Three central components of the Montessori method are described and shown to be reflected in the National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC) guidelines for developmentally appropriate curricula. NAEYC guideline 1C states, "Teachers prepare the environment for children to learn through active exploration and interaction with adults, other children, and materials"; this is a statement of a basic Montessori principle. A second Montessori principle concerning "sensitive periods" is reflected in the entire body of the NAEYC guidelines. A third principle common to both Montessori practice and the NAEYC guidelines is the idea of the teacher as an observer. It is concluded that, if early childhood educators intend to follow the NAEYC guidelines, they will be behaving very much like Montessori teachers. (RH)