multi-age classroom. Rightly so, she realized that the multi-age classroom is a hallmark of Montessori, and it can't always be duplicated in the home. Even in
- [Toddler Language Development is Everywhere](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/toddler-language-development-is-everywhere/) - My sister, who lives in New York, came to visit over the holidays. While at my house, she sat down in our classroom area and started asking questions about the materials. After we had looked at some sensorial and math materials, she asked, "Don't you have any toddler language materials?" I realized that for 0-3,
- [A Montessori Story](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/a-montessori-story/) - I'm a little embarrassed to admit that even though I've been involved with Montessori for 11 years, I only recently heard of the delightful novel Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. It's a charming tale (much in the style of Little House on the Prairie) that brings to life the Montessori method in a creative
- [The Organizational Dilemna](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/the-organizational-dilemna/) - With spring around the corner, now seems like a good time to talk about how to organize Montessori materials. I'm sure there are many Montessori classrooms (either at home or school) that look beautiful at first glance - with gleaming materials on polished shelves. A closer look might reveal drawers, cabinets, and closets that would
- [My Montessori Closet](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/my-montessori-closet/) - Well, folks, here it is! After this, I have no secrets (well, maybe a few). When we bought this house 8 years ago, one thing I really liked was that someone had thoughtfully put a closet under our staircase that leads upstairs. In a house with a basement, this would probably be the staircase leading
- [Trusting the Montessori Method](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/trusting-the-montessori-method/) - The other day, my mom was taking care of my kids while we were out. As she was getting them ready for bed, my son (who's 6) looked at her and said, "Grandma, my mom is a Montessori teacher, but you're nothing." My mom was kind of shocked, but then she replied, "Actually, I'm a
- [Is Montessori Really for Everyone?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/is-montessori-really-for-everyone/) - It might sound funny that I'm calling into question the very name of my company here. But this has been on my mind for awhile and I thought it would be interesting to discuss. Let me say that when I founded my company, I intended my business name to convey that Montessori theory and Montessori
- [Why I Homeschool](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/why-i-homeschool/) - One of my customers emailed me the other day to ask my why I've chosen homeschooling over having my kids attend a Montessori school. I thought I had talked about that in my blog, but I guess not! I suppose my reasons could be divided into two categories: practical and philosophical. Practically, the closest Montessori
- [A Trend in Montessori Materials](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/a-trend-in-montessori-materials/) - I guess it's okay, after over two years of creating and selling Montessori materials, to call myself a bit of an expert in this field. The materials, naturally, have long been one of my favorite areas of Montessori and I like to keep an eye out to see what other Montessori companies are offering. Lately
- [A Change in Perspective](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/a-change-in-perspective/) - Something about spring makes me want to clean, clean, clean. The sun shines through my windows at certain angles and seems to highlight dirt and dust. Along with more traditional spring cleaning activities like reorganizing closets and straightening the attic, I also take a look at the materials on my shelves. Sometimes we look at
- [Is Learning a Foreign Language Necessary?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/is-learning-a-foreign-language-necessary/) - Like many of you, I had long heard and read that children find it very easy to pick up foreign languages. In my own family, I had the example of my father - he was raised in an all-German speaking home, but when he went to school at the age of 6, he picked up
- [Of Waldorf, Doman, and Charlotte Mason](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/of-waldorf-doman-and-charlotte-mason/) - I've been hearing a lot about other alternative methods of education besides Montessori. It seems that more and more people are becoming disillusioned with current traditional methods of education, and are reaching out for other ways of helping their children learn. Sometimes Montessori gets lumped in with other methods like Waldorf, Doman, and Charlotte Mason.
- [75 Reasons to Have a Child](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/75-reasons-to-have-a-child/) - For years, it's been a source of amusement for my family that when I was young, I didn't like children or want to have children of my own. How little I knew about my future...Of course, now I love kids (especially mine), so when I saw an article at a website about reasons not to
- [Another Homeschooling Update](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/another-homeschooling-update/) - Now that spring is firmly here, I thought it might be nice to give another homeschooling update. As most of you know, I am homeschooling my son (6 1/2) and daughter (3) using Montessori materials. This is in addition to my business, so I find myself staying up late most nights =)Anyway, you may remember
- [What's So Great About Delayed Gratification?](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/whats-so-great-about-delayed-gratification/) - Those of you in the Chicago area have probably seen the publication "Chicago Parent" many times. It's an excellent monthly magazine, and I recommend visiting their website even if you don't live in Chicago. They have articles, blogs, and other helpful info. They cover many issues that are of interest to any parent or educator
- [Bringing Montessori Discipline into the Home](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/bringing-montessori-discipline-into-the-home/) - Recently I've been thinking a lot about how to have a "Montessori home". If you have your kids in a Montessori school, most likely the school director and teachers have encouraged you to bring Montessori principles into your home to provide your child with consistency and stability. And if you're homeschooling using Montessori, it's only
- [Encouraging Independence in Children](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/encouraging-independence-in-children/) - If you’re anything like me, you may find it difficult to consistently encourage your children to be independent. When you need to get winter gear on in a hurry, it’s so much easier to put their boots on yourself than wait for them to do it. But this is an obvious example – where I
- [Seven Ideas for the Last Week of School](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/seven-ideas-for-the-last-week-of-school/) - Hard to believe, but the school year is coming to an end. Sometimes it can be difficult to think of things to do during the last few days or weeks...the kids know it's almost over and concentration is in short supply. Here are a few ideas you can use to make those last days fun

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- [Homeschooling](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/homeschooling/)
- [Infant & Toddler](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/infant-toddler/)
- [Learning Styles](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/learning-styles/)
- [Montessori Materials](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/montessori-materials/)
- [Montessori Method](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/montessori-method/)
- [Music in Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/music/)
- [Organization](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/organization/)
- [Parenting](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/parenting/)
- [Primary (Preschool)](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/primary/)
- [Teaching Montessori](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/teaching/)
- [Montessori Basics](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/montessori-basics/)
- [News & Updates](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/store-updates/)
- [Mathematics](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/mathematics/)
- [Language](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/language/)
- [Cultural](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/cultural/)
- [Highlighted](https://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/category/highlighted/)