Join host Jess Davis of Montessori Minds for this episode of Roots and Wings with Montessori leadership coach and consultant Jonathan Wolff. We discuss how to apply Montessori principles to professional learning and personal development of the adults in our organization, known as Montessori andragogy. In this first part of a three part series, Jonathan walks us through the principles of Montessori education he finds most vital to supporting the development of all learners--including adults. In parts two and three, we will dive into how to pragmatically implement these principles for the adults in our environment. Enjoy the convwersation! And we'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment and follow the show to be a part of the conversation!

Host: Jess Davis, MEd and Elementary Montessorian, Montessori Minds Consulting

Guest: Dr. Kateri Carver, director of the Montessori Studies program at the University of Wisconsin River Falls

Join us for a discussion about everything from the Montessori movement in Africa to the unification of Montessori in the United States with Dr. Kateri Carver. We will discuss one US Montessori research group, the Montessori Research Collective, of which Kateri is a member.

Note: We bounce back and forth a little between calling it the Montessori Research "Collaborative" and "Collective"--collective is correct (apologies for the confusion)! Find out more about the MRC at https://montessoriresearchcollective.org/

Host Jess Davis of Montessori Minds and AMS Living Legacy Dr. Gay Ward discuss the optimistic research landscape in part two of the Montessori Research series on the Roots and Wings Montessori Podcast.

Resources and Citations from the show:

Bray, P. M. & Ward G.C. (2025) Equity-Based Assessment Practices in Montessori: Dialogues in Higher Education and Community Educator Preparation Pathways. AERA Conference Denver, Colorado. April.  Cuclasure,B., Fleming, D.J., Riga, G., & Sprogis, A. (2018). An Evaluation of Montessori Education in South Carolina’s Public Schools. The Riley Institute at Furman University. Unpublished manuscript. https://www.furman.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/195/rileypdfFiles/MontessoriOverallResultsFINAL.pdfDenervaud, S., Fornari, E., Yang, XF. et al. An MRI study of error monitoring in Montessori and traditionally-schooled children. npj Sci. Learn. 5, 11 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-020-0069-6Hansen, U. J. (2021). The future of smart : how our education system needs to change to help all young people thrive. Capucia, LLC.Lillard, A. S., Heise, M. J., Richey, E. M., Tong, X., Hart, A., & Bray, P. M. (2017). Montessori Preschool Elevates and Equalizes Child Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1783–1783. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01783 Lillard, A. S. (2012). Preschool children’s development in classic Montessori, supplemented Montessori, and conventional programs. Journal of School Psychology, 50(3), 379–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2012.01.001This is the S. Ward, G. (2024). Action Research: A Tool for Equity. In Montessori life (Vol. 36, Issue 1, pp. 16–18).Ward,G.C. & Miller, M. (2019) Action Research: A Tool for Transformation. Montessori Life. 31 (3).Ward, G.C. & Bray, P.M. (2023). Interdependent Impact: Contemporary Teacher Education and the Influence on Montessori Trajectories In A. Murray, M. McKenna & E. T. Ahlquist.  Bloomsbury Handbook of Montessori Education. London: Bloomsbury, Chapter 54.

Dr. Ward email: [email protected]

Host Jess Davis of Montessori Minds Consulting discusses the importance and role of research in the Montessori educational landscape with UVA's Dr. Corey Borgman.

Dr. Borgman is a Montessori educator, administrator, speaker, researcher, advocate, and consultant with 17 years of experience in the classroom and 12 in administration. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UVA's School of Education & Human Development, with a dissertation focused on the challenges experienced by principals of public Montessori schools. As education & outreach director for the Montessori Science Program, Borgman’s role focuses on leveraging the lab’s Montessori research into tangible, positive community impact. Recent examples of this work include a series of research reviews written for MPPI that explore the evidence around core Montessori practices that encounter frequent policy friction, and an Observation Support Tool for CLASS quality raters working in Montessori classrooms. Corey is also president of the Virginia Montessori Association, a particularly active and engaged state advocacy organization. She is the proud parent of three Montessori educated daughters.

Resources mentioned by Dr. Borgman in the episode:

Research "white papers" collaboration with MPPI and Dr. Borgman https://montessoriadvocacy.org/literature-reviews/

Understanding Educational Research Resources https://guides.library.stanford.edu/education_research

How to Read a Research Paper https://web.stanford.edu/class/ee384m/Handouts/HowtoReadPaper.pdf

Virginia Montessori Association https://www.virginiamontessoriassociation.org/

Dr. Sara Suchman, executive director of National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector, leads us through an overview of public Montessori and how NCMPS supports schools, districts and teachers. She talks about how public Montessori schools get established, relationships with communities and districts, challenges and strengths, and more.

We mention a previous episode with public Montessori principal Kathy Lause, of Indianapolis Public Schools, which you can listen to here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3DgRuBAzcEwMo1hpPrHNq7?si=0EbsrgU0R4CVNZU0RhcWeQ

Have questions about public Montessori? Another related episode is coming soon, so send your questions to [email protected] or add them to the comments of this episode!

Join Jess Davis of Montessori Minds Consulting in a discussion with Dr. Susan Zoll, co-author of Powerful Literacy in the Montessori Classroom, to discuss the importance of nurturing language development as a foundation of literacy.

We discuss how adults can nurture language development and how to tell when a child may need extra support.

Jess mentions Scarborogh's Reading Rope, and more information on this infographic can be found here:

https://www.reallygreatreading.com/scarboroughs-reading-rope?srsltid=AfmBOorMoky_jprsTHEgFYmzMd2BLMHTuzEab3tSmotbDerxrv9n-FiP

The University of Florida also offers free, open access curricula designed around the Science of Reading, commonly known as UFLI, and those materials and many great resources can be found here:

https://ufli.education.ufl.edu/resources/

Jess is a self-proclaimed literacy nerd, so she's looking forward to part 2 and 3 of the Science of Reading episode series, which are coming soon. If you have questions about reading instruction in Montessori environments that you would like included, email [email protected] or include them in the show notes for this episode to start a conversation!

Title: Positive Discipline and Parent Communication

Guest: Chip DeLorenzo, Co-author of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom

Host: Jess Davis, Montessori Minds Consulting

Guest: Chip DeLorenzo, co-author of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom

Host: Jess Davis

This episode is part one of a two-part series about one guiding system, Positive Discipline.

Positive Discipline is used as a foundational approach to classroom and school discipline in many Montessori schools throughout the United States because of its continuity with the Montessori principles of respect and independence.

In today's episode, Chip covers

-What is Positive Discipline?

-The importance of building relationships of mutual respect with children

-The Mistaken Goals chart

-The 4 Steps to Follow-Through

-Using PD as a tool to align practices across classrooms within a school

Join me in a discussion with public Montessori principal Kathy Lause of School 91 in the Indianapolis Public Schools district as we talk about the highs and lows, benefits and challenges of being school leader of a public Montessori school.

Kathy shares details on two "big ideas":

1. Creating documented agreements about what Montessori schools look like in the district, with a unified voice among Montessori building leaders

2. Building relationships at the district level, including inviting leaders in to experience your school

Kathy also shares the table of contents for the Montessori guidebook co-created by Montessori building leaders and approved by the school district. Content list is included below to help you think about what could be included in your district guidebook, with leadership support:

Dr. Maria Montessori

IPS Montessori Origins and History

Mission and Vision

IPS MONTESSORI VISION

IPS MONTESSORI MISSION

Philosophy and Pedagogy

General Montessori Information

Certification and Professional Development

Follow the Child

Character and Academic Education

Peace

Grace and Courtesy

Responsive Classroom

Race Equity and Global Mindset

Concentration and Independence

Intrinsic Motivation

A Carefully Prepared Environment and Montessori Materials

Work Plans & Work Cycles

Multi-Age Environment

Montessori Classroom Assistants

Preparation of the environment

Observation

Support with Procedures

Curriculum

Curricular Areas

The Montessori Spiral Curriculum

Cultural Subjects Early Childhood

Cultural Subjects Lower & Upper Elementary

First Great Lesson – Coming of the Universe and Earth

Second Great Lesson – Coming of Life

Third Great Lesson – Coming of Humans

Fourth Great Lesson – The Story of Writing

Fifth Great Lesson – The Story of Numbers

Practical Life Early Childhood

Practical Life Lower & Upper Elementary

Math Early Childhood/sensorial

Math Lower & Upper Elementary

Language Early Childhood

Language Lower & Upper Elementary

Sensorial Early Childhood

Montessori Albums and Curriculum Maps

Data & Assessment

Assessment Principles

Observation

Individualized Assessment

Holistic Assessment

Family Involvement

Assessment Tools

Work Plans

Checklists and Rubrics

Standardized Testing

Aligned District and State Assessments

Reporting

Grades and Report Cards

MTSS

MPTA (Montessori Parent Teacher Association)

Inclusion Policy

Philosophy and Guiding Principles

Individualized Education

Respect for Diversity

Collaboration

Inclusive Curriculum

Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs)

Teacher Training and Professional Development

Physical Accessibility

Communication

Social Inclusion

Assessment and Accountability

Documentation

Resource Allocation

Essential Elements for Montessori in the Public Sector

Adults

Environment

Leadership and Organizational Development

Family Engagement

Assessment

Sources

In today's episode about Montessori education, we talk to Montessori inclusion experts Catherine Massie and Barbara Laborsky from the Montessori Medical Partnership for Inclusion. We discuss the history of inclusion in Montessori, the modern evolution of the Montessori inclusion movement, and what resources exist to support teachers and school leaders in building more inclusive, welcoming, and supportive classrooms for all children.

Host: Jess Davis, Lead Consultant, Montessori Minds Consulting

Guests: Catherine Massie and Barbara Laborsky

Have a question, comment, or suggestion for a show? Email [email protected]