Schedule
Welcome to the second day of our conference.
Saturday, November 5, 2022
All times are given in Eastern Standard Time (USA)
7:30 am – 8:00 am
Back to Center
Join us for 30 minutes of mind-quieting, energy-boosting activities and exercises. Share your favorite mind-body practices: creative movement, songs, affirmations, poems, breath work, visualizations – any activity that brings you peace and positivity.
8:00 am – 8:50 am
Breakfast
9:00 am – 9:45 am
General Session
*Live Streamed*
9:45 am – 10:00 am
Break
Network & Visit Exhibitors
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Jennifer Littrell-Hesseldenz
Michelle Lancaster
(For Toddler)
3A | Cooperative Care: Collaborating With Toddlers Towards Independence
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
An interactive presentation encouraging Montessori toddler teachers to provide a warm, inviting and loving homelike environment that children actively participate in to keep the household running smoothly. Young children love to imitate the work of adults and in caring for their house, gain much confidence through real acts of work that maintain good order. Collaborating with toddlers in work including cooking, cleaning, gardening and making meaningful contributions that add beauty to the environment that engage and inspire young Montessori students to appreciate their part in the community.
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The combination of all of these toddler house activities help the children become more orderly in their work, giving them a sense of satisfaction and competence. As children work on completing these multistep tasks, our young Montessorians move toward the ability to focus on more conceptual and introspective processes.
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Lori Karmazin
(For Casa)
3B | Revisiting and Extending the 3-6 Math Curriculum
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Montessori materials provide an amazing introduction to math concepts, but sometimes children need enticed into this area. In addition, a child’s enthusiasm for learning these concepts is also an important factor to their success. This workshop will explore the many ways to enrich the Montessori math curriculum through variations and extensions and encourage the repetition needed for mastery of concepts in fun and engaging ways.
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Dorothy Harmann
Joe Campbell
(For All)
3C | Intentional Connections: A Conversation with Teachers for Parent Engagement
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
This workshop is based upon a collection of wisdom and suggestions gathered during 30+ years of working with children and parents, and candid conversations with more than 100 educators in public, private, Montessori, traditional and childcare settings.
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It is intended to be a catalyst of thought, conversation, and action to bring together educators and parents in service to the child. This workshop will explore 9 big ideas, from ‘trust’ to ‘play’, and offer attendees tools for bringing these conversations to your settings.
12:45 pm – 2:15 pm
Mary Beth Ricks
Megan Ricks
(For Leadership)
3D | Improving School Improvement: Using the Montessori Method to Develop a Strategic Plan
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Jayne Cobb
(For All)
3E | Edible School Gardens
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Learn ways to create, sustain, or expand an organic edible garden program. Find out how to coordinate and channel volunteers. Discover ways that a school garden can cultivate peace and inspire ways to prepare for a resilient future. Students also discover extensions into math, culture, language, and science. Edible School Gardens inspire children. In the words of Alice Waters – “How we eat can change the world.”
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Lindsey Pollock
(For All / Social Justice)
3F | Social Justice in Action
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Montessori for Social Justice – a brief overview of who we are, where we “came from” and why this work is more important than ever! Specifically, how we can affirm and advocate for our children of the global majority who are confronted with injusice in their classrooms and communities. How to facilitate courageous conversations in our classrooms and with parents about difficult topics like individual and intergenerational trauma, biased speech and confronting hatred and intolerance in our communities.
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Patty Sobelman
(For Leadership)
3G | Who Are the People in your Neighborhood?
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Community and collaboration. Our schools have so much in common with our local businesses and there are opportunities in the most likely and most unlikely places. We will map your community looking for synergy- leaning into the strengths of other industries, learning from business mentors and growing through collaboration with other likeminded businesses and services. Once you find one new friend you will find that there are helpers everywhere!
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Rebecca Pelton
(For All / Social Justice)
3H | The Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE): What Accreditation Stands for and Why it Matters
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Come listen to Rebecca Pelton, Ed.D, President of MACTE, and Carolyn Pinkerton, Ph.D., Director of Communication and State Relations, break down exactly what accreditation stands for and the role the MACTE plays in serving as a unifier for Montessori educator preparation programs. Engage in a conversation on how accreditation is beneficial for the quality of Montessori educator preparation programs and the communities they serve. Dr. Pelton and Dr. Pinkerton will share MACTE policy updates, discuss how you can be involved with MACTE’s efforts, and answer any questions you may have.
11:45 am – 12:30 pm
Lunch
12:45 pm -1:45 pm
Paula Lillard Preschlack
Keynote: Where is Mindfulness in Montessori?
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Anxiety is an obstacle for children and adults, and we certainly experience it more often these days. Does Montessori have an answer? Paula shows that we have, infused in the Montessori approach, numerous places to tap into our breath and calm our minds for deeper focus during the school day in our classrooms. Within our work, there is mindfulness and rejuvenation. When we illuminate this aspect of Montessori in our teaching presentations and interactions, our children ultimately absorb the benefits along with us. Your Montessori classroom can be a centering, peaceful place!
1:45 pm – 2:00 pm
Break
Network & Visit Exhibitors
2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Ashley Morris
(For Toddler)
4A | Normalization: Supporting Self Regulation and Executive Function in the Montessori Classroom
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
As Montessori educators, we all know “normalization” as Montessori defined it. In this workshop, we will learn what current research shows in supporting self-regulation and executive function components and review many resources and practical applications for your Montessori classroom.
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1. With my neuroscience background, I see executive function as a core component to support child development. As teachers understand how to support this development in a Montessori classroom, it, in turns, supports a mindful experience based on constructivist learning. Executive function skills are “life-long” skills that support work with passion and purpose. My hope is that colleagues who join the session will think about the purpose and usefulness of Montessori pedagogy and materials in terms of executive function and its life long skills and link to successful learning.
2. The group will listen to a brief introductory lecture and then apply the concepts by observing videos of children in Montessori classroom to collect and analyze observations in terms of the five executive function components. Participants will work together to apply these observations to consider how to further understand and support EF in Montessori classrooms.
2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Terri Sherrill
(For Casa dei Bambini)
4B | Giving the House to the Children
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Giving the House to the Children – Many schools and teachers refer to their classrooms as the “Children’s House.” This workshop looks at the ways that empowering children to really take ownership of their surroundings can help to build character, intellect, social skills, creativity, initiative, courage, compassion, and confidence.
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In this classroom culture, children can be trusted to make sound decisions, and will challenge themselves in big ways.
2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Erica Santana
Joen Patton
(For Elementary)
4C | Preparedness through the Fundamental Needs
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Practical life is an important part of of all Montessori classrooms. As a child transitions into each new level, the practical life skills she learns changes and follows the child and the world around them. During the pandemic and now with the shortages, it’s vital for us to respond to the ever changing world and give children the opportunity to learn basic survival skills. This knowledge will help them be self-sufficient, prepared citizens that can use their expertise to help their family and members of their communities.
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The general skills we want the students to learn during their elementary years will assist them with their everyday lives as well as prepare them for a possible emergency situation. These topics will include: mapping and navigation, plant identification, basic first aid, cooking outdoors, animal track identification and traps, knot tying, fire making and safety, and making and using primitive tools. Learning survival tips and tricks teach children to be more observant in their environment and have a deeper connection to the world.
In this session, we will cover skills in mapping and navigation, plant identification, basic first aid, and more! There will be discussions, group activities, and a knot tying demonstration and activity. We will show our attendees lessons, work, and games that can be played with their students to teach different topics. We will also show ways to connect these ideas to lessons and topics that are already covered in the classroom such as: botany, zoology, geography, Fundamental Needs, and science.
2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Robin Howe
(Elementary)
4D | What’s in a lesson and how do I get through all of this?
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Sheila Linville
Dr. Alicia Braccia
(For All / Special Ed)
4E | Developing Compassion for Families with ADHD Children
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
This workshop will be a dynamic time spent with Sheila Linville, Montessori parent, parent and sister of ADHD humans, primary and lower elementary guide, Head of School, executive director of The Andrews Educational Institute and Dr. Alicia Braccia, Neuroschool psychologist, Montessori advocate, clinical director of The Center for Health Learning and Achievement. Together the team has 60 years experience with children and families! You can be a classroom teacher, head of school or lead guide ruminating/reflecting about children/families at your school with ADHD. The perfect fit for this workshop are people seeking knowledge about brain development and exploring how to cultivate compassion.
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These families need your grace. If you fit the bill then…. This workshop is right for you! It is our privilege to spend time creating a personal relationship with you and your school. This workshop will articulate a way to embrace Montessori as a way of life, as we explore the parent and guide roles. Also, it will apply deep Montessori philosophy to the child’s life day to day. You will learn, laugh and leave feeling better equipped to serve these families. This topic will be presented in workshop style, Alicia will present high level brain development and Sheila will provide the humorous practical side of living/teaching ADHD humans of all ages.
Looking forward to constructing paths to develop compassion with your own spiritual preparation.
2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Julia Volkmann
(For All)
4F | The Neuroscience of Mindfulness
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Mindfulness practices are inherent in Montessori practice. But what effect do formal and informal mindfulness practices have on our brains? This session will review current research on the changes to our neural networks that result from mindfulness practice, the mental health benefits associated with those changes, and the urgent need to embody mindfulness in our work with children.
2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Denise Monnier
Vyju Kadambi
(For All)
4G | MPPI: Montessori Policy and Advocacy for the Future
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Join MPPI staff for a spotlight session with updates and advancements in our work over the last year. We have new projects underway and new advocacy strategies to share. Learn about the important policy issues we are focused on and how you can get involved. Network and strategize with other Montessori advocates while participating in hands on advocacy strategy activities. Participants will leave with knowledge of the current policy landscape as it pertains to Montessori programs and will be familiar with important areas for policy work in the next year. They will learn about and practice advocacy strategies that they can put to practice when they return to their state Montessori communities.
2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Carrie Allen
(For Leadership)
4H | Training A Key Team Player: The Montessori Assistant
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
Discuss, collaborate, and plan how to train the Montessori Assistant, a key team player in all classrooms. Whether the assistant is starting out new to Montessori or is experienced and interested in learning more they will benefit from newly inspired ideas. This workshop is designed to meet the needs of the developing Primary Montessori Assistant. Through discussion learn effective professional development approaches on how to design hands-on foundational adult learning strategies and activities that build relevant experiences for gaining greater understanding of the Montessori Method. Learn how to create an overview training that discusses three major components: Philosophy & Practice, Role of the Adult, and Classroom Management.
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Break
Network & Visit Exhibitors
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Sheila Linville
(For Leadership)
R1A | Accreditation Roundtable
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Cindy Acker
(For Social Justice)
R1B | Social Justice Roundtable
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Christine Lowry
(For Special Ed/Inclusion)
R1C | Special Ed/Inclusion Roundtable: What’s the Value in a Label? Is Montessori Right For Every Child?
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Tim Seldin
(For Leadership)
R1D | Leadership Roundtable: How do you know when and if you need help? Do you know where to turn?
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Kathy Leitch
(For Leadership)
R1E | Retention and Recruitment Roundtable: Where Have All the Teachers Gone?
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Kitty Bravo
(For Teacher Educators)
R1F | Teacher Education Roundtable
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Andrew Kutt
(For Leadership)
R1G | If Montessori classrooms are not hierarchical – all children have equal voice, power, and opportunity – then why are so many Montessori schools hierarchical in organizational culture and design? How can we make Montessori learning communities more inclusive and equitable?
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Jon Wolff
Regina Dyson
(For All)
R1H |CAN THE WORK OF THE ASSISTANT TEACHER BE FRAMED AS A GROWTH MINDSET? Deconstructing a Classroom Hierarchy
*In-person onsite & live-streamed*
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Break
Network & Visit Exhibitors
6:00 pm
Dinner on your own