In order to achieve the goal of observation, preparation of the adult, the observer, is necessary. This preparation, says Hilla Patell, requires us to "have an appreciation of the significance of the child's spontaneous activities and a more thorough understanding of the child's needs." She discusses the growth of both the desire to…

Bookending her article with questions for the Montessori practitioner, Judith Cunningham provides a theoretical overview of how the Montessori child is empowered to enact social change and is inspired to work for the betterment of the world. Cunningham lays the foundation by describing the world in which Maria Montessori lived and how the events…

In this talk, Linda Davis discusses observation at the adolescent level. She explains that we must "adjust our approach for the third plane of development, for when they are becoming adults." Using examples, she discusses the characteristics of this plane, which are helpful to recall when thinking about what to expect when observing…

This article presents an interview with Sonia Manzano, who, for 44 years (1971-2015), played the role of Maria on "Sesame Street." A range of issues were discussed--children, learning, politics, entertainment-- as well as her transition to a writing life, through her several children's books and her lyrical and captivating memoir of her…

This father gives some brief observations of his daughter beginning at the time of her entrance into a Montessori school at the age of three years through the age of six. Through his observations and interactions with his daughter, he gains an awareness of the beauty of the work of the child and leaves the reader with a simple yet powerful…

In this third article in a series exploring diversity and inclusivity in Montessori, the authors build upon their previous treatises on why this work is imperative and how identity formation sets the stage for supporting the nuances of diversity. As a Montessorian educator, there is a need, as adults, to be willing to lean into one's own…

In 2019, educators at Beehive Montessori School (Beehive) in Western Australia implemented their self-defined digital literacies framework. The framework guided their approach to, and use of, digital technologies in their classrooms. Doing so came out of a whole school action research project in which the school became a hub for inquiry and…

Helfrich addresses two perspectives from which to think about observation in the classroom: that of the teacher observing her classroom, her group, and its needs, and that of the outside observer coming into the classroom. Offering advice from her own experience, she encourages and defends both. Do not be afraid of the disruption of outside…

Montessori Education is over a century old. Since its inception, Montessori schools have been opened worldwide. While most are pre-schools serving three- to six-year-old children, many people are not aware that Montessori spoke and wrote about middle level education before her death in 1952. Her concept for the Erdkinder, an intentionally designed…

Cynthia Castiglione presents Near North Montessori School's (Chicago) adolescent community's approach to technology. Her framework begins with the needs of the adolescent for social independence, social acceptance, and social justice. Using that template, she defines seven keys or characteristics that make up the technological environment:…

The adult who is inexperienced in the art of observation may, even with the best intentions, react to a child's behavior in a way that hinders instead of helping the child's development. Kripalani outlines the need for training and practice in observation in order to "understand the needs of the children and...to understand how to remove…

Montessori's idea of the child's nature and the teacher's perceptiveness begins with amazing simplicity, and when she speaks of "methods evolved," she is unveiling a methodological system for observation. She begins with the early childhood explosion into writing, which is a familiar child phenomenon that Montessori has written about…

This article examines recent educational research on the effectiveness of homework in improving achievement. The definition we have chosen to use for homework is any assignment intended to be completed during nonschool hours.

This is the first article in a series about diversity and inclusivity in Montessori environments. The series addresses the necessity of intentional, anti-bias-oriented teachings and practices and highlight some of the movers and shakers the authors have identified as working for social justice in Montessori. For the first article, they invite…

There are more than 22,000 Montessori schools in over 100 countries worldwide. Beginning in the 1950s the American Montessori movement was primarily a private pre-school movement. There are more than 5,000 schools in the United States; over 500 of these are public. Montessori schools are an increasingly popular choice in the U.S. for public school…