Parent Education What Are We Saying & How Are We Saying It? AMS Conference Chicago, 2011

Principles of Montessori Montessori Science Behind the Genius Angeline Lillard Movement and its relationship to brain development Choice Interest Extrinsic rewards/intrinsic rewards Learning with and from peers Learning in context, with the senses through concrete experiences Teacher ways and child ways Order in environment and mind

Start with The Teachers What are the common themes by age? Common questions and concerns by program? What are the priorities we want parents to know by each developmental level

Opportunities for Parent Education Introductory Orientation Community Building Volunteering Conferences Parent Education Sessions Connected to the children

Introductory Opportunities Setting the Tone Initial Contact Open Houses School Tours School Literature Enrollment Process

Beat Online – Weekly Communication

Parent Ambassador Program Pairing up new parents with current families Parent Ambassador’s communicate with teacher and parents for special events Help coordinate events, select volunteers, share information about school

Meetings that are Orienting in Nature Orientation (All new parents) Back to School Night (I/T & Primary) Homework Meeting (EL and MS)

Orientation School wide introduction – Explain procedures in terms of philosophy By program – Explain why at each level

Back To School Night Cycle of philosphy presentations for entire school, then detailed by program Let them see what’s to come Great Lessons, Math Development, Language Development

Presentations Include Montessori Philosophical background Spiral curriculum through entire school Current validating research – brain research, educational research Examples of materials and their use Classroom Experience

Examples Traditional math education vs Montessori math Learning from whole to specific Learning within context

Community Building Events Coffees by classroom Picnics / Ice Cream Social Fathers' Day Luncheon / Visit Grandparents' Day Luncheon / Visit Mothers' Day Luncheon / Visit Global Lunches Monthly Sing-Alongs

Classroom Visits Parents invited in Weekend visits – backed with open house Visits for special presentations – by parent or child Special Social gatherings

Inviting Parents to Volunteer Field Trips, Plays, Gardening Provide opportunities for parents to observe interactions between faculty and children in a variety of settings. Working along side faculty and staff allows for further understanding of philosophy and the importance of language.

Examples Toddler Walks Planting Flowers Musicals Author’s Chair Sharing and Student Presentations – informal Monthly Toddler Lunches

Parent/Teacher Conferences Teachers can relate to the Parent Education Sessions during the conferences. Parents may be more responsive to recommended attendance from teachers Teachers may have recommended reading on hand that supports the needs at hand or the school culture in general.

Parent to Parent Parent Q and A sessions Parents present about next program Parent Panels Alumni Panels

Parent Education How to establish then maintain your program Planning Implementing Notifying Reminding

Parent Education Sessions Planning and Implementing Create a file to collect ideas (for next year) Meet with faculty and staff to discuss needs, ideas. Select target groups, topics and presenters Reserve dates on next year’s calendar Keep times consistent but offer what parents can do (take a poll, evening, am, lunch?)

Annual Sessions Montessori in the Home First: Home Environment Next: Montessori 101 NAMTA Montessori Talks To Parents

Annual Sessions Montessori in the Home The World of the Child Aline Wolf

Annual Sessions Helping parents make the choice to stay First: Information Night Second: Your Child’s Next Program Currently: Insight Tours

Insight ToursInsight Tours

Identifying Parenting Styles Authoritative Authoritarian Permissive Passive

Timeless Classics woven into The school culture Classic Information for Professional Development And Parent Education

Collaboration Perhaps the opportunity is looking for you! Dr. Beth Grosshans, Clinical Psychologist, gave 6 sessions with parents about the Imbalance of Family Power. The feedback and discussions were used in the writing of this book.

Thank You

Let’s keep sharing ideas!