Walking into a Montessori school, you may notice that class sizes are larger than in traditional preschools, but noise levels are lower. At their worktables or on woven rugs, children may be seen working independently or with their peers. They may be moving around the classroom and even using their voices but are unlikely to… Continue Reading »
If you are a new parent to Montessori, the term “normalization” may seem scary and confusing. You may ask yourself, “Isn’t my child normal already?” Rest assured, normalization in no way implies that your child is not normal! Rather, it is an ongoing process of learning. … Continue Reading »
The Montessori Method is considered one of the main alternatives to teacher-directed traditional preschool education. Ask any parent of a child immersed in Montessori whether they too wished to have grown up with Montessori, you will likely hear many parents answer with an emphatic, “Yes!” One such parent said, “If I had a time machine, I… Continue Reading »
Technology in education is a hot topic. Not only does it provide students with easy-to-access information, accelerated learning, and fun opportunities to practice what they learn, but also gives students the opportunity to gain 21st century technical skills necessary for future occupations. You may find technology in a Montessori classroom presented quite differently than what… Continue Reading »
Providing a strong base for lifelong learning is essential to a child’s future success. Studies show that children are more successful in school and beyond when given a strong foundation in the earliest years of their lives. The Montessori philosophy centers around helping children develop cognitive, social, and physical abilities to help build this foundation. Villa Montessori Stone… Continue Reading »
Our lives today seem to be a whirlwind as we get back to work and the kids get back to in-person learning. Once again, we find ourselves consulting our calendars to check and double check where we are supposed to be and at what time we need to be there. After spending so much time at home,… Continue Reading »
“The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” — Dr. Maria Montessori You may already know that Montessori educators value and encourage independence even at the youngest of ages. Why do we believe that independence is so important? It’s simple really – the development of independence leads… Continue Reading »
The article below was first published in Tomorrow’s Child online magazine and is a perfect explanation of how discipline is handled in a Montessori environment. Villa Montessori Stone Ridge provides our students with an authentic Montessori experience that follows the teachings and observations of Dr. Maria Montessori, which are brilliantly described here. Enjoy the article! Montessori Discipline: Developing Inner Discipline… Continue Reading »
Let’s face it, parenting is hard and can be challenging at times. Whether your child is already enrolled as a student at Villa Montessori Preschool, or you are thinking about joining our community, we want to help you bring Montessori home by offering you some helpful parenting tips. At Villa Montessori Preschool, we strive to follow… Continue Reading »
For the past several months, we have taken an in-depth look at the areas that comprise the Montessori classroom. Our final area to discuss is Cultural Studies. The Montessori cultural studies curriculum provides opportunities for children to explore the larger world. Students learn about the people, terrain and animals of each continent as part of a rich exploration of… Continue Reading »
