Parent Education
For more than 100 years, Maria Montessori’s child-centered, scientific approach has been producing outstanding educational outcomes for families around the world.
Learn More
Contemporary research has repeatedly validated Dr. Montessori’s brilliant insights and carefully designed methods and materials. If you’re like most Sterling parents, you were likely not educated at a Montessori school, and may have limited knowledge of Montessori philosophy and methodology. This page is provided as a resource for parents to learn more about Montessori education.
Montessori: Secondary Programs (YouTube)
Many people associate Montessori only with early childhood and elementary education. This video from the American Montessori Society outlines the benefits of a Montessori education for children aged 12-18.
What We Can All Learn from a Montessori Classroom
An education professional describes the visit she made to a Montessori school in Bowling Green, KY, and the revelations she experienced.
Easy Ways to Use Montessori at Home
Simple ways to use Montessori-inspired principles in your home.
North American Montessori Teachers Association (NAMTA)
NAMTA is a source of information about Montessori research, training, and education, publishing resources for parents, offering regional conferences for teachers, and editing The NAMTA Journal.
The American Montessori Society (AMS)
AMS is a non-profit service organization dedicated to stimulating the use of the Montessori teaching approach in private and public schools; it trains teachers and accredits schools.
Montessori Online
Montessori Online is the online resource center provided by the Montessori Foundation (publishers of Tomorrow’s Child magazine) and the International Montessori Council.
The Montessori Foundation
The Montessori Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of Montessori education in the United States and abroad. The foundation and its membership organization, The International Montessori Council, work together with Montessori schools, parents, and local and national Montessori organizations to promote the mission of the Montessori movement.
Jola Publications
Jola offers Montessori publications and serves as a clearing house for information like upcoming events, schools listings, news, etc.
Michael Olaf Montessori Company
Offers Montessori toys, books, games, tools, music, and other educational and fun materials for children from birth to age twelve, at home and in school.
Parent Child Press
Publishes books promoting parenting, Montessori education, art education, and the spiritual growth of children.
Positive Discipline
Sterling Montessori incorporates the Positive Discipline techniques and tools into all classroom environments. The theory is based on the work of Alfred Adler (1870-1937), a Viennese psychiatrist who believed that behavior is not driven by events in the past, but a goal of belonging and significance. That determination influences the choices and decisions humans make in their behavior.
Positive Discipline is a program developed by Dr. Jane Nelson. It is designed to teach young people to become responsible, respectful and resourceful members of their communities. Positive Discipline teaches important social and life skills in a manner that is deeply respectful and encouraging for both children and adults (including parents, teachers, childcare providers, youth workers, and others).
Recent research tells us that children are hardwired from birth to connect with others, and that children who feel a sense of connection to their community, family, and school are less likely to misbehave. To be successful, contributing members of their community, children must learn necessary social and life skills. Positive Discipline is based on the understanding that discipline must be taught and that discipline teaches.
On Thursday, January 28, 2021, our Director of Children’s House, Fay Masterson, gave a presentation to introduce Positive Discipline to our families, and began a Parent Education series. Click the link above to hear the virtual introductory presentation.
Five Criteria for Effective Discipline
1. Helps children feel a sense of connection. (Belonging and significance)
2. Is mutually respectful and encouraging. (Kind and firm at the same time)
3. Is effective long-term. (Considers what the child is thinking, feeling, learning and deciding about himself and his world - and what to do in the future to survive or thrive)
4. Teaches important social and life skills. (Respect, concern for others, problem solving, and cooperation as well as the skills to contribute to the home, school or larger community)
5. Invites children to discover how capable they are (Encourages the constructive use of personal power and autonomy)
Unique characteristics of the Positive Discipline Model include:
- Teaching adults and students through experiential activities. Creating opportunities to practice new skills and to have fun learning by doing.
- Classroom discipline programs and parent education programs that are consistent. Parents, teachers and childcare providers can work together to provide a secure and consistent environment for children.
- Support to teach skills and language that can be implemented in any environment
Sterling Faculty and Staff are trained in these techniques and are open to discussing with families the specifics on implementation in the classroom. Sterling will also be offering Parent Education opportunities for incorporating Positive Discipline at home.
Click here for more detailed information on Positive Discipline.