About Me

Hello, and welcome to MontesStories.

I'm Tanu, an AMI-trained Montessori Primary Guide, but my Montessori journey began long before my training.

As a child, I attended a Montessori school where I experienced the freedom, independence, and joy of learning through the Montessori Method. At home, I grew up watching my mother, an AMI-trained Montessori Guide and school owner, prepare materials, observe children, and speak about education with a deep respect for childhood. Without realizing it, Montessori became the language of my upbringing.

As I grew older, I spent my summers assisting in Montessori classrooms before pursuing a career outside of education. Although I worked as an immigration paralegal for several years, I found myself continually drawn back to the classroom. Returning to Montessori felt less like changing careers and more like returning home.

Today, I have the privilege of serving as an AMI-trained Primary Guide, working with children during what I believe is one of the most extraordinary periods of human development. Every day, I am reminded that children are capable of far more than we often imagine when we prepare the environment thoughtfully and trust the unfolding of their development.

Why I Created MontesStories

MontesStories was born from a simple realization: there are countless conversations about Montessori, but some of the most meaningful moments are the ones that never leave the classroom.

The quiet concentration of a child carefully pouring water for the first time.

The confidence that appears after weeks of practicing a difficult skill.

The small moments that seem ordinary on the surface but reveal something extraordinary about how children grow.

This blog is a place to share those stories.

Here you'll find reflections from the classroom, explanations of Montessori philosophy, insights into child development, and practical ideas for bringing Montessori principles into everyday family life.

Whether you're a parent exploring Montessori for the first time, a teacher seeking inspiration, or simply someone who believes childhood deserves to be understood with greater patience and respect, I hope these stories help you see children a little differently.

What I Believe About Childhood

I believe children are not empty vessels waiting to be filled with knowledge.

They are active participants in their own development.

I believe every behavior is a form of communication before it is a problem to be solved.

I believe independence grows through connection, not isolation.

I believe mistakes are invitations to learn, concentration deserves protection, and curiosity is one of childhood's greatest teachers.

Most of all, I believe that our role as adults is not to shape children into who we think they should become, but to prepare environments where they are free to become who they already have the potential to be.

A Note to Parents and Fellow Guides

To the parents: thank you for inviting me into a small part of your family's journey. Parenting is filled with questions, uncertainty, and moments of immense joy. My hope is that MontesStories offers encouragement, practical ideas, and a reminder that the small, everyday moments often matter most.

To my fellow Montessori guides and educators: thank you for the quiet work you do each day. The lessons you prepare, the careful observations you make, the environments you tend, and the trust you place in children rarely receive the recognition they deserve. I hope these reflections spark conversations, inspire new ideas, and remind you that the work we do reaches far beyond the walls of our classrooms.

Thank you for being here.

I'm so glad our paths have crossed, and I hope you'll stay awhile as we continue illuminating the path toward independence—one story at a time.