Montessori in Action Podcast

Season 4, Ep. 2: Montessori Research

Recently a systematic review of Montessori research was released that found that relative to traditional education, Montessori education has a positive effect on children’s academic and non-academic outcomes. The review looked at 32 rigorous studies from 8 countries around the world, focused on children from early childhood through to high school. As the plain summary concludes “Across a wide range of implementations (likely reflecting the range of Montessori implementations in the real world) and in studies of moderate to high quality, Montessori education has a nontrivial impact on children’s academic and non-academic outcomes.”

This episode is a conversation with two people on the research team: Angeline Lillard, the author of Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius as well as numerous Montessori studies, and Justus Randolph, the lead researcher on the project who is the author of Multidisciplinary Methods in Educational Technology Research and Development as well as many other manuscripts and publications.

Season 4, Ep. 1: Dual Language and Montessori

To launch Season 4 of the Montessori in Action Podcast, our topic is dual language and Montessori. We have two guests who have recently written articles about this unique combination. Gabriela Iturrald Espejo, the biliteracy coordinator at Montessori del Mundo, wrote The Science of Reading for Bilingual Children which appeared in Montessori Public’s recent issue. Sally Ness, the Director of Admissions at Intercultural Montessori Language School, wrote Dual Language, Montessori Education- The Pathway for Peace, which appeared in Montessori Life. These two educators unpacked some of the complexities of schools that offer both Montessori and dual language programs.

Season 3, Ep. 12: Summer Reads - The Bloomsbury Handbook of Montessori Education

For the final episode of Season Three we will be featuring a summer read. The Bloomsbury Handbook of Montessori Education is a brand new  accessible resource tracing Montessori education from its historical roots to current scholarship and contemporary issues of culture, social justice, and environmentalism. It is offered in six sections covering a range of topics related to Maria Montessori and Montessori education including foundations and evolution of the field; key writings; pedagogy across the lifespan; scholarly research; global reach; and contemporary considerations such as gender, inclusive education, race and multilingualism. The book is authored by scholars and practitioners based in over 20 countries, and today we welcome two of the contributors: Sid Mohandas and Nacole Walker

Season 3, Ep. 11: Organizing Impactful Montessori Professional Development

Veronica Sias is the Montessori District Coordinator in Dallas for the Dallas Independent School District. In her first year in the position, she developed a district-wide professional development day to serve all the Montessori schools. Gathering for a day, and rotating through a variety of workshops and speakers, the staff of the schools learned together, connected and felt the power of their community. Join us as Veronica talks about her journey creating this experience for her district.

Season 3, Ep. 10: Leading with Dignity

Dr. Montessori writes in Citizen of the World “What is most wanted is no patronizing charity for humanity, but a reverent consciousness of its dignity and worth.” This next conversation with professor, consultant, and author Donna Hicks explores her most recent book Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People, which was published by Yale University Press in August 2018. Her dignity work is a result of her unofficial diplomatic efforts to bring peace to places in conflict around the world. Our discussion takes us into the importance of dignity work in classrooms and how our awareness is the beginning point of that work.

Season 3, Ep. 9: The Black Wildflowers Fund

In this episode we learn about the Black Wildflowers Fund, a new entity and sister organization of Wildflower Schools that will be co-led by our guests Maia Blankenship and Dr. Erika McDowell. This fund has been created so more Wildflower Schools led by proven black educators can flourish in neighborhoods across the country.

Season 3, Ep. 8: International Montessori Training

This episode features two Montessori trainers who talked with us about the experience of serving their communities.  Isabel Arce Garcia works at the Instituto Nueva Escuela in Puerto Rico and Khairieh Al Kalam works at the Sharjah Education Academy in the  United Arab Emirates.

Season 3, Ep. 7: The Tensions Implementing Montessori

Our next episode is a conversation with Victoria Johnson, who shares the results of her research, Education Anywhere: A Constructivist Grounded Theory study of Montessori Around the World. In this study, Victoria spent multiple years exploring the experiences of individuals and communities connected with diverse Montessori environments across the globe. Her research has produced some insightful theoretical models that help us understand the deeper meanings and processes of diversity and adaptability within Montessori from a worldwide perspective. Together we discuss important aspects of these findings, including the tension we often experience between authenticity and adaptability in our journeys of Montessori implementation.

Season 3, Ep. 6: Montessori Training Transformation: How new graduates emerge prepared

As times change, the preparation of Montessori educators must also. In this conversation, primary trainer, Uma Ramani shares ways in which she has shifted both the course and content to address the needs of the adult learner and in pursuit of reaching all learners.

Season 3, Ep. 5: A Conversation with Siobhan Brown

This month is a conversation with Vonnie Brown, the new Chief Operating Officer at Association Montessori International- USA. Her Montessori connection began through the doorway of a Wôpanâak language cultural immersion Montessori school founded on her tribal land. She joins the team at AMI USA with a vision of greater access for all learners and an interest in inclusivity.