The Montessori School on 11th Street

09/03/2026

And a huge thank you to the linemen who have been out there working hard to get our power back on. We appreciate you more than you know! 💪⚡️

09/03/2026

🌿 Montessori: What Every Parent Should Know
Part 4: The Prepared Environment

😂 Confession time... Montessori teachers can spend an embarrassing amount of time deciding where one shelf should go.

Seriously.

We think about where it belongs, what should go on it, how much space should be between the materials, whether children can easily reach everything, and even what lesson a child might naturally be drawn to next.

Why?

Because in Montessori, the classroom isn't just where learning happens. It's part of the lesson.

A Montessori classroom is intentionally prepared to encourage independence, concentration, confidence, and responsibility. Every material has a purpose, every shelf is thoughtfully arranged, and everything has a place where children can find it, use it, and return it on their own.

It may seem like we're just moving a shelf...

But what we're really doing is preparing an environment where children can succeed without having to rely on an adult every step of the way.

That's the beauty of the prepared environment. 💛

Tomorrow we'll wrap up our series by talking about why Montessori is so much more than beautiful wooden materials.

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

🌿 Montessori: What Every Parent Should Know
Part 3: The Alphabet Soup

🔤 Montessori has more initials than a government agency.

AMS.

AMI.

IMC.

MACTE.

If you've ever looked at a Montessori school's website and thought, "Am I supposed to know what all of that means?"...

You're definitely not alone.

Here's the short version:

• AMS (American Montessori Society), AMI (Association Montessori Internationale), and IMC (International Montessori Council) are organizations that offer Montessori teacher education. Different organizations have different histories and philosophies, but they all share the same goal: preparing knowledgeable, well-trained Montessori guides.

• MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) is the organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education that accredits those teacher education programs, helping ensure they meet rigorous standards.

At our school, we're proud to have two lead guides who hold AMS credentials, one lead guide who is currently completing her AMS credential, and a director who holds an IMC credential.

To us, those letters represent something much bigger than initials. They represent a commitment to learning, growing, and continually refining our practice so we can provide the very best Montessori experience for the children and families we serve.

So no, you don't have to memorize the alphabet soup. 😊

Just remember this: behind every great Montessori classroom is a guide who never stops learning.

💛 Tomorrow we'll step inside a Montessori classroom and talk about why every inch of it has a purpose.

09/01/2026

🌿 Montessori: What Every Parent Should Know
Part 2: Accreditation (Don't Scroll Yet 😄)

😴 Let's talk about the least exciting word in Montessori...

Accreditation.

I know.

Not exactly thrilling.

But stick with me, because this is one of the most important things parents don't know to ask about.

Montessori teacher education programs can choose to become accredited by MACTE (the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education), the organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate Montessori teacher education.

Think of MACTE as quality assurance. It helps ensure that Montessori teacher education programs meet rigorous standards and prepare guides with a deep understanding of child development, observation, classroom leadership, and the Montessori Method.

When you're touring schools, asking whether a guide completed a MACTE-accredited teacher education program is a great question.

It tells you about the preparation behind the person leading the classroom.

💛 Tomorrow we're decoding Montessori's alphabet soup... AMS, AMI, and IMC.

08/31/2026

🌿 Montessori: What Every Parent Should Know
Part 1: The Most Valuable Thing in the Classroom

💡 Spoiler alert...

The most valuable thing in a Montessori classroom isn't the materials.

It's the years of education behind the person using them.

When people think of Montessori, they often picture beautiful wooden materials, neatly arranged shelves, and children working independently.

Those things are certainly part of Montessori, but they're only tools.

The real magic happens because a well-prepared guide knows why each material exists, when a child is ready for it, and how to present it in a way that builds confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.

Many Montessori teacher education programs require applicants to already hold a bachelor's degree before beginning their Montessori preparation. From there, they complete graduate-level Montessori teacher education focused specifically on child development, observation, the prepared environment, and the Montessori Method.

Because at the end of the day, the materials don't teach the child.

The guide does.

💛 Tomorrow, let's talk about the least exciting word in Montessori... accreditation.

08/31/2026

🎂 **Happy Birthday, Maria Montessori!**🎉

Today we’re celebrating the woman who started it all. ❤️

Maria Montessori had a pretty simple (but revolutionary) idea: **children are capable.** They want to learn, they want to be independent, and they deserve to be treated with respect.

She encouraged adults to really *watch* children, give them the right environment, and then step back enough to let them discover what they can do.

And honestly, we see the beauty in that every single day. The little moments of “I did it myself!” The concentration on a child’s face when they finally figure something out. The pride they have when they’re trusted with something new.

That’s the part of Montessori we love most. ❤️

So today, we’re raising our coffee cups ☕️ to Maria Montessori and the beautiful idea that **children are far more capable than we sometimes give them credit for.**

Happy Birthday, Dr. Montessori! 🌱

08/29/2026

A day well spent at the Houston Montessori Center! 📚✨

Our teachers had the opportunity to learn, connect, and deepen their Montessori practice alongside other Montessori educators.

Continuing to learn and grow is an important part of Montessori education, and we’re grateful for opportunities to learn from a center that has been part of the American Montessori Society community for more than 50 years.

We’re excited to bring some new ideas back to the classroom! ❤️

08/28/2026

🚂 Pink Tower + Brown Stair + Knobless Cylinders = TRAIN. Apparently. 😂

John had been working with these Montessori materials, and Sara saw an opportunity to take it a step further. She suggested he try putting the materials together to create a train, and he was definitely up for the challenge.

And look at this thing! 🚂

It’s such a fun example of what an extension can look like in the Montessori classroom. The guide sees what a child is working on, offers a new idea or challenge, and then lets the child take it from there.

Sometimes the best work is the kind that starts with a simple suggestion and ends with a pretty impressive train. 😂