PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DearColleagues,
Withthestartofanotherexcitingschoolyearuponus,wearedelightedtoshare WMI’sCatalogofProfessionalDevelopmentfor2024-2025!
Thisyear’sCatalogisspecialasitwaslargelyshapedbythefeedbackand suggestionsfromourMontessoricommunity.Withwellover500participantsfrom our2023-2024offerings,andfromouradministrators’gatherings,wedidourbest tolistenandreflectonthewaysthatWMIcanbettersupportourcommunity.
Weareespeciallythrilledtointroduceseveralnewofferings: Twofullday,in-personworkshopsforAssistants
Auniquefourpartseriesfocusedonsupportingchildrenwithdifferentneeds basedoneachareaoftheprimaryenvironment
AChineseimmersionworkshoponmultilingualism
AfamilyengagementseriestointroducetheMontessoriphilosophyand pedagogytofamiliesinMontessorischools
AllworkshopswillincludeaMarylandStateDepartmentofEducationcertificate withtraininghoursforeachparticipant.Additionally,recordingsofallvirtual workshopswillbeavailablefortwoweeksaftertheworkshopdate.
Wehopethatthisyear’sofferingswillbeofgreatserviceandbenefittothe importantworkyoudoeachday.FromallofusatWMI,wewishyouawonderful schoolyearfullofjoyandlearningforall!
GraceLee
We must be taught and we must be willing to accept guidance if we wish to become effective teachers.
MariaMontessori TheSecretofChildhood
WHY CHOOSE AMI TRAINING?
AMItrainingisrigorousbutfulfilling, empoweringandtransformative As thefirstandoldestAMItrainingcenter intheUnitedStates,WMIiscommitted toofferingauthentic,high-quality Montessoritrainingthatreflectthe principlesandphilosophyofDr Maria Montessori.
Ourprogramsandworkshopsoffer accessibletrainingtothoseinterested inlearningmoreabouttheMontessori methodandhowtothoughtfullyapply ittosupportchildrenintheir classrooms,familiesandcommunities.
We must look to the children as a vehicle for bringing change to humanity.
MariaMontessori
The1946LondonLectures
I have watched the Freedom and Discipline presentation that Jennifer Shields gave in September three times and each time I have found golden nuggets of inspiration.
I am in my 32nd year of being a Montessori guide and I was truly humbled as I listened to Ms Shields say how loving and kind we need to be when we are speaking to children about limits. She did not chastise or scold us but rather she simply reminded us of some of the most important principles of our Montessori approach. Ms. Shields' presentation was highly peppered with Maria Montessori quotes which really inspired me to find the quotes and reread and highlight these passages for myself.
The timing of the workshop could not have come at a better time and it was a wonderful way to prepare for the new school year. I look forward to more of these in-depth presentations from Washington Montessori Institute
Freedom and Discipline
September21,2024
10am-1pm
WithAMItrainerJenniferShields $125
Jenniferwillexploretheprinciplesoffreedomanddiscipline foryoungchildren Howcanadultssetclearandappropriate limitssothatchildrencangrowhappilyandachieveinner discipline?Wewilllookatprinciplesofchilddevelopmentthat canhelpusunderstandchildrenandsupportthemingaining aninnercompassandselfcontrol,andlearningtheskills currentlycalled“executivefunctioning”
Workshop for Assistants
In-person at WMI
October5,2024atWMI 9am-4pm
WithAMItrainersJenniferShieldsandNaokoOgawa
$200(lunchprovided)
JenniferandNaokowillspendaSaturdaywithassistantstohelpthemwith theireverydayworkwiththeprimarychild Wewillexplorethedevelopmental needsoftheprimarychildaccordingtoMariaMontessoriandhowthis affectsthewayweapproachlunch,snack,transitions,andplaytime.
Howcanwehelpchildrentoeatsnackandlunchinawaythatisorderly, social,enjoyable,andnutritious?Learnhowtohelpchildrenbeindependent andhappywhentheyeatandatthosetrickytransitiontimes.Wewill demonstrateconflictresolutionandgraceandcourtesytechniques.Wewill offerindoorandoutdooractivitiesforrecessandplaytime,giving participantsachancetopractice.
Spoken Language
A key to bonding with children, social behavior, and foundations for literacy
October19,2024 9am-12pm
WithAMItrainerJenniferShields $125
JoinJennifertoexploretheimportanceofspokenlanguagefor theyoungchild,inthisworkshopgearedtowardsprimary guidesandassistants.Wewillexploreandpracticetechniques tobuildrelationshipsbetweenchildandadult,andbetween children.Jenniferwilldemonstrateavarietyofpresentations thatformtheessentialfoundationsforliteracy:laterwriting andreading
Multilingualism in the First Plane
WithAMItrainerTeng-ChienYu
WorkshopinEnglish October26,2024;9am-12pm
$125
WorkshopinChinese May3,2025;9am-12pm
$125
AccordingtotheU.S.CensusBureau,20%ofallAmericansspeaktwoormore languagesathome.OneofthepurposesoftheFirstPlanePreparedEnvironmentsisto aidthechild’sculturaladaptation Naturally,languagediversityisanimportant aspecttobeaddressed.Thisworkshopwillcover:
ThedefinitionofBilingualism/Multilingualism
DifferentmodelsofBilingualism/Multilingualism
HowMontessoriPreparedEnvironmentscanincorporateBilingual/Multilingual languageacquisitions
Obstacles(RecordKeeping,Evaluation,Competency)
ThisworkshopisgearedtowardsMontessoriadministrators,guides,andassistants
Creative Writing
November3,2024 9am-12pm
WithAMItrainerGregMacDonald
$125
MariaMontessoridesignedapowerfulapproachtotheintroductionand nurturingoftheartsinelementary-agedchildren.Thisworkshopwillexamine thecomponentsofthisapproach.Theworkshopwillthenturntoexamine CommonCorestandardsforCreativeWriting,andapproachesinthe Montessorielementarythatsupportthesestandards.Recommended presentationsequencesforMontessorielementaryLanguagematerialswill thenbeexamined.Presentation/materialextensionsthatsupporteach child’sexplorationofCreativeWritingwillalsobeintroduced.
Food as an Educational Tool
December7,2024 9am-12pm
WithAMItrainerGabrielaVelázquez
$125
Foodisavaluableopportunityforeducation Foodisnotjustforsurvivaland satisfyingourphysicalneeds.Itisalsopartofoursociallife.Foodisan educationaltoolthathelpschildrenadapttotheirfamily,culture,and communitybyofferingsensoryexperiences,enrichinglanguage,refining movements,encouragingindependence,and,mostimportantly,feelingpart oftheircommunity Throughsharingmeals,childrenhavetheopportunityto learnandabsorbtheprocessofeating,listeningtoconversations,and observingmanners.Thisisacrucialpartoftheirdevelopment.
Inthisworkshop,wewillexplorethevalueofeatingtogether,givesomeideas fororganizingtheluncharea,anddiscussfoodpreparationareasinour environments.
Lessons in the Casa
Addressing Children’s Challenges
WithAMItrainerJenniferShieldsand
InclusionConsultantAndréeRolfe
$475forentireseries (includesaccesstoorientationandQ&Asession) or$125persession
JenniferandAndréeareexcitedtoofferauniquestudyseriesdesignedtosupport primaryguidesastheyconsiderhowtoadjustlessonsforchildrenwithspecific learningneeds.Each3-hoursessionwillfocusonMontessorilessonsinonearea adaptedforchildrenwithdifferentneeds:speech/languagedelays,sensory challenges,auditoryprocessingissues,andattention/executivefunctionconcerns. ThiscollaborativeexplorationwilltakeplaceonthefollowingSaturdays:
Topic
Orientation*
PracticalLife
Sensorial
Language
Math
Q&A*
DateandTime
RecordingavailableinearlyJanuary,1hourasynchronous
January25,2025,10amto1pm February22,2025,10amto1pm March22,2025,10amto1pm April26,2025,10amto1pm May10,2025,10amto11am
*onlyforparticipantsofentireseries
Talking to Young Children
Supporting self-expression, connection, and literacy
In-person at WMI
March8,2025atWMI 9am-4pm
WithAMItrainersJenniferShieldsandNaokoOgawa
$200(lunchprovided)
JenniferandNaokowillspendaSaturdaywithassistantsexploringspoken language.Thishands-onworkshopwillprovideanoverviewintohowthe Montessoricasacanofferlanguagetotheprimarychild.
Topicswillinclude:
Howtotalktochildrenandhowtolisten
Howtopreparechildrenforwritingandreading
Howtogarnercooperationandmanagebehaviors
Howtosharebooks,poems,fingerplays
Practicetellingtruestoriesinaworkshoppingformat
Advanced Creative Writing
March16,2025 9am-12pm
WithAMItrainerGregMacDonald $125
ThisworkshopwillreturntoelementaryMontessoriLanguagematerialsand presentations,thistimewithanewperspective:Olderchildrencanbe introducedtothepowerthatthesematerialsandpresentations(previously focusedupon“analysis”)havetosupportstronger,moresophisticated CreativeWriting.Itbecomesapparentthatthesesamematerialscanbe harnessedtodrive“synthesis”ofCreativeWriting.
Approachesforthepresentationoffictionandnon-fictionCreativeWriting willbeexaminedduringthesepresentations.Theworkshopwillthenmoveto anintroductiontoPoetryWriting,andthentothefieldof“Metrics”
S P O N S O R A S T U D E N T
Areyoulookingtosponsora studentonaWMIcourse?
Emailinfo@wmi-montessori.org toreceivemoreinformationand topostyoursponsorship opportunityontheWMIwebsite.
Postavailablepositionsatyour schoolontheWMIjobboard.
ADMINISTRATORS’ LUNCHEON
Join local Montessori school leaders and administrators for these upcoming luncheons at WMI, featuring thoughtful discussion on important issues, lively conversation and networking with school peers. The prepared environments at WMI will be open to visitors.
Wednesday,November20, 2024 11am-1pmatWMI
Wednesday,April9, 2025 11am-1pmatWMI
The estimated number of Montessori schools in the greater Washington, D.C. area
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SERIES
WMI trainers will lead a virtual, introductory series on various topics of interest for parents, caregivers, and other adults working with or caring for young children.
WHATISMONTESSORI?
Date:September26,2024,7-8pm
GainanoverviewoftheMontessoriapproachanditsbasicphilosophy:Howdo childrendevelopinearlylifeandhowcanwesupportthatdevelopmentbothatschool andathome?
FREEDOMANDDISCIPLINE
Date:October16,2024,7-8pm
Childrenhaveadrivetobeindependent Howcanparentsandcaregiversofferthe rightamountoffreedomforchildrentogrowintomatureadults?Whatisthebalance oflimitsthatadultsmustsetsothatachildcanbuildupakindofinnerdiscipline?Join usforaspiritedpresentationontheneedsofyoungchildrenandtheroleadultsplayin buildinggrit,resilience,andinnermotivation
BATHROOMINDEPENDENCE
Date:November14,2024,7-8pm
Joinustoexplorethedevelopmentalprocessofachildbecomingbathroom independent.Insteadofadultdirected"pottytraining,"howcanwepreparean environmentforthechildtoprogressinindependencewithconfidence?Receive practicalinformationthatwillhelpyousupportachild'stoileting"work"
LANGUAGE
Date:December11,2024,7-8pm
Humansuselanguagetoconnect Youngchildrendependontheadultsintheirlivesto helpthembuildtheirspokenlanguagecapacity Thisabilityiscrucialtoachild'ssocial successandhelpsbuildthearchitectureoftheirbrain.Joinusinanexplorationoftools andtechniquestobuildyourrelationshipwithyourchildandhelpthemconnectwith others,whilepreparingthemforliteracy
Cost:$25persessionor$80for4sessions
Specialgrouppricingavailableforschools.Pleasevisitwww.wmi-montessori.org formoreinformation.
We must help the child to act for himself, will for himself, think for himself; this is the art of those who aspire to serve the spirit.
MariaMontessori EducationforaNewWorld
Jennifer's support was instrumental for me as a new guide Each time she came to observe, she had incredibly helpful feedback and was eager to share her advice as we brainstormed challenges together
She helped me to focus my priorities and to notice what was going well in my environment despite how overwhelmed I felt, which empowered me to keep going.
Jennifer is both direct and encouraging, which was exactly what I needed. I would advise any guide regardless of experience level to seek Jennifer's insightful mentorship
MENTORSHIP & COACHING
WMI trainers offer personalized mentorship and coaching services to support individuals and schools in their work with children.
Services
Virtualzoomsessions
In-personcoaching
Consultation(3hours,in-person)
Consultation(6hours,in-person)
Environmentsupport
Planningandrecordkeepingsupport
Eveningparentworkshop(on-site)
Rates
$100/hour
$150/hour
$700
$1200
Pricingavailableuponrequest
Pricingavailableuponrequest
Pricingavailableuponrequest
Customized packages are available Please email info@wmi-montessori.org for more information.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
JenniferShieldsisaprimarytrainerfortheAssociation MontessoriInternationale(AMI).Sheholdsboththe AMIPrimaryandAssistantstoInfancydiplomas JenniferearnedaB.A.inEnglishLiteraturefrom GeorgetownUniversityandanM.Ed.fromCleveland StateUniversity Sheworkedforover15yearsin Montessorischoolsasateacher,assistant,and administrator Sheisanexaminerandconsultantfor AMIandpresentsatworkshopsandconferences locallyandworldwide.JenniferjoinedtheBoardofAMI Globalinspringof2019 Shelovesobservingin classrooms,coachingteachersandteachertrainees, andspreadingtheinsightsmadebyDr Montessori
NaokoOgawaisanexperiencedandinnovativeAMI primarytrainer ShegrewupinTokyo,Japanand receivedherB.A.inchildhoodeducationfromTokyo GakugeiUniversityandanM.Ed.fromLoyolaUniversity Maryland Since2009,Naokohastrainedadultsinthe Philippines,Japan,China,andtheU.S.onassistant, foundation,andprimarycourses Naokoisalsoan AMI/USAconsultant.
eenworkinginMontessori 5.SheholdsaB.A.inEnglish University,USA,withaminorin M.Ed.fromLoyolaUniversity,USA, ryeducation SheholdstheAMI0ertificates,theMontessoriCore d3-6and6-12AMIDiplomas mmerSpanishlanguageand attheUniversidaddeGranada daddeGuadalajara(1991) Sheis anthroughtheUniversityof toherworkatWMI,Rebecca 6-12courses,face-to-faceand tionCourses,aswellasworkshops hSydneyMontessoriTraining
GregMacDonaldisanAMIDirectorofElementaryTraining HehastrainedMontessorielementaryteachersintheUSA, Canada,Italy,Japan,Switzerland,Germany,Mexico,and India.Heco-directedthefirstAMIelementarycoursein Japan,andin2013-2014hedirectedthefirstAMI elementarytrainingcourseinMexico.In2018-2019he directedthefirstAMIElementarytrainingcourse conductedinHyderabad,India GregholdsAMI3-6and 6-12diplomas,andanelementaryteachingdiplomafrom theStateCollegeofVictoriainBurwood(Australia) He earnedaBachelor’sdegreefromtheUniversityof SouthernQueensland(Australia)andaMaster’sdegreein educationfromLoyolaUniversityinMaryland(USA) He hasdirectedMontessori3-6,6-9,9-12and6-12 classrooms Hehasalsoworkedasanelementary teacherinatraditionalschoolsetting,andhasservedas PrincipalofbothtraditionalandMontessorischools.Greg isaparentandgrandparent HeconsultsMontessori teachersandschoolsin-personandonline.Heisalsoa regularspeakeratMontessoriworkshops,parentevenings andconferencesnationallyandinternationally.
AndréeRolfe,Ed.D.isaneducationalconsultantwith35 yearsofexperienceinpublicspecialeducation(teacher, diagnostician,administrator)and12yearsconsultingwith Montessorischools.SheworksatTheVillageSchool,in Waldwick,NJ AndréeteachesMontessoriguidesabout disabilitiesandinclusivepractices.Shehasbeenan instructoratLoyola’sCenterforMontessoriEducationand currentlyleadsacourseaboutspecialeducationoffered byNCMPS(NationalCenterforMontessoriinthePublic Sector) AndréeisacontributortoMontessoriInclusion andtheauthorofInstructionalLevelSpellingmaterials. ShetrainedatWashingtonMontessoriInstituteatthe Elementarylevel.
GabrielaVelázquezbeganherMontessorijourneyasa child HermotherwasaMontessoriteacher,soshegrew upattendingMontessorischoolsinMéxico.Itwasonly naturalthatuponreachingadulthoodthatshealso decidedtopursueacareerinMontessorieducation After completingherdegreeinEarlyChildhoodEducation,she earnedtheAMIAssistantstoInfancydiplomafromIMMAC inMexicoCity,trainedbySilviaSingh.Shehasworkedfor morethan20yearsinMontessorischoolsinMéxicoand theUnitedStates Gabrielacompletedthedemanding AMITrainingofTrainersprogramtobenamedanAMI Traineratthe0-3level(AssistantstoInfancy) Shehas workedon0-3teachertrainingcoursesinArgentina, China,Mexico,Poland,Portugal,Spain,Taiwan,andUSA. Sheservesasalecturer,consultant,examiner,and DirectorofTrainingforAMI.
Teng-ChienYuwasbornandraisedinTaiwan.Hestarted hisprofessionaljourneyasacommunitysocialworkerfor anorphanageinTaiwan Teng-Chienthenbecamean accomplishedEnglishteacherwhichbroughthimtothe worldofMontessori TeachingEnglishinMontessori schoolsinTaipeiopenedhiseyestoanentirelynew perspective TheexperienceofteachingEnglishin MontessorischoolspresentedTeng-Chienwitha sponsorshipbyMs.LamofTaipeiMontessoriKindergarten. HeobtainedhisAssistantstoInfancyDiplomawithJudi OrioninDenver,Colorado;and,hisPrimaryDiplomawith JoenBettmanninCleveland,Ohio DuringTeng-Chien’s yearsworkingwithchildrenheparticipatedintranslating coursesforseveralagelevels.Teng-Chienhasworked mostlyinAsia,primarilyTaiwanandChina Hehasserved asanobserverandconsultantinHongKong,Thailand, andSingapore In2019Teng-ChienbecameanAMI PrimaryTrainer.Hestartedhisfirstpositionasaprimary trainerastheDirectorofTrainingatTrainMontessoriby GreatWork,Inc Teng-Chienbelievesferventlythatbeing atrainerfacilitatesotherpeople’stransformational journeyintheMontessoritrainingcoursesaswellastheir own,individualtransformation.
