Montessori Moms in the Wild

Welcome to today's podcast episode on how to understand and help your childs' concentration around the Montessori philosphy for different ages. Concentration is an important skill for children of all ages. It allows them to focus on their work, learn new things, and solve problems. The Montessori approach to education emphasizes the importance of concentration, and parents can use many activities and strategies to help their children develop this skill. Remember that all children develop at their own pace. Some children may be able to concentrate for longer periods of time than others. Be patient and supportive, and your child will eventually develop the ability to concentrate for extended periods of time.

Screen time can be tough to manage, especially with young kids. On the one hand, it can be a great way to keep them entertained and learning. On the other hand, too much screen time can have a negative impact on their development. Today we're talking about screen time and the first plane of development from a Montessori philosophy lens. Remember, you're not alone! We will also share our own personal experiences from real life on how we're dealing with screen time in our homes. To read to article mentioned in episode click here Interested in Montessori Homeschooling? Checkout with⁠ The Montessori Homeschool Academy⁠ and save $350 with code WILD350

In this episode, we discuss the three-year cycle of Montessori teaching, which is a framework for understanding how children develop and learn. We talk about the different stages of the cycle, the importance of mixed-age classrooms, and how teachers can support children's individual learning needs. The three-year cycle of Montessori teaching is a unique and effective approach to education. It allows children to learn at their own pace and develop their individual interests. Montessori teachers are trained to support children's individual learning needs and to create a positive and nurturing learning environment. Interested in Montessori Homeschooling? Checkout with⁠ The Montessori Homeschool Academy⁠ and save $350 with code WILD350

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the exciting and eventful lives of our hosts as they share their experiences and milestones from the past few months. First up, we have Rachel, who embarked on a new journey towards homeschooling. She shares her insights, challenges, and triumphs as she takes on the role of an educator for her children. Next, we celebrate Megan's incredible achievement of completing her Montessori primary training for ages three to six. And let's not forget Laura, who is now six months into the newborn stage. She shares the rollercoaster ride of emotions, the rapid changes in her baby's development, and the joys and challenges of navigating this precious time. From sleepless nights to heartwarming moments, Laura's journey will resonate with all parents. With motherhood, homeschooling, Montessori training, and the different stages of infancy, there's no doubt that a lot has changed for our hosts. Join us as we delve deeper into their stories, celebrating the highs, empathizing with the lows, and finding inspiration in the transformative power of parenthood. Interested in Montessori Homeschooling? Checkout with The Montessori Homeschool Academy and save $350 with code WILD350

Get ready to meet Lynda Apostol, also known as "The Montessori Teacher". As a former teacher, instructional coach, and administrator in various education sectors, Lynda has a wealth of experience in both Montessori and traditional approaches. Her unique perspective and understanding of curriculum and instruction make her a sought-after homeschool and lifestyle coach for parents looking to incorporate the Montessori method. Lynda is also a speaker and education consultant, advocating for more inclusive Montessori spaces and promoting cultural competence. Don't miss out on the wealth of knowledge and inspiration she has to offer through her social media platforms. You can connect with Lynda on Instagram or visit her website here You can support our show by supporting our amazing partners like Tiny Earth Toys, a rental toy subscription (Save my using code WILD10 at checkout)

Welcome to today's episode where we're going to focus on language development for young children. Last time, we laid down some foundations in the toddler environment with Rachel, so if you missed that, make sure to check it out. Young children have a remarkable ability to absorb information, especially when it comes to language development. They are also highly sensitive to social behavior and are forming their personalities. In other words, kids are social creatures who love to communicate and interact with others. (If you're confused about any of these concepts, we have episodes on them. ) The Montessori method emphasizes seizing the opportunity to help children prepare for language development. The Montessori classroom has three types of language: spoken, writing, and reading. As an adult in a prepared environment, our role is to use beautiful spoken language to model effective communication, while providing a rich, engaging environment full of interesting items to talk about. You can support our show by supporting our amazing partners like ⁠Wongo Puzzles, Eac puzzle is a custom design with intricate patterns and whimsical shapes that will keep you engaged for hours, plus their eco-friendly materials and commitment to sustainability make Wonga puzzles a guilt-free way to unwind (Save 10% by using code MONTESSORIMOMS at checkout)

Today is the first episode of an exclusive series based on language through the Montessori Philosophy. We will break each episode into sections of Philosophy, Classroom Activities, and what you can do at home. This episode focuses on infant toddlers; so make sure you stay tuned for our follow-up episode for primary children. "The child must create his interior life before he can express anything he must take spontaneously from the external world construct of material in order to compose, he must exercise his intelligence fully before he can be ready to find the logical connection between things, we ought to offer the child that which is necessary for his internal life and leave him free to produce" - Maria Montessori You can support our show by supporting our amazing partners like ⁠Wongo Puzzles , Each puzzle is a custom design with intricate patterns and whimsical shapes that will keep you engaged for hours, plus their eco-friendly materials and commitment to sustainability make Wonga puzzles a guilt-free way to unwind (Save 10% by using code MONTESSORIMOMS at checkout)

Welcome to Coffee Talk with Montessori Moms in the Wild! This is a segment where we will either circle back to a topic we want to unpack some more, share something we’re struggling with personally, or give you a little tip to support you through your Montessori journey at home! Sometimes, all of the above! If you’re busy like us, and only have a short amount of time to spare between school pick ups, commuting to work, or just juggling the chaos of life in general and you’re looking for something short and sweet to listen to, these episodes are for you! Laura tackles our first ever Coffee Talk topic, redirection. She will talk about positive redirection, specifically in the first plane of development, ages 0-6, and even reaching a bit into the early second plane of development, ages 6-9. Laura will cover how to get your kids to actually listen to you, by turning the "no" into a "yes". She covers why it is so important, what makes it so hard, and a handful of real-life examples that most parents of young children will definitely relate to! Check out Wongo Puzzles! Use my special link https://zen.ai/montessorimomsinthewild to save 10% at wongopuzzles.com. The discount will be applied at checkout!

We tend to do things so fast, like a diaper change, our children are absorbing every single thing - like the warmth of your hand, the touch, the cold wipe, everything. Within today's episode, we will be discussing the Absorbent Mind, and how they have two very different sub-planes depending on age, each with different qualities and characteristics to observe. "The absorbent mind, the absorbent mind which receives all does not judge does not refuse does not react, it absorbs everything and incarnates it in the coming man. The child performs this work of incarnation to achieve equality with other men and to adapt himself to live with them" - Dr. Montesorri You can support our show by supporting our amazing partners like ⁠Tiny Earth Toys⁠, a rental toy subscription (Save my using code WILD10 at checkout)

We are thrilled to have Lenay Ludwig, licensed speech-language pathologist and founder of Splashes of Speech, join us today. From our family's personal experience with her wonderful services for our son, we know that Lenay takes an approach to language that is compatible with Montessori learning styles. Acknowledging the difficulty in navigating a situation where one may feel their child needs more help than they can provide but not everyone has access to such personalized care - Fortunately, we are here to get answers as well as tips for navigating this process along with Lenay today! Lenay Ludwig who is the proud owner of Splashes of Speech LLC, a speech-language pathology practice based in Southern Pines, North Carolina. With 13+ years of experience in outpatient, in-patient, and school settings, Lenay takes great pride in providing her clients with flexible, fun, and engaging therapy sessions at The Connection Corner. With little to no restrictions, children have the opportunity to learn, connect and communicate in a magical setting tailored to their individual needs. Lenay is dedicated to nurturing progress for every child that visits Splashes of Speech. You can connect with Lenay on Instagram or visit her website here You can support our show by supporting our amazing partners like Tiny Earth Toys, a rental toy subscription (Save my using code WILD10 at checkout)

In this episode, we'll be discussing toilet learning and the steps you can take if things don't go according to plan. We understand that it doesn't always go as expected and there may be moments of struggle, regression, or negative experiences. So we wanted to create an episode to help navigate through situations like these.

In this episode, we'll be wrapping up the final math lesson before moving on to other academic topics. We understand that not everyone may be interested in this subject, and it can be difficult to wait for weeks on end for it to pass. That's why we're including a Q&A segment where we'll share our top tips and tricks for creating a learning environment that accommodates multiple children, especially those of varying ages and abilities.

In this second part of our conversation about the Montessori approach to teaching mathematics, Megan breaks down the major goals for the Primary level (AKA Children's House, ages 3-6), and the formula for how we as guides aim to achieve them. We will not discuss every single lesson or material (believe us, you don't have time for that!), but our hopes are that you can walk away from this episode with an understanding of which concepts are developmentally appropriate for this age group and how we introduce the in the classroom. 

We have had a multitude of requests to do a deeper dive into the Montessori curriculum. Our amazing listeners have been wanting us to lay out the scope and sequence for how major academic concepts/subjects evolve over the planes of development, as the Montessori method can often feel SO foreign to those of us raised in a traditional academic setting. We begin here with mathematics, beginning with a summary of the philosophy Maria Montessori approached this subject with; and then Rachel provides us with a deeper dive into how math is approached at the infant/toddler level. Spoiler alert, you're probably already nailing it just by participating in everyday experiences with your infant/toddler, so, Megan respectfully requests that you, "Chill out, everybody!"

Somehow it is already December again, and that means many of us are officially in the thick of the holiday season! After sharing a quick infographic on Instagram highlighting the gifts we believe are the most valuable to your children this year, we decided it was worth unpacking this topic a little bit more in an episode. What makes a holiday season Montessori-inspired? Spoiler alert, it's NOT the fancy, wooden toys everyone is posting about! Join us for a chat about what our holidays look like these days, what we strive for during this time as Montessorians, and what you can do at home to make this season so much more meaningful for you and yours!

In this episode we are thrilled to introduce our guest, Bianca Solorzano. Bianca is an infant development & Montessori consultant, blogger for Baby Tour Guide Inc., and podcast host of the Montessori Babies Podcast. She has a Master's Degree in Montessori Education, a Bachelor's in Child Development, and her Montessori training in Assistants to Infancy from the Montessori Institute of San Diego. Bianca is also a new Montessori Mom in the Wild with her first baby now just a few months old, and she comes on to discuss her own journey in finding the Montessori method, and now implementing it at home with her little one!  Find links to all of Bianca's amazing work here! 

Welcome back to the third part of a three part discussion on Human Tendencies. Maria Montessori designed her philosophy and curriculum in a way that would promote the development of what she called universal human tendencies. Human tendencies are defined as, “Creative possibilities which urge the person and society towards survival, progress, and sense of fulfillment.” They are broad, and  they touch every part of the human- meeting our most basic needs physically, mentally, and spiritually. In this first part of a three part episode, we will unpack the importance of Order, Orientation, Exploration, and Observation in the development of a human being; and, what we as teachers and as parents can do to support these crucial concepts.

Welcome back to the second part of a three part discussion on Human Tendencies. Maria Montessori designed her philosophy and curriculum in a way that would promote the development of what she called universal human tendencies. Human tendencies are defined as, “Creative possibilities which urge the person and society towards survival, progress, and sense of fulfillment.” They are broad, and  they touch every part of the human- meeting our most basic needs physically, mentally, and spiritually. In this first part of a three part episode, we will unpack the importance of Order, Orientation, Exploration, and Observation in the development of a human being; and, what we as teachers and as parents can do to support these crucial concepts.

Maria Montessori designed her philosophy and curriculum in a way that would promote the development of what she called universal human tendencies. Human tendencies are defined as, “Creative possibilities which urge the person and society towards survival, progress, and sense of fulfillment.” They are broad, and  they touch every part of the human- meeting our most basic needs physically, mentally, and spiritually. In this first part of a three part episode, we will unpack the importance of Order, Orientation, Exploration, and Observation in the development of a human being; and, what we as teachers and as parents can do to support these crucial concepts. 

In this episode, we had the pleasure of talking with Tatenda Muchiriri. Tatenda was born in Zimbabwe and discovered his love of Montessori when he moved to China. Tatenda is the Founder of Montessori on Wheels where he has taken to the streets, literally, on a mission to evangelize Montessori and bring this incredible philosophy into the community and out of the confines of the classroom. His work is inspiring and his message is crucial- you won’t want to miss this one! Check out his website and learn more HERE!