Montessori Moms in the Wild

You asked, and we've delivered! In this first part of a Q&A style conversation based on requests that were submitted via our Instagram stories, Megan and Laura tackle listener questions regarding testing boundaries in the classroom, how to capitalize on a child's interest in letter sounds, the difference between teaching CH and LE, homeschool programs, discipline, and toy rotation idea...

In this Coffee Talk, Rachel answers listener requests as she shares about her daily routine as a Montessori homeschooler with a 21 month old and a newly 4 year old!

Children in the second plane of development (ages 6-12, but especially ages 6-9!) are navigating the rules of society, and beginning to understand their actions can create change. A huge part of this work includes the tattle tale phase, during which children seem to come to parents and teachers with a never-ending stream of complaints about the words and actions of others around them. It can be ex...

In this episode of Montessori Moms in the Wild, Laura discusses the struggle of managing adult responsibilities while also allowing children the freedom to experiment, learn, and play independently. With her experience as a Montessori trained educator and a mother of two, Laura shares her personal criteria on when to intervene in the child's activities. This whole chat is based on the signific...

Normalization- a term many come across when learning more about the Montessori classroom. What does it mean? What does it look and feel like? How do we make it happen? Whether you are implementing this philosophy in the classroom or at home, this episode breaks down the goals of normalization, and our best tips for how to achieve it!

In this Coffee Talk, Megan is inspired by a particularly hard day to create something grounding for parents who find themselves on the edge. She shares her personal experience and leads listeners through a brief and simple yet effective breathing exercise. Megan then offers a range of other coping strategies that she has found to be beneficial during her hardest times. She ends the episode with so...

They're back! Join hosts Laura, Megan, and Rachel, as they discuss how they are getting back into their daily rhythm after a busy holiday season. Through this conversation, they share ways to involve children in household chores based on different age groups, observing that children can gain a sense of belonging when they contribute to the care of their home and family. The episode also highli...

In this week's Coffee Talk, Megan discusses her personal fitness and nutrition journey as a new mother, and how it ties back to her role as a Montessori guide and parent. She covers her challenges with self-care postpartum and how she's turning things around with the help of a registered dietitian. The power of making small changes to her routine, and remembering that she matters, too, have had hu...

Nature's transformative power has a profound effect on a child’s development, a core aspect of Montessori education. Exposure to, and interaction with the natural environment empowers children with a sense of responsibility and encourages them to understand and appreciate the interdependence between man and nature. As Laura and Rachel emphasize, this interaction with nature not only nurtures c...

Rachel sits down and shares her experience parenting the second time around- how her children have differed, and how those differences can be so challenging. Take comfort in knowing that even an Infant/Toddler trained Montessorian with a major in Child Development can find herself pulling out every trick in her well-worn book, only to end up completely rewriting it!

Do you want to create a rich sensorial environment that fosters development and learning in your child? Are you looking for practical ways to incorporate sensorial experiences at home? If so, we have the solution you've been searching for. Join Laura and Megan as they dive into the captivating world of sensorial materials, unlocking the secrets of how these tools refine children's senses,...

Laura has a very special guest joining her for this Coffee Talk, her husband, Chris! We asked Chris if he would be willing to come have a chat about his experience as a Montessori parent out here in the wild; because almost every time we open up a Q&A box on our Instagram people ask about how to help their partners get on board with parenting in this philosophy in terms of adopting the languag...

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 act...

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 ow...

Hang out with Megan as she sits down to a casual, unscripted chat about some of the recent changes she has made in her routine that have yielded huge impacts on finding ease and peace in the daily grind (and often chaos) that is parenting. Preparation of the adult (including the parent!) is a keystone of everything we do in the Montessori philosophy; and it extends so far beyond reading the textbo...

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...

In this short and sweet mini episode Rachel shares a bit about her homeschool journey so far. She explains how she came to home schooling, the highs and lows along the way, and how it has been settling into her new normal. We think a lot of parents can relate to Rachel's struggles with having to deal with life just not going as planned, the panic of searching for the right childcare/education...

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...

In this last episode before our summer break, Laura discusses what she learned about the concept of the “fourth trimester,” or the first three months of life with a newborn. Laura guides this conversation using the book Understanding the Human Being, by Dr. Silvana Quattrocchi Montanaro, an AMI legend among Assistants to Infancy who dedicated her life to preparing parents for the physical and psyc...

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 incorpor...

In Megan's first coffee talk episode she circles back to the importance of storytelling. Children in the first two planes of development truly cherish the chance to hear us tell stories, a nearly lost art in a time where they have countless sources of digital entertainment at their fingertips. Megan shares simple examples from her own journey as a parent and as a teacher that had profound impa...

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...

In this episode, Rachel gives tips and tricks for how she has set up her toddler's self-serve snack and food prep in her home. Preparing the environment so that her kids can serve themselves with little to no assistance, as well as help contribute to preparing meals for the family, has been life changing for her. Anyone with a little one at home asking for something from the kitchen every 5 mi...

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 h...

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 up...