In this episode, Barbara and Ferne share so much wisdom from years of Montessori teaching, Montessori parenting and being a Montessori grandparent. By the end of the episode, you'll want to adopt both of them as surrogate grandparents in your home too!

Links from the showBarbara Isaacs - Montessori Europe, Montessori Musings, Montessori Granny, My Montessori Life podcastFerne van Zyl - The Independent Child, InstagramThe book you wish your parents had read, by Philippa PerryOn Children by Kahlil Gibran from The Prophet, by Kahlil GibranWhat is the research into Montessori?A group for Montessori grandparents with Pamela GreenThis week's listener question

My son is 7 months old, I have been following all the Montessori principles that i can find and using it with my son. I live in Kathmandu and the concept is there in a very superficial way. Schools are called Montessori but they don't follow the principles. So my question is regarding my son visiting his peers / friends who live in a mountain of electronic toys. 

How will my son deal with an environment where no one is vaguely following the method. All his toys are wooden Montessori toys and his friends have just plastic and battery operated toys. What can i expect from his interactions with his peers. 

And what will the difference be between him and his friends when they are older? 


S2 E5 Wisdom from two of my favourite Montessori grandparents, Barbara Isaacs and Ferne van Zyl

The Montessori Notebook podcast is the place for all your Montessori inspiration. Simone Davies, author of The Montessori Toddler, reveals all her insights from years of being a Montessori teacher and parent. Through conversations, answering listener’s questions, and sharing what she’s been learning lately, you’ll be inspired to take those ideas that resonate for you and put them straight into practice to be a more calm, supportive parent or teacher. Simone is down to earth, warm, and makes these ideas accessible to parents, educators and anyone wanting to learn more about Montessori. Montessori activities, Montessori at home, how to set up your Montessori home (or classroom), how to talk so kids will listen, positive discipline, simplicity parenting, and more. Yes, how to raise a child in a respectful way, help you better understand your child, and raise a curious and responsible human being. With the aim of spreading more peace and positivity around the world.

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Education for Kids

Hello there! I'm popping into your podcast feed with a catch up on what has been happening the last 2.5 years since the last podcast episode, including the launch of The Montessori Child book. The book picks up where The Montessori Toddler leaves off, covering how to bring Montessori into your home with 3-12 year olds, including a bonus chapter on adolescence. At the end of the epidsode, I also answer a listener question about talking to our children about war.

Links from the episodeThe Montessori Child book - for 3-12 year olds (and into adolescence)Preorder by 4 March and claim your pre-order bonuses hereFilm recommendations:Perfect daysAnatomy of a FallBook recommendations:Summer Fishing in Lapland by Juhani KarilaKlara and the Sun by Kazuo IshiguroBraiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Talking to children about warErica Moretti's book, The Best Weapon for Peace: Maria Montessori, Education, and Children's RightsWebinar: How to talk to children about what is happeningNewsletter: Talking to our children about warUntil next time:follow one of Simone's Montessori workshops here (from US$10)sign up for Simone's regular e-newsletter filled with Montessori inspiration

S2 Bonus episode: A quick personal update, The Montessori Child book, and talking to children about war

Welcome to the last episode of Season 2. And it’s a good one. Today I get to chat to Montessori educator and a nationally recognised anti-bias educator in the US, Britt Hawthorne. She’s all about creating inclusive and equitable environments for all learners and understandably her work has been recognized by none other than PBS, Drew Barrymore, Google Edu, Association Montessori Internationale, and more. I have learned so much from Britt over the last year and a half, yes, about being an anti-racist parent and educator but also just how you can raise critically thinking children, children who can advocate for themselves, recognise injustice, call it out and do something about it. We all need people like this that raise their children in a way that shows us what is possible.

Links from the showBritt Hawthorne - website / instagramJoin Britt's Collective Liberation communityDr Kira BanksMore about the fundamental needs in MontessoriAnti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves by Louise Derman-Sparks, Julie Olsen EdwardsDr Rudine Sims Bishop on mirrors, windows and sliding doorsBritt's favourite books - bookshop.org/shop/britthawthornelook out for Britt's book coming in 2022, "Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide"redistributes funds to Keres Children's Learning Center and Sankofa Learning Centersome of my favourite instagram posts from Britt:pyramid of accountability“If you’re tired, rest don’t quit” by darling and illustrated bby minna_so 8 ABAR goals to set for 202142 ways in Montessori we allow intrinsic motivation to express itself - insta post / blog postmore about the spindle boxtour of Kristina's spacefollow one of Simone's Montessori workshops here (from US$10)sign up for Simone's regular e-newsletter filled with Montessori inspirationListener question

Maeg asks
“I’m really having a hard time preparing work cycles for two daughters with totally #1 different interests. They are 3 & 1. Also my 3 year old is so focused and loves doing things all by herself (even when she was just a baby) however the 1 year old loves to join her older sister. Another factor is a very small apartment. We only have one low shelf that could fit the room so most of the time for the 1 year old were prepared in the shelf. What should I do. We’ll live in this apartment for the next five years before having our third baby."

S2 E12 Britt Hawthorne all about raising antiracist children

I have not just one amazing guest but two for a conversation about Montessori at home. I invited Jeanne-Marie Paynel, Your Parenting Mentor, and Pilar Bewley from Mainly Montessori to look at how we can apply Montessori principles in our homes whether we are homeschooling our child, they go to a Montessori school or not and we want to apply Montessori at home. We cover children from 0 to 12 in this conversation, how Montessori can be done on a budget, Montessori and minimalism, Montessori training and a whole lot more. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

Links from the showJeanne-Marie Paynel - website /  instagram / The Art of Parenting podcastPilar Bewley - website / instagram / Second Plane Montessori Facebook groupIdea of wonder wall from Julie Bogart's book "The Brave Learner"“The Quality of your life depends on the quality of the questions you ask yourself” ― Bernardo Moya, The Question: Find Your True PurposeSimone's Setting up your home Montessori-style 4-week online workshopListener question

"How should someone decorate their Montessori classroom? I like minimalist but just wanting to make sure I'm not decorating too much." - anonymous

S2 E11 Montessori at home whether you are homeschooling or not with Jeanne-Marie Paynel and Pilar Bewley

Hi everyone and welcome to another episode of The Montessori Notebook podcast. Today I'm talking with Hannah Baynham  from Collaborative Montessori about some of the big picture principles in Montessori. Hannah is a teacher educator who is passionate about issues of social justice, sustainability and the spiritual preparation of the guide. Having worked in schools around the world, she has a unique view of the importance of Cosmic Education in our early years environments.  
Don’t know what cosmic education is? Then you’ve come to the right place as Hannah will guide us through it all and I hope you’ll leave feeling as inspired as I did.

Links from the showCollaborative Montessori - website / instagram / facebook groupMontessori Movement Unites facebook groupSustainable development goals nesting boxes - youtube“In order to love others, all of us must first love ourselves. This self-love is not to be confused with selfishness which means over-concern with one’s self without regard to others. A healthy self-love tells a child that she is a worthy person, unique in the universe, with special attributes and talents to contribute to the world. It does not say that she is better than anyone else.” Aline D Wolf, Nurturing the SpiritArt Engager podcast with Claire Bown - ep 4 about asking great questions; ep 2 about slow lookingAubrey Hargis, Child of the RedwoodsListener question
Ruth asks, "I'm a mother of a 9 month old baby. I knew about Montessori before becoming a mother but dove into learning more once our baby was born. I am passionate about the Montessori approach to development, especially the principles like follow the child, the prepared environment and prepared parent, building peace, and being in nature. Lately I find myself getting too focused on the "stuff", or materials. It feels like consumerism, waste, and endless activities are the visuals of Montessori that I see online all the time. Expensive wooden toys and materials, perfectly clean spaces.  I know this isn't what is about, but I still feel some pressure to meet all my baby's developmental needs with the right "thing" at the right time. I'd love to hear a discussion about this and how I can reset my focus on the bigger picture. I love following you and Aubrey from child the redwoods, you always help to keep it real and de-centre the stuff. I guess this isn't really a question, but maybe an idea for discussion. I feel Montessori must be accessible and inclusive and I don't want to lose sight of that. Thanks! "

S2 E10 What is cosmic education with Hannah Baynham

Welcome to another episode of The Montessori Notebook podcast. Today’s conversation is a little different as we transport ourselves to Nigeria and get to see how Montessori looks there. This conversation is with Ochuko Prudence Daniels, the founder of Momahill Montessori who found Montessori through her children and, as you’ll hear, she didn’t choose to become a Montessori teacher. It just happened. You’ll learn so much from Pru as we talk about how they apply Montessori in their home and in her school. What I love most is how passionate she is about bringing Montessori to her country and to any and every child and when you listen to her talk, you’ll have little doubt that she will make it happen. She even says that she brought in friends to her school, to the training and she’d go up to people on the street to tell them to respect their child because she’s just that passionate and she does it all with a warm heart, a big smile and a lot of grace.

Links from the episodeAdvanced Montessori Method Vol 1, Dr MontessoriMomahill Montessori - website / instagramListener question
"How can parents work with Montessori schools when kids who are hitting when upset? Do you give feedback on the spot and how to deal with consequences " -  Crystal

S2 E5 Wisdom from two of my favourite Montessori grandparents, Barbara Isaacs and Ferne van Zyl

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