Montessori 0-3 Environment, Washington DC

In July, 2023 I was an AMI examiner at the Washington Montessori Institute near Washington DC. I am sharing a few pictures of the lovely environment to inspire anyone creating such at home or in Infant Communities.

THE NIDO
“Nido” (Italian for “nest”) is the name denoting the environment for the first year of life. It considers the physical, mental, and emotional needs for this age – such as the need for a secure attachment, appropriate mobiles, a floor bed, beginning toilet learning, clothing that supports independence and movement, and the celebration of the first meal where the infant participates as much as possible.


 


THE INFANT COMMUNITY
PRACTICAL LIFE, CARE OF SELF

Learning to independently wash hands, comb or brush hair, and use a mirror to blow one’s nose

“Dressing Frames” teach the necessary skills to tie, button, and dress oneself; caring for shoes, and pouring water into a pitcher, and then into a glass, whenever thirsty Continue reading

On the Road Again

October 1, 2022 – Finally back to in-person work!

Let me begin by one of my favorite moments of this trip to the East Coast of the United States, discovering a bagpiper while exploring the neighborhood.

For the last few days I have been staying at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell working with a Montessori school. Above is the view from my window. It feels especially good to be in a university area. Continue reading

A Language Story, inspired by Eloise in Paris

We have been requested to share the story mentioned in a previous blog post “A Montessori Language Lesson”  The introduction to the story, and all of the text in this blog post, is shared in the book Aid to Life, Montessori Beyond the Classroom (link below). This is a story of the young girl recording her thoughts as she experienced (just like Eloise did in Paris)  a hotel with her grandparents (Amala and Baba) and aunt (Lala) during a Montessori conference in Portland, Oregon. Continue reading