What is a Heritage Language Learner?
A heritage language learner is anyone who is learning their family or ancestral language. This might be a person who was exposed to their family language as a child. They…
Montessori Holiday Gift Guide 2021
One thing that Montessorians always remind families is that Montessori is not about the materials - and it's not! You can absolutely follow Montessori principles in the home without fancy…
What are the three types of bilingualism?
Researchers have identified three ways that people acquire a second language: simultaneous bilingualism, successive bilingualism, and receptive bilingualism. Simultaneous bilingualism is when you learn two languages at the same time,…
Why do we recite poetry with children?
Poems are a wonderful way to enrich children’s language skills and teach them about their culture, routine, and the world around them. Poems can also be useful to expose children…
5 Ways to Support Literacy During the Summer
1. Visit the Library Create a library ritual: go to the library on the same day each week, or attend a weekly storytime with a friend. Many public libraries have…
What are different models of bilingual education?
Not all bilingual education programs are structured the same! When searching for a bilingual education program for your child, here are some things to keep in mind. The Enrichment Model…
Does bilingualism cause language delays in children?
NO! Bilingual children’s language development does not lag behind that of their monolingual peers. In fact, bilingualism has many positive effects on language acquisition and development. Bilingual children might appear…
What is the Sandwich Technique?
The Sandwich Technique is a method used in foreign language teaching, and can be used with our young children when introducing new vocabulary in the target language. For example, if…
Methods for Raising Bilingual Children
OPOL: One Parent One Language When parents speak two different languages, they can each speak to the child exclusively in their own language. (This is usually their native language, but…
What is “Total Reading”?
In order to help children become fluent readers with a love for the written word, we can guide them through the Montessori progression of Total Reading. In the Montessori classroom,…
Is it too late to raise my child bilingual?
A question I hear all the time is: Is it too late to raise my child bilingual? NO! It’s never too late for a child to learn to speak another…
Can I Teach My Child a Language That Isn’t My Native Language?
Yes! We can absolutely teach our children languages even if we aren't native speakers. It takes a little extra effort and dedication, but it's well worth it. Learn Together Make…
How Should I Talk to My Young Child* about the News?
*under the age of 6 Children under the age of six live in the moment. They cannot abstract ideas yet, and are unable to distinguish between events happening in their immediate personal spheres, and those in…
How Can We Help Young Children Prepare Their Hands for Writing?
How can we help young children prepare their hands for writing? Providing children with opportunities for purposeful movement allows them to develop the hand strength and hand-eye coordination needed write.…
Do Montessori children learn spelling?
A common stereotype about Montessori children is that they’re bad spellers! While we eventually do encourage proper spelling, it’s true that when we first teach children to write in non-phonetic…
Why do we refer to letters by the sounds they make?
In Montessori classrooms, you’ll hear letters being called by the sounds they make instead of by their names. For example, the letter “b” is called “buh,” not “bee.” This might…
How can we support reading and writing at home?
Value spoken language. Engaging your child in rich conversations will help develop their confidence, ideas, vocabulary, and grasp of language structure. Model writing by hand. Let your child see you…
Why do we teach writing before reading in Montessori?
Writing begins within oneself, with one’s own thoughts. The writer thinks of what they want to say, drawing on words they already know. They listen for the sounds in each…
What are the Planes of Development?
Dr. Montessori defined four planes of development in the life of the child, from birth to adulthood. The first plane of development goes from 0-6 years old, a time in…
What is the Sensitive Period for Language?
What is the Sensitive Period for Language? Dr. Montessori described sensitive periods as a window of time in which a child’s interests are focused on developing a certain skill, like…