Montessori: What is it?
Montessori education, a revolutionary approach to learning developed by Dr. Maria Montessori over a century ago, stands out for its unique focus on the individual child’s natural development. Characterized by self-directed activities within a prepared environment and guided by specially trained teachers, this method nurtures children’s innate curiosity and desire to learn, fostering both academic […]
The Journey of Dahlia Montessori and the Power of Multilingual Education
Today, we are joined by two proponents of multilingual education from The Dahlia School of San Francisco, a Wildflower School. For those unfamiliar, Wildflower is a network of small micro-schools located throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and other regions. Our guests today are Lindsey Barnes, the founder of Dahlia Montessori, and David Hernandez, the school’s […]
Debunking the Montessori Three-Hour Work Cycle
In this episode of Montessori Talks, Letty Rising interviews Jana Morgan Herman, an experienced Montessori educator and the National Director of a teacher training center for Endeavor Schools. Jana’s recent article in Montessori Life, titled “Mandate or Myth: The Uninterrupted Three-Hour Work Cycle,” challenges a commonly accepted Montessori concept and has sparked a debate within […]
Co-Teaching in a Large Upper Elementary Classroom
In this interview, we learn from a pair of insightful Montessori educators who skillfully manage co-teaching in their sizable classroom. Contrary to the widespread belief that co-teaching can be as demanding as a marriage, these teachers have successfully honed their approach to foster collaboration and prioritize student-focused instruction. by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks […]
A Guide to Montessori Homeschooling
Parents who embark on a homeschooling journey often find that they need the wisdom and support of mentors who can help guide them so that they can in turn guide their own children. Join us this week on the podcast for a guide to Montessori homeschooling. by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast […]
A Journey to Virtual Montessori Homeschooling
The future of education is constantly shifting. Hybrid models that split the students’ time between the Montessori classroom and homeschooling are giving way to entirely virtual homeschooling models utilizing the Montessori method. Christine Sithichai, a veteran Montessori guide with 20 years of classroom experience, is sharing all about her journey from a brick-and-mortar school to […]
Creating Confident and Competent Writers
by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast Writing opportunities present themselves in the elementary classroom in a variety of ways. Some students are naturally inclined writers, and others might lack the confidence to write. In our newest podcast episode, Letty Rising is chatting with Madeline Walk, Elementary Content Editor at Trillium Montessori. We’re […]
The Fundamental Needs of Humans: Ideas for Deeper Exploration
The Fundamental Needs of Humans lesson sparks great interest in children because, even though many of the other elementary lessons and materials may seem unfamiliar to a child who has never been exposed to them, we can all relate to and identify our own personal and individual needs. The Fundamental Needs of Humans chart provides […]
When Less is More: A Case for Giving Fewer Lessons
by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast One of the unique challenges of being a Montessori guide is deciding how many lessons to present on any given day. What is the ideal number? 4? 7? 10? And what constitutes a “lesson” to be included in this number? And what about how many lessons […]
Handling Classroom Transitions
Anyone who has been a teacher knows that classroom transitions can be tough. Children often find it challenging to transition between physical places, activities, and objects of attention. Having to stop one thing and start another can lead to the manifestation of unwanted behaviors. by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast Thanks to […]
ChatGPT for Teachers in Montessori Elementary Classrooms
ChatGPT for Teachers – Montessori elementary teachers can use ChatGPT as a resource for their classrooms to support student learning and development. From generating sentences and paragraphs to creating word problems and lists of procedures, ChatGPT offers a wide range of possibilities, making it a valuable assistant teacher. With some practice, teachers can learn to […]
Montessori and Visual Thinking Strategies
Today we’re talking about Montessori in the public sector and Visual Thinking Strategies. Our guest is Katie Brown, the Director of Research and Professional Development at The National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector. by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast Katie Brown is the Director of Research and Professional Learning […]
Interview with Rachel Kimboko, Executive Director of DC Wildflower Public Charter School
by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast Rachel Kimboko is the Executive Director of Stakeholder Engagement at DC Wildflower Public Charter School. She holds an AMI elementary diploma and has worked in Montessori public and private settings, both as a teacher and as a school leader. Letty: Tell me about your role at […]
Celebrating 10 Years of Trillium!
Happy New Year, Everyone! Wow, it’s 2023! I wrote my first blog post on January 1, 2013. That does not feel like a decade ago! But a lot has happened during that time and I am so grateful to all of you for being part of this journey. Want to take a walk down memory lane with me? This […]
2022: A Look Behind the Scenes
My last newsletter of the year is usually a recap of the milestones of the past 12 months. While we’ve had an eventful year here at Trillium, I’d like to take this time to give you a behind the scenes look at my personal year and thank the people who made it possible. Many of […]
Fostering a Connected Community: Helping Your Students Branch Out from their Preferred Work Partners
by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast Once when I was a school administrator, there was an elementary classroom that I observed as being slightly “off.” A new teacher had taken over the class, and the energy in the community felt different…both inside the classroom and out at recess. I noticed that there […]
Flexibility without Compromise: How to be a Responsive Teacher While Adhering to Montessori Essentials
by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast The notion of flexibility without compromise seems, at first glance, contradictory. Like many terms used in Montessori circles that are joined together and also seemingly paradoxical, such as freedom and responsibility, structure and choice, and follow the child vs order and procedure, there is an endless […]
The Pencil Problem
by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast There are very few topics in the elementary classroom that I hear more about than the continuous struggle about how to manage pencils. Never mind the colored pencils, that’s a whole other topic! Today we will just stick to regular lead pencils that the children use, […]
Leadership in the Montessori Elementary Classroom with Peter Piché
by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast Peter Piché is MACTE-credentialed (Primary, Elementary I–II,) Montessori educator who founded and designed the Secondary I Montessori program at Montessori Community School in Durham, North Carolina, after attending Great Work’s Orientation to Montessori Adolescent program. In addition to getting his professional leadership coaching certification from the […]
An Interview with Jess Gagne on Favorite Lessons, New Students, and More!
by Letty Rising Follow the Trillium Montessori Talks podcast Jess is an Elementary Lead Guide and poet in Brooklyn, NY. She has worked with children of almost all ages in a variety of settings to facilitate holistic growth and the building of a strong and supportive school community, and has also consulted for the WNYC […]
Scientific Exploration in the Elementary Years: An Interview with Zoe Rising
Affiliate links may be used in this post at no cost to you. Learn Libre (formerly known as Montessori Laboratory) is a Montessori science program designed to help educators and caregivers nurture and encourage their students’ interest in the magnificence of the universe. Learn Libre was founded by Zoe Rising and Rich Worley who […]