Moving up to Primary
Your child’s transition into the world of Primary is an exciting, integral part in their development. The environment that awaits them is larger, filled with wonderful new materials to explore and new friends of various ages to lend a hand and engage in more mature social interactions.
Celebrating 20 years on North Long Lake Road
“When Hildegarde Solzbacher, director of my AMI teacher training program, asked each of us to describe the Montessori school of our dreams, I said I imagined a place where children would be free to explore learning surrounded by adults who guided them with patience and love…”
Making Dreams a Reality
Fall 2002: Imagine the excitement of not only a new school year, but a new school! The North Long Lake Campus became home for The Children’s House after an 18-year journey that began at the school’s inception in 1984 to a point when demand for the program inspired and justified the construction of our dream school. We eagerly embraced the opportunity to build a facility that supported our Montessori principles.
Traveling with Adolescents: It's just that important
The Children’s House Jr. High is “on the road” for nearly two months every school year. Included in our many adventures are two, week-long city trips, one, four-day backpacking trip, and two, three-day, “warm up trips,” one to Detroit, another to Beaver Island and/or various points north.
Student Led Conferencing
Parent teacher conferences, historically, have been a place for parents to listen to their child’s teacher highlight areas in which they excel and areas in which they are challenged.
How to Make the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are right around the corner. We genuinely care for your child and their development and look forward to our time together. We have lots to share about your child and, because no one knows your child better than you do, we look forward to hearing from you all about your child, discussing any questions you may have and supporting you at home when possible.
How to Observe in a Montessori Classroom
The Montessori environment integrates all aspects the child needs to be successful. Mastery over the environment begins when the child becomes aware of their actions in and on the environment and, for some, this may be their first experience outside of the home. The classroom supports all of what’s to come and is the physical, psychological, and social foundation for growth.
Dr. Montessori and Peace
Perhaps you do not know that Maria Montessori lived during both World Wars. Maybe you do not know that she was involved in the creation of The League of Nations, the precursor to The United Nations.
4 Ways to Integrate Montessori at Home
Encouraging order, independence, and self-motivation is fundamental to the Montessori approach. At school, carefully designed classrooms allow students to develop competence in caring for themselves and their surroundings. Here are four ways you can support your child’s Montessori education at home…
Montessori and the Multi-Aged Classroom
When our daughter joined The Children’s House at sixteen months, one of the biggest takeaways from our initial visit was how very capable she already was at this young age and how, up until that point, we may have been getting in the way of her natural development.
Freedom and Limits
Joyful learners abound in every classroom at The Children’s House. You can see students happily skipping across the room, some fiercely engaged in their work, while others banter over the nuisances of their collaboration. I believe a key force in this engagement is the foundational principle of the balance of freedom and limits.
A Child-Centered Education
Dr. Jal Mehta is a Harvard University professor, researcher, and education reform advocate. Like Dr. Maria Montessori, Dr. Mehta believes that schools exist to equitably serve all students, and to help each child be successful and productive citizens that realize their responsibility and agency to bring about a better world.
We Need More Than Kindness
Dr. Montessori fought for peace among people and nations. She was part of the League of Nations - the predecessor of the United Nations. It is in our training as Montessori educators to create a community that is just, inclusive, and welcoming to all.
Learning to Embrace the Struggle
Children naturally want to do things for themselves. Regardless of their age, we have all seen this drive for independence emerge in our children and students. At times, it can feel like a great accomplishment; at other times, a challenge. For all of us who care for them, a real challenge exists in allowing children to encounter struggle.
Fostering Independence
In a Montessori environment, the goal for children at any age is independence. Dr. Maria Montessori envisioned a world where we live in harmony and are mutually reliant on one another. Still, she recognized that this is only possible when individuals are able to satisfy their own needs first.
Montessori During COVID-19
Over the past several months, I have been participating in online forums with other Montessori school leaders where we discuss and collaborate on opening safely during COVID-19 and how to successfully return to in-person learning.
Anti-Bias Anti-Racism Education is Montessori
Maria Montessori taught us to believe in the potential and value of every child. As Montessorians, it is our intention to provide an environment where children and adults alike are seen and respected, and to seek to understand others for their differences and similarities. We believe a future that is genuinely equitable for all is in the hands of the children.
Farewell
The Dance of the Cosmos celebration has marked the end of the school year every year since the school’s inception in 1984. Obviously, I was looking forward to that day to say farewell to all of you and to begin my retirement, but when COVID entered the picture, I began to shift gears.
Montessori on Equity
One of the fundamental and most important aspects of the work of Dr. Montessori was her tireless work toward peace. She believed that the hope for a more peaceful and equitable world lies in the child.
A Space to Grow Food for the Community
Right now we have over 1,500 plants started in the greenhouse that will grow to provide produce to local food pantries.