This article discusses how children learn to understand the decimal system in very concrete ways, while having fun using beads. When counting the beads, the children learn 5,491 is not simply "five thousand four hundred and ninety-one" but actually 5 thousands, 4 hundreds, 9 tens, and 1 unit. They begin to understand that as they get 10 units,…

In this article, the author compares the legacies of two remarkable educators--John Dewey and Maria Montessori. These include changes in education now so commonplace that is accepted as traditional. Both Montessori and Dewey lived long enough to see their ideas receive worldwide recognition and acceptance, along with a share of misunderstanding…

In June of 1974 the author volunteered to lead a travel group--a mixed-aged group of 21 people--to Communist China. Back in her halcyon college days she stumbled upon a course "Group Dynamics." At the time, she could not know its impact on her in her future role as a leader of travel groups. "Group Dynamics" placed relationships in the context of…

Fall of 2005 marks the 12th anniversary of Nancy McCormick Rambusch's death. As the founder of the American Montessori Society and as its first president, Rambusch reintroduced Maria Montessori to America at a time--1960--when education for the young was floundering, and a second look at the Montessori method, which had changed the early childhood…

Though Montessori schools have a unique mission, philosophy, and pedagogy, all independent schools have similar demands, functions, and requirements governing board care and education, state and federal mandates and compliances, child care, parent care and education, fundraising, financial standards, employment standards, and care of employees.…

Seven principles of leadership that empower individuals and school communities to fulfill their potential are identified in this article. In the Montessori classroom, where children share common goals and guidelines, and in the process gain independence and maturity, the teacher moves from being a manager of capricious behavior to acting as the…

In Montessori schools, the best way to strengthen the climate of success by the administrators is called "transformational leadership". Leadership theorist James McGregor Burns identifies transformational leadership as a mutual belief and value system, and a commitment between a principal and teachers to focus on what works best for their school.…