Theory Essentials
Workshops
The foundational basics of Montessori theory at the adolescent level.
The Future of Adolescent Orientations
Presented by The Executive Study Team
Join this panel discussion to hear the most up to date information coming from the Adolescent Initiative on the future of adolescent orientations. Members of the EST, including David Kahn, Laurie Ewert-Krocker, and Jenny Hoglund, will provide updates and answer questions.
Meeting the Cosmic Adolescent
Presented by Jack Yu
Great Work, Inc. Colorado
Are adolescents recalcitrant? Or are they just seriously misunderstood and oppressed?! Young children are not alone of being misunderstood. Dr. Montessori observed and summarized that the first plane and the third plane development are parallel to each other. They are similar in terms of developmental characteristics. Being a social new born, the adolescents need to explore their values and their place in the society. Influenced by hormonal changes, the adolescents seem to be less diligent comparing to their elementary years. They seem to be more emotional. It is not hard to imagine to be troubled by so much creative energy but not able to do anything but to sit at rows of desks and listen to lectures.
Spreading the Buzz: Beekeeping in the Montessori Adolescent Program
Presented by Christina Gasbarro
Woodside Montessori Academy, Massachusetts
This workshop will present beekeeping as an option not only for farm-based programs, but also as an excellent urban-based endeavour. We will demonstrate how all aspects of beekeeping highlight the integrated and “cosmic” aspects of an Erdkinder experience: development of expertise through occupation, biology, history, math, literature, hive management, community education, and maintaining a micro-economy. The presenters will share how one small school has embraced beekeeping as part of their Middle School’s Erdkinder experience.
Measuring What Matters in the Montessori Adolescent Environment: An opportunity to engage in the development of Adolescent DERS
Presented by Seth D. Webb and Katie Mattis
National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector
Join a round table conversation with National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector to provide input on the Adolescent Developmental Environmental Rating Scale (DERS). The DERS is a classroom assessment tool which measures child and adult behaviors, and environmental attributes, associated with executive function, linguistic and cultural fluency, and social fluency and emotional flexibility. Participants will contribute to the development of the Adolescent DERS through a conversation with NCMPS staff about the current draft of the Adolescent DERS as well as having the opportunity for onging field testing and feedback in adolescent environments.
A Culture of Work. Strategies in Which Adolescents Own Their Work and Work to Their Fullest Potential
presented by candace cheung
colorado
Are you struggling with getting your students to care about and own their work? Are your adolescents working to their fullest potential? Do you have a vision of the work culture you want to build, but need concrete language and strategies for building that culture with your students? This workshop will offer concrete strategies and language that Montessori practitioners have used in the past to build a culture of work where students own their work and work to their fullest potential.
Launching an Adolescent Program
PresenteD BY James Moudry
Post Oak Montessori School Houston Texas
Launching your adolescent program: where to begin for a path to success. During this overview workshop, participants will learn about the key questions, considerations, opportunities, and threats inherent in planning and starting a new adolescent program. The topics and approaches will apply for middle school or high school, public or private, and for stand-alone schools or programs that are part of an existing school. This workshop is for teachers of any level, school leaders, and interested parents who are considering adding an adolescent program to an existing school or starting a new middle school or high school. Don't start down the path to your grand opening without full consideration of the factors in play.