Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 1:22PM Wow! Great article in last week's NY Times which confirms many of the principles Dr. Montessori laid out decades ago about the child. A worthy full reading:
Op-Ed Contributor: Your Baby Is Smarter Than You Think
Babies and young children are designed to explore, and they should be encouraged to do so. Children learn more through natural interaction with a parent and play than with any toy.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 12:07PM What better way to bring Practical Life into the home but through planning and preparing a meal with your child. Healthy cooking gives us a deeper appreciation for the natural goodness that comes from the soil and other foods we eat. Plus it can help us with skills in pouring, mixing, organization, teamwork and more... .
Here's a link to some great recipes to use with children:
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/search-results.php?convenienceId=1
UMA is serious about your overall health and the health of children!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 9:30AM Here is "A Montessori Moment" podcast for the week:
A few additional resources:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4097/is_200407/ai_n9456103/?tag=content;col1
http://www.pecentral.org/LessonIdeas/SearchResults.asp
http://www.yogamovement.com/resources/kidyoga.html
http://www.newchildmontessori.com/yoga.html
Do you have resources to share? Let us know.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 11:35AM 
No use in reinventing the wheel when it comes to information on Earth Day and environmental issues that affect all of us. In this audiocast I list just a few but what I think are valuable sites:
Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 8:55AM How is your Drive?
People who provide effective leadership always seem to have above average energy levels, often much above average. They appear to thrive on achieving something important and being in a position to influence others to achieve. This inner drive is often associated with high personal standards, a certain dissatisfaction with the status quo, and a tendency to push for continuing improvements and achievement of goals. Observers often sense this restless ambition after being with leaders for only a short time.
A strong internal drive to achieve and succeed is probably essential, simply because leadership can be absolutely exhausting. The hours are long. The problems can be huge. Yet it may take sustained effort for years to accomplish the kinds of change associated with leadership. It is difficult to imagine people with less than a high level of internal drive handling the long hours required and the problems encountered over such a long period of time.
Suggestion: do an assessment of both your body and mind. How do you feel physically? Are you getting enough exercise? Diet? Is your mind cluttered with too many details that you lack concentration. Again, do a personal assessment, take notes and come up with a plan. Then share it with others who should know of your personal changes of habit, who can encourage you and allow you the space you need to make what may be significant changes in you.
Staff leadership, code of values, mind and body Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 8:55AM The second is Emotional Stability
A quality exhibited by many good leaders is having a stable emotional outlook especially in times of crisis. With few exceptions, the great leaders in history have exhibited the ability to control their emotions in the face of immense situations and problems.
Winston Churchill, George Washington, Napoleon, and Robert E. Lee were each viewed by their contemporaries as "islands of calm" during the heat of battle. Women such as Rosa Parks, Indira Ghandi and Margaret Thatcher- demonstrated a keen mix of intelligence, humility and inner strength.
Why is emotional control important? Consider two people who lose emotional control during an argument. Both lose objectivity. Both say and do things that they later regret. Nothing is accomplished except alienation. Unfortunately this scenario is probably repeated thousands of times each day in the business world. The effective leader, however, keeps his or her emotions in check, thereby remaining in a position to make intelligent decisions, accomplish positive results, and serve as an "anchor" for his or her group during times of change or crisis.
Question: does your administrative and teaching team at school see you as the calm voice of reason even in the midst of chaos?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 3:31PM At UMA, food is important! So much so that we feel that we all need reminders as to what is good for the body. Montessorians are always making the connection between the mind and the body.
Here's an article from the NY Times on health and the food we eat. Something to share with your staff and parents:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/the-11-best-foods-you-arent-eating/
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