Maria Montessori’s name is invoked across a wide ideological spectrum. To some, she is a pioneer of child-led learning and peaceful social reform. To others, she represents a champion of individual liberty and self-mastery. Over the years, a number of libertarian and Objectivist thinkers have embraced and championed Montessori as a model of educational freedom, […]
About Montessori
Reggio Emilia vs. Montessori
This article explores the similarities and differences in Montessori vs. Reggio Emilia. It’s worth noting that Montessori is used for all ages, while Reggio Emilia is mostly used for children under 6. So, we will mostly compare Reggio and Montessori for preschool-age children. Both Montessori and Reggio Emilia prioritize critical thinking, social skills, and experiential […]
15 Benefits of Montessori
Montessori education, with its emphasis on a prepared environment for the development of the whole child, offers numerous benefits that contribute to the overall growth and development of children, from birth through adulthood. Many people first become interested in Montessori education because of the unique and beautiful materials they see in classrooms or online. These […]
Montessori vs. Waldorf Education
In this article we look at the similarities and differences between Montessori vs. Waldorf education. Montessori, known for its focus on independence and sensory-based learning, contrasts with Waldorf’s emphasis on imagination, arts, and natural rhythms in education. But there’s a lot more to the story! As someone who has been deeply immersed in the world […]
Montessori vs. Traditional Education: the Ultimate Guide
In this article, we compare Montessori vs traditional education systems, focusing on the key differences that set them apart. Whether you’re considering Montessori for your child or just curious about how it differs from conventional schooling, this article offers valuable insights into both approaches at various stages of child development. What’s Missing Throughout the years, […]
Technology and Brain Development
How does technology affect brain development in children? How can we mindfully incorporate technology into Montessori classrooms? Is social media inherently bad for adolescents? In today’s episode, Letty is joined by Dr. Luz Casquejo Johnston to discuss technology in relation to Montessori education, particularly for upper elementary and adolescent students. Luz shares insights into child […]
Why Montessori is Bad
Montessori schools often come under scrutiny for their unconventional methods. Critics are quick to highlight what they perceive as glaring flaws in the Montessori approach, painting a picture of an educational system that seems almost too radical to be effective. From the outside looking in, Montessori education appears to challenge every traditional notion of what […]
Montessori: What is it?
Montessori education, a revolutionary approach to learning developed by Dr. Maria Montessori over a century ago, stands out for its unique focus on the individual child’s natural development. Characterized by self-directed activities within a prepared environment and guided by specially trained teachers, this method nurtures children’s innate curiosity and desire to learn, fostering both academic […]
Sensitive Periods in Montessori Education
Sensitive Periods refer to specific time frames in a child’s development during which they are particularly receptive to certain types of learning. Maria Montessori observed that children have an innate ability to absorb information during these critical periods and they play a key role in how Montessori education is implemented. Fundamentals of Sensitive Periods Video: […]
Montessori Human Tendencies
Montessori education is a distinctive approach that emphasizes a child’s natural development and innate desire to learn. A central component of this approach is an understanding of Montessori’s Human Tendencies, observable characteristics that guide a child’s natural development and shape their behavior. Throughout her international travels, Maria Montessori observed these Human Tendencies in children across […]
Montessori Planes of Development
One of the key concepts in Montessori education is the idea of the Planes of Development, which refers to the different stages of growth and development that children go through from birth to adulthood. Each Plane of Development has its own unique characteristics and needs, and the Montessori approach meets these needs at each stage. […]
Beyond Early Childhood and Materials: Montessori Across the Planes of Development
by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast Dr. Luz Casquejo Johnston is a seasoned Montessori advocate, with over 20 years experience in education. Having immersed herself in the movement since the 1970s as a primary student, she later returned as an adult to earn her AMS Lower Elementary I Credential. Dr. Casquejo […]
Debunking the Montessori Three-Hour Work Cycle
In this episode of Montessori Talks, Letty Rising interviews Jana Morgan Herman, an experienced Montessori educator and the National Director of a teacher training center for Endeavor Schools. Jana’s recent article in Montessori Life, titled “Mandate or Myth: The Uninterrupted Three-Hour Work Cycle,” challenges a commonly accepted Montessori concept and has sparked a debate within […]
Human Tendencies as Witnessed in the Elementary Child
by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast Maria Montessori observed that human beings did not possess the same kind of instinctual behavior that other animals do. Instead, she observed in people from various cultures throughout the world what came to be referred to as Human Tendencies. These Human Tendencies are a driving force that […]
The Montessori Elementary Environment is Different from the Early Childhood Environment…and There Are Reasons For That!
by Letty Rising When the topic of Montessori education comes up with people who know a little bit about it, often what is described is a 3-6 classroom. After all, this is the age of development where Maria Montessori started her work with the children in Rome when she was fresh out of medical […]
Building Distance Learning around the Psychological Characteristics of the Elementary Child
A downloadable PDF of this article is available newsletter subscribers here. by Letty Rising As Montessori education moves forward on the path of distance learning while people all over the world are navigating life through a global pandemic, there is much to consider and still so much to learn. And it is not only the […]
Do you need a three-hour work cycle at home?
“Education is not something which a teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being. It is not acquired by listening to words but in virtue of experiences in which the child acts on his environment.”M. Montessori, pg 3 The Absorbent Mind. Recently, I spoke with a parent who […]
Mr. Rogers and the Montessori Prepared Environment
By Letty Rising There’s a world of difference between insisting on someone’s doing something and establishing an atmosphere in which that person can grow into wanting to do it.” –Mr. Rogers I’ve come across this quote a few times in recent weeks, and it makes me smile every time. Mr. Rogers is one of my […]
What Makes the Montessori Method Different?
I have been teaching about Montessori classrooms to early childhood educators for the past 5 years. Nearly every semester, I get teachers asking me about the difference between Montessori and other alternative early childhood methods like the Reggio Emilia and Waldorf-Steiner approaches. There is much more that unites these approaches than divides them. Perhaps […]
So You Want to Get Montessori Training
I often get questions from people who are interested in getting Montessori training but have no idea where to start. Even though Montessori has been around for a long time, it is just recently coming into mainstream awareness. You have to dig a little bit to find the information you need. Hopefully the overview […]