Happy Summer, and One More Good-Bye

We've wrapped up another year for the books here at Villa di Maria, and we hope you're already enjoying the start of summer. On a personal note, this is my final blog post before passing the baton to the next Montessori blogger. The past two years (and exactly 270 posts!) have been a wonderful, enlightening experience, and I've learned and fallen even more in love with the Montessori method and with this school - something I didn't think possible. As a last farewell, I've compiled a list of my personal favorite blog posts from the past two years - I hope you enjoy them! Thank you for the opportunity to contribute here, for your support, for the opportunity to learn more about this incredible method of learning. Most of all, thank you for reading.Warmly,Lauren KnightBlog Manager 2016 - 2018

1. Loose Parts Play: A Montessori Playground (November 14, 2016)
2. On Peer Conflict (February 16, 2017)
3. 6 Ways to Foster the Nurturer in Your Child (February 23, 2017)
4. Why Dirt is Good for Your Children (March 30, 2017)
5. An Introduction to Practical Life (July 24, 2017)
6. On Climbing Trees (September 21, 2017)
7. Why Your Child Falls Apart After School, and 5 Ways to Help (October 19, 2017)
8. The Role of the Adults in the Montessori Environment (November 17, 2017)
9. The Benefits of Handwork for Children (November 30, 2017)
10. On Independence: Allowing the Young Child to Dress Himself (January 18, 2018)
11. Advice to Culminating Primary Children (From First Year Elementary Children) (January 22, 2018)
12. Parts of a Flower: An Introduction to Reproduction (February 5, 2018)
13. On Sharing (February 22, 2018)
14. Development of the Will: Movement in the 0-3-Year-Old Child (March 8, 2018)
15. 7 Ways to Show Respect to Children (April 12, 2018)