This author describes how her elementary students first became interested in studying ancient Egypt. Her students' interest in the ancient Egyptian studies began when a student checked out a library book on Egyptology that contained colorful images and was soon swarmed by interested classmates. Many of her students began practicing writing…

This article presents an example of two boys who have received a list of diagnoses including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism, Asperger's syndrome, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and clinical depression. Both boys received a variety of interventions ranging from behavior modification plans to counseling and medication,…

In this article, the author presents the 12 benefits of playing as a reference and guide for teachers in helping young children develop their cognitive skills, motor ability, socio-emotional, and academic development during play time. The following 12 benefits are described: (1) Play Enhances Bodily Gracefulness; (2) Play Promotes Social Skills;…

In this article, the author discusses and shares his opinion about violence in the media. He states that many of the students in class have honestly responded to his inquiries about violence in culture, that they are "fascinated" with violence in movies, in television shows, in video games, and in the music they listen to away from school.…

In this article, Aline Wolf discusses the challenges of teaching elementary reading at present time. She also raises her concern not only about the declining of reading skills, but also about the declining number of books that students actually read which creates a dilemma for teachers. She believes that the Montessori community must give priority…

This article discusses the importance of thinking about and identifying what one wants in a school--and deciding whether or not these are realistic expectations. One might want to consider the core values that attracts one to Montessori, and observe, when visiting a school, to see how these are expressed in the school day. The author points out…

Montessori classrooms commonly integrate their learning across the curriculum, and participate in service learning projects. Both of these practices are authentic experiences for children. This article outlines examples of technology being used to create authentic learning environments, tasks, audiences, sources, and assessments. Technology…

My fellow teachers and I took a look at the use of tape and scissors in our 3-6 classroom. We had noticed children's over-reliance on these tools and wondered what would happen if we simply removed them. We decided to initiate a classroom research project in which the students worked for a while without scissors or tape. One goal of the project…

This article describes Bob Montgomery's Famous Kindergarten First Graders! project. The aim of the project is to assist his students in learning about each other, to introduce them to digital photography using iPhoto (they participate in a group lesson in editing as well), and to introduce them to moviemaking using iMovie software. The project…

In their unique approach to education, Montessorians are challenged to create an academic forum that engages the mind and the hand, and most importantly, the heart. It is in essence the heart of the adolescent that gives birth to the adult, and the mind and the hand follow along. However, there can be barriers to accessing the engagement of the…

In preparation for the centennial of Montessori education, school leaders have a unique responsibility--not only to the communities, but also to Dr. Montessori's memory--to revise the educational practices in a manner that is both respectful of her theories and responsive to a changing educational landscape. This article outlines one example of…

Though Montessorians have existed in the United States for nearly a century, a distinctly American version of the system did not begin to take hold until the late 1950s. What was referred to at the time as the "second spring" was actually a remarkable moment not just for Montessori education, but also for American culture at large. For the…

As a teacher of 11-to 13-year-olds, the author sees that her role definitely requires a sense of humor. A charismatic personality and the ability to lighten things up go a long way toward an enjoyable relationship with this age group. For Michelle Willard, a certain amount of levity in dealing with typical developmental issues is the key to…

The Alpha point of the authors' life as a Montessori educator began in 1959, when he was a graduate student studying philosophy at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. While studying the works of the great American philosopher William James, the author came across the writings of Maria Montessori and immediately became captivated by her…

In this article, the author relates her experience working with World Neighbors, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in the United States, and spending most of her time working with women's groups in rural Kenya. She contends that her greatest desire is to help those less fortunate and make the world a better place.