Saturday, November 10, 2018

10:00 – 11:30 AM Session 4

Option 31 The Importance of Transitioning the Toddler at the Right Time
Terri Sherrill & Elaine Glier
The proliferation of Montessori infant and/or toddler programs is relatively new. For this reason, most in the Montessori community are scrambling to learn the developmental needs of this very important group (and about this foundational time in a child’s life). How can we best serve them? What are the signs of readiness for the Children’s House and what happens when we miss this sensitive period? How can the toddler teachers, primary guides, and heads of school work together to accomplish the best interests of all? Sizes and ratios of toddler programs will also be discussed.
CLASSROOM   INFANT/TODDLER

OPTION 32   Botany and Zoology Nomenclature-Something for Everyone in 3-6
Cathie Perolman
Come and explore how these common materials in Botany and Zoology can meet the needs of all levels of learners in your 3-6 community. From Puzzles to Three Part Cards, Definition Books and Definition Cards this workshop will extend the learning of these materials incorporating Nature, Art and even the Movable Alphabet to entice children to enjoy their benefit to the fullest.
CLASSROOM PRIMARY

OPTION 33 Motivating the Unmotivated Child
Margaret Combs
Montessori teachers enter their classrooms each year full of hope, knowing the amazing gift the children will receive through the Montessori philosophy. We carefully prepare our environments then eagerly await the arrival of the children, knowing they are going to be so drawn to these beautiful materials! And they typically are – except for when they are not. Then we are left to struggle with how to entice that one (or few) children who just can’t seem to engage. They wander around, interrupt and distract others. This workshop will look at the inner workings of motivation: what it is, how we can nurture the child and set up the physical and emotional environment so that the child may find the most success in finding it. We will also look at practical tools you can utilize to help support the child’s journey towards intrinsic motivation.
CLASSROOM   INDIVIDUAL

OPTION 34   Practical Life, Practical Applications
Robin Howe
Come learn unique and useful ways to expand you Practical Life area! Practical Life is a very important in the early childhood classroom, but once a child transitions into elementary, this area is lost to the academic curriculum. The true purpose of lower and upper elementary is to give the child time to discover their talents and purpose in the universe. In order to help the child reach this discovery, they have to be apart of the decision making in their community and faced with real life challenges. During this workshop, we will discuss the parts of Practical Life and how that translates into the elementary classroom. You will learn ways to integrate other topics into Practical Life work and attach common core standards to it. You will get to see work and pictures of work that can be created for your Practical Life shelves. You will also get to make something that you can do with your students! We will discuss the connection between Practical Life and Peace Education and how they work together to help the child grow and transform!.
CLASSROOM ELEMENTARY

OPTION 35   Inquiry-Based Learning in the Montessori Middle and High School Pt 1
Paul Epstein & Jocelyn Swanson
During these three sessions we will conduct an inquiry into inquiry! Inquiry involves asking questions, collecting information, and then rendering meaning. The arts of inquiry, while natural to how we learn, require developmentally appropriate “prepared environments.” Young children naturally inquire and gather information with their senses. The children are immersed in didactic and other materials in the Children’s House environment. Secondary students learn to ask questions and to construct certainty about the answers they discover to their questions. These students also need hands-on learning to establish minds-on understanding.
SCHOOL/CLASSROOM SECONDARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL

OPTION 36   Strengthen the Parent Experience in the true Montessori Way……… to strengthen Enrollment, Community and Student Success through partnership education
Renee DuChainey-Farkas
Does your school deliver the Parent Experience in the true Montessori Way? Maria Montessori believed the school and family partnership was essential to help each child reach their greatest potential. She believed that the sharing of first hand observations from home and school brings the school to the home and the home to the school. This workshop will introduce the stages of development of parents, types and roles of parents, and will share ways that every school can take a new look at the unique relationship, the Parent Experience, in “the Montessori way”. It is essential to understand the parent’s stages of development as a prelude or preparation for our work to deepen and better define and understand the parent needs. We will review what research says about parents’ ideal expectations from schools and share programming to meet these expectations. By trying to meet parent needs, we can support their growth and development and help them be the best parent they can be. Participants will be able to review the design their school programs and determine if they are delivering on these expectations. Come discuss and see how partnerships with parents can enhance retention and enrollment, student success, build strong school communities and strengthen parent commitment. Learn ways to support parents in their own personal growth and development to help them feel more confident and less worried about parenting. In her early work, Maria Montessori always invited the parent to be part of the student’s learning experience. We will share what Maria believed about this and offers ways to do it, while respecting the daily operation of our schools. Note: “ Let us place the school in the home; not only that, but let us place it there as collective property, and let us place under the eyes of parents the entire life of the teacher, in the accomplishment of her high mission.” (Il metodo della pedagogia scientifica, 1909. p 45). Cited in an Appendix in The Normal Child and Primary Education by Arnold and Beatrice Gesell. Ginn and Company. Boston. 1912. This was the first review of Montessori’s work in America.
SCHOOL/LEADERSHIP ALL ATTENDEES

Option 37 Living the Montessori Way through the Lessons of Grace and Courtesy
Pam Shanks
We all know that the lessons of grace and courtesy are a critical component of “Living the Montessori Way.” However, in the daily life of a classroom these lessons often take a backseat to “important” academic lessons. Come and be inspired to support your community of learners through the lessons of grace and courtesy. Topics covered will include: 1) Grace and courtesy as an on-going means to prevent problems in classrooms; 2) How the prevalence of technology in our lives should affect your use of the lessons of grace and courtesy; and 3) How to help children attain mastery through a supportive social context. Walk away inspired by the words of Dr. Montessori and with a renewed sense of the value of these important lessons.
INDIVIDUAL ALL ATTENDEES

OPTION 38   ROUNDTABLE-
Kathy Leitch or Andrew Kutt
Topic: Gender and Sexual Diversity
INDIVIDUAL  ALL ATTENDEES

OPTION 39 REFLECTION ROOM

OPTION 40   OPEN SPACE
Andrew Kutt or Jonathan Wolff or MaryBeth Ricks

11:30 AM – 11:45 AM shopping in Exhibit hall and bidding on silent auction items comes to a close at noon

 11:45 AM-12:30 buffet line open

12:30 – 12:45 PM Announcements/Silent auction winners-PLEASE BE READY TO CHECK OUT IF YOU ARE A WINNER

 12:45 PM- 1:30 PM Community time

1:30 – 3:00 PM Session 5

OPTION 41OPTION 41 THE PARENTING PUZZLE
Lorna McGrath
Do you wish that you could have a Montessori parenting educator at your school? Now you can. Join Lorna McGrath to get a sneak preview and to find out how.
As educators, we know that, from infancy to adolescence, children can be a challenge and parenting is a puzzle. So, whether your school families have toddlers, teenagers, or anywhere in between, this course gives you and your key staff members the tools to facilitate a predesigned five-week Montessori family leadership class, The Parenting Puzzle: The Basics, live at your school. It is designed to lead families at your school through meaningful and transformative discussions, activities and readings using principles based on Montessori and Dreikurs.
Lorna’s workshop is the overview of the online course the Montessori Foundation has created to help parents around the world. If you are interested in more information about the online course as well as attending this workshop check it out on the montessori.org website.

OPTION 42 APPRECIATING ART IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOM
Katrina Williams
Appreciating Art Workshop is an overview of art activities for the early childhood classroom including cultural art, art theory and art appreciation activities. This workshop will be filled with ideas to take back to your classroom including hands on examples. Get ready to be creative and to appreciate the many skills the child builds as they do art in the classroom. Make sure the art curriculum in your classrooms is rich with experience and exposure to the world of art. The child will gain many skills through art activities to be used for all future learning. Exposure to famous artists, styles of art, and cultural art activities instills a an interest, curiosity and appreciation for art. The child will view art and their world with new eyes. The workshop will include many practical ideas to use in the classroom and to build a rich art curriculum.
CLASSROOM PRIMARY

OPTION 43 Supporting Families of Children with Exceptionalities
Ann Epstein
Some families say the hardest moment of parenting was when they realized their child was not learning or growing as they expected. As teachers, guides and administrators, part of our professional responsibility is to support families in meeting the specific needs of their child. This session will provide participants with opportunities to better understand current family dynamics when a child has an exceptionality, including how to support families who do not appear to see that their child is struggling. Our Montessori tradition provides a framework for incorporating 2018 evidence-based practices, including new insights into the grief cycle and an array of informative websites for families. We will study effective communication strategies and simulate a family meeting. Come ready to build your skills and perhaps even discover the lighter moments of partnering with your families on behalf of children with exceptionalities.
SCHOOL/LEADERSHIP  PRIMARY