This Month on Modern Montessori
We’re joined by the inspiring Joanne Lo—an education consultant with over 20 years of global experience spanning Hong Kong, Toronto, New York, and now London. As Director of JL Education Ltd and Co-Founder of Our Mindful Connection Club, Joanne blends the art of mindfulness with the science of education, helping children ages 3–12 grow in both heart and mind.

In this episode, Joanne shares practical strategies for becoming more emotionally present with our children and offers insight into guiding them toward true emotional literacy. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply someone who cares deeply about children’s development, this conversation will leave you with tools and inspiration to nurture empathy, resilience, and connection in the next generation.

You can find Joanne on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn as @jl_educationalconsultant .  Please be sure and discover her book, "How do I Feel -  A journal for children"!  

This episode, we are excited to be joined by Siyuan Fan, a Montessori educator with a background in psychology and human development.  We discuss the psychology of the Montessori Method and how it applies to our modern world and how it differs from traditional education models.  

Meet Siyuan:

"I am a passionate Montessori educator dedicated to bringing a modern Montessori education to 21st-century children. With over seven years of teaching experience across diverse educational settings—from Chinese public preschools to bilingual programs at the Shanghai American School—I’ve had the opportunity to explore and integrate various educational philosophies. Currently, I serve as a Montessori lead teacher at a Montessori-inspired, music-focused preschool, where I blend child-led learning with creative expression and cultural richness.

I hold a master’s degree in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where I also conducted research on playful learning methods through Project Zero, a Harvard-affiliated research institute. My background extends beyond the classroom into curriculum and product design; I’ve worked as a product designer for an educational toy company, combining developmental science with play-based innovation."

Welcome to Part 2!  We had a great time chatting with Toé Karasawa, a former Montessori-certified teacher, Montessori marketing specialist, and children’s book author.  With her vast array of knowledge, we discussed not only our own experiences with dual languages, but also the benefits and some of the misconceptions of being in a dual-language environment.  

Originally from Tokyo, Toé spent her formative years in China, Singapore, and Japan, and now calls the United States home. She speaks Japanese, Mandarin, Shanghainese, and English, bringing a rich, multicultural perspective to all that she does. Toé holds a master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree from Waseda University. With a deep passion for early childhood education and youth development, she draws on her diverse experiences to help create inclusive and inspiring learning environments for children around the world.

https://everysuperpartofmebook.my.canva.site/

@manabi_montessori

We had a great time chatting with Toé Karasawa, a former Montessori-certified teacher, Montessori marketing specialist, and children’s book author.  With her vast array of knowledge, we discussed not only our own experiences with dual languages, but also the benefits and some of the misconceptions of being in a dual-language environment.  

Originally from Tokyo, Toé spent her formative years in China, Singapore, and Japan, and now calls the United States home. She speaks Japanese, Mandarin, Shanghainese, and English, bringing a rich, multicultural perspective to all that she does. Toé holds a master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree from Waseda University. With a deep passion for early childhood education and youth development, she draws on her diverse experiences to help create inclusive and inspiring learning environments for children around the world.

https://everysuperpartofmebook.my.canva.site/

@manabi_montessori

This month, we welcome Debbie Chen, who is a professional accountant and certified coach who helps people break free from money trauma, cultural conditioning, and limiting beliefs so they can build wealth with ease.  We discuss some philosophical and tangible tips on having the sometimes difficult conversation with children about budgets and finances.

If you have questions for Debbie, please reach out to us on social media or if you're interested in booking a consultation with her, she can be reached at [email protected]

Meet Jaya Mallik, an experienced DEIB practitioner and educator, Jaya Mallik centers her practice on community engagement, data-informed insights, and empowering others to lead and innovate. She is especially passionate about ensuring equal access and opportunities for women of color and other underrepresented identities.

This week Jaya sits down with Montessori Educator, Elina Chen, to discuss teaching equity to young children and how to navigate difficult questions and circumstances that can arise in everyday life.

Over the course of the last half year, we have been highlighting values within children in the Montessori system.  This exciting episode brings all those episodes together and how they relate to emotional intelligence.  Elina has identified five tools that she has developed for use within the and shares them with you!  

Curious about a topic?  Reach out to us on Instagram, Facebook, or www.neoglobal.education to share your thoughts or ideas!

If you are a speaker, educator, or parent and want to be featured on Modern Montessori let us know!

As we are swept away into the New Year and reflect on all that 2024 and the holidays meant to us, we wanted to take a moment to not only thank you, the listeners, for a fabulous first year, but also to speak about some of the ways we can demonstrate what giving truly is to our children and students.

One of the greatest challenges parents face is maintaining a work/life balance.  How do you navigate the emotional, physical,  and educational needs of children while still managing an increasingly busy work schedule?  This week we sit down and discuss some of the difficulties and also share some useful tools on how to navigate these difficult waters.

This week we discuss practical methods of developing self-confidence in a child by demonstrating and teaching competency through repetition and patience.  Elina Chen provides several real world examples of how we can be there to support children at home and in education so that they can eventually develop self-confidence through mastery.