About Me

Welcome to LivingMontessoriNow.com! My name is Deb Chitwood. My husband of 36 years, Terry, and I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Facts

First the basic facts: I have my Montessori certification for teaching children ages 2½-5  through the St. Nicholas Training Centre in London, now called Montessori Centre International. I’ve also completed an online course through Karen Tyler of Worldwide Montessori Online to refresh my Montessori training. My bachelor’s degree from Antioch University is in Liberal Studies with my concentration in Montessori Elementary and Early Childhood Education.

Through Minnesota Catechists, I was trained in a Montessori-based religious-education program called Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. That training was for ages 3-6 and 6-9. I’ve also trained in Godly Play, another Montessori-based religious education program. Finally, I received my MA in Early Childhood Studies from Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England, with my degree work and dissertation largely focused on Montessori education. I am also the author of a 1983 children’s book, The Magic Ring.

My Montessori Teaching Experience

I am an eclectic Montessorian. I have enjoyed working with teachers trained through Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) to American Montessori Society (AMS) to National Center for Montessori Education (NCME).

I began my Montessori teaching experience by setting up a Montessori-oriented classroom in a day care center in Vermillion, South Dakota, before working in Montessori schools in Iowa and Arizona. I started, owned and operated a Montessori school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I was later a Christian Education Director and founder of a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program in an Episcopal church.

My Children

I homeschooled my two children, Will and Christina, using Montessori methods extensively in their younger years and in principle in their later years. They are now adults, 27, and 22, both with bachelor’s degrees of their own. Will is a happily married skating coach and DJ in San Diego, California. Christina is a happily married professional ice-dancer, skating coach, and personal trainer who also lives in San Diego. In addition to being a Montessorian, I am a former skating parent with a blog called RaisingFigureSkaters.com.

Tom, Christina, Chea, and Will

Living Montessori Now

Now I’m finding Montessori relevant to many areas in life. I’ve written and am editing a book on using Montessori methods to teach grace and courtesy at home or school. Through this blog, I write about using Montessori principles and methods in Montessori schools, traditional classrooms, homeschools, parenting, and life in general. Please join me in LIVING MONTESSORI NOW!