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Grandparenting in the Elementary Years: Planting Seeds for Learning

Grandparenting in the Elementary Years: Planting Seeds for Learning

In this session, Margot Garfield-Anderson, grandparent extraordinaire, shares ways that she has been able to plant seeds of learning through projects and everyday activities. Also, she describes how easy and important it is to help in your grandchild’s classroom if you wish to. There are some really terrific ideas in this session!

Creating an Inclusive Community for Students with Challenges

Creating an Inclusive Community for Students with Challenges

The numbers of students with a variety of behavior and learning challenges are on the rise. In both Montessori and traditional schools and classrooms, school leaders and classroom educators are asking for the knowledge, understanding, and skills they need to support these students. The current trend in special education is serving children in inclusive classrooms; […]

Ribbon & Straws Help Montessori Students Build Teamwork & Biome Pyramids

Ribbon & Straws Help Montessori Students Build Teamwork & Biome Pyramids

Abstract At Indian Harbour Montessori, the study of ecosystems through the construction of Biome Pyramids offers learners many opportunities in the upper elementary Montessori classroom by connecting teamwork, organization, research, science, geography, art, geometry, hands-on building, computer skills, and public speaking. Working in teams, our students select a biome anywhere in the world. They research […]

Grandparenting in the Elementary Years: Planting Seeds for Learning

My Childs Teacher Has Concerns

Join Ann Epstein, PhD, as she talks about what can be a difficult, even heart wrenching topic. “My child’s teacher has concerns. Oh no!” How can parents and other family members partner with teachers when there is a concern about your child? Dr. Epstein has personal experience as the parent of a deaf child and […]

Book Review: Of Thee I Sing: A Letter To My Daughters

Book Review: Of Thee I Sing: A Letter To My Daughters

Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama illustrated by Loren Long This father starts the letter to his daughters by telling them what a joy they are to him. Then he moves on to encourage them about characteristics and talents that he sees in them. He highlights Americans who have also […]

Book Review: Me…Jane

Book Review: Me…Jane

Me…Jane written by Patrick McDonnell This is a great little book about Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE and her interests and dreams when she was growing up. The story shows that dreams can be made real with interest and perseverance. The illustrations are cartoon-like until the very last page where the author inserts a beautiful photo […]

Book Review: Ice Whale

Book Review: Ice Whale

Ice Whale by Jean Craighead George Did you know that certain types of whales can live to be 200 years old? Scientists have recorded and tracked the lives of many whales and found this to be true. The Ice Whale is a wonderful story for students at the Upper Elementary level. It brings in some […]

Montessori at Home: The Adult Prepared Environment

Montessori at Home: The Adult Prepared Environment

Your child’s Montessori guide spends a tremendous amount of time planning and organizing the classroom. Modifications and adjustments are sometimes done daily, depending upon the need. When you step into a Montessori classroom you might be awestruck by the highly organized, simple beauty of the room. Here children are given some of their first lessons […]

An Education for Life: What Children Really Get Out of Montessori

An Education for Life: What Children Really Get Out of Montessori

When we try to define what our children really “get” from Montessori, we need to expand our vision to include more than just the basics. Of course they learn to read, do four-digit mathematics, recognize geometric shapes, and identify the parts of a plant and a...
Grandparenting in the Elementary Years: Planting Seeds for Learning

Courageous Conversations Between Parents and Teachers

The purpose of Courageous Conversation between parents and teachers is to create a safe space for meaningful dialogue about issues regarding children. The desired end is to understand each other’s perspective and work together to best serve the child. We know that this is not always a one step, quick-fix, but rather a complicated process […]

Five Ways to Instill the Love of Reading

Five Ways to Instill the Love of Reading

When I was 15, I moved from Wisconsin to North Carolina at the beginning of summer. I had no friends and was so bored. My mom, seeing my boredom, took me to the Library off Rea Road to check out some books. I wasn’t an avid reader but was willing to do anything! I came […]

Grandparenting in the Elementary Years: Planting Seeds for Learning

Hard Conversations with Your Child Part 2

From helping your child understand friendships, to the importance of family values and beliefs, to those “big” questions about the world or current events, having a Hard Conversation with your son or daughter can be really challenging for all of us. Having some knowledge of developmental stages, some clues for understanding what your child really […]

Hard Conversations with Your Children Part 1

From helping your child understand bedtime, to the importance of family chores, to those “big” questions about the world or current events, having a Hard Conversation with your son or daughter can be really challenging for all of us. Having some knowledge of developmental stages, some clues for understanding what your child really needs to […]

The Wide-open World of ClayMates Creating Conversations That Count

The Wide-open World of ClayMates Creating Conversations That Count

As an educator and parent, I saw a need for children to have an outlet to explore and develop emotional and social sensitivity. We created ClayMatesTM in a direct response to this need as we now live in an age of overwhelming distractions from media, technology, and entertainment, we see a generation of children who […]

Maintaining Teachers’ Enthusiasm: Why Parents Should Help The Child

Maintaining Teachers’ Enthusiasm: Why Parents Should Help The Child

Montessori guides are highly skilled and trained professionals, so why do many parents ask: “Why do they need to attend conferences?” After all, it’s an inconvenience for the parent if the school has to be closed down to allow for travel and participation.  There are several compelling reasons for parents to encourage and support teachers […]

The Cultured Child

The Cultured Child

“You may have tangible wealth untold: Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than you can never be. I had a mother who read to me.” —Strickland Gillian Cuddling up with my mother and being read to by her is probably one of my most favorite memories of my childhood; and well past the […]

Push Me, Pull You:What Role Should Parents Play in Advancing Their Child’s Education?

A Pushmi-pullyu is a mythical animal created by Hugh Lofting in his children’s stories, a gazelle-unicorn cross, that has two heads at opposing ends of its body and, therefore, can’t make up its mind about which way to go. In past decades, sociologists report that, on average, parents didn’t spend as much time thinking about […]

Webcast: Helping Montessori Schools Understand Autism and Executive Functionin

Webcast: Helping Montessori Schools Understand Autism and Executive Functionin

In this week’s webinar Maria Eva Chaffin and Brynn Rangel gave an overview about Autism and how to meet the needs of students with Autism