What do children actually think about school?

For this special conversation, we hand the microphones over to two very honest critics: nine-year-old twins Ishaan and Ayaan. After years in Montessori and a recent transition to a new school, the third graders have plenty to say about how they learn, what they love, what they miss, and what they would change.

Their answers are funny, thoughtful, occasionally surprising—and often more insightful than adults might expect. They talk about choosing their work, grades and homework, learning at their own pace, working with friends, hands-on materials, research projects, technology, and what makes a lesson exciting. They also imagine their ideal classroom and share what they think schools could do to help kids make better use of their time.

Together, they explore:

• What they remember—and don't remember—about starting Montessori
• The differences they've noticed between Montessori and their current school
• Why they miss Montessori materials, reports, and opportunities to choose their work
• What grades and homework feel like from a child's perspective
• Why learning at the right level matters when you've already mastered something
• What they would put in a classroom if they could design one themselves

More than anything, this conversation is a reminder that children have ideas about their education, too. Sometimes the best way to understand what makes a school work is simply to ask the kids who are living it.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood

Contact us: [email protected]

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes part of how children learn, teachers work, and we relate to one another? Samantha Gleisten believes the answer isn't simply learning how to use new tools—it's strengthening the human capacities that should guide how we use them. 

Samantha brings her experience as a Montessori educator, digital citizenship teacher, and AI developer to a conversation about what education can contribute in an AI-powered world. She explains why relational intelligence, metacognition, interconnectedness, and the spiritual preparation of the adult matter more than ever—and how HeyBodhi, the AI platform she co-founded, is designed to support teachers rather than replace the human work of teaching. 

Together, they discuss:

• why Samantha believes Montessori has something important to offer in an AI world
• the difference between using AI to extend learning and using it to shortcut learning
• teacher burnout and the creation of HeyBodhi
• how AI can help teachers practice difficult conversations and reflect on their work
• why relational intelligence may become even more important as technology advances
• helping students develop metacognition and responsible AI habits
• the danger of creating unhealthy relationships between children and AI
• moving from student agency to the audacity to imagine and build a better world

At a moment when AI is evolving faster than educators can keep up, Samantha offers a hopeful challenge: we may never be able to predict exactly what these tools will become, but we can decide what we want them to help us build.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood

Contact us: [email protected]

What if the problem isn't that we're failing to find work-life balance—but that we're chasing something that doesn't exist?

Katie Keller Wood joins Educating the Human Potential to rethink one of the most persistent ideas in modern life. Drawing on her Montessori work and her book Alignment, Katie argues that our lives aren't a scale where work and life compete for equal weight. They're more like a mosaic: a collection of pieces that shift, grow, and change across different seasons of our lives. The goal isn't perfect balance, but understanding what matters now—and making intentional choices about where our time and energy belong.

Together, they discuss:

• why Katie believes work-life balance is a lie
• how the idea of alignment can help us navigate competing priorities
• the difference between paycheck work and purpose work
• why meaningful work matters so much during adolescence
• how Montessori helps adolescents develop confidence, identity, and a sense of contribution
• why adults working with adolescents need to be the "calm in the storm"
• what gives Katie hope about today's young people

Whether we're raising adolescents, teaching them, or simply trying to figure out our own next chapter, this conversation offers a different way to think about purpose, priorities, and what it means to build a life that fits.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood

Contact us: [email protected]

Across the country, Horizons National is helping change that. With more than 70 affiliated programs, the national nonprofit partners with schools to provide high-quality summer learning experiences that help students stay engaged academically while opening doors to new opportunities. At Lexington Montessori School, Director Maricarmen Sullivan and longtime Horizons student Mayelis Burgos-Sanchez share what that looks like in practice—and why its impact extends far beyond the classroom.

Together, they discuss:

• how Horizons helps prevent summer learning loss
• why meaningful relationships are just as important as academics
• creating opportunities through swimming, enrichment, and hands-on learning
• how Montessori principles support students from underserved communities
• the role families, educators, and local partners play in expanding opportunity
• what one student's journey reveals about the lasting impact of investing in children

Whether it's discovering a love of learning, gaining confidence in the water, or simply being surrounded by adults who believe in their potential, this conversation is a reminder that when children are given meaningful opportunities, six weeks can shape far more than a summer.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood

Contact us: [email protected]

What happens when children spend time away from home—and why do so many parents find that harder than their kids do?

In Educating the Human Potential's first-ever returning guest episode, psychologist and bestselling author Michael Thompson returns for a timely conversation about why summer camp remains one of childhood's most powerful developmental experiences. Together with Nicole Coman and Biff Maier, he explores why homesickness is a normal part of growing up, how camp fosters resilience and independence, and why today's culture of constant communication may be making it harder for children to develop confidence away from their parents.

Together, they discuss:

• Why homesickness is a healthy developmental milestone
• The surprising reason camp friendships last a lifetime
• How camp counselors become powerful role models
• Why independence requires time away from parents
• Technology, constant communication, and modern parenting
• Helping children—and parents—prepare for separation

Whether your child is heading to camp for the first time or you're simply thinking about how children grow into capable, confident adults, this conversation offers thoughtful reassurance that sometimes the greatest gift parents can give is the space to grow.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood

Contact us: [email protected]

What does it really mean for a child to become independent?

For many parents, independence means tying shoes, getting dressed, or completing tasks without help. But in this conversation, Biff and Nicole explore a deeper question: What if true independence is about more than doing things alone? Drawing on Montessori philosophy, they examine how autonomy, choice, responsibility, and thoughtfully prepared environments help children develop the confidence and self-direction they'll carry throughout life.

Together, they discuss:

• Why autonomy goes beyond simple independence
• How adults unintentionally undermine children's independence
• The importance of patience and allowing children time to do things for themselves
• How prepared environments encourage confidence and self-direction
• Why offering meaningful choices builds agency
• Goal-setting, executive functioning, and the power of initiation
• Intrinsic motivation versus rewards
• How Montessori classrooms balance freedom with clear expectations
• Why learner-centered education depends on structure, not simply freedom

At the heart of the conversation is a hopeful reminder: independence isn't something adults can give children—it grows when we create the conditions for children to make choices, solve problems, and gradually take ownership of their own lives. By stepping back just enough, we give children the opportunity to step forward.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood

Contact us: [email protected]

What if the moments that change a life are often small, intentional acts of belief?

In this inspiring conversation, Biff and Nicole are joined by Emmy Award-winning speaker, drummer, and bestselling author Clint Pulver to explore how mentorship, connection, and presence shape the stories children and adults tell about themselves. From the teacher who handed him his first pair of drumsticks to years spent studying workplace culture, Clint shares why people thrive when they feel seen, heard, and valued.

Together, they discuss:

• The teacher who transformed Clint's life by recognizing his gifts

• Why mentorship matters more than management

• The importance of balancing high standards with deep connection

• How educators can help children discover their potential and worth

• The power of simple praise and intentional moments

• Questions school leaders should ask to strengthen culture

• Why presence always comes before performance

• How parents can create meaningful connection in everyday life

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful reminder: life-changing moments rarely come from control or correction. They come from relationships. Whether at home, in the classroom, or in the workplace, people flourish when someone believes in them enough to walk beside them. Sometimes all it takes is one person—and one moment—to change the course of a life.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood

Contact us: [email protected]

What happens when children borrow not just our words, but our emotions?

In this thoughtful conversation, Biff and Nicole explore how children learn emotional regulation by watching the adults around them. Drawing from Montessori principles, psychology, and real-life parenting experiences, they discuss why our reactions matter, how children absorb the emotional climate around them, and what we can do when we inevitably lose our cool.

Together, they discuss:

• Why children learn emotional regulation through observation
• The difference between expressing emotions and being controlled by them
• Practical strategies for calming yourself in difficult moments
• Why adults don't need to be perfect to be effective role models
• The importance of naming emotions and building emotional vocabulary
• How honesty, repair, and self-awareness help children feel secure

At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful reminder: every time we regulate ourselves, we show children how to regulate themselves. Calm isn't something we teach—it's something we model.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood

Contact us: [email protected]

What happens when Montessori education and occupational therapy come together?

In this thoughtful and deeply practical conversation, Biff and Nicole sit down with a Montessori educator and occupational therapist Tia Gamelin to explore how movement, sensory regulation, emotional development, and environment all shape the way children learn.

Together, they discuss:
• The connection between occupational therapy and Montessori philosophy
• Why behavior is often communication — not defiance
• How movement, sensory input, and regulation affect learning and focus
• What educators and parents often misunderstand about child development
• Supporting children with anxiety, sensory challenges, emotional overwhelm, and executive functioning difficulties
• Simple ways adults can better observe, support, and empower children

Throughout the conversation, the focus remains on seeing the whole child — not just academic performance, but emotional wellbeing, confidence, independence, and connection.

Warm, insightful, and filled with practical takeaways, this episode offers a powerful reminder that children thrive when we better understand how they experience the world.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood

Contact us: [email protected]

What if some of the most powerful lessons children learn happen outside the classroom walls?

In this episode, Biff and Nicole sit down with Montessori educator and school farmer Elise Washburn to explore how farming can become a living classroom — one that nurtures independence, observation, responsibility, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Together, they discuss:
• Elise’s unconventional journey into Montessori, from California’s redwood forests to Rwanda and ultimately to the school farm
• How farming creates meaningful learning experiences for children from toddlers through middle school
• Why hands-on work in nature strengthens confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving
• How food tasting, planting, composting, and harvest lessons bring Montessori principles to life
• What schools can do to start small and build meaningful outdoor learning programs

Warm, practical, and deeply inspiring, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that when children are given the chance to work with the earth, they often grow far more than vegetables.

Whether you're an educator, parent, or Montessori advocate, this episode will leave you rethinking what a classroom can be.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood

Contact us: [email protected]