Friday November 9, 2018

7:00 AM Registration opens

7:30 – 8:15 AM Breakfast buffet & exhibits open

8:15 – 8:30 AM Housekeeping & announcement

8:30 – 9:30 AM opening ceremony

9:30 – 10:00 AM shopping with exhibitors and bidding on silent auction items

10:00 – 11:30 AM Session 1

OPTION 1   Sharing Music with the Youngest Child
Mercedes Castle
Gain insight into how you can support tonal and rhythmic competence in the youngest child, and a better understanding of the importance of music and singing in the classroom. Come to see all children as music makers. Learn 10+ new songs to share with your community, plus transition rhymes, finger plays, and activities.
INDIVIDUAL/LEADERSHIP INFANT/TODDLER

OPTION 2  Science Curriculum, Activities, and Experiments for Early Childhood
Helen Devere
This session will give a review of the Montessori Science curriculum and look at creative ways to get children involved in hands-on learning, research, and experiments. Dr. Montessori wanted to invite the children to experience the world around them. You will see examples of ways to do this through a power point presentation, a display and a handout.
CLASSROOM PRIMARY

OPTION 3   Teaching Across Disciplines Weaving the Life of an artist through the Montessori Curriculum
Stephanie Pullman
This presentation will begin with preparing your elementary students to create, look and think critically about art through a variety of participatory activities. These activities can easily be used for exploring many different topics. We will then discover the life and art of Wasily Kandinsky, including a hands-on art experience. We will then look at ideas for independent follow-on work to immerse the children in the study of the artist through reading, writing, research, geography, history and geometry. You will leave this workshop with a strong understanding of how to weave any topic through the curriculum. Come ready to create!
CLASSROOM      ELEMENTARY

OPTION 4  OPTION 4  PROMOTING AUTHORS IN YOUR MONTESSORI CLASSROOM
Ann Winkler and Tanya Ryskind
This elementary focused workshop will help you find your inner author to guide children in finding theirs. Connecting and integrating writing into the cultural curriculum at the elementary
one and two levels will be the focus. Make your own writing organizer from a simple manilla folder and library pockets and take home samples of writing activities and techniques to revitalize the manner in which you teach writing in the classroom.
CLASSROOM ELEMENTARY

OPTION 5 MATH SEMINARS: TEACHING PROBLEM SOLVING THE MONTESSORI WAY
Kira Donnelly
Teaching mathematics at the adolescent level can be a challenge. Students lose interest in math and conventional styles of teaching creep into even the best Montessori programs. Math Seminars allow us to use the characteristics of the adolescent to teach problem solving in a world that desperately needs problem solvers and peace. In this workshop we will explore the components of successful Math Seminars including tips and tricks for engaging students, picking problems, and follow up. Participants will have the opportunity to experience a seminar first hand. Come prepared to do some math and have some fun!
CLASSROOM     SECONDARY

OPTION 6   MPPI and the Policy Landscape: A Year of Great Growth and a Look Forward
Denise Monnier & Sharon Damore
The presenters will share the year of work that MPPI has engaged in since receiving their full implementation grant last December. We have been supporting our state organizations and representatives with educational opportunities, information, coaching and technical support. If you have been affected by state or federal policy in your work as a Montessorian, this session is for you. We will provide background information on our work, and share challenges and progress in our states. Participants will engage in advocacy issue problem solving and will have the chance to practice “making their ask” and identifying potential pitfalls of policy language. If you are already involved in policy work or are interested and would like to learn how to get involved, join us!
SCHOOL/LEADERSHIP      ALL ATTENDEES

OPTION 7   Be Our Guest-:The Art of Hospitality in a Montessori School
Patty Sobelman and Hyatt Regency Representative Jeff Janssan
What can a Montessori school learn from the hotel and hospitality industry? We are very much alike. We greet customers every day. We provide delicious meals, clean bathrooms and sometimes a peaceful place to sleep. Our customers are both children and their parents. Understanding good customer service and amazing hospitality skills will keep families longer and will spread the word about your school. Patty Sobelman, Head of Pines Montessori School, Kingwood, Texas will be joined by the Hyatt Regency Sarasota’s Jeff Janssan- Director of Human Resources. Jeff   share hid HR tips for training caring staff in the hospitality industry and Patty will take them into your Montessori school.
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ALL ATTENDEES

OPTION 8   How to Harness Operational Efficiency and Generate Greater Parent Engagement.
Jono Landon
This workshop covers the 8 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are required to drive a school to increased financial-efficiency and allow the entire school staff to complete all of the “busy-work” that exists around the actual educational programming, more efficiently. The framework I will be covering is a path towards incrementally improving each of the KPI’s in a school, year over year, which can lead to a 100% increase of school profits within three years.
SCHOOL /LEADERSHIP ADMINISTRATORS

OPTION 9   REFLECTION ROOM
Kitty Bravo
Need a break? Take some time to step into our reflection room and sit quietly and relax. Start off your time with some yoga laughing.
INDIVIDUAL     ALL

OPTION 10   OPEN SPACE
Andrew Kutt
INDIVIDUAL ALL

11:30 – Noon shopping in Exhibit hall and biding on silent auction items

 noon – 12:45 PM buffet line open

 12:45 – 1:00 PM Announcements

 1:00 – 2:15 PM keynote-Tim Seldin

 2:15 – 2:45 PM break

2:45 – 4:15 PM Session 2

OPTION 11   Nurturing Executive Function in Infants & Toddlers
Alanea Williams
It’s just beginning for infants and toddlers: the early development of executive functioning skills in the brain. Executive function enables us to live, work, and be successful in society. We will learn what these early skills might look like for our youngest children and how to support their healthy development in our daily practice.
CLASSROOM INFANT/TODDLER

OPTION 12   Supporting Students with Behavior and Learning Challenges in the Montessori Classroom Pt 1
Christine Lowry
This two session workshop will share the foundations for understanding challenges in behavior & learning and how we can use the Montessori Triad as a basis for support. Using the Model: Prepare- Manage- Guide, we will discuss the components of the model to address the needs of individual students while optimizing the benefits of Montessori for all of our students. Participants will learn how to create specific plans for the child with challenges based on Inquiry Observation & with workable tools and techniques that are consistent with best Montessori practice. Building a “Network of Adults” & a “Community of Students” model will lead to the creation of an inclusive classroom for all. Participants will receive a packet of resources including Inquiry Observation forms, Record Keeping & Progress Monitoring forms, and a List of Supports to use in the classroom.
CLASSROOM     PRIMARY

OPTION 13   Walking Our Talk through Shakespeare Pt 1
Larry Schanker & Laurie Moreno
There is magic in the air when children perform Shakespeare. Through deep and authentic study, children discover inner strengths, transform themselves and emerge as more powerful beings. Part I of this theatrical workshop will take you on a “four-month” journey into the world of Shakespeare. You will learn to guide elementary children to a deep understanding of the meaning of Shakespearean language and to discover the truths inherent in Shakespearean literature, and the beauty of bringing nature into the equation by performing outside. You’ll learn the value of such an experience first-hand and simple ways to inexpensively integrate a major play into your own curriculum, while seamlessly balancing it with your everyday lessons. The methodology is completely child-centered and process-oriented. Your elementary students can learn the plot, study the vocabulary, discuss meaning, participate in casting, gain comfort with Shakespearean language and memorize lines, create scenery, write songs using Shakespeare’s words, design costumes, assume leadership roles and coach each other, and prepare the environment for theatrical magic. Most importantly, the ownership and delivery of a magnificent performance enhances self-confidence and encourages higher order thinking skills, and can be a rite of passage as students enter Elementary. No prior knowledge of Shakespeare is needed.
CLASSROOM    EL/SECONDARY