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Diversity and Inclusion Resources

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To support all members in our learning communities, it’s important to intentionally promote diversity and inclusion. Inclusive practices help build strong communities and communicate to learners and community members that their perspectives are valid and important. In this post, we’ve collected a wide range of resources for supporting diversity and inclusion in learning communities. 

A brown paper sign hangs on a string with blue sky in the background The sign reads "you belong here." The picture is intended to promote diversity and inclusion.

Trillium Montessori Blog Posts to Support Diversity and Inclusion

Trillium Montessori Courses

Montessori Life: Diversity and Inclusion Resources

The Fall 2021 issue of the Montessori Life magazine, published by the American Montessori Society, has a number of great articles to support and inspire schools and teachers in creating more inclusive environments for children. Check out a digital copy of this resource below. 

  • Pg 12 Students Rise Up for Social Justice
  • Pg 14 Five Questions for Trisha Moquino
  • Pg 24 A Conversation with the AMS Living Legacy 2022, Juliet King
  • Pg 40 Approaching Holidays Equitably in a Montessori Setting

Neurodiversity and Physical Disabilities

  • Every Star is Different Renae shares extensive Montessori printables and unit ideas on her blog, as well as information, support, and resources on mental health, neurodivergence, and disability.
  • Welcome to Mommyhood is run by my friend Yuliya who blogs about Montessori inspired activities at home, as well as about life in a wheelchair.
  • The Neurodivergent Teacher is run by McAlister Greiner Huynh, an Accessibility Specialist who shares resources for supporting neurodivergent and disabled students in the classroom.
  • Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally by Emily Ladau is an approachable handbook for understanding disability and ableism. This resource also provides actionable steps for being an ally.
  • Colleen Wilkinson is a Montessori educator who shares information and resources on trauma informed practices.

Gender Inclusion

  • Gender Creativity and Following the Child: A Montessori Connection by Ashley McLean
  • Ashley Speed is a Montessori educator dedicated to creating inclusive classrooms. She offers classroom materials and resources through her Instagram account and Patreon community. Ashley is also co-founder of Queer Consultants, providing support for schools and businesses in creating LGBTQIA+ inclusive spaces.  She writes extensively about representation in children’s books, being an ally, antisemitism, and more.
  • Blossoming Beyond the Binary was founded by Montessori educators who work with individuals, families, schools, and businesses to help them create spaces that are inclusive of LGBTQIA+ children and adults.

Indigenous Education

  • Indigenous Montessori Institute is an anti-racist, anti-biased organization using Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the Montessori philosophy to deliver teacher training and professional development workshops.
  • Trisha Moquino is a Montessori educator and advocate for Indigenous communities and the need for anti-biased and anti-racist education. Trisha is the co-founder of Keres Children’s Learning Center as well as the Indigenous Montessori Institute, organizations that center and support Indigenous Education. 
  • Indigenizing Arts Education Emily Aguilar shares resources and information, and also holds workshops on Indigenous education through their Instagram account and Patron community.

Anti-Bias and Anti-Racism

  • Black Lives Matter at School If you click nothing else in this email, click this one! On this page you will find a link to a resource guide with teaching resources for every grade level. These resources will help you teach about race/racism in a developmentally appropriate way. This page also includes book lists, lesson plans, powerpoint workshops, coloring books, child-appropriate definitions and a lot more.
  • Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide This book by Britt Hawthorne—a nationally recognized teacher and advocate—and her coauthor Natasha Yglesias offers an interactive guide for strategically incorporating the tools of inclusivity into everyday life and parenting. Hawthorne and Yglesias break down antiracist parenting into four comprehensive sections to help adults and kids find common ground in becoming anti-biased and antiracist (ABAR) human beings.
  • Talking to Kids About Racism Video: Dr. Kira Banks hosts a panel of parents and experts who discuss how they are talking to their children about current events.
  • Anti-Racist Resources This list from the Montessori Notebook highlights the work of many Black Montessorians and also includes links to several useful anti-racist resources. 
  • Scaffolding Anti-Racism Resources  This is a very useful document that breaks down the different stages of understanding racism as well as ways you can support your colleagues in moving through the different stages. If you know people who make the following statements, “I don’t see color,” “Talking about race brings disunity,” or who hold the belief that racism is caused by talking about race or that you aren’t racist if you don’t purposely or consciously act in racist ways, this document will give you a place to start. This is also helpful if you are finding yourself stuck in feelings of shame/guilt or overwhelm. Note: This document is getting a lot of traffic. If it’s not available when you click on the link, please try again later.

Programs in the Montessori Professional Community

  • Montessori for Social Justice is an organization that offers workshops and conferences centering racial and social equity as it relates to Montessori pedagogy and practice. Check out their on-demand webinar “Creating Safe Schools for LGBTQIA+ Students, Staff, and Families.” 
  • Black Montessori Education Fund has the mission of increasing engagement and supporting positive experiences of Black children and adults in Montessori education. 
  • Black Wildflowers Fund also aims to empowering Black education leaders to design and build liberatory, identity-affirming Microschools. You can support their efforts on their website.
  • American Montessori Society: Anti-bias, Antiracist (ABAR) Certificate Program This is a cohort-based training for Montessori administrators and educators of all levels. The program is led by Maati Wafford, MSW, the AMS director of anti-bias, antiracist education.
  • Critical Race Theory: Talking Through the Confusion This webinar was jointly produced by Montessori Public Policy Initiative (MPPI), AMS, and AMI/USA. Presenters define and discuss Critical Race Theory and implications of the surrounding dialogue and policy for the Montessori community. Presenters also detail what advocates can do.
  • JEDI: The Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion series from AMI-USA offers professional development webinars on a variety of topics. 

Additional Resources to Support Diversity and Inclusion

  • Embracing Equity is a community centered around anti-bias, anti-racist education. This organization also offers professional development, coaching, workshops, online courses, and more.
  • Teach for the Change: Meghana shares resources for raising racially- and socially-conscious children through her blog and popular Instagram account.
  • The Conscious Kid is an education, research, and policy organization dedicated to equity and promoting healthy racial identity development. They also have several high-impact community initiatives, book lists, and additional resources on their website and Instagram account.
  • Learning for Justice is an organization that centers social justice and supports educators and students through extensive free and low-cost resources including classroom resources, professional development, magazines, and additional publications.
  • Afrocentric Montessori was founded by Ashley Causey-Golden, a Montessori educator who offers handcrafted materials and curriculum resources that focus on African history and culture for young children.
  • Montessori in Color offers a variety of materials designed to represent and support diverse children. They offer handcrafted materials, printables, and more in their online shop.
  • Rethinking Schools is a publisher as well as an advocacy organization promoting equity and racial justice in the classroom.
  • Mirrors and Windows Curriculum from Multicultural Classroom offers 20 weeks of flexible lesson ideas, with each week based off a book with diverse characters.
  • This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell is designed to inform, encourage self-reflection, and empower action with every chapter.
  • Anti-Bias, Anti-Racist Work is the Spiritual Preparation of the Montessori Guide by Koren Clark. This article explores the many intersections of Montessori with an anti-bias, anti-racist journey.
  • Anti Bias Resources from NAEYC Includes articles and books for improving practice in early childhood environments.
    • Conversations that Matter: Talking with Children About Big World Issues
    • Moving Beyond Anti-Bias Activities: Supporting the Development of Anti-Bias Practices
    • Making Connections. Embracing Equity: Helping All Children Reach Their Full Potential
    • Building Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: The Role of the Leader
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