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Diversity and Inclusion Resources

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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.

  • 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


 

Trillium Montessori blog posts

Trillium Montessori courses

 

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 and 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.
  • Colleen Wilkinson is a Montessori educator who shares information and resources on trauma informed practices.

 

Gender Inclusion

  • Ashley Speed is a Montessori educator dedicated to creating inclusive classrooms, offering 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 and the Indigenous Montessori Institute, organizations that center and support Indigenous Education. 
  • Indigenizing Arts Education is run by Emily Aguilar who shares resources, information, and holds workshops on Indigenous education through their Instagram account and Patron community.

 

Anti-Bias and Anti-Racism

Listed below are some resources that will help you find more clarity about racism and children and suggestions for how to talk to children about current events. 

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 Google Drive folder with teaching resources for every grade level to help you teach about race/racism in a developmentally appropriate way. Includes book lists, lesson plans, powerpoint workshops, coloring books, child-appropriate definitions and a lot more.

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.

Statement from Montessori for Social Justice
The statement from MSJ regarding the state of racism within the US and the Montessori community. Also includes a list of Black Montessorians whose contributions you should be aware of. Please make a point to follow their work and support whenever possible. Refer to this list when you are planning your next in-service speaker or consultant. Also seek out other Montessorians of color to follow and work with.

Scaffolding Anti-Racism Resources
This is a very useful document that breaks down the different stages of understanding racism and how 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 so if it’s not available when you click on the link, please try again later.

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

Ally is a Verb: An Offering
This post by Kelly from Wings, Worms and Wonder is a good primer for those of you who are beginning this journey of anti-racism and want to learn more about how to be an ally without adding to the burden of the Black community.

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.
  • Black Montessori Education Fund has the mission of increasing engagement and supporting positive experiences of Black children and adults in Montessori education. They hold fundraising events and their efforts can be supported through donations and sponsorships.
  • Critical Race Theory: Talking Through the Confusion is a webinar jointly produced by Montessori Public Policy Initiative (MPPI), AMS, and AMI/USA. Presenters define and discuss Critical Race Theory, implications of the surrounding dialogue and policy for the Montessori community, and 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

  • Embracing Equity is a community centered around anti-bias, anti-racist education. This organization 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 her popular Instagram account.
  • The Conscious Kid is an education, research, and policy organization dedicated to equity and promoting healthy racial identity development. They 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 and 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.