One day a few decades back, I was sitting on the couch watching reruns of the Brady Bunch. In one episode, Peter made an art project at school. He brought it home to show his mother, who casually praised his work. Peter dejectedly responded: “Mom, you’re holding it upside down” – cue the canned laughter. […]
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Montessori in Your Home Part III: The Ad...
Now that your child is a teen do you really need to prepare your home environment to accommodate them? Well, yes. Adolescence is not mini-adulthood. The adolescent brain is busy! The pre-frontal cortex (where decisions are made) is still developing, the amygdala (emotion central) is swollen and the brain, overloaded with new neurons, is working […]
Montessori in Your Home part II: The Ele...
Rumor has it that the elementary years are supposed to be the easiest from a parenting perspective. The typical child’s immune system has built up, they are more independent, they are able to use words to identify emotions and they can lead interesting conversations. Their lives are ruled by ideas of fairness and justice and […]
Montessori In Your Home: Preschool Editi...
The other day I reached into the bottom drawer for something and there in the back were two old tumblers and some small plates. Years ago that bottom drawer belonged to my children allowing them to independently set their spots at the table, grab a snack, or a drink. Now, my children are able to […]
Curiosity is Key
The important thing is that we never stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. -Albert Einstein Curiosity is truly a key element in learning. And not just learning at school, but learning anywhere, anytime, and at any age. I remember being a young child and sitting in my grandparents’ backyard watching ants. I’d […]
Lights, Camera, Action
It started with the Elves and the Shoemaker in December 1996. I was one of the giggling, happy little elves who was thoroughly and genuinely appreciated by my audience. It was the next year, though, that I really caught the bug. I was cast as Santa Claus in ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Every giggle […]
Smitten By Amanda Howton: HMS Parent
I had been intrigued by the “Montessori ways” for several years. Well, since I was taking coursework in the area of early childhood education in the late 90’s to be exact. As I learned more about Maria Montessori; her progressive take on how to educate children and her observational basis for why, I knew that […]
The Montessori Work Mat By Eric Van Wink...
Eric Van Winkle is a senior at Bellarmine Prep and will be attending Harvard University this fall. Below is an excerpt from his college application essay, in which he focused on his experience as a Montessori student. In regard to Harbor Montessori, Eric says: “Throughout my educational years since attending HMS, Montessori training remains my […]
Montessori Grit
Many of us in a quest for physical and mental fitness, in a desire to push ourselves through uncomfortable situations, in pursuit of saying “I did it!” have taken to signing up for Spartan Races, Marathons, Warrior Dashes, Triathlons, Ragnar Relays, 100 mile bike rides, etc. There is something about preparing to climb a twenty […]
Spelling My Name by Blake Greene
Spelling my name I attended Harbor Montessori in Gig Harbor, WA from Kindergarten to 5th grade (September 2000 – June 2005) and I can say with confidence that the education I received there laid the foundations of my success, and that I continue to see the profound influence a Montessori education has on the world […]