Challenge: Circle Behavior
By changing the center from the adult — and adult values — to the child, and his values, we should change the whole path of …
Getting on the Same Page
Now the adult himself is part of the child’s environment. ~ Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood Have you ever noticed how sensitive children are …
How Do You Know It’s a Class Meeting?
An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, …
Doing Nothing, Really?
General surveillance and individual teaching, given with precision, are two ways in which the teacher can help the child’s development. In this period, she must …
Saying No…and Saying Yes
If we are among the men of good will who yearn for peace, we must lay the foundation for peace ourselves, by working for the …
The Art of Listening…Really Listening
There is a part of a child’s soul that has always been unknown but which must be known. With a spirit of sacrifice and enthusiasm …
Challenge: Profanity
The liberty of the child should have as its limit the collective interest; as its form, what we universally consider good (behavior). ~ Maria …
Transitions: From Calamity to Cooperation
The teacher’s first duty is to watch over the environment, and this takes precedence over all the rest. ~ Maria Montessori Mia, a 4-year-old, …
Making Amends: The 3 R’s of Recovery
“Errors divide men, but their correction is a means of union. It becomes a matter of general interest to correct errors wherever they may …
Limited Choices
One of the first classroom management tools that many of us learned, to redirect or set limits with children, is limited choices. This month, I’d …
Let Routines be the Boss
Most children are back at school now. With the beginning of every new school year come the resetting of routines, and renewed hopes for effectiveness …
The Power of Questions: Empowering Students to Learn from Their Experience
Were you ever lectured by an adult? Do you remember it as being particularly effective, or did you feel a little like Charlie Brown listening …