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 […]
5 Crucial Steps to Firing a Teacher
Leadership is an opportunity to connect with people and help them realize their greatest potential. As leaders, we are in a position to inspire others and support them as they build their strengths and make our organizations stronger. Sometimes, we have the distinct privilege of seeing potential in someone who does not see it in […]
Free Printable: Penguin Life Cycle
We have a new free printable about the life cycle of a penguin on our subscriber page this week! Emperor penguins are one of the most fascinating and iconic birds in the world. Known for their striking black and white feathers and their incredible endurance, these penguins live in one of the harshest environments […]
How Lindsey Started Her Montessori School
A full-time job as a statistician. A thriving business creating and selling organic and natural creations such as soaps, massage bars, bath salts and children’s aprons. And… starting a Montessori school, too. Yes, Lindsay Rymerson blew us away with her focus, dedication and passion for the Montessori methodology and her story about how to start […]
Social Stories
I was introduced to the concept of Social Stories about 10 years ago by Pat Getz, the support services coordinator at the Montessori School of Syracuse. The Social Stories technique, in my experience, works very well with Montessori Grace & Courtesy lessons. What are Montessori Grace & Courtesy Lessons? “Grace and Courtesy” is the term […]
Pamela’s Story: Growing a Montessori School
It was the year 1979 and Pamela Green was in college with a major in elementary education. Her Educational Theory course professor took the class to a small Montessori school to learn about and observe this philosophy of education. From the moment Pamela walked into that space, she was transformed. In her words, “This was […]
How Beth Started Her Montessori School
Serving the Under-Served with Quality and Single Minded Passion Meet Beth Holley, the founder of Renaissance Montessori School. As a young 20-something, she was invited to visit a Montessori school. Instinctively, she recognized the missing elements from her own education. She was quick to notice the beauty in the environment, the freedom of movement and […]
Simple Ways to Reduce Teacher Turnover at Your School
“Susan just quit.” The news is delivered to me swiftly, and immediately a hot ball of stress forms in my stomach. This is going to be a pain to deal with. We have to replace her and we can’t just replace her with anyone, we have to replace her with someone who meets our expectations […]
How Summer Started Her Montessori School
Summer Picha and Katie Wagoner were inspired to start a year-round Montessori school after attending a conference in Chicago. They opened their doors in September 2010 with one student. Their school, Peaceful Valley Montessori Academy, is located in the Golden Valley area of the Twin Cities (Minnesota, USA). It is a year round school serving infants through […]
How Simone Started Her Montessori School in Amsterdam
Simone is an AMI qualified teacher with over ten years of experience. She opened her own Montessori program in 2008. Jacaranda Tree Montessori is Simone’s playgroup in Amsterdam (Netherlands). They have classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers along with their parents. Simone is also the genius behind The Montessori Notebook, an online resource for parents who want to […]
A Year of Early Language Shelves
I love the early language development area of my classroom! There is a lot of foundational work that comes before children are introduced to letters. Today’s post is about the kinds of activities we have on our pre-literacy or early language Montessori shelves. The Language Area This is a photo of the Language area […]
My DIY Montessori Adventure
I’m delighted to introduce you to Keri today. I came across some of Keri’s work in the Montessori 101 Facebook group and thought she had some fabulous Montessori DIY ideas. I’m sure you’ll be inspired by her amazing work! -Seemi Hello! I’m Keri, mom to two boys, ages 3.5 years and nearly 7 months […]
Bat Coloring Pages: Types of Bats 3-Part Cards Free Printable
Bats are some of the most fascinating animals in the world. With their special adaptations and many different species, bats play an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy. Learning about bats can spark curiosity in children, and pairing this study with a bat coloring page or printable activity gives them a hands-on way to connect […]
HR Practices that Prevent Liability
Leadership is all about relationships. When we work with others towards a common goal, there are bound to be complexities. On top of the natural challenges that exist in human relationships, leaders must also consider the potential liabilities inherent in their actions and policies. There is SO much to consider! That is why I am […]
Classroom Tour: Amy N
Today I am thrilled to feature my dear friend Amy’s room on the Classroom Showcase Series. Amy and I worked together for many years. She is one of the most peaceful, thoughtful, down to earth, and fun people I know! This is an all-day classroom for children ages 3-6 years old. The room is open from 7:30-5:30 daily. The outdoor […]
11 Things Teachers Wish Parents Knew
I am honored to welcome Maren Schmidt to the Trillium Montessori blog today! If you’ve been living under a rock and don’t already know Maren, she is the author of Building Cathedrals Not Walls and Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents. She also writes the very popular column Kids Talk and leads a wide […]
Music Resources for the Preschool Classroom
You can’t have a preschool classroom without music! But if you’re a tone deaf preschool teacher like I am, putting together a music curriculum can be a daunting task. These are some of my go-to resources for music in my classroom. Free Music Nancy Stewart has a hundreds of free songs available to download on her website. […]
Free Printable: Snakes 3 Part Cards
This week, we wanted to use these beautiful snake clipart illustrations by EduClips to create some 3-part cards to share! This set of 3-part cards includes color illustrations as well as blacklines. American Copperhead The American Copperhead is a venomous snake native to North America, known for its distinctive coppery-brown color and hourglass-shaped markings. It prefers wooded […]
Montessori at the Beach
Today, I am delighted to introduce you to my good friend Virginia Lozuke. Virginia is the head of school and lead teacher at the Montessori Farm School in Durham, NC. She was inspired to write this post as she enjoyed some time at the beach this summer. You can follow her awesome school on Facebook. […]
Three Strategies for Hiring Right the First Time
Everyone knows that making solid hires is one of the best strategies for ensuring that your school is a successful learning community that is attractive to the families in the area. We know that a terrific team member will make everyone’s experiences so much more positive. We also know that a bad hire can be […]
Classroom Tours: Beth Bitts
I’m delighted to introduce you to my friend Beth Bitts on this week’s Classroom Showcase. You can find more information about Beth on her blog, Simply Sewn. About Beth I have a BA in Social Work and an AMS Montessori Certification. I came to Montessori as a second career after working in child welfare […]