Book Review: Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom by Jane Nelsen & Chip DeLorenzo

Fostering Respect, Responsibility, and Community in Montessori Education

In the world of Montessori education, classroom harmony, mutual respect, and inner discipline are foundational principles. But even in a carefully prepared environment, children will inevitably experience conflict, big emotions, and moments of misbehavior. How can educators respond in a way that is both consistent with Montessori philosophy and effective in practice?

Enter Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom by Dr. Jane Nelsen and veteran Montessori guide Chip DeLorenzo—a deeply practical and inspiring guide that blends the wisdom of Positive Discipline with the core values of Montessori education.

A Marriage of Two Philosophies

Positive Discipline, created by Jane Nelsen and based on the psychology of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs, focuses on mutual respect, encouragement, and solutions over punishment. The Montessori Method, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, emphasizes freedom within limits, independence, and respect for the child’s natural development.

Rather than viewing these as separate systems, Nelsen and DeLorenzo show how beautifully they complement each other. Both approaches view children as capable, worthy of respect, and motivated by connection rather than coercion. This book brings the two together in a way that feels seamless and empowering for educators.

What the Book Covers

The book is organized around the key tools of Positive Discipline—connection, structure, responsibility, and encouragement—framed in the context of a Montessori environment. Topics include:

• How to hold class meetings that foster community and problem-solving

• Encouraging intrinsic motivation rather than external rewards or punishments

• Helping children take responsibility for their behavior

• Using kind and firm communication

• Managing power struggles with empathy and leadership

• Supporting students with social-emotional needs

  
  

Real-life classroom scenarios, scripts, and actionable strategies make this book highly practical and easy to implement.

Discipline as Teaching, Not Controlling

One of the book’s core insights is that discipline should be rooted in teaching, not controlling. In a Montessori classroom, the guide’s role is not to punish misbehavior, but to help the child understand and grow through it. Positive Discipline offers tools to do exactly that—guiding children to reflect, repair, and restore rather than to feel shame or fear.

This approach builds emotional intelligence, resilience, and genuine moral development—goals that align perfectly with the Montessori ideal of developing the whole child.

Empowering Educators Without Losing Structure

Perhaps the most reassuring aspect of this book is its balance. It acknowledges that Montessori educators need structure and tools—not just idealistic theory—to manage real classroom dynamics. It doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges of working with young children, nor does it promote permissiveness. Instead, it offers a compassionate and structured framework for handling misbehavior in a respectful, community-centered way.

Whether you're new to teaching or a seasoned Montessorian, you’ll find ideas that help you respond more calmly, consistently, and confidently.

Why Every Montessori Educator Should Read This

At its heart, Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom is about cultivating a culture of respect—between children and adults, between peers, and within each child. It’s about replacing reactive discipline with proactive guidance. And it’s about supporting children as they learn to take ownership of their actions in a safe and connected environment.

This book is not just for classroom management—it's a guide to building peaceful communities, one interaction at a time.

Highly Recommended For: Montessori guides, assistant teachers, administrators, and even Montessori-aligned parents who want to create consistency between school and home environments.