INSIDE Montessori: DOcumentary
INSIDE MONTESSORI: A DOCUMENTARY INSIDE MONTESSORI (82:05) is a documentary film and library of short videos (chapter & focus videos and bonus videos) that reframe the national education conversation toward creating learning environments that allow children to...
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Supporting the Development of Concentration
Concentration: What is it? n a LinkedIn post this past June, “Want Kids to Succeed? Teach them Focus,” Daniel Goleman explains why concentrating is a precursor for both learning something new and developing self-control. We all know that success...
Employee Off-Duty Conduct: The Tightrope Walk Every Private School Head Knows
(First, a disclaimer: This article draws from public court records, state employment laws, and my many years leading independent and Montessori schools. It is not legal advice. Employment law varies dramatically between jurisdictions, and private schools...
Montessori at Home — How to Bring Montessori Principles into Your Daily Life
When your child is enrolled in a Montessori program, their learning doesn’t begin and end at the classroom door. One of the most wonderful aspects of the Montessori approach is that its principles can be seamlessly extended into your home — enhancing your...
Montessori School Marketing playbook
Filling Empty Seats with Heart and Hustle: A Proven Playbook for Montessori Schools From the Montessori Foundation — Helping Schools Thrive Since 1992 For more than three decades, we at the Montessori Foundation have helped schools across the country respond to...
Supporting neurodivergent Staff members
Disclaimer: I am not an attorney. The information in this article is based on publicly available sources and reflects my best understanding of current law and best practices. It should not be considered legal advice. For guidance on your school’s specific...
Montessori 101: What every parent should know as we begin the year
Montessori 101: What Every Parent Should Know as We Begin the Year Dear Parents, Welcome — or welcome back — to another exciting year at our Montessori School! Whether you are just beginning your journey with us or returning with a child who’s blossomed in our...
Keeping Respect at the Center—Even in Emotional Storms
Tantrums, sibling rivalry, emotional overwhelm—these are real, and they’re hard. Any parent of a toddler or preschooler knows the sting of a grocery store meltdown or the tension of a fight between young siblings over the same toy for the third time that morning....
Ask Ms. Montessori – Playdate Problems
Ask Ms. Montessori Practical Wisdom for Parents In this column, we invite parents to bring their questions about raising children the Montessori way. Ms. Montessori offers gentle yet firm counsel rooted in deep respect for the child’s natural development. Whether the...
Stickers and Silence: Why the “Silence Game ” Isn’t About Rewards
Last week, a school administrator confided her frustration about a situation many of us have seen. One of her assistants said she “just loves” when a teacher plays the Silence Game. In this version, when the children become noisy, the teacher calls the Silence Game...
Why all Schools should implement mastery progress-based report schemes
Years ago, when I first sat down with a group of eighth graders in a traditional private school to talk about grades, one boy said something that stayed with me: “I feel like my grades are a race I’m losing — even when I’ve learned more than I did last year.” That’s...
New Mexico’s Big Bet on Free Child Care—What It Means for Montessori Programs
On November 1, 2025, child care will be free or highly subsidized for every family in New Mexico, regardless of income. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s decision to remove income limits, end copayments, and boost reimbursement rates is a major shift in public...
Classroom Management that Fosters Self-Directed Learning
by Tim Seldin In every Montessori classroom, the atmosphere is as important as the materials on the shelves. Children learn best in an environment where concentration, respect, and independence are carefully protected. To create such a space, we must remember that...
Ask Ms. Montessori – Grandparent pressure
Ask Ms. Montessori Practical Wisdom for Parents In this column, we invite parents to bring their questions about raising children the Montessori way. Ms. Montessori offers gentle yet firm counsel rooted in deep respect for the child’s natural development. Whether the...