Do you spend more than one hour a day surfing the Internet for you next Montessori fix? Have you bought several Montessori-related book this month on Amazon? Perhaps you wander around the dozens and dozens of Montessori blogs reading posts, downloading activities, or making comments.
Maybe you've even downloaded a Montessori 3 to 6 album, or two, or three. (Tip: you only need one!)
And don't tell me you haven't downloaded a Montessori app
to your iPad or iPhone! OK, maybe that's going too far... even I
haven't done that (mainly because I have an old-fashioned cell-phone
that isn't capable of taking a picture much less checking my email or
what-ever-it-is smart phones do these days).
I think I am a Montessori junkie, I must be. I have Montessori on the brain every day, whether I'm posting to one of my Montessori blogs; or answering email questions from anxious Montessori parents; or updating one of my Montessori websites or online activity lessons or looking for Montessori materials to buy (when I can afford them!); and so it must be true. I confess. I'm addicted to Montessori.
It started when I was twenty-three years old and I observed my first Montessori school, then sat in on a Montessori training class. From that early age (I'm nearing 50 as I write this post!), I was hooked.
I spent the next three years taking my primary and elementary Montessori training courses, and the next twenty years in Montessori classrooms, not-to-mention the past fifteen years doing just-about-everything Montessori on the Internet. And if that wasn't enough, I published two Montessori books on Amazon Kindle!
Having all this experience with Montessori (including being a Montessori mom to a special needs child) has taught me a few things, and I want to share them with my fellow Montessori junkies, especially the newbies.
Tip number one: Start your Montessori journey by reading Montessori books, including the ones at your local library--there is a ton of information on the Internet, but some of it is sketchy at best, be it a Montessori YouTube clip, a Montessori mom blog post, or a free download--so to help yourself weed out the not-so-authentic-stuff, read a lot of Montessori books.
Tip number two: Spend less time on the Internet (I know that's a hard one) and more time (at least fifteen minutes at a time) observing your child. It's through observing your infant or tot or preschooler that you will learn the most--I can't stress that enough!
Tip number three: Spend less time online (you can do it!) and more time interacting with your little loved ones in your Montessori (or soon-to-be-Montessori) environment. It is through interacting with them that you will learn even more! (There, I stressed it again!) Then, and only then (after you've read a few chapters in your Montessori book, observed your children playing and "working", and also interacting with them--and yes, that includes giving a lesson or two) can you go on your computer (or iPad or iPhone!) to get your Montessori fix.
Lastly, I want to say: Welcome to the club fellow junkies!
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You may also be interested in my affordable online Montessori and homeschool PDFs and programs for birth to age nine at Montessori for the Earth.