Workshops

Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom

The Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom virtual course provides a method of child guidance based on the behavioral psychology principles of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Driekurs. The course provides you with a framework for child guidance and a set of classroom management tools congruent with Montessori philosophy that is not often covered in Montessori teacher training programs. The tools provided cultivate classrooms where students independently resolve conflicts with each other, are better able to regulate their emotions, they take responsibility for their actions, and everyone contributes to maintaining a harmonious learning environment.

The course instructors are Dr. Jane Nelsen, co-founder of Positive Discipline and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Chip DeLorenzo, an experienced Montessori educator with 25-years of experience in various positions from lead guide to head of school and Positive Discipline facilitator. This extraordinary team have a warm and clear delivery of practical solutions that expand your ability to respectfully guide children in ways that assist them in feeling a sense of belonging and significance, which in turn positively impacts their behavior and learning outcomes. Chip is a master storyteller, and his experiences in the Montessori classroom provide the backdrop for understanding and applying the Positive Discipline techniques effectively. For more detailed information on the contents of the course and included materials, please visit the Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom page.

Delivered through memorable stories and actionable strategies, the 10 Lessons walk you through the underlying principles of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom. Along with the companion Playbook and bonus book, this course will make a positive impact in your relationship with every student and build greater social cohesion in your classroom and school community. For more detailed information on the course and included materials, please visit the Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom course page.

Montessori Assistant Toolkit – Infancy and Toddlerhood Edition

The Montessori Assistant Toolkit – Infancy and Toddlerhood Edition is a targeted collection of seven lessons that gives a classroom assistant new to Montessori all the needed skills to support teachers and children in an infant/toddler Montessori environment (0-3 years old).

Each of the seven lessons consists of a series of topics that cover key concepts necessary to understand and work in a Montessori Classroom. They utilize innovative features, multimedia content, summary assessments, and hands-on assignments in a workbook. Participants work through the lessons at their own pace; however, we suggest they complete them and the follow-up exercises over a period of seven weeks (one per week) to maximize their understanding. This pace is also easy to fit into any schedule as it is not a significant impact on a person’s time.

In addition to the 7 lessons designed for classroom assistants, we throw in a FREE bonus workshop for lead teachers titled Supporting Classroom Assistants.  It provides lead guides with tips and strategies for working more effectively with their classroom assistant. It is designed to provide the leader of a Montessori learning environment with the insights and skills needed to make the best use of their assistants and raise the performance of the whole classroom.

Though aimed at classroom assistants, this course is also ideal for any adult new to Montessori, including board members, volunteers, parents, and others needing an overview of a functioning of a Montessori classroom. For more detailed information on the contents of the course, sample content, and included materials, please visit the Montessori Assistant Toolkit page.

Montessori Assistant Toolkit – Early Childhood Edition

The Montessori Assistant Toolkit – Early Childhood Edition is a targeted collection of seven lessonsthat gives a classroom assistant new to Montessori all the needed skills to support teachers and children in early childhood Montessori classrooms (3-6 years old).

Each of the seven lessons consists of a series of topics that cover key concepts necessary to understand and work in a Montessori Classroom. They utilize innovative features, multimedia content, summary assessments, and hands-on assignments in a workbook. Participants work through the lessons at their own pace; however, we suggest they complete them and their follow-up exercises over a period of seven weeks (one per week) to maximize their understanding. This pace is also easy to fit into any schedule as it is not a significant impact on a person’s time.

In addition to the 7 lessons designed for classroom assistants, we throw in a FREE bonus workshop for teachers titled Supporting Classroom Assistants.  It provides lead guides with tips and strategies for working more effectively with their classroom assistant. It is designed to provide the leader of a Montessori learning environment with the insights and skills needed to make the best use of their assistants and raise the performance of the whole classroom.

Though aimed at classroom assistants, this course is also ideal for any adult new to Montessori, including board members, volunteers, parents, and others needing an overview of a functioning of a Montessori classroom. For more detailed information on the contents of the course, sample content, and included materials, please visit the Montessori Assistant Toolkit page.

Building an Equitable Holiday Approach

This workshop is designed to help administrators, teachers, and guides create a plan for observing holidays in their classroom and/or school that both represents their community and appreciates the world’s many cultures.

After completing the course, participants will be able to survey their community, develop a holiday observation plan, and help their students broaden their view of holiday celebrations. For more information on this workshop, including a list of modules, bonus materials, pricing, the site license option and more, visit the Building an Equitable Holiday Approach page.

Supporting Classroom Assistants Workshop

This workshop instructs teachers in best practices for working more effectively with their classroom assistant. It is designed to provide the leader of a Montessori learning environment with the insights and skills needed to guide and support the work of their assistants. It covers various topics that will help facilitate communication and collaboration between classroom team members, including establishing positive relationships, defining roles and routines for daily operations, how to model interactions, and helping the assistant develop professionalism as a representative of the school. After completing the lessons, workshop participants will have a new found appreciation of the assistant’s role and be able to more effectively run the classroom with their help.