In Part One of this series, we explored Dr. Montessori's profound belief that imagination is nourished not by fantasy alone, but by reality. The richer children's concrete experiences of the world, the more powerfully their imagination can soar. In Part Two, we look at how this actually unfolds: how the carefully designed Montessori materials of the early childhood classroom lay the groundwork for the extraordinary imaginative life of the elementary-aged...
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Of all the aspects of Montessori philosophy that raise eyebrows, the topic of fantasy and imagination might be the most misunderstood. Parents sometimes hear that Montessori discourages imaginative play, or that it takes a dim view of fairy tales and make-believe. The reality is both more nuanced and more fascinating than that. Dr. Maria Montessori didn't distrust imagination. Actually, she revered it! She was deeply interested in understanding how imagination...
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You’ve likely picked up your primary-aged child from school and heard all about who said what to whom at lunch, and not a single word about reading or mathematics. This social focus is the heart of their world. This is one of the most fascinating (and occasionally challenging) realities of the primary years. The Montessori classroom is designed to give children freedom of movement and the ability to choose their...
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