MY 80th BIRTHDAY
The first celebration (pictured above) was at a Michelin Star restaurant in Nootdorp, Netherlands with Joanne Kaya, friend and Montessori teacher I first met in Moscow.
Next, with Judi Orion. Judi and I were both born in Tennessee in October, 1943, and have celebrated our birthdays together in Denver, Colorado, in Northern Italy, and now in Amsterdam. We visited the new Van Gogh museum . . . Continue reading
Montessori from Age One through Adolescence
October 2023 marked the third trip as a consultant for the Montessori School of Iași, Romania. They have translated five of my books so our communication is deep and successful. There is so much to learn in an AMI diploma course and the observation, creation of the environment, observation and meeting the needs of each individual, goes on forever. Some of what we focused on in the last two visits was protecting concentration by more work being done on the floor (less eye contact), having only one chair per table (less interruption), and abolishing “trained” afternoon napping, allowing sleep only when needed and the possibility of a full day of Montessori work. The improvement at all levels was obvious.
Infant Community, Age 1-2.5
In this environment an order of the day must be kept unchanged so the children know where everything is and what comes next. And, just as with the older children, individual presentations and freedom to choose an activity that meets a need allows for more and more intelligent choice, independent work, and concentration. I watched this little girl approach the music shelves, place a floor mat and a small xylophone on the mat, and play as she hummed along. Continue reading
Montessori Cosmic Education (for all ages)
. . . is, at its core, a method of learning about the world and, at the same time, discovering each person’s unique purpose—one that fulfills personal needs while contributing to family, community, planet. This path—that begins at birth and continues throughout life—is called a cosmic task.
Grounded in experience, Stephenson manages to convey the essence of one of Maria Montessori’s fundamental principles—the interdependent nature of life and the very concrete steps to helping children express their natural tendency to live well with others and take care of the planet. This book offers practical insights for parents and others interested in the Montessori approach.
—Lynne Lawrence, AMI Executive Director