“Peace is a goal that can be attained only through common accord, and the means to achieve this unity for peace are two-fold: first, an immediate effort to resolve conflicts without recourse to violence - in other words, to prevent war - and second, a long term effort to establish a lasting peace among men. … Continue reading Peace in the World to Come
A few months ago, a parent let me know their child overheard her and her husband having a disagreement, and confidently suggested they both use an “I message” to resolve their conflict. Her child had only been attending her new Montessori classroom for a short time and the mom was surprised to hear her four … Continue reading Conflict Resolution in a Primary Montessori Classroom
Parenting has by far been the most humbling experience of my life. I thought I had this – ECE training, Montessori training, years of teaching experience, positive discipline training, a regular mindfulness practice… the list goes one. I know all the “right” answers, I’ve read tons of books, can give great advice. And yet, I’ll … Continue reading Humble Confessions of a Montessori Teacher-Parent
Have you ever wondered which parenting approach best aligns with Montessori education? Positive Discipline (PD) is an approach that complements the Montessori method because it helps foster children’s “inner guide to develop self-construction and self-motivation.” PD focuses on instilling in children an internal compass which guides them to do the right thing for intrinsic reasons. … Continue reading Positive Discipline
https://youtu.be/28AnfO6Ak6g When you think about your junior high years, what do you remember? Your favorite teacher; your posse of friends; perhaps you remember the courses you liked the most or the least. Most often the common recollection of these years is how uncomfortable it was. It could be you were challenged with feeling like “everyone” … Continue reading Thinking About Junior High
Giving your children the benefit of their Montessori final Primary year is an irreplaceable gift. The foundation and exploration the children have previously experienced in their Primary class blossoms into a culminating experience in this final year. Here is what happens for five-six year-old children in a Montessori primary program: Children continue to thrive with … Continue reading Giving Your Child a Gift ~ Montessori for the Kindergarten Year
How do we experience love coming to us from another? Often people will say “this person truly sees me for who I am”. One of the most important ways to “see” another is through listening and giving the other the gift of feeling heard. We feel that this other person gets us, he “sees” us. … Continue reading Seeing the True Child
The purpose of the adult of the species, any species, is to ensure the success of the next generation. From bees to bears, from hyenas to humans, every adult’s job is to provide for the young. Someone did it for us. Now it is our turn to give back, ideally giving more than we were … Continue reading Teaching Children to Love
Do you ever worry about getting the “right” gift for your child or other special people in your life? Here are some gifts that come straight from the heart: The Present of Listening. How do we listen? We turn off our gadgets and focus on the person. We think in terms of their interests, dreams … Continue reading Your Presence Is Your Present
At this time of year as we think about gifts for our children, sometimes the most important gifts are intangible. Montessori teacher and author Maren Schmidt writes in a “Kids Talk” column: “Being savvy in the social graces is called emotional or social intelligence. Emotional awareness and interpersonal skills are seen as significant factors in … Continue reading Giving our Children the Gift of Ten Little Words
Santa Cruz Montessori 