Voices in Montessori Podcast

Early Signs of Dyslexia and When to Ask for Help

In today’s episode, we’re talking about early signs of dyslexia in Toddler and Primary age students. As Montessorians, it can be especially difficult at this age to determine when to "follow the child" and give the "gift of time" or whether a child would benefit from additional outside support. How can you tell? How do you broach this topic with parents? Kate McElderry, an Outreach Coordinator & Language Tutor at the Odyssey School, will share her expertise and guidance.

Communication Strategies for Building a School Culture of Belonging

Tamara S. Balis shares her leadership journey and lessons learned. She delves specifically into communication strategies that build a culture of belonging among school staff. The keys? Assuming best intentions, individuation, directness and clarity, active listening, and modeling vulnerability. In other words, we build a culture of belonging for our staff by mirroring the structure of the Montessori classroom! 

Broaching the Topic of Race in Our School Communities

Dr. Valaida Wise discusses her research and its implications for how to broach the topic of race in our school communities. Val identifies the four stages along the "broaching continuum" that communities must go through on their journey. She advocates that school leaders conduct an equity audit, set goals, make a plan, track progress, and hold themselves accountable. Val also talks about how we start these conversations with our students and their families. Val explains that we must acknowledge difference and learn culturally sustaining practices to support students' identity development.

Supporting Students with Sensory Processing Challenges in the Montessori Classroom

What is sensory processing disorder? What behaviors will we observe when a child is struggling with sensory processing? Our Guest, Pam Shanks, a Montessorian and expert in special education, will answer these questions and offer specific strategies for supporting children with sensory processing challenges in our Montessori classrooms.

Implementing Collaborative Problem Solving in the Montessori Classroom

Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), developed by Ross Greene, is an evidence-based model that helps adults focus on identifying the root of concerning behaviors in children and solving those problems collaboratively and proactively. The CPS model aligns beautifully with Montessori principles and offers powerful insights into how to view and respond to concerning behaviors in your classroom.