Trillium Montessori Talks

Understanding how to facilitate, organize, and prepare an environment that fosters student choice is one of the most challenging aspects of being a Montessori Elementary teacher. Educators who follow the Montessori approach know that Maria Montessori placed a lot of emphasis on the idea of “choice,” and while the notion of choice is universally celebrated and held sacred for young children up until the age of 6 (such as in other Montessori environments or in play-based preschools), this...

As students get older, parents seem to become more inclined to pull their children out of Montessori programs. Especially when those classrooms have smaller groups of older students. Parents often think that there are disadvantages to keeping their older children in this setting, but it’s actually quite the opposite: there are numerous benefits to older children in mixed-age classrooms. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the unique experiences offered by a mixed-age Montessori classroom, i...

As Montessori educators, we learn a lot through training and practical experience about how to guide our students. However, we often find ourselves lacking knowledge when it comes to supporting students with additional needs. In today’s episode, Meghan Hicks joins Letty Rising to thoughtfully explore how we can best support children with learning disabilities. With over 20 years of experience training teachers to work with children across all age levels, Meghan shares her wisdom grounde...

Maria Montessori’s theories of developmental psychology include her foundational observations of the planes of development for children. These planes outline various milestones physically and mentally as the child’s education progresses, and it’s so interesting to see common threads emerge when observing Montessori students in the classroom. In today’s episode, I’m talking to Luz Casquejo Johnston, a parenting and life coach and a seasoned Montessori educator. Luz shares what she learned afte...

As Montessorians, we’re not necessarily known for our humor in the classroom. The focus is, understandably, more on the learning environment. We don’t want to come across as being too silly or lose control of our learning environments. But what if a sense of playfulness could actually help enhance our learning? In today’s episode, I’m talking to Lisa Thauvette, former head of International Montessori school, and a speaker, trainer, and educator. Lisa shares why we should bring joy and l...

It’s no surprise that Montessori education is still growing in popularity and many people are becoming more interested in this model - as parents, as educators, and especially as owners. If you’ve wanted to own a Montessori school but don’t have an education background, it’s OK, it’s definitely possible to do so. In today’s episode, I’m talking to a couple who has done exactly that. Najee and Sesealy Owens are owners of Decatur Montessori School in Atlanta, Georgia and utilized their b...

If standard Montessori teacher training taught you everything you needed to know before you stepped into the classroom, it would last way longer than two years! Chances are, you learned the content but not necessarily how to implement it in a real, everchanging classroom environment. That’s where supplementary education like the Elementary Bootcamp comes in! In this encore episode, we’re talking about our upcoming Elementary Bootcamp and how it can prepare you for the approaching school year....

Over time, as more interpretations are overlaid on top of older theories, sometimes we can lose track of the actual meaning behind the source material. And when it comes to the 3 hour work cycle as applied in a Montessori setting, this seems to be the case. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jana Morgan Herman, national director for Endeavor Schools and former teacher trainer for the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. We talk about how Maria Montessori never actually implemented a stric...

Homeschool, especially since the pandemic, is becoming more and more common for many reasons—and the Montessori method is making its way into more homes than ever. As education continues to evolve, Montessori schools are offering homeschool programs that serve as a support for families who have shifted out of traditional schooling. In today’s episode, I’m talking to Chelsea Roberts, program manager at Guidepost Montessori Homeschool. She’s sharing how families are implementing Montessori prac...

Writing opportunities present themselves in the elementary classroom in a variety of ways. Some students are naturally inclined writers, and others might lack the confidence to write. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Madeline Walk, Elementary Content Editor at Trillium Montessori. We’re discussing how writing fits into all aspects of the Montessori classroom, how to help students find confidence and creativity in writing, as well as common roadblocks students face when it comes to writin...

In teacher training, we are taught that there is no ideal or perfect number of lessons to present on a given day. And yet, in practice, many teachers often find themselves wondering how many lessons they should present or if they’re getting it right or need to be doing more or less. In today’s episode, I’m talking about the many reasons why there is no set number, from teacher pacing, to student needs and interests, to factoring in time for specials or guests or social and emotional learning....

We’re living in an age of AI, and education is no stranger to technological advancements. While some teachers see this as a challenge to overcome, technology can help transform how you approach planning and preparing in the Montessori environment. In today’s episode, I’m talking about a new language tool called ChatGPT, and the many ways teachers can use it as a resource for their classrooms to support student learning and development. There is certainly a learning curve, but over time, you c...

Traditional public school classrooms operate in a very different way than Montessori classrooms. But there is a growing trend for implementing Montessori practices into the public school setting. Enter Wildflower Schools, a network of small Montessori charter schools run by Montessori teachers. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Rachel Kimboko, Executive Director for Stakeholder Engagement at DC Wildflower Public Charter School. She’s sharing her thoughts on what it’s like bringing Monte...