Trillium Montessori Talks
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
054: Choice in the Elementary Classroom
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding how to facilitate, organize, and prepare an environment that fosters student choice is one of the most challenging aspects of being a Mo...
053: Building Relationships Through Games
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best ways to create a learning environment that promotes positivity and productivity is play. When playing games, students become more comf...
052: Guiding a Classroom with Fewer Older Students
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As students get older, parents seem to become more inclined to pull their children out of Montessori programs. Especially when those classrooms have s...
051: Technology and Brain Development with Dr. Luz Casquejo Johnston
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How does technology affect brain development in children? How can we mindfully incorporate technology into Montessori classrooms? Is social media inhe...
050: From Dyslexia to Dyscalculia: Insights on Learning Disabilities with Meghan Hicks
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As Montessori educators, we learn a lot through training and practical experience about how to guide our students. However, we often find ourselves la...
049: Executive Functioning Skills in the Montessori Elementary Classroom
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The elementary age is the time when children are really developing their executive functioning skills. A highly teacher-directed environment doesn’t...
048: Beyond Early Childhood and Materials: Montessori Across the Planes of Development with Luz Casquejo Johnston
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Maria Montessori’s theories of developmental psychology include her foundational observations of the planes of development for children. These plane...
047: Montessori Literacy and the Science of Reading: Insights from Zil Jaeger
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a Montessori notion out there that we shouldn’t teach letter names along with letter sounds to our young learners. We’ve often heard tha...
046: Bringing Joy and Levity to Montessori Spaces with Lisa Thauvette
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As Montessorians, we’re not necessarily known for our humor in the classroom. The focus is, understandably, more on the learning environment. We don...
045: Why Planning and Recordkeeping is Essential for Montessori Schools
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Planning and recordkeeping is essential for Montessori educators. It provides alignment for your classrooms and allows you to articulate to parents wh...
044: The Inspiring Journey of New Montessori School Owners in Atlanta
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s no surprise that Montessori education is still growing in popularity and many people are becoming more interested in this model - as parents, a...
043: Embracing Bilingual Education in Montessori Schools: Challenges, Successes, and the Future
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are unique challenges in implementing a bilingual education program at the elementary age in Montessori schools for a variety of reasons, but it...
042: Elementary Bootcamp Opening Soon
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If standard Montessori teacher training taught you everything you needed to know before you stepped into the classroom, it would last way longer than ...
041: Spanish Language Immersion with Lindsey Barnes and David Hernández of The Dahlia School
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Studies have shown that children who are in language immersion programs through the elementary years end up becoming more proficient in their home lan...
040: Debunking the 3 Hour Work Cycle with Jana Morgan Herman
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over time, as more interpretations are overlaid on top of older theories, sometimes we can lose track of the actual meaning behind the source material...
039: Co-Teaching, Organizing, and Managing a Large Upper Elementary Classroom with Tania Torres-Delgado and Gabriela Gonzalez
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Co-teaching in a Montessori classroom can definitely be a challenge. And with so many differing opinions on how to best approach a co-teaching relatio...
038: A Quick Guide to Homeschooling With Chelsea Roberts
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Homeschool, especially since the pandemic, is becoming more and more common for many reasons—and the Montessori method is making its way into more h...
037: A Journey to Virtual Montessori Homeschooling with Christine Sithichai
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The future of education is constantly shifting. Hybrid models that split the students' time between the Montessori classroom and homeschooling ar...
036: Creating Confident and Competent Writers
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Writing opportunities present themselves in the elementary classroom in a variety of ways. Some students are naturally inclined writers, and others mi...
035: The Fundamental Needs of Humans: Ideas for Deeper Exploration
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all have fundamental needs as humans, and understanding them from an early age is so important to a child’s development. These needs affect all c...
034: When Less is More: A Case for Giving Fewer Lessons
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In teacher training, we are taught that there is no ideal or perfect number of lessons to present on a given day. And yet, in practice, many teachers ...
033: Handling Transitional Moments in the Elementary Classroom
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Transition times in the elementary classroom can be tough. Children find it particularly difficult for a number of reasons, and it can be a struggle f...
032: Unlocking the Potential: How ChatGPT Can Support Montessori Elementary Teachers
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re living in an age of AI, and education is no stranger to technological advancements. While some teachers see this as a challenge to overcome, t...
031: Public Montessori and Visual Thinking Strategies: An Interview with Katie Brown
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Montessori schools are becoming more and more popular in the public school setting—both as charter schools and within district programs. While there...
030: Interview with Rachel Kimboko, Executive Director of DC Wildflower Public Charter School
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Traditional public school classrooms operate in a very different way than Montessori classrooms. But there is a growing trend for implementing Montess...
029: Fostering a Connected Community: Helping Your Students Branch Out from their Preferred Work Partners
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Freedom of choice is vital in the Montessori classroom. However, freedom can also lead to exclusion and social cliques. Regularly diversifying groups ...
028: Flexibility without Compromise:Â How to be a Responsive Teacher While Adhering to Montessori Essentials
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Deviating from Montessori training in the classroom comes with a number of considerations. It is possible to expand beyond the boundaries of Montessor...
027: The Pencil Problem
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The pencil problem is a common one in the Montessori elementary classroom. Communal or personal? Same brand or variety? What is the system for using t...
026: Interview with Peter Piche: Leadership in the Montessori Elementary Classroom
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Being a leader is about helping people to become better versions of themselves. It’s not about commanding and controlling but rather facilitating, c...
025: Interview with Jess Gagne on New Students, Favorite Lessons, and More!
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s incredible to see the growth of students when you allow them to take charge of their learning and progress at their own pace. Growth doesn’t ...
024: Scientific Learning in the Elementary Classroom with Zoe Rising
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
023: Working With What You Have: Tips on Guiding an Under-Resourced Classroom
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Unfortunately, many schools and classrooms are experiencing a lack of resources: Montessori materials, trained guides, and even basic school supplies....
022: Exuding an Air of Confidence…Even if You Aren’t Feeling It!
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
021: How to Be a Strong Elementary Guide
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Think back to your favorite elementary school teacher. Did they inspire you? Make you feel heard? Connect with you daily? As elementary guides, we sho...
020: Elementary Bootcamp Opening Soon
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If standard Montessori teacher training taught you everything you needed to know before you stepped into the classroom, it would last way longer than ...
019: Time to Reflect: Questions to Ask Yourself to Improve Your Craft
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are two major paths towards self improvement: external feedback and self-reflection. While external feedback happens naturally in most classroom...
018: Is It Ever Okay to Praise a Child?
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
017: How to Respond to Questions From Elementary Children
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 re...
016: Confessions of a Reluctant Botanist
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 your...
015: The Tired Teacher & The Emotional Effects of COVID
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve been teaching throughout the pandemic, you’ve probably heard of or witnessed fellow educators leave the field. The increased expectation...
014: The Montessori Assistant Toolkit
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
013: Building Relationships with the Elementary Child
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 acti...
012: Human Tendencies as Witnessed in the Elementary Child
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 h...
011: Balancing Freedom & Responsibility in the Elementary Classroom
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As a Montessori teacher, one of your most important roles is maintaining the balance between freedom and responsibility in your classroom. You want to...
010: How to Ensure Students Repeat Math Concepts to Proficiency
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Repetition is key to students’ understanding of certain concepts, and no subject requires more repetition than math. For most students, however, rep...
009: How to Inspire an Interest in Writing
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
008: Early Childhood vs. Elementary Montessori Classrooms: How and Why They Differ
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
007: Going Beyond the Montessori Elementary Albums
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
006: How to Use History Question Charts
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the Montessori classroom, we’re equipped with tons of engaging materials to foster curiosity in our students. Some of the most useful (and undera...
005: How to Know When It’s Time to Present the Next Lesson
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
004: Interrupting the Elementary Child at Work
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Montessori method thrives on letting children explore on their own and engage in activities of their choosing. While we don’t have a traditional...
003: How Do We Know When Elementary Students Are Ready for Abstraction?
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For parents and teachers alike, one of the biggest draws to the Montessori method is our use of materials. They’re beautiful, they’re engaging, an...
002: What To Do When Your Lesson Falls Flat
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
No matter how skilled of a teacher you are, you’re bound to give a few lessons that just fall flat. This can happen for a multitude of reasons–fro...
001: Revisiting Routines, Procedures, & Agreements
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As teachers, we all know the feeling: your students return to the classroom after a long break, and it seems like they’ve forgotten everything you’...
Welcome to Trillium Montessori Talks
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Trillium Montessori Talks, the podcast where we dig into the theory and application of Montessori methodology in the classroom and beyond. ...