r/Montessori • u/happy_bluebird • Aug 18 '26
In Part 1 of “Montessori with Integrity,” we asked what makes a Montessori program authentic, what it means to claim fidelity to Montessori pedagogy. Specifically, we looked at a number of factors to consider when determining the quality of program implementation, including the core elements as outlined by The Montessori Public Policy Initiative (MPPI):
While the list is fairly straightforward, we found that evaluating fidelity of implementation to each element is less so. Adding materials or using a less-than-full complement of Montessori materials, for example, may render a classroom or program inauthentic in the strictest definition of the word (Lillard and McHugh 2019), but it remains an open question whether programs containing variations of Montessori’s original view are necessarily inferior. Furthermore, if a program is deemed to be inauthentic because of supplementary or absent materials, can it still be implemented with integrity? (We’ll come back to materials later in this piece.) The nuanced distinctions—not to mention different perspectives—between authentic, high fidelity, and integrity make these questions difficult to answer.
One difficulty lies in evaluating the implementation of those elements of Montessori’s writings and philosophy that don’t have a row on the rubric or in the list above. Implementing the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and anti-bias, antiracism (ABAR), for example, is fundamental to Education for Peace and, as such, would seem to be essential to a high-fidelity Montessori program where teacher preparation, curriculum, and materials are concerned. We focus on this area in this installment of “Montessori with Integrity.”
We noted in Part 1 of this series that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, together with anti-bias, antiracist (ABAR) practices, are inherent in Montessori philosophy, but are not necessarily implemented in every classroom. While DEI and ABAR were not part of Montessori’s lexicon, the principles they represent were and are foundational to her philosophy of Peace Education, as many readers may be aware. The premise of Montessori’s Peace Education is that “the young child is fundamental to the peace and progress of humanity” (2019). From this and other ideas in her writing, it is reasonable to surmise that Montessori would have recognized that DEI and ABAR principles were essential “to the peace and progress of humanity” and would have, therefore, advocated for their place in Peace Education. Then why is this only now coming to the attention of many in the Montessori community? Let’s explore this question.
Most Montessori classrooms include the following elements as part of Education for Peace:
And most include lessons and materials that promote awareness of and appreciation for a range of cultures and the people who comprise those cultures:
Some Montessori teachers legitimately believe that this is enough. Indeed, why is it not? This work takes place external to the teacher; and as Jeannot Rene Jonte remarked (in Oesting and Speed 2019):
These thoughts get to the root of Montessori’s directive for the teacher to:
Montessori did not expressly write about recognizing one’s implicit bias, nor about practicing culturally responsive pedagogy, but we can infer from her directive that she meant for teachers to look inward and, among other things, do the hard work of “lean[ing] into our own transformation by hearing the personal truths of diverse voices from our community and beyond” (Oesting and Speed 2019). And while it is true that many Montessori schools, both private and public, are engaging their staffs in DEI and/or ABAR training to some degree, teachers must still do the individual work of Montessori’s mandate—a systematic study of self that involves “reflecting on our understanding around our notions of difference and how we perceive people who are different from us” (Gay in Peters 2019).
Some individuals embark on this work alone; others require the support of a mentor or group. Such work may take one or more directions, for example:
Other Montessori organizations also offer a range of support measures—peer connections, tools, training, and professional learning:
Through whatever form an individual chooses to pursue this work, the thoughtful cultivation and internalization of cultural competence “expands the capacity of educators to serve students from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds,” helping to reduce disparities that occur between different groups of students when it comes to:
By ignoring the important work of Montessori’s mandate, we run the risk of perpetuating these inequities.
Finally, it is important to remember that while some tend to think of culture in terms of ethnic or national groups, culture also includes race, gender, sexuality, abilities, or class, and often the intersection of two or more of these categories, as well as others.
In addition to the personal work described above, the teacher is also responsible for ensuring that the materials and lessons are culturally relevant to and representative of the students in their classroom. As we saw in the previous section, some Montessori materials and lessons promote a multicultural awareness of and appreciation for differences. This is not a guarantee, however, that these are culturally inclusive; it may be that some of our students don’t see themselves represented in books and other classroom materials.
In an earlier piece on the power of literature, for example, we pointed out that, at times, relevant voices are missing from a story, or certain perspectives have been silenced. In these cases, it is often appropriate for the teacher to carefully guide a discussion, giving voice to students who feel unheard, unseen, or erased. This is especially important for older students, who are developmentally ready to read and think critically about why and how these omissions occur in some pieces of literature.
We might also have non-fiction books and Montessori-certified materials that give a culturally inaccurate, incomplete, or inappropriate account of history. What are the implications of this if we are, in fact, using authentic Montessori materials? Do we teach with integrity if our lessons, books, and materials do not engage diverse and/or underrepresented populations? These are questions that need to be considered when evaluating a program’s fidelity to Montessori core values.
Maati Wafford, AMS director of equity & engagement, makes the following important point:
While some teachers may be informed enough to navigate these waters—to sift through their materials and books and evaluate the impact of their lessons—many others need guidance and support in the form of mentorship, training, or other professional development. Readers are encouraged to avail themselves of the range of resources and support measures provided by the major Montessori organizations listed in the previous section.
Given the importance of DEI and ABAR work, and of a culturally inclusive curriculum, do we need criteria for assessing the degree of fidelity to this aspect of Montessori pedagogy? Moreover, should such an important area be considered an essential element of Montessori education? What tools do educators have for assessing their personal, classroom-related, and school-wide progress of their practice in this area?
We have established that the implementation of DEI and ABAR are essential to Peace Education, and Peace Education is an important element of the Montessori curriculum. Yet neither curriculum in general, nor the more specific components of curriculum like Peace Education are included in the:
This may be because Montessori education has always been thought of as culturally relevant; its global presence in a multiplicity of cultures for over one hundred years would seem to make it so. But that umbrella might not cover as much area as we thought, and here we find ourselves circling back to our big question. Is it enough to offer a curriculum that fosters appreciation for a multicultural world if, in the end, we neither represent nor engage marginalized students in our classrooms?
One could interpret “embrac[ing] core Montessori principles” to include the important work of implementing DEI and ABAR principles and, indeed, the American Montessori Society has incorporated requirements for the inclusion of ABAR topics in its teacher education programs and school accreditation standards. Individual schools are also taking important first steps by including this work in staff training and professional development. But the question remains—in these times more than ever—whether this work should be elevated and spelled out more clearly when assessing program fidelity, when evaluating whether we are, truly, practicing Montessori with integrity.
r/Montessori • u/happy_bluebird • Jun 29 '20
We get so many similar questions on r/Montessori, and at last we have a getting-started guide!
What is Montessori? Montessori is more than buying wooden toys, getting a floor bed, having Montessori lessons at home, even sending your child to a Montessori school. To fully embody the Montessori philosophy requires a knowledge of the method as well as fundamental perspective shift on the nature of childhood. It's an understanding of the young child's powerful absorbent mind and their capacity to teach themselves, rather than the old view that a child is an empty vessel to be filled. It's having a deep respect of the child and the work they do to develop themselves, which we as adults can guide but do not teach. Montessorians know the essential Montessori principles of the absorbent mind, sensitive periods, and the four planes of development, and use this to in our work to best support child development. Montessorians appreciate the importance of stepping back and observing the child, they recognize what true concentration looks like, but they also understand the delicate balance between (internal) freedom and discipline, and providing liberty within limits.
Montessori is education for life. Montessori is education for the individual child, society, and the world.
So, if you're just discovering Montessori, welcome. Your journey begins here!
Read:
Online reading:
What is Montessori Education? by the Montessori Northwest AMI Training Center
WHAT IS MONTESSORI EDUCATION? | ABOUT MARIA AND AMI | WHY TEACH MONTESSORI? | INSIDE A CLASSROOM | FOR PARENTS | RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
Research post on r/Montessori: https://www.reddit.com/r/Montessori/comments/1dgyhhk/montessori_scientific_research_articles_and/
Montessori Daoshi: beautifully written articles on Montessori theory and practice
Baan Dek Montessori: another great resource for both teachers and parents - blog and podcast
Mariamontessori.com: a project by the Montessori Administrators Association, with articles written by a variety of Montessorians
The American Montessori Society Records
The Montessori Notebook: wonderful resource for parents of younger children
The Kavanaugh Report: Montessori Parenting
Aid to Life: practical tips for parents at home
The Montessori Guide: in-depth explanation about the Montessori philosophy and practical application of the method, from infancy through elementary
Mainly Montessori: a blog written by an AMI Primary- and Elementary-trained teacher navigating homeschooling
Considering Montessori? Here's what to look for
What makes a Montessori school authentic? A step-by-step checklist
What You’ll See in a Great Montessori School
Is Montessori right for my child?
Montessori vs. Daycare: What is the Difference for Your Child?
The Benefits of Montessori Education: A Comprehensive Guide
The Importance of the Three-Year Cycle: source 1, source 2, source 3 by Catherine McTamaney
Positive Phrasing- how to talk to your children
At Home With Montessori - A Visual Guide
Montessori Collective: Montessori and the Science of Reading - for teachers and homeschooling parents
The Ultimate Guide to Montessori at Home
McClure's and Other Early Magazine Montessori Articles
r/Montessori 's Montessori at home post during the covid closures
Don't forget about the larger goal of Montessori education
Books:
Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius – Angeline Lillard (an entire book of Montessori theory backed up by tons of contemporary research studies)
Understanding the Human Being - Silvana Montanaro
Montessori for Every Family - Lorna McGrath & Tim Seldin
Montessori and Early Childhood Education – Susan Feez
Montessori Madness – Trevor Eisler
Montessori Learning in the 21st Century: A Guide for Parents & Teachers – Shannon Helfrich
Montessori and Your Child: A Primer for Parents – Terry Malloy
Montessori Today – Paula Polk Lillard
Montessori: A Modern Approach – Paula Polk Lillard
Montessori from the Start – Paula Polk Lillard (great book, but a caveat about this one: very rigid on certain topics in ways that do not entirely align with Maria Montessori's writings, e.g. weaning and baby wearing)
Understanding Montessori – Maren Schmidt
The Montessori Toddler – Simone Davies (now also has published The Montessori Baby and The Montessori Child)
The Joyful Child: Montessori, Global Wisdom for Birth to Three – Susan Mayclin Stephenson
Babies Build Toddlers – Mariana Bisonette
Children Who Are Not Yet Peaceful – Donna Goertz
Hunt Gather Parent – Michaeleen Doucleff (not Montessori but very Montessori-aligned)
Books by Dr. Maria Montessori herself:
If you're a Montessori guide: all of them ;)
The Montessori Method - Chapter Summaries & Key Insights
If you're a parent getting started:
The Child in the Family
What You Should Know About Your Child
The Secret of Childhood
The Absorbent Mind
1946 London Lectures
Listen:
AMI (Association Montessori Internationale)
Episode: What is Montessori, Anyway?
Watch:
Montessori Age Levels, Explained
Montessori Institute of North Texas
Blooming Hearts Montessori - not as a replacement to teacher training, but to learn about some of the Montessori didactic materials and how they are presented
My Day: experience the Montessori approach through three primary children as they journey through their morning work periods
Montessori vs. Conventional School
General courses and workshops (not teacher certification courses):
Center for Guided Montessori Studies
Montessori Institute of North Texas
Please feel free to add any more resources you find useful in the comments! Are there any aspects of getting started with Montessori that you feel are missing here? Let us know! :)
r/Montessori • u/Complexitychurch • 6h ago
We have the Montoddler floor bed with rails and a little door for our almost 6 month old. I was planning to remove the door once she starts crawling, but I’m wondering what happens when she starts pulling herself up to stand.
Won’t she be able to topple over the rails? How have other parents handled this?
Thanks!
r/Montessori • u/meomeo100 • 1h ago
Hi, anyone have experience with The Learning Child Montessori Academy in Willow park ? Would love to hear your experience. Thank you ❤️
r/Montessori • u/Financial-Light6963 • 11h ago
If you have a school that is able to retain guides pretty well but assistants are more come and go, how big of a problem is this? The guides are all credentialed and are paid accordingly. The assistants are offered opportunities for training but are paid hourly and they tend to come and go.
I know the working dynamic of a guide and his/her assistant is so important and it can also be tricky to work with someone who has no Montessori background. I'm thinking of a guide in particular who had a different assistant every year in the past three years and I'm wondering what, in your experience, does that do to the classroom dynamic? Did it inject some fresh energy, was it distracting, did you wish for more consistency or did you have systems in place so that even if you had a new assistant who may or may not know that much about Montessori they could easily slot right in? Interested in different perspectives.
r/Montessori • u/the_lost_txxcher1993 • 20h ago
How much is a usual Montessori school salary range in Hong Kong? I am AMI-trained in Elementary and have 12 years of experience. I also have a masters degree from the US.
What’s your experience like? How is the management and work culture? I was thinking of applying in these three schools: Discovery Montessori, International Montessori School and Academy of Innovation by Guidepost.
Thank you!
r/Montessori • u/Lucky_Ad_4421 • 1d ago
Fellow Montessori folks: what are our thoughts about pocket money, money for chores etc? I’m a Montessori teacher and still undecided about how I feel about giving my own kids pocket money for chores. My biggest kid is 4 so too early as yet, but wanting to think out the pros and cons.
I don’t want to tie money to chores that are an expectation, eg. Tidying her own room/things, some small contributions to the household running eg. Collecting the eggs, clearing the dinner table. I don’t want to take the intrinsic motivation out of helping the family and being a part of our ‘community’. However I can see the benefit in teaching the idea of working and earning money, saving and wise spending etc.
Anyone else want to share how they have handled this/ what they think?
r/Montessori • u/pinkstarburst19 • 23h ago
If you could design and build your ideal early childhood classroom from scratch, what would you include?
I'm thinking specifically about the physical building and its design, rather than Montessori materials or furniture.
What architectural details or built-in features have made your work easier? What do you wish your environment had? What would you do differently if you were starting from scratch?
I'm also weighing flooring options (wood vs. linoleum) and would love to hear about your experiences with either, especially when it comes to maintenance, durability, and everyday classroom use
I'd especially love specific examples! What has worked beautifully in your environment, and what has driven you crazy?
r/Montessori • u/Momijicrush • 1d ago
My child will be turning 3 in January. He’s a very smart, energetic, talkative kiddo. He loves being outside and playing with toys but also loves reading books and completing puzzles. He’s been attending a small in-home daycare that is “Montessori inspired” and “play-based” since he was 7 months old and has always loved it and thrived.
Since he’s now the oldest at his daycare and they do a rotation cycle of kiddos, we’re looking to transition him to a new daycare in January once he’s 3.
We’ve toured two daycares that I’m struggling to decide between. One is a complete outdoorsy “play based” pre school that is run by the city zoo and has a great reputation. Basically the kiddos are outside as much as possible, exploring and learning, and visit the zoo once a week. It’s not so much “forest school” bc it lacks the curriculum of outdoor skill learning (ie they aren’t learning how to build fires or use tools, etc.) as it’s more child led “play based” (think kids playing in dirt, playing with rocks, etc) but we have lots of friends who graduated from our daycare to enroll in this program and love it. My main concern is the lack of a structured curriculum. It seems the teachers choose what to do on the day-of depending on the weather. I asked if they have a dedicated circle time for reading or something similar and they said no. There were plenty of art supplies and art work around the rooms so I know they do partake in craft time. My second concern is that we live in Texas where it is unbearably hot for most of the year. On the tour, I brought this up and they explained they use some specific guide (I forgot the name) to determine whether it’s safe to play outside and on days when it’s not, they’ll be indoors. My concern here is that a lot of the time, they’ll have to be indoors, which defeats the biggest benefit I see for this daycare.
We also toured an AMS accredited official Montessori daycare. He would be entering the primary class of mixed 3-6 year olds. We toured during their “work” time and observed the kiddos. It seemed like he would be the youngest and there seemed to be a bit more older kids but it was pretty intense, in my own opinion. I don’t mind mixed aged classes and believe it’s generally a benefit, but I won’t lie and say it doesn’t make me nervous. Like I said, my kiddo is high energy and very talkative, and it was a bit jarring to see all the little ones working silently without issue. My kiddo would be asking a million questions, would not be using the tools correctly (imagine putting a spoon in between a crack in the floor and playing like that for a minute or two). The curriculum is basically drop off and work for 2 hours, then 1 hour of outdoor time, lunch, nap, then work for the remainder of the day (about 1-2 hours). The 1 hour of outdoor time is open ended play and they have a playground, water table, sandbox, balance bikes, scooters, etc. I know he’ll love that one hour the most.
I had read two books on Montessori when I was pregnant and it seems like I’ve forgotten everything I’ve read bc I fear that he will not thrive and will have trouble adjusting to the independent quiet work time. I am struggling to understand whether these are just my own fears as a first time mom and i should just trust my kiddo and his capabilities or if I should follow my gut and choose the other daycare which feels “safer” and “less risky” bc I KNOW he’ll love the typical “playing” it focuses on despite my fear that it doesn’t have a curriculum to prepare him for learning academics.
Any insight or advice or suggestions is appreciated. My husband is leaning towards the play-based one and holding off on Montessori until 4-5 years old but I worry I’m doing my child a disservice (also my husband has not read much on Montessori principles)
r/Montessori • u/Suspicious_Apple_435 • 2d ago
My daughter has a February birthday. The montessori in our neighborhood offers a January start. My understanding is my daughter would join a class of 2+ year olds that would have started in September together, so she would be the youngest 2 year old at this time. If starting in January she would have a half year of experience in Montessori before continuing the 2s program in September. I’m debating if I should wait to have her start in September (at 30 months old) or start in January at 23 months. I just want to make sure she is set up for success.
She would be starting 5 half days a week. We live in a highly competitive area so this would be for 2028 admission. My daughter is only 8 months so we don’t have much of an idea of her personality yet. She will be home with me until she starts this program so no experience with nanny or daycare. Just looking for some guidance here :)
r/Montessori • u/generalsleepy • 3d ago
I spent two years as a substitute at a Montessori school, working usually 4 days a week, and I fell in love with the school and the method. When I went looking for a full time job with benefits, though, the school didn't have any positions.
The job that I endes up taking was at a non-Montessori school, and I'm missing it so much. The curriculum and (lack of) philosophy at my current school is sucking the life out of me.
I'm planning to eventually get my certification through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, but I would need to already be working at a Montessori center to do the practicum element, and right now I can't afford to start over somewhere else at lower pay. So, right now I just have to muscle through.
In the meantime, is there anything I can do to eventually make myself more hireable as a Montessori candidate? CGMS offers a professional development course I'm thinking of taking. Is there anything else I should try? What can I do to gild my resume while I wait to make my escape?
r/Montessori • u/extracheesepleaz • 3d ago
Apologies if a post like this already exists, please direct me to any helpful resources.
My baby is almost 13 months old.
We unfortunately, very inconsistently did Elimination communication on and off at age 4 months, then 7 months then 10-12 months. We didn't catch much and baby was more interested in playing with things around the toilet and playing with the toilet. He didn't like being held over it and would laugh when we did the cue sounds. We did have some success with poo as his cues there were very clear. With pee it was 10% success.
So now I am eager to start officially potty training. I dont know if the Montessori way is similar to EC, and how I should start. Do I try to continue EC and just become more consistent at it?
Baby does point to his diaper after pooping, so he does have some self awareness there.
Any tips would be helpful!
I dont want to rush it but also I dont want to end up like my brother's daughter who was in diapers til age 4.
r/Montessori • u/Margarita_Raaliste • 4d ago
Hi everyone! I’m a trained Montessori 0–3 guide, currently planning a small parent–child programme in L’Eliana, near Valencia, Spain.
The idea is to offer sessions in a prepared Montessori environment for children aged 0–3, with up to five families per group.
Has anyone here started a similar programme, especially independently of an existing school? I’d particularly love to hear from guides in Spain, but experiences from other countries would also be very welcome. I previously ran a similar group in Estonia, where it was successful. In my experience, the 18-month parental leave available there made it easier for parents to attend regularly with their children. I’m wondering how this format might work in Spain, where families may return to work earlier.
My two main questions are:
I’d love to connect with other guides and hear what you learned when getting started. Thank you!
r/Montessori • u/throwawayyyyness • 6d ago
I’ve been doing research into different kinds of preschools, and I keep being struck by how popular Montesssori is…and I find I’m not really getting why. The big thing that struck me was that pretend/imaginative play isn’t encouraged in the curriculum. I keep reading things like, “oh kids get to do pretend play at recess and at home”, but that’s not really the same thing. Imaginative play helps kids think outside the box, problem solve, and work together as a group. It also helps with language skills, if kids are narrating stories, thinking up dialogues, and making up lyrics to songs. Not to mention the importance for art instruction. Do I just not understand how Montessori works? It all sounds so dull and sad - promoting independence at the expense of free exploration. But it’s so popular, I have to be missing something. Particularly interested in how the Montessori method manifests at the preschool level.
r/Montessori • u/calbatran • 6d ago
Hello there,
Geniuenly curios on how life was for you growing up, how it influenced your current life, and what is your view on your education looking back now.
There are probably some things worth knowing:
Were you parents following the same Montessori methods at home?
Where are you located on Earth? To have a bit of context of the environment around you.
If you had the power, what would you have changed? If anything.
Many thanks
r/Montessori • u/Perfect_Ferret6620 • 6d ago
Hi I’m looking for advice on snacks and breakfast ideas both storage and food items. You use to encourage them to be independent. As it stands we want to have a snack drawer for our son who is 3 but don’t want it filled with exclusively goldfish. A few caveats.
r/Montessori • u/AutoModerator • 6d ago
Welcome to our weekly Montessori Principles and Practice thread!
Montessori: lofty principles, real practice :)
Of course you can ask these at any time in the sub, but this recurring post might be a helpful reminder to ask those questions about Montessori that may have been on your mind!
r/Montessori • u/MayrinaElyse • 7d ago
My 6 year old is in kindergarden with a montessori school. This is her first year ever in that type of enviornment and her teacher is grating my nerves.
She tells me my child is struggling but cant be bothered to send me updates or give me specifics past a brief email every firday. Then somehow expects me to magically break the bad habits that my child forms in-between one friday and the next rather than just calling and saying hey your kid is acting up. Why is that hard?
We had a meeting a few weeks ago about how my child is falling behind on her work. And that if it continues she may not be able to advance to the next class. But gives me NOTHING to work with. No information, no this is what im seeing, just the friday "she had a few good days but she sure does take a long time to set up and complete her tasks"
I thought the whole point of this type of school was to let them learn their materials as slow/fast as they needed? We've made improvements and my child is participating but its still not good enough. And the communication still sucks.
Its a very close knit staff so I dont know how to even bring it up to someone else without painting a bigger target on my kids back.
r/Montessori • u/Think_Coat6479 • 7d ago
I figure this sub would be best for asking the opinions of parents and educators who know a lot about Montessori philosophy and fostering baby’s independence.
I have a 2 tier rotating cylinder shaped standing bookshelf on my baby’s Christmas list. I like it because it seems like it would save a lot of space in our already small home, and it would still be short enough for a mobile baby to access, but the books would likely be put inside it like a traditional bookshelf.
But now I’m second guessing myself because I read that bookshelves that face the books out and are shorter to be on baby’s level are better.
What do we think? Important, or negligible?
Edit: my baby is 5 months old!
r/Montessori • u/sunsetscorpio • 8d ago
I was chatting with a long distance friend today, I work in a Montessori school as an assistant, and my school is considering sponsoring me to get a certification so I brought this up with my friend. My friend said “you were never really religious though I never saw you as a church person” I asked what she meant and she said “I thought Montessori was a religious thing”
Anyway, I suddenly found myself in the dilemma I have been in a few times now, when trying to explain what Montessori is to someone who doesn’t know much about early childhood education at all. Every time I try, I feel like I fail to do it justice in my description.
So how do you all describe Montessori in a brief, like one paragraph text message way, while still capturing its essence?
r/Montessori • u/SnooJokes815 • 7d ago
Hello!
I've heard some Montessori guides/assistants take fotos of kids working or receiving presentations or whatever and share those with parents. How do you do this without damaging kids' concentration? I would love to do this, but didn't Maria Montessori write that even looking at the kid working can ruin the concentration?
r/Montessori • u/arcmaude • 9d ago
Can someone help me understand the attitude of Montessori toward pretend play? my 2 year old is in a Montessori style school (chosen by us for reasons other than just that it’s Montessori). He’s big into pretend play- for example, right now he’s on a kick where he is very into pretending to care for a baby doll at home. I asked if he takes care of a baby at school and he said, ‘no at school you can do a pouring work or a cup work.’ i know he’s oversimplifying, but still I’m trying to understand why there isn’t an emphasis on preten play. I like so much about what Montessori offers but my kids love playing pretend and are less inclined toward functional play- i wonder if it’s not a good fit? Would they do better In a more open ended play-based setting? Anyone else who has pretend-oriented kids in Montessori who can speak to this experience?
Im genuinely trying to learn and understand and hope this isn’t taken as a criticism!
r/Montessori • u/Main-Requirement-45 • 9d ago
I have a 17 month old in a regular daycare near me. We are moving soon and I am taking the opportunity to see if there is maybe some other type of teaching method that would be better for them.
I'll add that there is nothing wrong with my child's daycare, but it is a run of the mill chain daycare. My only complaint would be the cookie cutter lesson plans and the lack of outdoor time.
So im curious, what specifically about your child made you think that Montessori would be good for them? Have you seen any changes in your child (good or bad) that you would directly attribute to montessori teaching? How early in age did you see a difference?
r/Montessori • u/peanut_20657 • 9d ago
I recently purchased two sets of maps from a Montessori school that was closing. I only want to keep one set and I was hoping you all could help me make up my mind 😅 I believe I have a set of nienhuis and Alison. Is one better than the other? The Alison set seems to be missing more individual pieces. Both sets are missing Europe and have a random brand of maps to complete the set. I hope that all made sense and thanks for the help!
r/Montessori • u/PersistentHobbler • 9d ago
Note: my baby is 8mo so I have some time to plan, but I want to get it set up before his first birthday.
Almost all of my son's clothes have been secondhand. We have a great mom group in our small town where the convention is to post what you need and, almost every time, someone will drop a big trash bag of clothes on your step for free.
The quality and quantity varies wildly, but you can't complain about free!
Looking ahead to when he's going to be able to be more involved with dressing himself, I'm not sure how to set up the area in a way that's accessible and not overwhelming for him. (This recent lot had like 30 pairs of pants and that's too many for me!!!) I'm looking for advice!
Some of my ideas (that I don't know how they would work):
1) Box up everything except for about a week's worth of clothes that all match
2) Keep a dresser in his closet and just restock his dressing area with 2 options per drawer (this sounds like a lot to keep up with ngl)
3) Use bins with everything in them and decide I don't care if his clothes don't match 😅
How did you do it?