As a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teacher at a public Montessori school, I use the site, Montessori Print Shop, quite often. I can download a material (like informational cards about the planets) for a couple bucks, turn around and upload the pdf on the FedEx Kinko’s website, and then pick up the material printed in color on cardstock the next day.

I recently learned that they also offer entire teaching manuals. I added the Practical Life one to my baby registry. It’s only $18 for lots of cool activities.

We received another item off our baby registry, which was the infant bell from Nienhuis Montessori. Its simplicity and beauty are striking. I’m a little embarrassed by how much time I could spend holding and looking at it!

I am so in love with the Montessori idea of using natural materials and paring down an object’s stimulation factor to just the proper dose. The trapped bell is highly likely to provide the perfect amount of stimulation for a little baby. The object doesn’t also have to be rainbow-colored, blinking, and playing a lullaby.

I think it’s hard to remember that what stimulates a baby is different from what stimulates

A few of you have expressed interest in learning more about implementing Montessori in the home, so I decided to start a sort of list-serv for us to share ideas and ask each other questions. The free group is hosted by Big Tent, which is a great tool. You can decide how you want to receive messages from the group. My favorite setting is the daily digest that condenses all the discussions/comments into one e-mail a day.

If you want me to sign you up, please fill out the form below. I promise not to use your e-mail address for any other purpose but to sign you up (and you