MCI is offering Montessori workshops in several countries for the new year.
Check out the website for your closest location. The only USA site is in Denver CO- The Canadian site is in Calgary, Alberta.
Find your nearest location-

They also provide an excellent distance learning course.

Have a Happy New Year!

If you have yarn and cardboard, you can make these cute pencil toppers
These coiled baskets are so pretty. “These coiled baskets are a cinch to make. Essentially,
all you have to do is to wind double strands of yarn around a core of everyday clothesline.”

Twisted Yarn Decorations has many holiday ideas and instructions for twisting yarn. Both boys and girls would like this hand work. Here is a Friendship Wreath made from twisted yarn.

I can’t believe how parents are moving in the direction of Montessori public schools. Kudos to you all!
Katy Ross, Elmira Montessori PTO, says it all in her great editorial.
Keep on fighting the good fight.

Southern Colorado is not noted for a narrow minded mentality. Pueblo School District 70, on the other hand, is having problems with the Montessori method of eduation. It’s not a teacher oriented approach, but an approach that is child oriented. The recent rejection of a charter Montessori school is a case in point. Superintendent Dan Lere’s concern that
“the perception that students attending Montessori schools do not perform as well on the Colorado Student Assessment Program exams” made my jaw drop!
The word “perception” is used instead of actual statistics for Montessori Schools’ CSAP scores!
It is true that Montessori schools do not teach for the test, but are there to help children learn. Charter schools are accountable by state law to test and have adequate performance. With this in mind, I wonder why District 70 is so anti Montessori? Is control the issue? Does it affect the politics of the schools and the administration?
Why not give your community the best and let others help make your students succeed.
Here are the Rye Elementary CSAP Scores.
Here you can compare the Boulder Community Montessori Elementary School to Rye Elementary School.
This site can also compare the Denver Denison Montessori Elementary School compared to Rye Elementary School.
It’s best to compare schools’ CSAP scores before making a judgment call. It’s the Montessori way.

Autism and Mirror Neurons gives insight to how our brains are wired.
It’s good to know that we are all unique!

Dr Petty puts our individuality into prospective-
“I do not doubt the value of this neurological approach to autism, but it is important to recognize that it is only a part of the picture.
We also need to respect the importance of other ways of looking at an individual.”

Montessori discovered that the right environment for every baby and preschool child could make a profound positive influence in a child’s future development. She provided individual programs for each child, it was expected that each student would develop at his or her own way and own pace.

I see some favorite Holiday Books on this great website, Christmas Stories Many of these, free books are classics, such as A Christmas Carol. Check out Dicken’s Victorian London for a historic look into his era of Great Expectations

Montessori Mom has a toy list with ideas for the holidays. You can get Montessori-like toys anywhere. Just look for something your child enjoys to help them learn and grow. Toys that are energized by children are the best. You don’t need batteries when you do a puzzle, color, paint, or build with bricks or play with a ball.
Find great toys at the dollar store, grandma’s attic, thrift stores, or online!

I agree with Critical Thinking. My public school education did not foster free & critical thinking. In fact, we knew if you wanted your instructor to give you a good grade on your essay you must do one main thing, agree with your teacher! Montessori and homeschooling have given my chidren much better thinking skills than their public school eduated parents!