AMI Podcasts

In the podcast created in celebration of the 10 year anniversary of Corner of Hope, different people involved look back on those past 10 years. Teachers, mentors, community members, AMI Executive Director Lynne Lawrence and the CEO of Montessori for Kenya, Hillary Korir, share their stories, experiences and reflections. The podcast tells the story of Corner of Hope from the very beginning through the voices of the people involved. It explains how Corner of Hope came into being and discusses the learnings along the way, as well as the plans for the future. It is an intimate podcast that reflects the various experiences and perspectives which are all part of the inspiring story of Corner of Hope. 

The podcast is divided into three parts:

The second episode of the Corner of Hope podcast will focus on the involvement of the New Canaan community and the development of the school throughout the years. AMI Executive Director Lynne Lawrence and Montessori for Kenya’s CEO Hillary Korir will elaborate on the way the community has been involved from the very beginning and the importance of community involvement in setting up initiatives. CoH teachers, mentors and members of the New Canaan community will share how they have experienced the process of establishing the Corner of Hope school and the impact it has had on them.

This episode's speakers:

In the podcast created in celebration of the 10 year anniversary of Corner of Hope, different people involved look back on those past 10 years. Teachers, mentors, community members, AMI Executive Director Lynne Lawrence and the CEO of Montessori for Kenya, Hillary Korir, share their stories, experiences and reflections. The podcast tells the story of Corner of Hope from the very beginning through the voices of the people involved. It explains how Corner of Hope came into being and discusses the learnings along the way, as well as the plans for the future. It is an intimate podcast that reflects the various experiences and perspectives which are all part of the inspiring story of Corner of Hope. The podcast is divided into three parts: 

•  part one - the beginning of Corner of Hope;

•  part two  - the development of Corner of Hope, the involvement of the New Canaan community, and the impact Corner of Hope has had;

•  part three - a reflection of the speakers on their learnings through their involvement in Corner of Hope in which they also share their hopes and their plans for the future.

This episode's speakers: 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented stress to families, trying to maintain a work-family balance. With schools and day care facilities closed, parents are solely responsible for childcare and perhaps even homeschooling. The work-family balance has become increasingly challenging and uncertainty remains around when schools will reopen. To meet the social and emotional needs of children, as well as the adults who care for them, there is need to orient ourselves to the new situation – and the sooner we accept this the faster we will be able to live a balanced life as children are looking up to us. We need to cater for the needs of children, while coexisting with the other members of the family. Montessori principles provide a good guidance on the ways to support children and lead a happy family life during these difficult times. 

Montessori for Kenya organised an online talk to orient the general public on the best ways to support children and other members of the family at home to live a happy life. Guest speaker Helen Mohan Elias has vast experience in introducing Montessori principles into missionary and government schools in India and will share her knowledge on Parenting and Community engagement during these challenging times.

Music:

"Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen

From the Free Music Archive

BY NC SA

AMI Global Ambassador André Roberfroid discusses children’s rights and how they are ingrained in the work of Montessori teachers. He discusses the three core characteristics of Montessori, namely Freedom, Respect and Solidarity and how these are linked to the rights of the child.

Music:

"Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen

From the Free Music Archive

BY NC SA

In this series of podcasts, you will be able to listen to Maria Montessori herself. In the first episode, Maria Montessori is advocating for the Rights of the Child on Dutch radio in an interview with Gustav Czopp on 31 October 1936 (in French).

In the early autumn of 1936 Maria Montessori relocated to the Netherlands at the invitation of a former graduate, Ada Pierson. This impactful decision was forced by the Civil War that raged in Spain, a country that had been her main residence for close to twenty years.  Montessori did not feel comfortable returning to Barcelona, after the 1936 Congress in Oxford and was delighted when Ada Pierson's offer came to host the family in her parental home for a few months. Montessori education was popular in the Netherlands, the school infrastructure was strong and well developed, there had been an international congress and various courses, all factors we suspect to have been major aspects in reaching the decision to settle in the Netherlands.

The Dutch were of course proud and grateful that Maria Montessori was now part of their society, and yet may have been a little anxious that la Dotoressa would find fault with the Dutch schools. This  is why Maria Montessori immediately made it clear in the interview that she had not come to the Netherlands to supervise or monitor existing Montessori schools, but that she was keen to show what her approach to education could mean.

"Our children are growing up in a world that requires good executive function, if they are to exercise self-control, think creatively and adjust flexibly to change. Research tells us that these are the very skills that are promoted in a Montessori environment."

Drawing on current research, including her own, Louise will talk about the role of movement in developing executive function, reflecting on how Montessori practitioners might hone their approach to helping children gain good control of the way they move their bodies to interact successfully with their environment.

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Louise is an AMI trainer with many years of experience working with children in Montessori environments and is currently director of training at the Maria Montessori Institute, London.

Music: 

"Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen

From the Free Music Archive

BY NC SA

In the third episode of  2019 AMI AGM Podcasts, Kathleen Guinan, a visionary leader and social entrepreneur, will talk about transforming transitional housing programmes, homeless shelters and domestic violence centres into intergenerational Montessori communities of living and learning for children, families and communities.

As CEO of Crossway Community, since the organisation’s inception in 1990, she has been a catalyst for individual and social change for women, children and families. Today, Crossway Community provides complete wrap-around support to multiple generations to prevent poverty and help families thrive. They are also developing a model intergenerational program to train family and professionals caring for aging populations.

Music:

"Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen

BY NC SA

Cosmic Education is one of the broadest and most interesting aspects of the second plane of development. Baiba’s Krumins Grazzini talk illustrates the evolution of the Montessori approach to education for

Baiba Krumins Grazzini is an AMI Trainer at the Elementary level, preparing students to work in Montessori schools with children from 6 to 12 years. She works as director of training at the AMI Elementary course in Bergamo, Italy, an AMI Training Centre which was founded by Mario Montessori in 1961. In addition to her work in Bergamo, Baiba has lectured in Spain, Ireland, India and in Japan, where she gave the first Elementary training course in that country.

Music:

"Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen

BY NC SA

Anne Kelly is the leading Montessori Dementia Consultant who has worked extensively in dementia care both residential and community for the past 30 years. She is currently the Director of Montessori Consulting and is considered a world leader in Montessori methods for ageing and dementia. Anne works with organisations around the world providing both training, mentoring and support as they move towards the development of Montessori Prepared Environments, changing the face of aged care one step at a time. In this episode of the 2019 AMI AGM Podcasts Anne talks about improvements in the quality of life of older adults with dementia in long-term care achieved through meaningful engagement.

What does resilience really mean and why is this topic so important for modern education? In our first episode of 2019 AMI AGM Podcasts, Laura Shaw discusses the resilience research and examines how the qualities of responsibility and resourcefulness contribute to developing resilience in children.