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News from Greenspring Montessori School
Why to Stop Telling Your Child to “Be Careful” (and What to Say Instead)
Saying “Be careful!” is probably one of the most automatic things we do as parents. But does telling children to “be careful” actually make them safer? The Problem with "Be Careful" One problem with “be careful” is that it’s not specific. It could mean: “Watch out for...
The Montessori Entryway
Creating a Montessori-inspired area in your home is all about accessibility, order, choice, and independence. A great place to start is the entryway! A well-prepared entryway meets these needs as they come and go, offering a sense of ownership and routine. It reflects...
Why Intrinsic Motivation Matters—and How Montessori Supports It
When students are intrinsically motivated, they approach learning with confidence in their own growth and a belief that their actions have value. They are more likely to take initiative, embrace challenges, and engage deeply with their work—not for a reward, but for...
Exploring the Montessori Toddler Curriculum
The toddler years (18 months to 3 years) are a time of rapid, foundational development. In a Montessori environment, this growth is supported by a carefully prepared space where learning happens through hands-on exploration, purposeful movement, and observation. In...
The Skills That Will Matter Most: How Montessori Classrooms Support Executive Functioning
Think about the jobs that existed ten years ago that don’t exist today. Now think about the jobs your child might hold that don’t exist yet. The world is changing faster than most school curriculums can keep up with and that raises a real question for every parent:...
Saving Time for Unstructured Outdoor Play
Unstructured outdoor play — child-led, imaginative activity without rigid rules or predetermined outcomes — is essential to healthy development. By immersing themselves in natural environments, children can reap a multitude of benefits that are crucial for their...
Connection Before Correction: The Heart of Partnership Discipline
One of the most powerful principles in partnership-based discipline is simple, but transformative: Connection before correction. When our children exhibit challenging behaviors, our instinct is often to correct first. We want to change the behavior, teach the lesson,...
Why We Hold High Expectations for Our Children
Seeing a two year old preparing a snack for their classmates in the classroom or an Elementary student initiating a trip to a local university can be inspiring, but it also leads some families to question whether it is too much to expect of them. When families share...