Roots and Wings Montessori Podcast

Host Jess Davis, MEd and EL I-II, dives into ways schools can build proactive, resilient practices to support students with disabilities. Jess reviews major components of visionary leadership for inclusion, the importance of building community investment, and dives into Multi-tiered Systems of Support (or MTSS) to effectively use a school's limited resources for greatest positive impact for the most students.

In this "part 2" conversation, host Jess Davis talks with one of her favorite Montessori leadership coaches, Jonathan Wolff, about the science and art of applying Montessori principles to supporting adults in our school environments (Montessori andragogy).Jonathan is a consultant, trainer, speaker and author who infuses his work in leadership development with 30 years experience as an educator and administrator.Jonathan provides retreats, workshops, and consultations, along with coaching for parents, educators, leaders, Boards of Directors, community organizations, and learning communities around the globe.The best-practice leadership retreats and workshops he leads facilitate community building, strategic planning and improved organizational effectiveness.After earning his B.A. degree in Secondary Education from Temple University, Jonathan began teaching at-risk youth in Philadelphia. Early in his career, he read several books on the Montessori philosophy and quickly recognized the power her work in human development had to effect transformation not only within the young child, but within adults as well. He went on to study with Mother Isabelle Eugenie, one of Dr. Montessori’s first students, earned his Early Childhood Credential through the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), and began his career as a Montessori educator at one of the first Head Start Montessori Centers in the United States.Jonathan’s incisive ability to apply Dr. Montessori’s educational constructs to training adults led him to positions as a teacher trainer, as the director of education and training for various education and business organizations, and as the administrator for several nationally recognized schools. Thirty years in the field have provided him with solid first-hand experience in leading and managing rapidly growing for-profit and not-for-profit schools, education institutions and business organizations.Today, the primary focus of his consulting practice is on leadership development – designing best practices and writing books and articles that enhance individual and organizational performance. His creative, interactive programs, his humorous and inspiring teaching style, and his deep insight into the needs of people and organizations are in demand by organizations around the world.

In the second episode of our series on Montessori and the Science of Reading, we discuss decoding and word recognition with Dr. Laura Saylor, author and academic.

Join host Jess Davis of Montessori Minds for this episode of Roots and Wings with Montessori leadership coach and consultant Jonathan Wolff. We discuss how to apply Montessori principles to professional learning and personal development of the adults in our organization, known as Montessori andragogy. In this first part of a three part series, Jonathan walks us through the principles of Montessori education he finds most vital to supporting the development of all learners--including adults. In parts two and three, we will dive into how to pragmatically implement these principles for the adults in our environment. Enjoy the convwersation! And we'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment and follow the show to be a part of the conversation!

Host: Jess Davis, MEd and Elementary Montessorian, Montessori Minds ConsultingGuest: Dr. Kateri Carver, director of the Montessori Studies program at the University of Wisconsin River FallsJoin us for a discussion about everything from the Montessori movement in Africa to the unification of Montessori in the United States with Dr. Kateri Carver. We will discuss one US Montessori research group, the Montessori Research Collective, of which Kateri is a member.Note: We bounce back and forth a little between calling it the Montessori Research "Collaborative" and "Collective"--collective is correct (apologies for the confusion)! Find out more about the MRC at https://montessoriresearchcollective.org/

Dr. Sara Suchman, executive director of National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector, leads us through an overview of public Montessori and how NCMPS supports schools, districts and teachers. She talks about how public Montessori schools get established, relationships with communities and districts, challenges and strengths, and more. We mention a previous episode with public Montessori principal Kathy Lause, of Indianapolis Public Schools, which you can listen to here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3DgRuBAzcEwMo1hpPrHNq7?si=0EbsrgU0R4CVNZU0RhcWeQ Have questions about public Montessori? Another related episode is coming soon, so send your questions to montessorimindsconsulting@gmail.com or add them to the comments of this episode!

Join Jess Davis of Montessori Minds Consulting in a discussion with Dr. Susan Zoll, co-author of Powerful Literacy in the Montessori Classroom, to discuss the importance of nurturing language development as a foundation of literacy. We discuss how adults can nurture language development and how to tell when a child may need extra support. Jess mentions Scarborogh's Reading Rope, and more information on this infographic can be found here: https://www.reallygreatreading.com/scarboroughs-reading-rope?srsltid=AfmBOorMoky_jprsTHEgFYmzMd2BLMHTuzEab3tSmotbDerxrv9n-FiP The University of Florida also offers free, open access curricula designed around the Science of Reading, commonly known as UFLI, and those materials and many great resources can be found here: https://ufli.education.ufl.edu/resources/ Jess is a self-proclaimed literacy nerd, so she's looking forward to part 2 and 3 of the Science of Reading episode series, which are coming soon. If you have questions about reading instruction in Montessori environments that you would like included, email montessorimindsconsulting@gmail.com or include them in the show notes for this episode to start a conversation!

Host Jess Davis of Montessori Minds Consulting discusses the importance and role of research in the Montessori educational landscape with UVA's Dr. Corey Borgman. Dr. Borgman is a Montessori educator, administrator, speaker, researcher, advocate, and consultant with 17 years of experience in the classroom and 12 in administration. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UVA's School of Education & Human Development, with a dissertation focused on the challenges experienced by principals of public Montessori schools. As education & outreach director for the Montessori Science Program, Borgman’s role focuses on leveraging the lab’s Montessori research into tangible, positive community impact. Recent examples of this work include a series of research reviews written for MPPI that explore the evidence around core Montessori practices that encounter frequent policy friction, and an Observation Support Tool for CLASS quality raters working in Montessori classrooms. Corey is also president of the Virginia Montessori Association, a particularly active and engaged state advocacy organization. She is the proud parent of three Montessori educated daughters.Resources mentioned by Dr. Borgman in the episode:Research "white papers" collaboration with MPPI and Dr. Borgman https://montessoriadvocacy.org/literature-reviews/Understanding Educational Research Resources https://guides.library.stanford.edu/education_researchHow to Read a Research Paper https://web.stanford.edu/class/ee384m/Handouts/HowtoReadPaper.pdfVirginia Montessori Association https://www.virginiamontessoriassociation.org/

Title: Positive Discipline and Parent Communication Guest: Chip DeLorenzo, Co-author of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom Host: Jess Davis, Montessori Minds Consulting This episode is part two of a two-part series on Positive Discipline. What is unique about Positive Discipline is that it has been intentionally aligned with Montessori principles in the book Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom.  Today we have one of the authors of this book with us, Chip DeLorenzo. Chip has been a Montessori educator since 1995. He is the co-author, with Dr. Jane Nelsen (author and co-founder of Positive Discipline), of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom.  As a teacher trainer and school consultant, Chip has worked with thousands of Montessori teachers and parents in teaching the principles and practices of Positive Discipline through various workshops and lectures. He is the former Head of School of the Damariscotta Montessori School, where he spent 20 years as a school leader and teacher.  Chip holds Early Childhood, Lower and Upper Elementary AMS certifications, and has worked extensively with Montessori Adolescent students.  Today Chip will be offering guidance on building relationships with students' families and using Positive Discipline as a communication framework.

Guest: Chip DeLorenzo, co-author of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom Host: Jess Davis This episode is part one of a two-part series about one guiding system, Positive Discipline. Chip DeLorenzo has been a Montessori educator since 1995. He is the co-author, with Dr. Jane Nelsen (author and co-founder of Positive Discipline), of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom.  As a teacher trainer and school consultant, Chip has worked with thousands of Montessori teachers and parents in teaching the principles and practices of Positive Discipline through various workshops and lectures. He is the former Head of School of the Damariscotta Montessori School, where he spent 20 years as a school leader and teacher.  Chip holds Early Childhood, Lower and Upper Elementary AMS certifications, and has worked extensively with Montessori Adolescent students. Connect with Chip at ChipDeLorenzo.com for more information. Positive Discipline is used as a foundational approach to classroom and school discipline in many Montessori schools throughout the United States because of its continuity with the Montessori principles of respect and independence. Positive Discipline is based on the work of Alfred Adler and Rudolph Dreikurs, contemporaries of Maria Montessori. The primary goal of the approach is to help create a social/emotional environment where children are given the tools to to succeed in becoming responsible, respectful and capable members of their communities and families. In today's episode, Chip covers -What is Positive Discipline? -The importance of building relationships of mutual respect with children -The Mistaken Goals chart -The 4 Steps to Follow-Through -Using PD as a tool to align practices across classrooms within a school

Join me in a discussion with public Montessori principal Kathy Lause of School 91 in the Indianapolis Public Schools district as we talk about the highs and lows, benefits and challenges of being school leader of a public Montessori school. Kathy shares details on two "big ideas": 1. Creating documented agreements about what Montessori schools look like in the district, with a unified voice among Montessori building leaders 2. Building relationships at the district level, including inviting leaders in to experience your school Kathy also shares the table of contents for the Montessori guidebook co-created by Montessori building leaders and approved by the school district. Content list is included below to help you think about what could be included in your district guidebook, with leadership support: Dr. Maria Montessori IPS Montessori Origins and History Mission and Vision IPS MONTESSORI VISION IPS MONTESSORI MISSION Philosophy and Pedagogy General Montessori Information Certification and Professional Development Follow the Child Character and Academic Education Peace Grace and Courtesy Responsive Classroom Race Equity and Global Mindset Concentration and Independence Intrinsic Motivation A Carefully Prepared Environment and Montessori Materials Work Plans & Work Cycles Multi-Age Environment Montessori Classroom Assistants Preparation of the environment Observation Support with Procedures Curriculum Curricular Areas The Montessori Spiral Curriculum Cultural Subjects Early Childhood Cultural Subjects Lower & Upper Elementary First Great Lesson – Coming of the Universe and Earth Second Great Lesson – Coming of Life Third Great Lesson – Coming of Humans Fourth Great Lesson – The Story of Writing Fifth Great Lesson – The Story of Numbers Practical Life Early Childhood Practical Life Lower & Upper Elementary Math Early Childhood/sensorial Math Lower & Upper Elementary Language Early Childhood Language Lower & Upper Elementary Sensorial Early Childhood Montessori Albums and Curriculum Maps Data & Assessment Assessment Principles Observation Individualized Assessment Holistic Assessment Family Involvement Assessment Tools Work Plans Checklists and Rubrics Standardized Testing Aligned District and State Assessments Reporting Grades and Report Cards MTSS MPTA (Montessori Parent Teacher Association) Inclusion Policy Philosophy and Guiding Principles Individualized Education Respect for Diversity Collaboration Inclusive Curriculum Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) Teacher Training and Professional Development Physical Accessibility Communication Social Inclusion Assessment and Accountability Documentation Resource Allocation Essential Elements for Montessori in the Public Sector Adults Environment Leadership and Organizational Development Family Engagement Assessment Sources

In today's episode about Montessori education, we talk to Montessori inclusion experts Catherine Massie and Barbara Laborsky from the Montessori Medical Partnership for Inclusion. We discuss the history of inclusion in Montessori, the modern evolution of the Montessori inclusion movement, and what resources exist to support teachers and school leaders in building more inclusive, welcoming, and supportive classrooms for all children. Host: Jess Davis, Lead Consultant, Montessori Minds Consulting Guests: Catherine Massie and Barbara Laborsky Have a question, comment, or suggestion for a show? Email info@montessorimindsconsulting.com

Join host Jess Davis and guest Dr. Vanessa Rigaud to discuss what works and what doesn't in teacher evaluation, strategies for supporting teacher capacity, tips for building a positive culture around teacher evaluation, recommendations for evaluative tools, and more. Host: Jess Davis, Lead Consultant, Montessori Minds Consulting Guest: Dr. Vanessa Rigaud, Xavier University Vanessa M. Rigaud, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor and Program Director at Montessori Institute in the School of Education at Xavier University. Dr. Rigaud received her Ed. D. in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. She has an MS in Elementary Education from Hofstra University and a BA in International Relations and Political Science from Long Island University. Her research engages with curriculum development, culturally responsive teaching, and the intersections between Montessori-based research and teacher education. Dr. Rigaud has presented at various conferences and published articles/books nationwide and internationally. To contact Dr. Rigaud for speaking or consultation inquiries, you can email her at rigaudv@xavier.edu Episode Resources: Dr. Rigaud's Publications https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10643-022-01353-y https://www.amazon.com/Towards-Anti-Racist-Educational-Research-Movements/dp/1666900133/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2OCFCN56J5UVM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.t7_SeH0DRJ3bnjmpWgjhD2wvsjYQbJ1WOU7DXOwFBA_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.JoJKTq0nn6v6ZYWTuGDl3qbM9sJmY7xfcbSz8jSK1GA&dib_tag=se&keywords=vanessa+rigaud&qid=1725390550&sprefix=vanessa+rigaud%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-2 Recommended Evaluative Tools Teachstone-https://teachstone.com/class/ DERS-https://www.ders-app.org/ Danielson-https://danielsongroup.org/framework/

Host Jess Davis of Montessori Minds and AMS Living Legacy Dr. Gay Ward discuss the optimistic research landscape in part two of the Montessori Research series on the Roots and Wings Montessori Podcast.Resources and Citations from the show:Bray, P. M. & Ward G.C. (2025) Equity-Based Assessment Practices in Montessori: Dialogues in Higher Education and Community Educator Preparation Pathways. AERA Conference Denver, Colorado. April.  Cuclasure,B., Fleming, D.J., Riga, G., & Sprogis, A. (2018). An Evaluation of Montessori Education in South Carolina’s Public Schools. The Riley Institute at Furman University. Unpublished manuscript. https://www.furman.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/195/rileypdfFiles/MontessoriOverallResultsFINAL.pdfDenervaud, S., Fornari, E., Yang, XF. et al. An MRI study of error monitoring in Montessori and traditionally-schooled children. npj Sci. Learn. 5, 11 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-020-0069-6Hansen, U. J. (2021). The future of smart : how our education system needs to change to help all young people thrive. Capucia, LLC.Lillard, A. S., Heise, M. J., Richey, E. M., Tong, X., Hart, A., & Bray, P. M. (2017). Montessori Preschool Elevates and Equalizes Child Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1783–1783. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01783 Lillard, A. S. (2012). Preschool children’s development in classic Montessori, supplemented Montessori, and conventional programs. Journal of School Psychology, 50(3), 379–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2012.01.001This is the S. Ward, G. (2024). Action Research: A Tool for Equity. In Montessori life (Vol. 36, Issue 1, pp. 16–18).Ward,G.C. & Miller, M. (2019) Action Research: A Tool for Transformation. Montessori Life. 31 (3).Ward, G.C. & Bray, P.M. (2023). Interdependent Impact: Contemporary Teacher Education and the Influence on Montessori Trajectories In A. Murray, M. McKenna & E. T. Ahlquist.  Bloomsbury Handbook of Montessori Education. London: Bloomsbury, Chapter 54.Dr. Ward email: gay.ward@uwrf.edu

Learn about how public policy affects both private and public Montessori teachers, schools, and families. Hear how advocates make positive change through collaboration meet Denise and Vyju from the Montessori Public Policy Initiative (a joint nonprofit advocacy organization from AMS and AMI/USA). Host: Jessica Davis Guests: Denise Monnier and Vyju Kadambi from the Montessori Public Policy Initiative Resources: MPPI website (great advocacy tools!) https://montessoriadvocacy.org/ MPPI conference information https://montessoriadvocacy.org/events/ The Montessori Essentials publication https://montessoriadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/MontessoriEssentials.pdf

Join host Jess Davis of Montessori Minds Consulting in conversation with Dr. Paul Epstein (professor, coach, trainer, Montessorian, and author) about observation as a tool in the Montessori classroom. Learn why observation is essential (and challenging), understand the C.O.R.E. method of observation, get tips on different ways to record observations, and more. Dr. Epstein will be presenting a keynote, master class, and breakout session at the United Montessori Schools of Indiana's 15th Annual Montessori Conference, in Jess's home state, in September of 2024. His paper, Work Needs Play is available on the AMS website at this link:https://amshq.org/Blog/2023-08-25-Work-Needs-Play  Dr. Epstein's bio: paul@paulepstein.us • Transformational family coach. • Teacher and administrator trainer. • Education author and influencer. • Former university professor. • Student of children throughout the world. Paul is a highly regarded international and inspirational speaker working to bring transformative learning experiences to educators and parents throughout the world. As the education director at Designs for Lifelong Learning, Paul leads initiatives that empower Montessori school owners, administrators, and educators. For Paul, Montessori education is a way of life. He has worked in Montessori education as a teacher, school administrator, university professor, teacher trainer, administrator coach, researcher, consultant, and author. Paul’s doctorate is in cultural anthropology, and he is an AMS early childhood and secondary certified classroom teacher. Paul is the author of An Observer’s Notebook: Learning from Children with the Observation C.O.R.E. He is also the co-author of 60 Days Montessori Observation Notebook and The Montessori Way, a definitive work on the Montessori experience. Host: Jess Davis, Lead Consultant and Owner of Montessori Minds Consulting Guest: Dr. Paul Epstein

Dr. Montessori wrote, "The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of independence and the wings of responsibility." Join host Jess Davis and Montessori Minds Consulting as we explore topics from Montessori philosophy, classroom leadership, curriculum, and more. This podcast is designed to help build a community of learning among Montessori educators in the U.S. as we learn together, discuss, and share. Jess will be joined by expert speakers from the Montessori community for monthly episodes based on challenges and questions submitted by Montessorians like you. Follow the show to be notified of monthly episodes and bonus content. Jess Davis (MEd, EL I-II) is lead consultant at Montessori Minds Consulting, a school leader at an AMS-accredited non-profit serving around 200 children ages 3-12, serves on state and national Montessori advocacy boards, and speaks and offers customized professional development nationally and internationally. To learn more about Jess, visit https://montessorimindsconsulting.com/ines-oldenburg/ Follow the Montessori Minds educator blog at https://montessorimindsconsulting.com/blog/ Subscribe to the monthly Montessori Professional Development newsletter https://montessorimindsconsulting.com/montessori-minds-professional-development-newsletter/ And join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter @MontessoriMindsConsulting