Montessori at Home

Montessori Support Beginning at Birth

SusanMayclinStephensonLeave a comment

Montessori Support Beginning at Birth

Some years ago I was sharing a video of children in infant communities in Japan and the USA, at a Montessori conference in the USA. A monitor was set up in a room where anyone could view it at any time.
Montessori primary teachers (of children age 2.5-6.5) were as shocked as I had been upon first witnessing children’s independence and concentration as early as one year. We had to bring chairs into the room so people could sit down and watch the whole 1-hour video!
I had already taught or counseled children and young adults from age 2-18 for many years before discovering the 0-3 Montessori program, so I knew what these teachers were feeling and I know they returned to their classrooms seeing the children in a new light. Continue reading →

Montessori Language from Birth to Age 12+

SusanMayclinStephensonLeave a comment

Speaking, Writing, and Reading

This blog posts contains excerpts from these two books.
CLICK: The Joyful Child: Montessori, Global Wisdom for Birth to Three+
CLICK: Child of the World: Montessori Global Education for Age 3-12+

At all ages, the adults and older children are the most important models for the young person’s developing language. Do we speak well and clearly and with good manners and joy to each other? Do we understand what might be the result of modeling cell phone use rather than reading books? Do we actually read and enjoy fiction and non-fiction books? Do we go to a library regularly? Are we writing with pens and pencils in the presence of young children who are going to want to imitate everything they see going on around them—in the home and in the community—as soon as they are able? Learning to be a good language model like this is part of becoming a Montessori teacher, and it is something we can provide at home. Continue reading →

Montessori Interview – India/California

SusanMayclinStephensonLeave a comment

Montessori Interview – Bangalore, India/Trinidad, California
This 11-question interview by Madhuri Prasad from Bangalore (Bengaluru), India, appeared in social media recently. For my last blog post of the year I am sharing it with you with the hopes that it brings parents and other educators closer together as we work to help the world become a better place in the future.

In my exclusive interview with Susan Stephenson, a distinguished figure in Montessori education, we delve into her remarkable journey into the world of Montessori, her inspiration behind the “First Montessori Books” series, and the invaluable insights she has gathered during her extensive career. Join us as we explore the core concepts and messages conveyed through her renowned books, and how Montessori principles adapt to the challenges of the 21st century. We also discuss the importance of practical life skills and self-directed learning, the advantages of mixed-age classrooms, and the significant challenges facing Montessori educators today. Finally, Susan shares her vision for the future of Montessori education and recounts her most transformative experiences throughout her five decades as an educator and author.

 Continue reading →