Trillium Montessori Talks

The hands-on quality of the Montessori method is what sets it apart, and that’s never more apparent than during science lessons. From demonstrating complex concepts in the classroom to encouraging students to conduct their own experiments at home, Montessori educators have the ability to inspire curiosity and imagination in their students every day.

In this episode, we sit down with cofounder of Learn Libre and former Montessori student Zoe Rising to talk about scientific learning. She shares some of her favorite science experiments and demonstrations for helping students understand abstract ideas. We also talk about the limits of Maria Montessori’s framework and how we can apply it to our new scientific concepts.

What’s in this episode:

• Zoe’s fondest memories of learning science in a Montessori classroom
• Her favorite Montessori science lessons to teach her students
• How we can use demonstrations to introduce students to abstract concepts
• Why science experiments are so engaging for elementary-aged children
• Challenges you might encounter when planning science lessons and experiments
• What makes the Montessori approach to scientific learning different 
• What we wish Maria Montessori would have been able to develop a framework for

Note: As of February 2024, Montessori Laboratory is now known as Learn Libre. Any references made to Montessori Laboratory are still relevant under the new name.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit https://www.trilliummontessori.org/scientific-exploration-in-the-elementary-years/

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman

Explore Learn Libre (formerly Montessori Laboratory) (Affiliate link)

Connect With Us

Visit our website

Follow us on Instagram

Connect with us on Facebook

Unfortunately, many schools and classrooms are experiencing a lack of resources: Montessori materials, trained guides, and even basic school supplies. In times like these, it’s important to get creative! While the Montessori method does rely heavily on hands-on education, there are plenty of ways to inspire curiosity and learning without access to a wealth of resources.

In this episode, we share a few ways you can address the eight principles of Montessori education without access to Montessori materials or trained guides. We share the importance of helping your students engage in meaningful work and how to incorporate it in the classroom and at home. We also explain how to organize your limited classroom supplies to make them accessible for your students.

What’s in this episode:

• Why so many schools and classrooms lack resources right now
• How the Montessori method allows for guides and parents who want to create their own materials and lessons
• How to address the eight principles of Montessori education with limited materials or untrained guides
• Why it’s sometimes better to limit materials at the start of a new lesson
• How to use your students’ natural curiosity to guide your lessons
• Why we don’t believe in rewarding students for their classroom performance
• How to provide opportunities for students to do meaningful work
• How to organize your limited supplies to maximize their potential

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit https://www.trilliummontessori.org/

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Stoll Lillard

Connect With Us

Visit our website

Follow us on Instagram

Connect with us on Facebook

Whether you’ve spent ten years or ten days in the Montessori classroom, you’ve probably had days where you felt unsure and unconfident. Maybe you had to teach on a subject you’re uncomfortable with or set a new boundary with your students. That feeling is common, and it’s part of the journey to becoming a more confident teacher and leader.

In this episode, we explain why it’s so important to practice confidence in the classroom. We explain how to recognize when you’re feeling unconfident and how to “fake it ‘til you make it.” We also share a few “microsteps” you can take towards becoming more comfortable and confident in your classroom.

What’s in this episode:

• Why we try to cultivate confidence in our students
• How practice and experience inspire confidence
• Signs that you’re lacking confidence in the classroom
• Why you might feel unconfident in certain situations
• How to navigate questions and comments from students that make you anxious
• Why some teachers lack confidence in the operational side of classroom management
• How to “fake it ‘til you make it” in the classroom
• Microsteps you can take to becoming more confident 
• How exhibiting confidence helps your students become more confident

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit https://www.trilliummontessori.org/confidence/

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

N/A

Connect With Us

Visit our website

Follow us on Instagram

Connect with us on Facebook

Think back to your favorite elementary school teacher. Did they inspire you? Make you feel heard? Connect with you daily? As elementary guides, we should strive to be these kinds of teachers, the ones who inspire our students to be curious about the world around them.

In this episode, we explain what it means to be a truly inspirational elementary guide. We share what different teaching styles look like in the classroom and how to know what kind of teacher you are. Plus, we share a list of guidelines you can use to ensure you’re teaching to your fullest potential.

What’s in this episode:

• What sets a great teacher apart from a good one
• What different teaching styles look like in practice
• Why it’s important to inspire students, not just teach them
• How to create a plan that still allows for spontaneity and flexibility
• How to be a responsive teacher and practice active observation
• Why it’s vital that elementary guides practice self-reflection
• How to connect with students, colleagues, and parents

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit https://www.trilliummontessori.org/how-to-be-a-strong-elementary-guide/

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

N/A

Connect With Us

Visit our website

Follow us on Instagram

Connect with us on Facebook

If standard Montessori teacher training taught you everything you needed to know before you stepped into the classroom, it would last way longer than two years! Chances are, you learned the content but not necessarily how to implement it in a real, everchanging classroom environment. That’s where supplementary education like the Elementary Bootcamp comes in!

In this episode, we’re talking about our upcoming Elementary Bootcamp and how it can prepare you for the approaching school year. We’re explaining how supplementary education can help new and experienced teachers. Plus, we’re taking a sneak peek at what’s covered in the program.

What’s in this episode:

• Managing your stress as you approach the beginning of the school year
• This summer’s Elementary Bootcamp (opening soon!)
• How the bootcamp can supplement your knowledge and make you more confident in the classroom
• Why standard Montessori teacher training doesn’t often cover everything you need to know before you step in the classroom
• Who the bootcamp is designed for and what’s included
• How to join the waitlist for the Elementary Bootcamp

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit https://www.trilliummontessori.org/elementary-planning-bootcamp/

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Elementary Classroom Planning Bootcamp

Connect With Us

Visit our website

Follow us on Instagram

Connect with us on Facebook

There are two major paths towards self improvement: external feedback and self-reflection. While external feedback happens naturally in most classrooms, self-reflection is a skill you have to make time for and practice. When you do, you’ll improve your craft, connect more deeply with your students, and feel more confident in your abilities.

In this episode, we’re talking about the power of self-reflection for the Montessori teacher. We’re explaining how to practice daily reflection and turn it into intentional action. We’re sharing some questions you can ask yourself, and we’re explaining how to model the practice of self-reflection for your students.

What’s in this episode:

• Why it’s important to practice self-reflection as a Montessori teacher
• Why self-reflection isn’t just about thinking, but also doing
• Which questions to ask yourself when reflecting on your lessons and strategy
• How your mood can affect your interactions with students
• How to identify and remove obstacles preventing you from improving your craft
• Internal versus external obstacles in your life and work
• Why it’s vital that you try to inspire curiosity in every student, every day
• How to make time for daily reflection and model it for your students

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit trilliummontessori.org/podcast

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

N/A

Connect With Us

Visit our website

Follow us on Instagram

Connect with us on Facebook

Most of us in the Montessori world have been cautioned not to praise children. Too much praise can lead to patterns of codependency and inadvertently teach children that their self-worth should be based on the perceptions of others. But is there really no place for praise and compliments in the Montessori classroom? And if there is, how do you do it right?

In this episode, we’re talking about praise, compliments, and connection with your students. We’re explaining the difference between evaluative and descriptive praise, and we’re sharing different ways you can practice giving praise in the classroom. We’re also explaining how to refocus a conversation and connect with a student who you can tell is seeking attention.

What’s in this episode:

• Why we choose not to praise or reward children for “good” behavior in the Montessori classroom
• Why it’s important to foster a pleasure in doing the work, not just in receiving rewards
• How to replace praise-heavy statements with new phrases and ways of encouragement
• The different types of praise, and how students react to each type
• How to practice observations and noticing, and how to use those comments to inspire conversation
• Praise versus compliments, and when it’s appropriate to compliment students
• Why your conversations with students should always foster connection without codependency
• How to refocus your conversations with students when they are seeking praise

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit trilliummontessori.org/podcast

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

N/A

Connect With Us

Visit our website

Follow us on Instagram

Connect with us on Facebook

Have you ever been stumped by a student’s question? As children grow and learn, their questions get more complex and difficult to answer. How you respond–or don’t respond–to these hard questions is telling of your confidence as a teacher, and it’s an opportunity for you to model humility and curiosity for your students.

In this episode, we’re sharing some techniques for responding to students’ questions when you aren’t confident in your answer. We’re explaining how question asking plays into childrens’ development and helps them build confidence. Plus, we’re sharing some ways you shouldn’t respond to a student’s repetitive questions.

What’s in this episode:

• How asking questions fits into a child’s phases of development
• Why we get uncomfortable when we can’t answer a child’s question
• How to respond to student’s questions when you aren’t sure of the answer
• How your tone when responding to questions can affect the child’s confidence
• Why it’s important to help children realize that they can ask questions of their peers, not just their instructors
• How delegating questions can help you avoid burnout and frustration
• Why it’s sometimes helpful to not provide the answer but instead to encourage self-education
• How some students use repeated questions as a way to connect
• How to provide a brief, succinct answer that will encourage students to seek more information themselves
• Which responses you should eliminate from your teaching repertoire 

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit https://www.trilliummontessori.org/how-to-respond-to-questions-from-elementary-children/

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

N/A

Connect With Us

Visit our website

Follow us on Instagram

Connect with us on Facebook

During your early years as a Montessori teacher, you might feel like you’re in the dark. Sometimes, you might be asked to teach on subjects you yourself aren’t entirely confident in. Other times, you might feel overwhelmed by the day-to-day work of running a classroom. But like a seed planted beneath the soil, the only way out is up. As you grow, you’ll push through those barriers and stretch closer and closer to the light.

In this episode, Letty is sharing an experience from her very first year of teaching that taught her a lot about perseverance and patience. We’re chatting about the experiential learning you can provide your students and why it’s often more impactful than theory-based learning. Plus, we’re sharing a few life lessons we can learn from plants.

What’s in this episode:

• How Letty began her Montessori teaching career in a brand new school
• Teaching a subject you don’t feel entirely confident in
• How Letty might have handled her first teaching experience differently
• Learning alongside your students and appreciating the learning process
• How to plant seeds–literally and figuratively–in your classroom
• Why the experiential parts of the learning process are even more important than the theory
• Life lessons we learn from plants that you can share with your students
• Facing and embracing obstacles as a new teacher

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit https://www.trilliummontessori.org/confessions-of-a-reluctant-botanist/

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

N/A

Connect With Us

Visit our website

Follow us on Instagram

Connect with us on Facebook

If you’ve been teaching throughout the pandemic, you’ve probably heard of or witnessed fellow educators leave the field. The increased expectations of teachers in our society paired with the physical and emotional impacts of COVID have made for thousands of tired, overworked teachers. But through personal action and systematic changes, we believe we can improve our work environments and weather the symptoms of “long haul emotional COVID.” 

In this episode, we’re talking about the factors that have led to an increase in tired teachers–from COVID to world news to societal expectations. We’re breaking down the common symptoms of “long haul emotional COVID” and why they affect teachers so strongly. Plus, we’re explaining how you can take care of yourself and your students while also working to enact change in your school.

What’s in this episode:

• The different factors that contribute to teachers feeling tired and overworked
• How long haul emotional COVID affects teachers and students alike
• Understanding the misalignment among the needs of teachers, students, and administrators
• Why so many teachers have left the profession during the COVID pandemic
• Why self care is only part of the solution for tired, overworked educators
• How to navigate the emotional long-term effects of the COVID pandemic

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit https://www.trilliummontessori.org/the-tired-teacher/

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Distance Learning in Times of Disaster

Connect With Us

Visit our website

Follow us on Instagram

Connect with us on Facebook