WMI's 2023-2024 Professional Development Catalog

INFORM INSPIRE INSTRUCT 2023-2024 CATALOG OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

5600 Rivertech Court Suite K Riverdale Park, MD 20737 202-818-8701

Dear colleagues, We are thrilled to share a collection of Professional Development opportunities with you for the 2023-2024 school year. We have online certificate courses, mentorship opportunities and both in person and online workshops.

Please note, all in person workshops within are held at the Washington Montessori Insitute in Riverdale Park, MD unless otherwise noted. Please note that space is limited.

We will close the in person links once our capacity is reached.

For online workshops, a recording of the workshop will be available to participants for up to 2 weeks after the live workshop.

We hope this catalog will be of service to you in work. If you would like to organize professional development for your own community, please reach out to info@wmimontessori.org. For our Maryland colleagues, be on the lookout for our 90 hour certificate courses.

Best wishes for a year full of learning and development for us all!

Samantha Vejay

Grace Lee

Outgoing Executive Director

Incoming Executive Director

Table of Contents Mentorship Howard Partnership Assistants to Infancy

Primary Offerings Elementary Offerings Speaker Bios

www.wmi-montessori.org

guidance

IF WE WISH TO BECOME EFFECTIVE TEACHERS." Maria Montessori

Teacher Mentorship for 0-3 and 3-6

"WE MUST BE TAUGHT AND WILLING TO ACCEPT

MENTOR GUIDE ENCOURAGE GALVANIZE INSPIRE SPARK EXCITE

Jennifer Shields 2023 - 2024 Mentorship Jennifer can support both 0-3 and 3-6 practitioners.

6 - 2 hour group coaching sessions October 16 @ 6 - 8pm ET November 13 @ 6 - 8pm ET December 4 @ 6 - 8pm ET January 8 @ 6 - 8pm ET February 5 @ 6 - 8pm ET March 11 @ 6 - 8pm ET 3 1-hour one-on-one Zoom calls 2 free workshops given by WMI within the school year.

Teacher Mentorship 0-3 and 3-6

3-6 TRAINER

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WASHINGTON MONTESSORI INSTITUTE

Professional Development Opportunity Over the past few years, the Washington Montessori Institute has been working with Howard University to plan and develop a Bachelors in Human Development which will also include an AMI Diploma with a bachelors degree.

In partnership, Dr. Rashid has visited the training center and spoken with Primary and Elementary trainees over the past 2 years.

At the end of this workshop, Dr. Rashid will share with the community the strides we are making towards this partnership.

We hope to see you there in person, or online.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR

Dr. Hakim Rashid This presentation will examine issues related to race and racism in early childhood education. Dimensions of racism in education will be discussed including cultural racism, institutional racism, individual racism, systemic racism and dysconscious racism. Eurocentrism in the prek-12 curriculum will be examined along with the role of teacher education programs in perpetuating racist teacher practices. Excerpts from the documentary film “Strange Fruit Redux: The Perils of Young Black Boys in Early Childhood Education” will be shown with participants discussing the implications of issues raised in the film for early childhood educators.

September 23, 2023 10am - 1pm In Person & Online CEUs Available for an additional fee.

begins at the hour of birth.

The Absorbent Mind, Maria Montessori Assistants to Infancy Professional Development

0-3 Support and Offerings

THE GREATNESS OF THE HUMAN PERSONALITY

0 - 3 AUXILLARY TRAINER

Nancy Kodera

Receive an AMI certificate upon successful completion of course requirements.

This course is also eligible to partner with the Maryland State Department of Education Supplement (MSDE 90 hour course) for participants working in Maryland schools.

0 - 3 AUXILLARY TRAINER

Toko Odorczuk

Schedule

Online Orientation Course Summer 2024 with Nancy Kodera Online Synchronous Sessions Tu, Th June 18 - July 11, 2024 ZOOM | 8am - 12pm ET Tu & Th plus 28 hours asynchronous work

$900 per person

ASSISTANTS TO INFANCY

Schedule

Online Orientation Course Winter 2024 with Toko Odorczuk Online Synchronous Sessions Mon., Tues, Wed Jan. 22 - Feb 13, 2024 Zoom | 4:30pm - 8pm ET plus 22 hours asynchronous work

$900 per person

0-3 Support and Offerings

ASSISTANTS TO INFANCY

Introduction to 0-3 & Transitions to Primary November 4, 2023 9am - 12pm CEUs Available for an additional fee.

0 - 3 AUXILLARY TRAINER

Rhonda Sabater

Join AMI Primary Trainers, Rhonda Sabater and Jennifer Shields as they discuss the transition for children from an AMI Montessori Toddler program into an AMI Primary Program. What do you offer the child? How can you support their development?

0 - 3 AUXILLARY TRAINER

Jennifer Shields

Tiina Souminen Independence In this workshop, we will discuss the various ways we support the development of independence for the 0-3 child. We will focus on how Independence can be supported and developed in the areas of Movement, Language, and Food. The overarching goal for the child is to “Help me to do it by myself!” We hope you can join us for lively discussions of how we can aid the child in the growth of independence!

April 7, 2024 9am - 12pm $100 in-person *Riverdale Park, MD

CEUs Available for an additional fee.

$100 online

0-3 Support and Offerings

0 - 3 TRAINER

a period of real constructiveness."

The Absorbent Mind, Maria Montessori Primary Professional Development

3-6 Support and Offerings

"SO, FROM THE AGE OF THREE TILL SIX, BEING ABLE TO NOW TACKLE HIS ENVIRONMENT DELIBERATELY AND CONSCIOUSLY, HE BEGINS

3-6 TRAINER

Jennifer Shields Receive an AMI certificate upon successful completion of course requirements.

This course is also eligible to partner with the Maryland State Department of Education Supplement (MSDE 90 hour course) for participants working in Maryland schools.

3-6 TRAINER

Naoko Ogawa

Schedule

Online Orientation Course Winter 2024 with Jennifer Shields Online Synchronous Sessions Mon., Wed, Sat. Feb. 19 - Mar 11 M & W Zoom | 5:30pm - 9pm ET Sat. Zoom | 9am - 12:30pm ET

$900 per person

OPTIONAL ADD ON Maryland State Department of Education Supplement for 90 hour course

pe rso n

$

ad 30 0 di pe tional r

Requires successful completion of the online Orientation course requirements.

Additional hours are online plus one afternoon at WMI's Riverdale Park location.

3 - 6 Support and Offerings

PRIMARY

“To let the child do as he likes when he has not yet developed any powers of control, is to betray the idea of freedom ... . Real freedom, instead, is a consequence of development; it is the development of latent guides, aided by education.”

THE ABSORBENT MIND MARIA MONTESSORI

With Jennifer Shields Come and spend a morning with AMI primary trainer Jennifer Shields exploring the principles of freedom and discipline for young children. How can adults set clear and appropriate limits so that children can grow happily and achieve inner discipline? We will look at principles of child development that can help us understand children and support them in gaining an inner compass, self control, and the learning skills currently called "executive functioning."

This workshop is appropriate for teachers, assistants, parents, caregivers, grandparents, and anyone else working or living with children. We will be focusing on children ages birth to 6 years.

We will also share exciting information about WMI’s new mentorship and coaching program for the Primary level with Jennifer!

Sunday, September 10, 2023 10am - 12pm ET online only CEUs Available for an additional fee.

3-6 Support and Offerings

First Plane: Freedom & Discipline

Saturday, October 14, 2023 9am - 12pm ET Of all the musings and ideas in a young child's mind, which can be expressed through writing? In the earliest stage, a single word is sufficient. But, teasing out phrases is much more satisfying. Writing complete thoughts is divine! In this workshop, we will explore the indirect preparations and support that Montessori guides can offer children to open up the wonderful world of writing at this tender age.

3-6 TRAINER

Janet

McDonell CEUs Available for an additional fee.

3-6 Support and Offerings

Making Thoughts Visible

Review of 0-3 & Transitions to Primary November 4, 2023 9am - 12pm CEUs Available for an additional fee.

Rhonda Sabater

Join AMI Primary Trainers, Rhonda Sabater and Jennifer Shields as they discuss the transition for children from an AMI Montessori Toddler program into an AMI Primary Program. What do you offer the child? How can you support their development?

3-6 PRIMARY TRAINER

Jennifer Shields

3-6 Support and Offerings

3-6 PRIMARY TRAINER

Jennifer Shields AMI Primary Trainer

Supportive Adaptations in the Casa: Meeting Individual Needs Through Small Changes When your observations lead to a concern about a young child’s development, what are your next steps?

So often, we have a concern, but don’t feel knowledgeable enough or empowered to make small changes that will support the child’s growth. In this workshop, Jennifer Shields (AMI Primary Trainer) and Andree Rolfe (AMI-trained special educator) will explore the critical nuances of observation, show you how to link your observations with Developmental Benchmarks and Flags, model how to make adaptations to lessons and materials, and discuss where to turn for additional input and support.

January 27, 2024 9am - 12pm CEUs Available for an additional fee.

$100 online

3-6 Support and Offerings

Dr. Andrée Rolfe Montessori Special Education

Saturday, March 9, 2024 9am - 12pm ET The sensorial materials offer the child the essential facts about our physical world. In doing so, the child's intellectual development is profoundly enhanced.

Exploration with these materials also nourishes the expansion of the child's creativity. We will look at how the sensorial area helps children discover the "artist" and "scientist" within themselves.

$100 in-person *Riverdale Park, MD

$100 online

3-6 TRAINER

Janet

McDonell CEUs Available for an additional fee.

3-6 Support and Offerings

Science & Art? CHECK!

there is a decided change in personality, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT NATURE HAS MADE THIS A PERIOD FOR THE ACQUISITION OF CULTURE, JUST AS THE FORMER WAS FOR THE ABSORPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT." To Educate the Human Potential, Maria Montessori 6-12 Elementary Professional Development

6-12 Support and Offerings

"EDUCATION BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX TO TWELVE IS NOT A DIRECT CONTINUATION OF THAT WHICH HAS GONE BEFORE, THOUGH IT IS BUILT UPON THAT BASIS. PSYCHOLOGICALLY

6-12 TRAINER

Virginia Viscovic Participants will complete additional asynchronous requirements outside of class time and conduct 9 hours of formal, scientific observation in a Montessori setting. Submission to WMI of observation notes/assignment and signed observation, along with accepted essays (3) and 90% participation in the course will be required to earn the AMI orientation course certificate.

Schedule

Online Orientation Course Fall 2023 with Virginia Viscovic Online Synchronous Sessions M, Tu, & Th November 6 - 30, 2023 ZOOM | 6p - 8:30p ET* *first class meets from 6-8p on 11/6/23

$900 per person

OPTIONAL ADD ON Maryland State Department of Education Supplement for 90 hour course

pe rso n

$

DETAILS COMING SOON!

ad 30 0 di pe tional r

Requires successful completion of the online Orientation course requirements.

Additional hours are online plus one afternoon at WMI's Riverdale Park location.

6-12 Support and Offerings

ELEMENTARY

“If we are among the men of good will who yearn for peace, we must lay the foundation for peace ourselves, by working for the social world of the child.”

INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI CONGRESS,1937

ANXIETY In the classroom Before COVID the Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimated that 264 million worldwide had an anxiety disorder. What are you seeing in the classroom now?

In this online only workshop we’ll talk about: How to recognize different types of anxiety Anxiety’s effect on the brain Talking to children about its effect Viewing anxiety as a mental habit Some classroom strategies

Saturday, October 21, 2023 8am - 11am ET CEUs Available for an additional fee.

6-12 TRAINER

Rebecca Dallam

March 2, 2024 9am - 12pm

i

This online only workshop aims to deepen Montessori elementary teachers' understanding of the contextual richness within Cosmic Education that can support a life-long learning approach to spelling learning aboutMaria the English language.

1946 and London Lectures, Montessori Many teachers and schools find spelling a source of anxiety and often use spelling programs which, according to research, may not be particularly effective. From a Montessori perspective, such approaches may also limit our view of the child. This workshop will focus on assisting schools and teachers in integrating spelling across all their presentations, particularly emphasizing the importance of the morphemic and etymological contexts of the English language.

CEUs Available for an additional fee.

$100 per person online

PETER ERSKINE 6-12 TRAINER IN TRAINING

6 - 12 Support and Offerings

g n i l l e Snp c o n t e x t

OUR SPEAKERS

Jennifer Shields Jennifer Shields is a primary trainer for the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). She holds both the AMI Primary and Assistants to Infancy diplomas. Jennifer earned a B.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University and an M.Ed. from Cleveland State University. She worked for over fifteen years in Montessori schools as a teacher, assistant, and administrator. She is an examiner and consultant for AMI and presents at workshops and conferences locally and worldwide. Jennifer loves observing in classrooms, coaching teachers and teacher trainees, and spreading the insights made by Dr. Montessori.

Naoko Ogawa Naoko is an experienced and innovative AMI primary trainer.

She grew up in Tokyo, Japan and received her BA in childhood education from Tokyo Gakugei University and an M.Ed. from Loyola University Maryland. Since 2009, Naoko has trained adults in the Philippines, Japan, China, and the US on assistant, foundation, and primary courses. Naoko lives in Baltimore with her husband Frank and is also an AMI/USA consultant.

Dr. Hakim Rashid Dr. Hakim M. Rashid is a Professor and former Chairman of the Department of Human Development and Psychoeducational Studies in the School of Education at Howard University in Washington, DC. A native of Flint, Michigan, Dr. Rashid received his B.A. degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California, a M.A. and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Education and Psychology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Dr. Rashid has served as a Fulbright Scholar at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a Visiting Professor at Khartoum University in Sudan, and a Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad Fellow in China. He has lectured in Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Bermuda, Canada, and the United States.

A former Research Associate at the High Scope Educational Research Foundation, he has also been a preschool teacher, a center director, and a consultant to child development programs across the country. In addition to Howard University, Dr. Rashid has served on the faculties of Jackson State University, the University of Michigan at Flint, and the University of South Carolina. Articles written by Dr. Rashid have appeared in the Journal of Negro Education, the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, Muslim Education Quarterly, Educational Research Quarterly, Contemporary Education and Young Children, among other publications. Dr. Rashid has also produced and directed a documentary film entitled “Strange Fruit Redux? The Perils of Young Black Boys in Early Childhood Education” Dr. Rashid is married to Ameedah Rashid and they have three grown children and ten grandchildren.

Janet McDonell Janet McDonell became a Director of Primary Training at the Washington Montessori Institute in 1996. In addition to her Primary diploma, she also holds AMI diplomas at the Elementary level and for Montessori Special Education. She has over 20 years teaching and administrative work in Montessori schools throughout the U.S. with children of widely varied backgrounds. In addition, Janet is a past Director of Consultation and Coaching at AMI/USA and also served as a board member of AMI/USA for 6 years. Janet also served as the Head of the AMI Training Group for 10 years. Currently, Janet is a member of AMI/USA’s Consultation Committee.

Rebecca Dallam AMI Elementary Trainer Rebecca Dallam has been working in Montessori environments since 1985. She holds a B.A. in English literature from Temple University, USA, with a minor in Italian literature, and an M.Ed. from Loyola University, USA, in Montessori elementary education. She holds the AMI 0-3 and 3-6 Orientation certificates, the Montessori Core Principles certificate, and 3-6 and 6-12 AMI Diplomas.

Rebecca completed summer Spanish language and literature programmes at the Universidad de Granada (1990) and the Universidad de Guadalajara (1991). She is currently studying Russian through the University of Queensland.

Tiina Suominen Tiina Suominen, comes from Finland. She is a WMI alum, she completed Primary training with Hildegard Solzbacher in Washington, DC, and she also trained in Denver with Judi Orion and Maria Teresa “Chacha” Vidales on the Assistant to Infancy level. Tiina is an AMI trainer on the Assistant to Infancy level and has lectured on courses in North America, Asia, and in Europe. She has been working with children ages 0-6 for more than 20 years. Tiina runs her own Montessori School, called Mammolina, on Helsinki, Finland.

Dr. Andrée Rolfe Andrée Rolfe, Ed.D. is an educational consultant with 35 years of experience in public special education (teacher, diagnostician, administrator) and 11 years consulting with Montessori schools. She works at The Village School, in Waldwick, NJ. Andrée teaches Montessori guides about disabilities and inclusive practices. She was an instructor at Loyola’s Center for Montessori Education and currently leads a course about special education offered by NCMPS (National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector). Andrée is a contributor to Montessori Inclusion and the author of Instructional Level Spelling materials. She trained at Washington Montessori Institute at the Elementary level.

Rhonda Sabater Rhonda began her Montessori journey as a parent and later decided to take the training to become a Montessori guide. She did her Primary (2006) and Elementary (2004) training at the Washington Montessori Institute Loyola University in Maryland, obtaining her master’s degree in Education. She took the AMI Assistants to Infancy (2007) training at The Montessori Institute in Denver and the AMI Orientation to Adolescence (2014) at the Hershey Farm School in Ohio. She is an AMI 3-6 Auxiliary Primary Trainer.

Over the course of her career, she worked as an Elementary guide, a Primary guide, and currently an Assistants to Infancy guide. She is also trained in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at the 3-6 level. Rhonda is the co-founder of a public charter Montessori school in Washington, DC where she served as the principal for three years. She is also a founding partner atNsoroma Montessori Consulting, providing coaching, classes and workshops for parents and Montessori professionals as well as pioneering a Montessori Kindezi (babysitting) class for teenagers and young adults. As a mother of five, Rhonda brings her passion for children and commitment to authentic Montessori practice and the spiritual development of the child to her mission of helping Montessori become a household name around the world. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and doing arts and crafts.

Nancy Kodera Nancy Kodera graduated from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) with a degree in Management. After graduation, she worked in various capacities, including office assistant, researcher, and computer programmer. Nancy worked in New Zealand as a youth intern and her experience especially among Maoris inspired her to work with the Gabriela Commission on Violence Against Women with the goal of empowering women in finding strength from within.

Her work with women in the Philippines brought her to Tokyo, Japan, as a Missionary. Nancy taught Philippine Language and Culture in Tokyo, Japan. Altogether, Nancy worked in Japan for 5 years (1990 -1995) before moving to Boston, Massachusetts where her journey as a Montessori educator began.

Nancy married a religion professor at Wellesley College and their two children went to Apple Valley Montessori School in their town of Sudbury, Massachusetts. Nancy worked as a parent volunteer, then as an assistant teacher, and after getting her 0-3 AMI Diploma at the Montessori Institute of San Diego (MISD) with Dr. Silvia Dubovoy as her trainer, Nancy became a lead teacher. She also took her Master of Education at the Loyola University in Maryland (2014).

Nancy worked at Apple Valley Montessori School from 1999 – 2012 in various capacities including lead toddler teacher. She continued as a lead teacher at the eBridge Montessori School from 2012 – 2019. During pandemic (2020 – 2022) Nancy continued to work with children. She advised families how to set up their home environment, and she worked with school administrators how to strengthen their toddler programs. After more than 20 years of working with children, Nancy decided to become an AMI trainer.

Her journey as an Auxiliary Trainer is ongoing. Her love and passion for Montessori education keeps on growing.

Toko Odorczuk Toko Odorczuk has been working within the AMI community for over 17 years, and over 10 years directly guiding infant communities. In addition to her classroom experience, Toko facilitates numerous parenting workshops throughout New England and lectures at area colleges and organizations on Montessori education and its pedagogical approach to childhood.

Toko holds a BA in English Literature and in Music Theory/Composition. Her Association Montessori International diploma in Assistants to Infancy is from The Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado. Toko is a certified instructor in Infant Massage and also participated in the Fundraising school, in connection with the Lily School of Philanthropy. Toko Odorczuk is currently the Director of Development & Community Relations at the Montessori School of Greater Hartford where she acts as a mentor for the A-I staff at the school, and is a member of the Training of Trainers Program at the Montessori Training Center Northeast.

Virginia Viscovic Virginia Viscovic holds AMI diplomas at both the Primary and Elementary levels and is an AMI Consultant, Examiner, and Trainer for 6-12. She is also trained in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Levels I and II and is a Montessori coach.

Virginia has a B.A. in Anthropology and an M.A. in Education/Child and Family Studies from SUNY Stony Brook in New York. She has a wide range of school experience including more than twenty years in the classroom with corporate, private, and public-school programs. While she has served in school administration as well as on the boards of Montessori schools, Virginia is most passionate about working with children (in a classroom) and adults (in training and after) and is currently directing a Lower Elementary class in Washington, D.C. She enjoys cooking and crafting, she is a professional cake decorator, and she loves traveling with her partner, Christopher.

Peter Erskine Peter Erskine is a qualified 3-6 and 6-12 Montessori teacher with many years teaching experience at both levels. He has assisted teachers and schools with professional development and mentoring within Australia and Thailand and has experience in Indigenous education at both early childhood and primary (elementary) levels. Peter has been undertaking AMI’s trainer-in-training program which has led him to work all over the world supporting AMI courses.