GENERAL WORKSHOPS

Create THINKING Classrooms

     Do you want children to become INNOVATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVERS or ROBOTS?  Children know a great deal  about the world, and create hypotheses about how items and events relate. But what if they have no experience with an item? A thought provoking workshop is guaranteed.

DUST OFF THOSE SENSORIAL MATERIALS: A LIBERATION WORKSHOP

    This workshop will give you so many innovative ways to think about using the sensorial materials that you’ll never find them dusty again.  And if YOU see the possibilities, so will your children.

NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON’T: The Observation Dilemma

    We see what we notice. We remember bits and pieces. Through a serious of interactive activities, the participants will become aware that they don't notice and don't hear... Moving on from this observation crisis, a series of tools and strategies will be presented through interactive activities using videos and small group discussions.

LANGUAGE / LITERACY WORKSHOPS

OPENING THE DOOR TO LITERARY LANGUAGE

This workshops spotlights a key ingredient in a young children’s language environment –– writing. Beginning with oral language, an overview of typical development in writing will be presented.  This will include strategies for writing in classrooms and in homes –– right from the beginning - with 2 year olds.

USING FAIRY TALES AND NURSERY RHYMES TO SPARK WRITING

This workshop emphasizes the role of sharing stories (both real and fictional) and retelling nursery rhymes and fairy tales to children’s literacy development. Practical ideas will be shared.

Creating a literacy stew in your classroom: Supporting young children’s literacy development. 

To make writing as omnipresent as talking, everyday classroom activities should be fully utilized to generate spontaneous writing activities. This workshop will explore naturally occurring events in the early childhood classroom—conversation, dramatic play, the use of manipulatives, drawing, delivering message notes, and reading aloud—and how these events can be used to support children’s writing.

Reduce the emphasis on phonics!  Instead a balanced literacy program is what is needed. 

There’s more to reading and writing than phonics.  In fact, sound/symbol work can even be detrimental!  So what are those skills, abilities, and attitudes that lead to reading and writing?  The key areas identified by researchers include: oral language (vocabulary and uses of language), concepts of print, phonemic awareness, fluency, visual-perceptual skills, and comprehension.  Teacher practices include: creating literacy-rich, print-rich physical environments, ways of reading aloud with a focus on print concepts, how to include lots of oral language (story-book extensions & dramatic play), targeted phonological skills development, and the support of emergent (pretend) reading and writing..

ADVANCED MONTESSORI WORKSHOPS FOR EXPERIENCED TEACHERS

COSMIC EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO MONTESSORI EDUCATION

     Through hands-on activities, we will refine our observation and teaching strategies as we focus on what Montessori called COSMIC EDUCATION.  What are the underlying concepts in this area?  How do we create effective learning environments for these complex ideas?  These questions plus others will be addressed.  Many ideas will be shared.

MATHEMATICAL MILEPOSTS

     What are the developmental benchmarks in numeracy? Is it possible that some of your students are successfully using the Montessori math materials without understanding the underlying concepts they are meant to illustrate? Is this important? This workshop will explore the important mileposts in math learning, practical ways for teachers to assess each child’s comprehension, and everyday strategies to support children’s genuine mathematical understanding.

ADMINISTRATIVE WORKSHOPS

LET’S PARTNER WITH PARENTS

Have you been trying to educate your parents?  I bet it’s not working!  Do parents hang out in your classroom at drop off time?  Why not?  Come prepared to hear how parents can really be your partners, educated partners! A lively discussion is guaranteed.

FACULTY EVALUATIONS

Self-assessments are the way to go!  And self-assessments in teams (6-10 teachers) are even better. And self-assessments followed by goal setting are the best.  We’ve been doing group faculty evaluations for over 30 years .. and it works!   Learn how to put this process in place.

Montessori Consulting Group

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