Trillium Montessori Talks

When we talk about the Montessori classroom, we often talk about two groups: teachers and students. But there’s another key player in the classroom, someone whose role is vital to the success of teachers and students alike: the assistant! Even in the fast-paced classroom environment, it’s important that assistants be given the resources and opportunities to educate themselves on how best to interact with and nurture their students.

In this episode, we’re talking about our brand new resource for elementary assistants, The Montessori Assistant Toolkit. We’re explaining how this educational resource sets the entire classroom up for success and makes teachers’ lives easier. Plus, we’re sharing how you can access the toolkit–either for yourself or your assistants.

What’s in this episode:

• Why it’s sometimes difficult for assistants to get the training they need
• Why assistants need training in both the practical and socio-emotional aspects of managing a classroom
• How educational resources for teachers and assistants set the entire classroom up for success
• What’s included in this toolkit and what assistants will learn
• How assistant education lays a foundation for long, healthy teacher-assistant relationships
• Who this toolkit is for and how to gain access to it

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

Explore The Montessori Assistant Toolkit, Elementary Edition here: courses.trilliummontessori.org/p/montessori-assistant-toolkit-ee

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When it comes to building relationships with your students, what comes to mind? Do you feel lost or overwhelmed by the concept when not given any actionable steps to enact it within your classroom setting? You are not alone. Buzz words are all the rage in education, but you won’t get very far without tools to help you understand how to build relationships with different types of students in the varying settings that occur throughout the school day.

In today’s episode, we’re discussing the various ways that you can intentionally and mindfully engage with your students to build relationships. From your morning greeting, through the work cycle and recess, to gathering opportunities and the afternoon goodbye, there are countless tips and tricks that you can implement. Building relationships takes time, and you won’t know what works for you and your students until you give it a try. So, tune in, take notes, and turn your classroom environment into one that is full of trust, growth, and learning, with minimal strife.

What’s in this episode:

• Why concrete steps are important to the implementation of educational concepts (for both the teacher and the student
• How perceived laziness or lack of motivation is usually just a lack of understanding
• The importance of breaking down big picture activities into smaller steps
• Observing who your students are and what they like, and incorporating informal conversations into daily interaction
• How to intentionally engage with students during the day’s work cycle (and avoid negative attention loops)
• Opportunities to listen and engage in conversation and play, without dominating or leading
• The importance of shared experiences (e.g. read aloud time, singing songs)
• Why you should start and end the day with moments of strong connection

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

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Humans are the only creatures that we know of that have the ability to not only adapt to but also shape our environment. Human tendencies helped our hunter-gatherer ancestors to survive the wilderness, and today, they help us survive and adapt to different environments and social groups as well as society as a whole.

In today’s episode, we’re discussing how human tendencies present themselves in the elementary child. The list is comprehensive and largely unchanging, and we’ll go through each tendency with examples of how they can be carried out in the Montessori classroom. These inclinations influence the behavior of the elementary child and construct the framework for the adults they will eventually become.

What’s in this episode:

• Why elementary children need to feel oriented to their environment
• The importance of exploring their immediate environment and the larger world around them
• How daily observation plays a role in the Montessori environment
• How to bridge from concrete to abstract learning
• Physical activity is how children learn best
• How imagination can create reality
• The motivation that comes with practicing for exactness
• Why variety is important to repetition
• How various forms of communication provide important social interaction
• Focus on mental and moral perfection in the elementary child

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

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As a Montessori teacher, one of your most important roles is maintaining the balance between freedom and responsibility in your classroom. You want to give your students opportunities to think for themselves and make their own decisions, but you also want to maintain a level of safety and harmony within the classroom. So how do you find that sweet spot?

In this episode, we’re talking about finding balance between freedom and responsibility in your elementary Montessori classroom. We’re explaining the different types of freedom your students should have and why freedom should never be used as a reward or taken away as a punishment. We’re also talking about how children develop their inner sense of responsibility.

What’s in this episode:

• Why it’s sometimes difficult to find a balance between freedom and responsibility in your classroom
• What to do if you find yourself swinging too far towards one end of the spectrum
• What Maria Montessori says about freedom and how to implement it in the classroom
• Why freedom shouldn’t be used as a reward or a punishment
• How to “follow the child” and respect their stages of development
• How to identify your students’ needs and create opportunities for them to meet those needs
• How to respect each individual student’s abilities and level of understanding
• What kinds of freedoms your students should have in the Montessori environment
• Why Montessori children have the freedom to move without asking for permission
• How to inspire children to develop their internal sense of responsibility
• How finding the balance between freedom and responsibility sets your students up for success in society

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

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Repetition is key to students’ understanding of certain concepts, and no subject requires more repetition than math. For most students, however, repetition in math doesn’t come naturally. Instead, we as teachers must find a balance between letting them take charge of their own learning and gently encouraging practice and repetition.

In this episode, we’re talking about the different ways you can ensure your students practice math skills to proficiency. We’re explaining why some students don’t naturally gravitate towards materials when practicing math concepts, and we’re sharing some tips and tricks for encouraging them to do so.

What’s in this episode:

• How to find balance between freedom and structure in math lessons
• How our own feelings about math can rub off on our students, for better or for worse
• How to structure a math lesson to inspire repetition and understanding
• Why you should encourage and teach students to use the materials, not assume they’ll know how to use them
• How to provide scaffolded support for students who need it
• How to create variety for your students in terms of math exercises and materials
• How to explain math’s relevance to our daily lives and interests
• How practice partners can encourage students to practice and repeat math concepts
• Why it’s important to include your students in the planning process of your math lessons and practice schedule

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

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Of all the skills we practice in the Montessori classroom, writing seems to be the most divisive. Some students love it, and others avoid it–either because they don’t enjoy it, they aren’t comfortable with the vulnerability it requires, or they don’t understand how to put their thoughts into words. But as their teacher, you have the opportunity to foster in your students a love for and understanding of writing.

In this episode, we’re talking about the different ways you can spark a further interest in writing for your students. We’re explaining some of the common reasons students are reluctant to write and how to overcome them. We’re also sharing different ways you can model a love for writing and provide plenty of writing opportunities in the classroom.

What’s in this episode:

• How to create more opportunities for writing throughout the day
• How to foster an environment where student feel they can write about their true feelings
• How teachers can model vulnerability by reading within the classroom
• Why it’s important to connect writing to the students’ interests
• Why students prefer real-world opportunities to write, not writing for the sake of writing
• Different types of writing activities you can provide for your students
• How to expose your students to different types of writing
• How to practice editing and revising without making it repetitive
• The importance of modeling a love for writing for your students

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

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When most people think of the Montessori classroom, they envision three- to six-year-olds. And while early childhood education is an important part of the Montessori method, it doesn’t stop there. The elementary classroom environment is very different from that of early childhood, and for very good reasons.

In this episode, we’re talking about how the early childhood and elementary Montessori classrooms differ. We’re breaking down the differences in environment, structure, and community and explaining how these differences directly correlate with the stages of development. Plus, we’re sharing how you can foster independence and curiosity with both age groups.

What’s in this episode:

• How the Montessori elementary environment differs from the early childhood environment
• Why these differences are vital to students’ development and learning
• Why collaborative work is so important for elementary children
• How elementary children can practice gathering their own materials
• Why teach young children about the world and elementary students about the entire universe
• Why elementary students seek variety and big work in repetition of concepts
• How to foster independence for students in different age groups

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

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Explore the Montessori Principles to Practice Webinar Libraries

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When you first graduated from your Montessori teacher training program, you probably did so with a spring in your step and an armful of albums. While these albums are incredibly useful when planning your lessons, you’ll find that there are times when you must go beyond the albums. So when should you do that, and how can you stay true to Montessori methods while you do?

In this episode, we’re talking about what it means to go beyond the albums. We’re sharing different ways you can supplement the albums with materials, external resources, and even your own research. Plus, we’re explaining how equity, equality, and diversity come into play when you update your albums.

What’s in this episode:

• When the albums are useful and when they might limit your lessons
• Why some children don’t need every single lesson in your album
• Which other resources you can use to support your students
• When to consider creating your own lessons about topics outside the albums
• How to supplement existing lessons with outside resources and your own lessons
• How to get creative with your materials and manipulatives beyond their original purpose
• Why you should always be updating your albums, specifically your science lessons
• How to consider equity, equality, and diversity when updating your albums

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

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Explore the Montessori Principles to Practice Webinar Libraries

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In the Montessori classroom, we’re equipped with tons of engaging materials to foster curiosity in our students. Some of the most useful (and underappreciated) materials at our disposal are the History Question Charts. But how do you introduce them to your students, and how can you encourage students to explore them on their own? 

In this episode, we’re sharing our tips for introducing and using the History Question Charts in your Montessori classroom. We’re discussing different ways you can use the charts during lessons and how to engage elementary students with stories. Plus, we’re sharing a few ways you can inspire curiosity and encourage your students to explore areas of history that personally interest them.

What’s in this episode:

• Why elementary students are so inclined to learn about history
• How we use stories to present history in the Montessori classroom environment
• What hands-on materials you can use during history lessons
• How to inspire curiosity in your students during conversations about history
• What History Question Charts are and what they’re used for
• How to use answer cards with your History Question Charts
• How to model the use of the charts for your students

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

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Explore the Montessori Principles to Practice Webinar Libraries

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In the dynamic Montessori environment, there are so many different variables at play that can affect your lesson planning. As an educator, how do you know when it's time to move on and present the next lesson to your students? 

In this episode, we’ll be walking you through a guideline with helpful elements to consider when it comes to deciding when to present lessons to your classroom. You’ll hear why it’s critical to pay attention to observations, a question you should always ask before moving to a new lesson, as well as the role of excitement on topics and how this should guide your lesson planning.

What’s in this episode:

• Why timing can be difficult for Montessori teachers to nail down
• A guideline of elements to consider when deciding when to present lessons
• How observations inform lesson planning
• Why excitement drives lessons in Montessori education
• A question you must ask yourself before moving on to the next lesson
• Why you need a general plan of action for each student

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

Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Explore the Montessori Principles to Practice Webinar Libraries

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