“Circle time” is not authentic Montessori practice
(Me with Margot Waltuch, Sydney, Australia 1993. Baby platypus on her shoulder)
Margot was my AMI primary and elementary consultant. She was Dr. Montessori’s official translator and fellow researcher for teaching materials in Holland. Also my primary and elementary consultant when I was teaching. Here is a quote about her visit to my primary class from the book Montessori For Family and Community) Continue reading
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
7th Annual AMI Montessori Congress, Bogota, Colombia
Upon arrival in Bogota, Colombia, in October, 2024, for the 7th Annual AMI Montessori Congress I was greeted by Humberto, an old friend who knows I have suffered from altitude sickness (Saroche in Spanish) twice and that drinking coca tea or chewing coco leaves can prevent, or helps alleviate, the symptoms! He brought extra and we shared with everyone coming from low altitude. Continue reading