Parent Education

Parent Education is an integral part of each Montessori child’s academic success. It looks very different from its traditional counterpart. The Montessori Method is a unique educational approach nurturing a child’s intrinsic desire to learn. Montessori focuses on the whole child—their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.

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Walking With Nature

Walking with Nature: New research shows walking and talking enhances our mental creativity. The primary source of walking’s cognitive benefits seems to come from its effects on the mysterious spontaneous fluctuations of our brains. Reason is not the source of intelligence. Instead, it’s the product of it.

Walking with nature also makes us feel good. It releases endorphins which lowers our risk of depression. Walking with nature also increases cognitive functioning and strengthens our memory.

Grace and Courtesy Montessori Method Blog Grumble Services Blog elementary Montessori materials and learning resources

Grace and Courtesy

Grace and Courtesy: Teachers are picking up their virtual classroom pieces, gluing them back together and are now attempting to rebuild their classroom communities.

I’m not going to lie to you, this is truly a tall order. Virtual school was not ideal for many reasons. But it did offer one very important component which is missing from a school year littered with COVID obstacles and learning loss hurdles: Consistency.

Montessori classrooms that began the year relying on grace and courtesy lessons seem to be bouncing back most quickly. Here’s why.

Communication Strategies Blog Grumble Services Blog elementary Montessori materials and learning resources

Communication Strategies

Communication Strategies: Parent-teacher communication can look differently among teachers and parents. Some relationships may be more difficult to establish than others, but there are a number of communication strategies that can help teachers and parents increase engagement in various situations.

Discovering the best methods of communication and formulating communication plans early in the year is important. And so is maintaining consistent communication throughout the year.

Public Montessori Blog Grumble Services Blog elementary Montessori materials and learning resources

Non-Negotiables

Non-negotiables: Last week I started discussing the challenges Montessori programs might face when being implemented into a public-school system. These struggles can vary from small to large. And when looked at in their totality, they can have a devastating effect on a Montessori program.

Within public schools, we are asked to compromise a number of Montessori principles. Some of these compromises we can live with while some we simply cannot. To those we can’t, I refer to them as the ‘non-negotiables.’ And, believe me, the public school system has its own set of ‘non-negotiable’ too. 

Public Montessori Blog Grumble Services Blog elementary Montessori materials and learning resources

Public Montessori

Public Montessori Schools: If I am being honest, I’m not even sure where to begin on this topic. Over my years as a Montessori educator, I feel ‘whether you can practice the Montessori Method with fidelity in the public sector’ continues to be a hotly debated topic.

During my first-year teaching at a new school, I remember an early conversation I had with one of the upper elementary guides I worked with. She hastily pointed out to me her opinion about public Montessori: “It’s impossible to teach Montessori in public schools.” I thought, my gosh, is this true?

Math Anxiety Blog Grumble Services Blog elementary Montessori materials and learning resources

Math Anxiety

Math Anxiety: Learning multiplication facts truly is an essential part of your child’s elementary education. Believe me, I never thought I’d be the teacher to say that.

Working hand in hand with the evolution of computerized assessment comes the increasing emphasis on data collection. In public schools, funding is now directly connected to student data.

But, unless you are the adult facilitating the assessments, you might not be fully aware of the flip side of that equation.

Nurturing Independence Blog - Grumble Services Blog elementary Montessori materials and learning resources

Nurturing INDEPENDENCE

Independence sometimes feels like a lofty but unobtainable goal for your children. As a caregiver, you don’t need to be told by anyone that teaching your children life skills and daily activities is a difficult job.

It seems when life is at its most hectic, you need your child to be more independent throughout your daily routine. What kind of adult support does a modern child need?

Full Moon Blog Grumble Services Blog elementary Montessori materials and learning resources

Full Moon

Last night there was an impressive one. And, I’m not talking about one of those wimpy ones. It was one of those giant, glowing, fill-the-sky full moons. Only, I didn’t know there was going to be one.

Instead, I noticed completely by accident. As I was climbing into bed for the night, its light was shining through the crack between my curtains. It reminded me of another full moon night. One that occurred in July of the year I turned 30 years old.

Yes We Can Blog Grumble Services Blog elementary Montessori materials and learning resources

Yes We Can

Yes we can: All summer long I’ve been patiently waiting for President Barack Obama’s audiobook version of his new book, A Promised Land.

After about 4 months of moving up a ridiculously long waiting list, it finally happened last week. I am finishing out my last few days of summer vacation soaking up the words of Barack Obama.

Sunday Blues Blog Grumble Services Blog elementary Montessori materials and learning resources

August Blues

August blues: A teacher friend once explained to me that she views summer vacation much like a teacher’s weekend. The second half of June, when we finally arrive to summer, is like arriving to a Friday night. Time to finally relax and look forward to some decent rest. July is similar to a fun-filled Saturday. It’s time to partay! 

And then, August sneaks up on you, just like a Sunday. As each August day ticks by, it does so in the same manner each hour ticks by on a dreadful Sunday. I have come to know this as the “August blues.”