Montessori Parenting and Foundations

DAY 1 • Monday 27 January, 2025

Step into the world of Montessori parenting and explore the foundational principles that support a child’s early development and well-being.

LIVE LECTURE + Q&A

Jeanne-Marie Paynel

Live ZOOM + Q&A 6.00pm CET/9am PST
Becoming a Montessori Parent, from Pregnancy to Toddlerhood

Timothy Seldin 

Live ZOOM + Q&A 7:30pm CET/10:30am PST
Montessori vs. Conventional Education: How Montessori's Non-Punitive Method Works & Why We Love It

PRERECORDED LECTURES

Parents as Leaders: Cutting Through the Chaos of Modern Parenthood
How children learn best
The Human Tendencies: a framework for Montessori Assessment
Grace and Courtesy: The Key to Normalized Behavior
Nurturing Harmony: The Power of Montessori, Adlerian, and Positive Discipline in Routines and Order
Montessori’s 10 Commandments
Unveiling the Magic of the Absorbent Mind & seizing golden age opportunities from birth till age 6
Humans & The Science behind Montessori
The Universality of Montessori
Is There a Difference Between Guidance and Teaching, and How Might We Know?

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Session 5

Maren Schmidt

Parents as Leaders: Cutting Through the Chaos of Modern Parenthood

Today, I believe parents are navigating some of the most challenging times in history when it comes to raising children and guiding their families.

Parents are inundated with advice from social media, along with self-proclaimed experts on parenting who have never raised a child or studied child development. Parents are left to deal with so much conflicting information!

In this storm of videos and podcasts, it has never been harder for parents to find clear direction.That’s why I feel it is essential for parents to build strong leadership skills in order to create and execute a clear plan for their families. In this session, we’ll look at key steps to help you set a true north for your children, your family, and your life.

Maren Schmidt

As an award winning teacher and author, Maren Schmidt leverages her talents writing newsletters, a blog, along with books.

Since 2004 she has written the Kids Talk Blog, and is the author of two books, Understanding Montessori: A Guide For Parents and Buildings Cathedrals Not Walls. Montessori school communities enjoy her Kids Talk Newsletters that are full of put-it-into-action advice about children.

Maren is an elementary trained Montessori guide with AMI. She founded a Montessori school and her Montessori roles include parent, teacher, school administrator, and now grandparent. Visit MarenSchmidt.com to sign up for her newsletters or read her Kids Talk blog.

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Session 5

Dr. Shefali

Your Parenting Map: How to Parent Without Ego and Truly Connect with Your Children

Discover how to parent without ego and create deep, meaningful relationships with your children. Dr. Shefali shares transformative insights on mindful parenting, breaking generational cycles, and fostering awareness and connection from the earliest stages of life. Ideal for parents and educators seeking to support the next generation with authenticity and balance.

Dr. Shefali

Dr. Shefali is a renowned clinical psychologist, international speaker, and bestselling author of The Conscious Parent and The Parenting Map. Integrating Eastern mindfulness with Western psychology, her revolutionary approach has transformed parenting and self-awareness worldwide. Dr. Shefali empowers parents to break free from societal expectations and foster genuine connections with their children. In addition to her books and talks, she is the founder of the Conscious Coaching Institute, a transformative program that trains individuals to guide others toward conscious living and parenting. Learn more at www.drshefali.com and www.institute.drshefali.com.

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Session 5

Lynda Apostol

The Montessori Homeschool Journey: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Curious about Montessori homeschooling but unsure where to start? In this session, we’ll explore the growing interest in Montessori homeschooling, address common myths and misconceptions, and break down what it truly takes to create an authentic Montessori learning environment at home. Designed for parents of children ages 0-3, this presentation will empower you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to consider Montessori homeschooling as a meaningful path for your family. Whether you’re just exploring the idea or ready to dive in, this session will clarify the journey ahead!

Lynda Apostol

Lynda Apostol, M.Ed., is the Founder and CEO of The Montessori Teacher LLC, an organization committed to making high-quality Montessori education accessible to home-based educators and families worldwide. With over 16 years of experience across public, private, charter, and home-based education, Lynda has revolutionized Montessori homeschooling by providing practical strategies, proven frameworks, and transformative insights. She is passionate about empowering homeschoolers to implement Montessori principles with confidence, ensuring that the journey is both enriching and effective for every child.

As an AMS-certified Montessori educator and credentialed administrator, Lynda created the Montessori Homeschool Academy™, which has supported hundreds of families and educators globally. She has partnered with AIM, a MACTE-accredited Montessori training center, to offer accredited Montessori materials for home educators. Lynda is also the author of the forthcoming book, The Montessori Homeschooler, and a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, including The Montessori Event.

With a personal commitment to homeschooling, Lynda continues to advocate for home-based education, shaping the future of Montessori learning by ensuring it is accessible, actionable, and impactful for all families.

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Session 5

Karin Slabaugh

The Discovery of the Newborn: Nurturing with Respect and Dignity

This presentation with Karin will focus on answering the fundamental question: What are the basic needs of the newborn? In exploring this topic we will delve into important questions such as:

  • How can you prepare a welcome for this fragile being?
  • How can you protect the "Spiritual Embryo" that Montessori spoke about?
  • When does a developing human being begin to learn?
  • What does "accompanying" a new mother look like from a Montessori perspective?
  • And finally, what does it mean to offer independence, respect, freedom and dignity in the care of a new mother and her newborn?

Karin Slabaugh

Karin Slabaugh has an AMI diploma for 0-3 and a Masters degree in education. In 2012, Karin studied with Grazia Honegger Fresco (1929-2020) in the last course she offered for 0-3. She moved to Italy in 2016 to create a Montessori course for public healthcare nurse midwives. Karin’s work gives continuity to the teachings on birth to three that Costa Gnocchi and Montessori passed on through Honegger Fresco. She continues to work on projects in Italy with direct students of Adele Costa Gnocchi's who are specialized in the care of the newborn.

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Session 5

Heather White

The Absorbent Mind Unveiled: Harnessing the Power of Early Learning

Discover the incredible potential of early childhood development in this engaging workshop! We’ll explore Dr. Maria Montessori’s concept of the absorbent mind, uncovering its two stages—the unconscious and conscious phases—and how they shape language acquisition and identity. Learn about the four key pillars Maria Montessori identified: the horme (innate drive), the inner teacher (self-guided learning), the mneme (memory and recall), and the nebulae (limitless potential). Finally, see how the Montessori prepared environment nurtures these forces and gain resources to continue your learning journey. Perfect for parents, educators, and Montessori guides, this session will leave you inspired and empowered to support young learners.

Heather White

Heather White, Ed.S., M.Ed., NCSP, is a Montessori educational coach and content creator. She works in several capacities with adult learners working to receive their Montessori certification from The Center for Guided Montessori Studies and is an adjunct professor for Sarasota University. She is AMS credentialed at the 3-6 and 6-9 age groups and also has experience with children ages 0-3 and 9-12 as a Montessori in-home caregiver, assistant classroom teacher, and tutor. She has received certification in Anti-Bias, Anti-Racism from AMS and nationally as a Montessori Coach from the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector. Heather has found immense joy over the last fifteen years in guiding classroom educators, administrators, parents, and caregivers to better understand the Montessori Method in an effort to continue utilizing its wonder in their work with children. Contact her on social media at @montessori.matters.

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Session 5

Kristin Mariella

Reparenting and overcoming your parenting triggers

Join Kristin Mariella as she unpacks the roots of parenting triggers, revealing how unresolved childhood patterns influence our reactions. Through heartfelt insights and actionable strategies, this session empowers parents to transform emotional challenges into opportunities for growth. Learn how to recognize and manage triggers, practice self-regulation, and use tools like mantras and emotional awareness to stay calm during emotional storms. Kristin’s guidance inspires parents to heal their own wounds, build stronger connections with their children, and foster a compassionate, emotionally resilient home environment.

Kristin Mariella

Kristin Mariella is a respectful parenting educator, speaker and other of best selling children’s book about emotions called "Sometimes I Cry, Sometimes I Laugh" she is the founder of Respectful Mom, a global platform  where she educates parents and caregivers on the practices of respectful parenting through workshops and online courses. Her most popular online workshop is called Welcoming the 'Waves of Emotions - Setting Limits with Confidence and Calm’ and has been translated into 5 languages to date. Kristin has delivered more than 250 keynote talks and parent workshops around the world and her work has been featured in publications such as Psychology Today, The Institute of Child Psychology, and Motherly.

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Session 5

Jen Lumanlan

Parenting (and Learning!) Beyond Power

You know you want to follow your child’s lead and support their emotional development.  But things get tricky when those worthy goals come up against a toddler who wants to do things their way!

If you're a parent, how can you get out the door in the morning, get the teeth brushed, and have bedtime take less than an hour without bribing, nagging, or surfboard-carrying your child from where they are to where they need to be?

And if you're a teacher, how can you get kids to clean up the classroom, head out to the playground, and sit still for Circle Time without using your power and authority to force them?

Jen Lumanlan, author of Parenting Beyond Power: How to Use Connection and Collaboration to Transform Your Family – and the World, will show us the three key insights we need to go from children who whine, run away from you, and don’t listen to true collaboration with your child – which makes parenting easier today, and sets you up for a trust-filled relationship into the teenage years and beyond.

Jen Lumanlan

JEN LUMANLAN, MS, MEd, (she/her) hosts the Your Parenting Mojo podcast, which was named Best Research-Based Parenting Podcast by Lifehacker and has been downloaded almost 4 million times. After attending Berkeley and Yale and following a traditional career path in sustainability consulting, Jen found that parenting was her toughest challenge yet. She went back to school for a master’s degree in psychology focused on child development and another in education, and trained as a Co-Active coach to share what she learned with other parents. Her work has been featured in outlets such as Psychology Today, Romper, and NPR.Jen is the author of Parenting Beyond Power: How to Use Connection and Collaboration to Transform Your Family - and the World.

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