When I was a much younger teacher, I had a student enigma, one of those kids who, despite everything I presented or didn’t, despite the…
Teacher Talk: Concentration
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Teacher Talk: The Freedom to Interact (or Not) as Teachers
Our first goal as Montessori teachers is to prepare environments within which children no longer notice our presence. So, how come this…
Teacher Talk: Settling In
You’ve made it through those first few weeks, the crying children, the crying parents, the crying teachers at the end of exhausting days….
Teacher Talk: Misconceptions and the Elevator Speech
It’s an old game in Montessori teacher education programs: can you give your “elevator speech about Montessori,” that brief explanation…
Teacher Talk: Building Relationships
We know, as Montessori teachers and child advocates, that the most important relationships we build in the classroom are the ones we…
Building Relationships in Infant & Toddler
For most American schools, this is the beginning of the new school year. And for most Infant and Toddler classrooms, that means the…
Teacher Talk: The First Day
You’ve labeled the cubbies. You’ve printed your lists. You’ve prepared your binders and added those vibrant drops of food coloring to the…
Teacher Talk: Preparing for the New Year
Are your shelves cleaned? Have you reorganized your cupboards? Decided whether the loft should be a reading nook or an observation perch?…
Teacher Talk: Teacher Motivation
For many of us, February days are some of the loveliest. The classroom is buzzing with a happy hum, parents understand the expectations…
Teacher Talk: When Children Are Hurtful
The child is capable of developing and giving us tangible proof of the possibility of a better humanity. He has shown us the true process…