Over the years I’ve been fortunate to talk with Montessori alumni who have come back to visit. Often I will ask about their proficiency in mathematics, as it’s become quite commonplace for me to hear, “Yes, math was always easy for me, even when I was no longer in a Montessori classroom.” I still remember…
Over the years numerous studies have reported mixed results regarding the use of manipulatives in teaching math to 3-6 year-olds. So, after a looking over many studies, some scientists decided to look a little deeper. They discovered evidence that shows Montessori kids do better in math than kids taught in traditional or non-Montessori environments. And since Montessori…
The above photo is Prince William’s first day of Montessori school, with Lady Diana and Prince Charles in attendance. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge recently made headlines for their choice of schools for their young son, Prince George. They have chosen a Montessori school, just as Prince Charles and Lady Diana chose for…
Parents know how critical self-esteem is to their children’s future success. Without self-worth, life’s pathways are much steeper and much more difficult. Did you know that by age five, children’s self-esteem is on par with adults’, and this trait will often remain stable across their whole lives? This news comes from recent research out of the University of Washington’s…
We often tell visitors new to Montessori, as well as our parent community, about the importance of Practical Life exercises, those seemingly simple tasks that preschool children love to repeat over and over. Dr. Montessori observed this behavior and incorporated many of these exercises into the classroom. Practical life varies from “big” to “small” work,…
If you’ve heard the anecdotal evidence, that Montessori children are smarter than those taught in traditional environments, you’ve probably been rather skeptical. After all, brilliant children can be found in both settings. But what about across the board? In a study published in May of 2015, researchers in Iran examined the IQ’s of 40 Montessori and…
Ever heard of Kickstarter, the crowdfunding website? Many new businesses began with a Kickstarter campaign. For example, before the iWatch, there was the Pebble watch, which raised more than $20 million online. Kickstarter is a platform for nascent businesses to share their ideas, where likeminded investors choose and then promise funds to support various ventures. Kickstarter…
One of our parents (thank you, Melissa Murphy!) recently sent me an article entitled, “Why I Got Rid of the Toys.” It’s a mom’s first person, before-and-after account of discovering the Montessori method. It’s highly recommended reading. Dr. Maria Montessori was not averse to experimentation. In fact, she welcomed it, for she had no theoretical…
A recent study published in July by the American Journal of Public Health has confirmed what every Montessori teacher already knows, that grace and courtesy lessons are simple but profound keys to success in life. Researchers at Penn State followed children from kindergarten into their mid-twenties. The investigative team found a strong correlation between children’s…
It’s not often that you follow the career of someone just because he or she was a Montessori student. But I must admit, last year I began to follow the games of Steph Curry. For those not familiar with the National Basketball Association (NBA), Steph Curry was awarded the league’s MVP this year. And to…