Upcoming Events
The Practitioner's Class
Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom
The Practitioner’s Class is based on the book, Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom, by Jane Nelsen and Chip DeLorenzo. The class uses a case study approach to discovering the principles and tools of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom. The class gives participants the opportunity to connect with other Montessori educators in an experiential setting to learn how to implement the respectful and time-tested classroom management approach that builds responsibility, independence, motivation and empathy within classroom communities.
Using real classroom situations, participants will learn to:
- Prepare a classroom social/emotional environment that will reduce misbehavior.
- Create effective support plans to help students with behavioral challenges.
- Develop clear and consistent practices among adults to meet behavioral challenges respectfully and effectively.
- Understand the roots of misbehavior in children.
- Help children develop self-regulation, cooperation, and independence.
- Help students find a sense of belonging and significance in their classroom community.
- Develop school-wide practices that will help teachers and parents.
While there is no magic bullet for managing behavioral challenges, there are concrete principles and skills that can be learned by adults that will help develop respect and cooperation in the classroom, and effectively respond to misbehavior in a manner that helps children for the long-term. We hope you will join us for this workshop.
September 2023 - The Practitioner's Class Online
Dates: Wednesday Evenings ~ September 13 through November 1
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST
Where: Online via Zoom
Facilitator: Chip DeLorenzo
November 2023 - The Practitioner's Class Online
Dates: To Be Determined
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST
Where: Online via Zoom
Facilitator: Chip DeLorenzo
February 2024 - The Practitioner's Class Online
Dates: To Be Determined
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST
Where: Online via Zoom
Facilitator: Chip DeLorenzo
Deep Dive
Ongoing courses and workshops are offered throughout the year for Montessori educators and leaders who have taken the Practitioner’s Class or Building Bridges Class. These courses and workshops will help you develop Positive Discipline skills and practices, and connect with other educators and leaders who are implementing Positive Discipline in their classrooms and schools.
Conflict to Collaboration
Developing Supportive and Productive Relationships with Montessori Parents
The Conflict to Collaboration course is designed for Montessori Educators and Leaders to help build supportive and collaborative relationships with Montessori parents. Children are best supported when parents and teachers, and leaders, have strong relationships and work together. Supported children become secure children, and when children feel secure they have more success, emotionally, socially and academically. Unfortunately, school-parent relationships sometimes break down; and this tension affects everyone: teachers, school leaders, parents and students. The good news is that most conflicts with parents can be prevented by developing sound communication skills and strategies, and planning ahead to prevent future problems. In this workshop, participants will learn to:
- Build supportive and trusting relationships with parents.
- Handle difficult and emotionally charged interactions successfully.
- Avoid common communication mistakes that are often overlooked.
- Communicate child concerns to parents and maintain parent support.
- Turn challenging situations into opportunities for building strong relationships.
- Hold successful and productive parent-teacher conferences.
- Develop school-wide practices that will help teachers and parents.
