Montessori 101: By A Montessori Mom

Young boy squatting on the sidewalk with a blue bucket
Photo by Marie Mack 

"Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence." ~Maria Montessori

When I tell people that I use Montessori with my children, I get some pretty weird looks. I imagine they are worried about what my kids are eating, their well-being, or our religious background. I get questions like, "Is that a country in Europe?" Or they use a change-the-subject question, "Isn't this weather wonderful?" For anyone that might have an idea about the Montessori Method reply with, "Isn't that where kids get to do whatever they want in school?", or I get that sideways, "Oh, Okay" look.

Truly the Montessori Method is over a century old. The beginning concepts of Maria Montessori still hold very true today. Montessori schools and home-schools the world over are set up according to her initial research which began in the late 1800s.

As a Montessori Mom, I hope to answer some of the basic questions you might have about the Montessori Method and help you get started on the wonderful adventure that is Montessori living.

After my husband and I decided to use Montessori with our son, I dove into the books. I didn't want to mess anything up. But there are so many wonderful ideas, projects, and activities being posted, pinned, and blogged! Where to start? What are some basics? What can I do right now to help my child?

I have to admit that I'm just a Mom. I don't have any special training in the Montessori Method. I care about my children, just like you do, and I want what's best for them. All that I know now, I only know through research. I used the research I did to set up our home. In the beginning, I followed the Montessori program that Lisa Nolan has created to help get my foot in the door and answer my question, "OK, I want to do Montessori. What now?".

Deciding to implement the Montessori Method in your home is a life-altering step and some important research should be performed before jumping into the deep end. The best place I found to start is with Maria Montessori herself. What an amazing woman! The first woman to earn a medical degree in Italy, Montessori was the head of the State Orthophrenic School in Rome, Italy. This school was comprised of children labeled as "uneducable": orphans, children from asylums, hospitals, and schools. This was her canvas and she made all the wonderful things you have heard about the Montessori Method happen with these children first.

Maria Montessori wrote many books. One of her most popular books is The Absorbent Mind. In this book, Montessori describes what she states is the most critical developmental stage of life: the first six years. For those parents out there with young kids, parents to be, or teachers this is a great first read.

There's also some great information about Maria Montessori in the book Montessori Today by Paula Lillard. Lillard gives an overview of the Montessori primary years (from birth to age 6), outlines some key lessons that Montessori thought were appropriate to give to children, and describes the role the Montessori Method in the elementary and adult years among a myriad of other useful information. I read this whole book on my Kindle and to this day refer to the notes I made.

Another important document to read is Lisa Nolan's eBook titled Should You Montessori Homeschool? She responds to many questions asked by wondering parents like ourselves. She gives detailed responses and guides readers on other places to find useful information. Recently, I reread this book. Now that my son is a little older and moving into a different part of the first plane of learning, I wanted to be sure our home-school track is still the best choice for him and our family.

How to Give a Montessori Three Period Lesson for ages Three and Up
Photo by Lisa Nolan

Through my research, I have found some basics of Montessori learning that I think will be helpful for you to review. The first is the Three-Part Lesson. Instructors of the Montessori Method use this type of lesson presentation while presenting new activities, lessons, and topics to their students. Most of what I have read says that this type of introduction to new activities should be used for children three and up, but I have found it very useful when I am helping Samuel (2.5 years old) with new concepts. I might have to repeat the statement of "what" something is many times before getting to the second statement. And often it takes a little longer to get to the last statement with a suitable response. As a homeschooling Mom, the best thing about using this type of presentation is getting myself trained in using it. Now, when Samuel begins activities that are designated for three to six-year-olds, I am ready with how the three-part lesson should work.

Materials seem to be another basic aspect of setting up a Montessori home. Toys should be limited and basic. Wooden if you can. This is something you can do right now! Look around your playroom. Do you have toys overflowing from a toy box? A stack of books as tall as you are? Move some of those awesome extra materials to a closet or the garage. Let your children focus and work with a few materials at a time and swap out activities when they need a change. You can swap toys with a friend or have a yard sale to sell old toys and use the money to buy new things!

Another way to move your home to a Montessori home right now is to remove the childproofing. (Do this as you are comfortable. It doesn't have to be an overnight change if you are not comfortable with it.) We childproof only what is a threat to safety in our home like we have covers on the outlets and have tied up the strings on the blinds. We have not moved precious items out of the reach of our children or locked any kitchen cabinets. My daughter is 9 months old and we have been working with her on how to safely negotiate the stairs. We don't gate off the stairs during the day, but are conscious parents and are aware of her movements around the house. (For safety we do have a gate at the top of the stairs at night. This is just as much for groggy, sleepy kids as it is for our pesky dogs; who like to rummage through the trash when no one is looking!) There are no playpens or play yards in our home. Everything that is at our children's level is available for them to explore. Sometimes we want to be with them to introduce to them the proper way to handle delicate objects, like the set of Pyrex glass bowls that are on the bottom shelf of one of our cabinets.

Young son sitting on a blue rug with pegs and a peg card for counting up to five
Photo by Marie Mack 

While children are playing they are working. I try to treat Samuel as I would an adult working on an activity. I give him a warning if there is a change we need to make. I might say, "We have five minutes before we need to clean up your project." And I try to leave him to his work and only interrupt if I have to. He deserves my respect just like I deserve his. As our daughter grows, I use the same ideas with her. If she is working with an activity I let her work through it. As the two of them grow together, they begin to share experiences and play. My husband and I noticed just recently they are playing and communicating with each other in a healthy and happy way. We purposefully stay out of sight to allow them to work on their own relationship, just as we expect them to do with any adults.

This respect of space and time is an element that is implemented in a Montessori classroom. This mutual respect is what keeps discipline issues to a minimum. When we do have an issue with discipline, as long as it is not a physical harming of another person, our first step is to listen and understand our son's point of view. If he can relate to us in words what the misunderstanding is, we take the time to listen. His ability to communicate with his words is a skill that will be critical for the rest of his life. For our daughter, we have taught her basic sign language. She can ask for "more" or let us know when she is "all done". She says "thank you", asks for "milk", and is working on many other signs. Respecting her play and listening when she is communicating with us has helped her be one of the happiest babies I know!

The Internet is full of useful materials, programs, and resources to help you with your Montessori journey. Some sites I have found most useful are:

Lisa Nolan's Programs- programs from birth to 9 years old with lesson plans, age-appropriate activities, and personalized correspondence for you to help you with your child. Additionally, she is very knowledgeable about children with special needs.

Other great local resources are the local dollar stores, consignment stores, and yard sales. I have mental lists (which I should probably write down!) of all the things I would like to have in my perfectly well stocked Montessori home. When I am out and about I'm always looking for a deal on those items I need. If the price isn't great, I pass and keep on the search.

Rather search online? Here are some websites I recommend visiting: 

Young tot sitting on a blue rug and grabbing a bottle to "open and close"
Photo by Marie Mack

Another great way to keep Montessori cheap is to recycle items in your home. Look up projects on Pinterest or search the Internet. I make it a personal goal to see if I can make something rather than buy it. (My post on number pegboards is a result of that goal.)

After all my research the best advice I have read was written in an article by the Mammolian Children's Home which states, "Relax! Let your child explore and play...and play with your child." Your children learn how they will act as willing participants of society from you. Hopefully, you have a support network of people that uphold your values and can give your children a different view of the world around them.

Play! Laugh! And enjoy them! ~Marie Mack

My greatest reward in blogging is knowing I might help someone find the answers to their questions. This post was originally published in February 2013 and it has been helpful for many new Montessori families I have had the privilege to talk with. ~Marie 

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And now for my top posts!

A Montessori Teacher's Thoughts on Waldorf Education

As a Montessori 3-6 and 6-9 trained teacher, I have a lot of respect for Waldorf education, even though I was drawn to (fell in love with!) Montessori at a young age (23). And as a Montessori teacher, I have recommended it for a few children (usually two students per year) who were graduating from our 3-6 classroom, because I (we) felt it was a better choice for those particular children. Their interests, or should I say passions, were not with the Montessori materials, and certainly not academics like phonics and simple math, but instead, they loved arts, crafts, practical life, the outdoors, and botany. One of the attributes I like about Waldorf is its sensitivity to the development of the WHOLE child: mind, body, and spirit. Also, there is a lot of emphasis on fine motor (like weaving, knitting, sewing), nature, cooking, playing, arts and crafts, large motor play, storytelling, poetry, songs, critical thinking, and literature. Speaking of large motor, children really benefit from ...

How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Simone Davies of The Montessori Notebook

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Montessori FAQs About When to Begin Cursive

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Montessori Sewing Works by Aimee Fagan, author of Sewing in the Montessori Classroom: a practical life curriculum

If I had to pick just one type of work to stock my practical life shelves with, it would be sewing. I am NOT an accomplished sewer. Actually, I think it has been over a year since I pulled out my sewing machine, and then I prefer to make clothing with elasticized waists. But, when it comes to the classroom, I think nothing beats handwork. Maria Montessori stated that the activities of practical life should be meaningful, looking around my classroom, I wanted to find activities that still had meaning for today’s children. Polishing is great, but how many children really see their parents polishing the silver place settings? Spooning, tonging, pouring, and the like are quickly mastered when we leave the lessons simple and isolated on the tray. What materials could we use that would appeal to the 3-year-old and remain enticing through age 6 or beyond? Sewing. A child’s engagement with practical life materials is what prepares him for later success in the classroom. These handwork acti...

Montessori and Baby Sign Language Question

"If Dr. Maria Montessori were alive, would she suggest baby sign language?" I used to ask myself that question a lot! I do not think she would be against it since she worked with handicapped and special needs children early on in her career. But I don’t think she would have included it into her infant toddler curriculum, either—just a hunch. I was opposed to it for my son, who has Down syndrome until I watched a DVD for parents of young children with Down syndrome. And it had to do with auditory skills. For example, if I were to say to my son, “juice,” he might hear “juh” or “u” or “s” but not “juice.” Now, let’s say I hold up a cup of his juice and I sign “juice,” he would understand me by seeing the sign and the juice, but he probably would not hear the word correctly. (It later turned out my son had hearing loss.) So now you sign to him “juice,” and he has a mental picture of “juice” and can sign it back. After I watched this DVD and they talked about sign lan...

Montessori & the benefits of the geoboard!

The geoboard is one of the most beneficial materials in a Montessori classroom and at home. It is both a Practical Life activity and a Sensorial activity, depending on how you use it (present it to the child). Practical Life "All the practical life activities, in addition to improving hand-eye coordination and muscle control, are designed to increase the child's ability to concentrate [and to also go from left to right, and from top to bottom]." Montessori on a Limited Budget by Elvira Farrow and Carol Hill Practical Life Introduction from my Montessori training manual: "Exercises in Practical Life are given the greatest importance. Exercises in Practical Life help the child mainly in his efforts to adapt to his limited space, and his group, and to achieve independence. They answer his need expressed by "Let me do it by myself." They are excellent for the toddler old who is struggling to bring his psychic needs in accord with his physical development by de...

Three-Year-Old Having a Hard Time with Montessori Practical Life Activities

I am not very experienced with toddlers and I am having a hard time with my son who is about to turn three in May. I have used Montessori principles with him since he was born, but he has been a challenge lately...I am having a hard time keeping up with his needs and it seems that any practical life work I put out becomes a disaster. He takes great pleasure in dismantling anything and everything I prepare. Currently, my front porch is covered with beans...he will start to sweep with me but then he just throws them everywhere. This is the same for almost all the work I put out. He is very busy. He masters things easily, then becomes bored and will not choose the work again. And I feel like I can not keep up! Sweeping: we had a dustbuster in the classroom (and I had one at home for my son for a few years--it finally died!). And use rice for pouring, because it can be dust busted a lot easier! Try some larger motor movement (gross motor) activities, instead, and focus les...

Child Screams and Runs Around the Classroom When Asked to Put Montessori Activities Away

I have a child in the class who just turned three. Very smart. His parents are bilingual. Repeats words, phrases, or sentences you say in the third person. He can sit down and do work but when he is done he would start screaming or running around the room wall to wall. Then would have a hard time going back to work. He has a fascination with fans and makes fans out of most of the materials. Recently he has been pulling hair in random no apparent reason and no show of emotions toward the child. Are these signs of something about the child or just simply a child lacking communication skills that will come soon. Thank s. "When he is done he would start screaming or running around the room wall to wall..." I suspect he gets away with not putting his belongings away at home, too, and uses tantrums to get his way. Ask for a good time to talk with the parents over the phone (try not to talk in front of the child) and find out what their child does when he is asked to put s...

Montessori and Potty Training Boys

My son E. is 26 months old and has been wearing underwear for about a week during the day (cloth diapers at night). For the first day or two, he'd make it to the potty about half the time... But after those first few days, any suggestion of the potty upset him very much. So, I stopped mentioning the potty, thinking he was still learning about his body... The past few days he has not attempted to go to the potty at all, just has accidents all day. Should I be doing something else? If so, what? Should I try to get him to help clean up? If so, how? Have I missed his window of opportunity? Oh! The joys of potty training! Boys? Oh boy! Boys (when they potty train or potty learn ) act just as you described! They are fickle! What to do? 1. Don't show emotions when your child has accidents or refuses to try to go in the potty, just be matter-of-fact. 2. Don't expect the child to clean up accidents, you can invite them to help you, but at age 26 months they might not have t...

The Working Mom's Guide to Montessori in the Home by Meghan of Milkweed and Montessori

There are all sorts of reasons for bringing Montessori home. And there are all sorts of ways of doing it. There doesn't have to be   a divide between working moms and stay-at-home   moms (who are, of course, also working). There really are just moms, and we’re all just doing our best. Let’s have a bit of grace with each other (and ourselves), shall we? With that said, there are some practical differences.   Those of us who go out of the home to work have to focus our efforts on shorter time slots and more specific times of the day. There may not be as much time for themed trays and seasonal artwork, but there can be simplicity, respect, and a prepared environment. Here are a few ways we try to bring Montessori into our home: 1.  Focus on the environment.  Maybe you can’t give your child all of the time you’d like to, but you can prepare a space in the home that is his own. It doesn’t even have to be a lot of space. By creating a welcoming environment for the und...