News Type: Upcoming Professional Development Events

Dec 10 Teacher Webinar

This interactive webinar aims to critically reflect on the current understanding of classroom management, reframe its foundational tenets and practices, and explore alternative strategies that provide the conditions for freedom and support the child’s natural needs and tendencies. We aspire to empower participants to reimagine classroom management by emphasizing the Montessori approach to community building over traditional compliance-based methods and grow the audience’s understanding of the importance of aiding in the life of the child. Join us for this impactful discussion that can positively influence your daily teaching practice! Click here for more details and to register!

Read More +

Support Hurricane Relief

Click Here to Buy a Shirt! In the wake of recent hurricanes, communities have been deeply affected, and we are reaching out with an urgent appeal. As Montessorians, we hold a deep commitment to compassion, empathy, and service to those in need. Now is the time for us to come together and make a meaningful difference for those impacted by these devastating events. To further support the recovery efforts, we are selling limited-edition t-shirts and sweatshirts, with all net proceeds going directly to BeLoved Asheville to help those affected by the hurricane. Whether you buy a t-shirt or choose to make a direct donation, your generosity will make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. Click Here to Donate Directly Wear Hope, Give Back

Read More +

Register Today! The 2025 Montessori Experience: Refresher Courses & More!

Adaptation: Innovating and Thinking for the Future Oklahoma City, Oklahoma February 14 – 16, 2025 Join us for our annual conference as we explore and discuss topics that highlight the relationship between the concept of adaptation during each plane of development, Montessori pedagogy, and how to adapt our knowledge to meet the evolving needs of Montessori educators and children. Click here for more details and to register today!

Read More +

Sept 21 – Tributaries of Hope to a River of Peace

Tributaries of Hope to a River of Peace International Peace Day Event September 21, 2024 1:00 – 2:30 EST  (find your local time at World Time Buddy) Please join us as early career and adolescent Montessorians join with AMI affiliate organizations from Canada, Mexico, and the United States to explore their projects in food security, climate change, and social justice, which bring hope for a more peaceful world. Event Registration

Read More +

Sept 9 – Free Teacher Wellness Webinar!

The Power of Breath and Laughter for Teachers and Children in the Classroom September 9, 2024 Time: 7:00 – 8:00 pm EST Free on Zoom! This free, fun and interactive webinar for teachers is about how to use your mind and body to access more joy and well-deserved relaxation through breathing techniques and laughter yoga. Click here for more details and to register!

Read More +

MEx25 Call For Research Poster Proposals

The 2025 Montessori Experience: Refresher Courses & More! Adaptation: Innovating and Thinking for the Future Oklahoma City, Oklahoma February 14 – 16, 2025 AMI/USA is requesting proposals for the Montessori Research Poster Session that will be held on Friday, February 14, 2025! We are excited to amplify and encourage Montessori research. Submit your proposal by August 23, 2024.

Read More +

May 20 Teacher Webinar

Navigating the Complex Emotional Territory of Education May 20, 2024 Time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST Dr. Sanden will focus on understanding our emotional reactions and learning practical, day-to-day skills of emotional intelligence so we can be more resilient, present, and authentic with ourselves and with the children. Supporting Students by Supporting Teachers For Classroom Teachers and Those That Support Them These webinars are designed for classroom guides, assistants, and others that support teachers in their work and are real discussions about real issues in Montessori teaching work spaces that may hinder teachers from experiencing the true joy of their chosen profession. Through these webinars, we hope to help teachers more effectively cope with the many career stressors they face, model social and emotional skills for students, create supportive prepared environments, and guide students to engage more deeply in learning. Join us for these impactful discussions that can positively influence your daily teaching practice! All sessions are held on Mondays from 7:00–8:30 pm EST Click here for more information and to register!

Read More +

Free Administrators Session

Sponsored by AMI/USA Join AMI/USA for a free gathering designed to facilitate communication between AMI/USA Member Schools and AMI Training Centers. This event will serve as a listening session for both entities. Training Centers look forward to the opportunity to hear from Member Schools regarding interests and inquiries from administrators, fostering better understanding and collaboration in training initiatives. Administrators will have the chance to ask questions and provide feedback and suggestions for further training enhancements. May 14, 2024 | 7pm EST Click here to register!

Read More +

2024 Montessori Administrators Retreat

Sponsored by AMI/USA July 19-21, 2024 Join us for an unforgettable experience at the 2024 Montessori Administrators Retreat! Administrators play a vital role in the effectiveness and vitality of every Montessori program, leading faculty, parents, children and community members to a common understanding and vision of the program’s purpose and mission for children and the larger community. Click here for more details and to register!

Read More +

MEx24 Video!

JOIN US! The 2024 Montessori Experience: Refresher Courses and More! Educating for Peace in Contemporary Life February 16–19, 2024 Event Location: Renaissance Dallas Addison Hotel, Addison, TX, USA Register Here!

Read More +

Feb 17 Sanford Fund Application Opens!

2023-24 Sanford Jones Fund for the Arts The Sanford Jones Fund for the Arts provides AMI/USA members with the opportunity to expand on arts related activities in their Montessori environments. Grant awards may be used to purchase art materials, art history materials, musical instruments, songbooks, costumes and set decorations, and to attend professional development workshops. Grant awards average $400.00 per applicant! Click here for more information! Application opens Feb 17, 2024  

Read More +

Jan 29 Final JEDI Webinar!

Are Montessori Educators Barely Awake, Woke, or Too Woke for Our Time and Place? This discussion and respectful dialogue, not a debate, will center some important questions. What does being “woke” really mean in the context of education in the United States? Is the Montessori philosophy and pedagogy fundamentally “woke”? Are Montessorians “too woke” or are we “barely even awake” as we strive to meet the challenges that all teachers, families and children face in education and our society today? Join us as moderator Sheri Bishop guides a discussion between Montessori colleagues as they offer different perspectives about “wokeness” in the Montessori Movement. Click here for more information on this session!

Read More +

Teacher Webinars Series

Supporting Students by Supporting Teachers For Classroom Teachers and Those That Support Them These virtual professional development sessions are designed for classroom guides, assistants, and others that support teachers in their work. These are real discussions about real issues in Montessori teaching work spaces that may hinder teachers from experiencing the true joy of their chosen profession. The goals of the series are to help teachers more effectively cope with the many career stressors, model social and emotional skills for students, create academically supportive prepared environments, and guide students to engage more deeply in their learning. Join us for these impactful discussions that can positively influence your daily teaching practice! All sessions are held on Mondays from 7:00–8:30 pm EST Click here for more information and to register!

Read More +

Jan 9 ASQ Overview – Free Admin Session

A webinar with Dr. Elyse Postlewaite on her recent study: Experiences of Montessori Guides and Administrators Supporting Students with Developmental Delays or Disabilities. January 9, 2024 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST Location: Zoom Administrators and educators are invited to hear Dr. Elyse Postlewaite, an independent researcher, who recently completed a development screener study (ASQ) that may interest educators who work with potentially neurodivergent students. AMI/USA supported this study and is inviting you to learn about the findings and possible implications. Click here to register! We look forward to having you join us!

Read More +

Mar 18, Apr 29, and May 20 – 2024 Teacher Webinar Series

The 2023-2024 theme for the AMI/USA teacher-focused webinar series is “Supporting the Whole Teacher”. These virtual professional development sessions are designed for classroom guides, assistants, and others that support teachers in their work. These are real discussions about real issues in Montessori teaching work spaces that may hinder teachers from experiencing the true joy of their chosen profession. How many times have you heard a teacher say, “I teach because I love the children” and “Teaching is rewarding”? Yet, nearly half of teachers serving children in a classroom daily leave the profession before their fifth year. There are lots of reasons why we have a national teacher shortage. Besides pay, a major teacher experience that fuels the shortage is being in “a state of chronic stress that leads to physical and emotional exhaustion”. Caring for ourselves mentally, emotionally, and physically may seem like another task on the endless list, however it will serve us well to make this effort a personal priority. Gaining and strengthening skills in this area is no less important than didactic skills if we are to effectively cope with the many career stressors, model social and emotional skills for students, create academically supportive prepared environments, and guide students to engage more deeply in their learning. Be a part of these impactful discussions that can positively influence your daily teaching practice.  All sessions are held on Mondays from 7:00–8:30 pm EST. Click on the Teacher Webinar Series session title for more information: March 18, 2024 Building a Culture of Belonging for Adults with Tamara Sheesley Balis April 29, 2024 Affirming the Humanity of All Teachers with Patrick Harris II May 20, 2024 Navigating the Complex Emotional Territory of Education with Dr. Lisa Sanden We look forward to having you join us, registration coming soon!

Read More +

JEDI Webinar Series

AMI/USA is excited to continue learning alongside our community through a series of webinars focusing on issues of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion through a Montessori lens. Our hope is that with involvement in each JEDI Series session, participants will build greater capacity to engage in conversations about race and impact in American society, and justice and equity within the Montessori community. Join the dialogues to listen, learn, share, and connect with experts and peers as we work to make Montessori spaces more inclusive and accessible. All sessions are held on Mondays from 7:00–8:30 pm EST. Click on the JEDI Series session title for more information and registration. November 20, 2023 Building the Capacity to Educate for Peace: What Everyone Should Know About Peace with Uduak-Abasi Akpabio December 4, 2023 The Future of Montessori Education: The AMI/USA and AMS U40 Summit with Dr. Ayize Sabater January 29, 2024 Are Montessori Educators Barely Awake, Woke, or Too Woke for Our Time and Place? with Sheri L. Bishop We look forward to having you join us! Click here to submit your request for a professional development certificate for these sessions.

Read More +

Free Back to School Teacher Wellness Webinar!

The Power of Breath and Laughter for Teachers and Children in the Classroom September 25, 2023 Time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST Free on Zoom! This free, fun and interactive webinar for teachers is about how to use your mind and body to access more joy and well-deserved relaxation through breathing techniques and laughter yoga. Click here for more details and to register!

Read More +

The 29th International Montessori Congress: 2-5 August 2023

The goal of The 29th International Montessori Congress is to raise awareness and understanding of Montessori education as a global influence in our rapidly changing world. The conference theme, “Education for a New World”, promises to inspire all delegates to appreciate the significance of their work and to return to their homes after the Congress with renewed vigour. Early Bird fee is available until June 30, 2023 (until 23:59 hrs. GMT + 7) Click here for more details and to register!

Read More +

AMI Administrators Certificate Course Registration is Live!

Sponsored by AMI/USA AMI/USA is proud to sponsor the AMI Administrators Certificate Course in July of 2023 in Columbia, MD. This course is designed for new and veteran Montessori school administrators looking to deepen their understanding of school leadership within a Montessori context. Click here for more details and to register!

Read More +

2023 Administrators Retreat Registration is Live

AMI/USA is happy to announce the Summer 2023 Administrators Retreat “Leading Amid Today’s Challenges” this July 13-16 in Columbia, MD. We are excited to have Whole School Leadership Institute (WSLI) partner with us to co-sponsor this year’s retreat. We are thrilled to host two dynamic keynote speakers, Dr. Pamela Taylor and Dr. Marc Frankel who will lead us in two engaging sessions exploring the challenges and opportunities of leading school communities in today’s social, geo-political and cultural dynamics. In addition, and in response to feedback from Montessori School Administrators, we will host six afternoon workshop options on various aspects of school management. Click here for more details and to register!

Read More +

MEx24 Presentation Proposals Open

In preparation for the 2024 Montessori Experience in Dallas/Addison, Texas, February 16 – 19, 2024, we are receiving presentation proposals for consideration. Workshops will be held Friday, February 16 and Monday, February 20. The theme for the 2024 Montessori Experience is forthcoming. Submissions should be emailed to AMI/USA Events Director and should include: A brief bio of the presenter(s) (min 75 words – 100 words max) and a recent photo to be used on our website (png or jpeg file) A brief workshop presentation proposal (750-1000 words) and length of the workshop (generally 90 minutes) Any requirements or accessibility needs from AMI/USA Contact Information (email, phone number) The Event will be In-Person but may be taped and offered at cost to AMI/USA Members for 1 year. Please let us know if a video of your presentation can be shared at a later date. Submissions will be reviewed and considered on a first come, first served basis, until all time slots are filled. Please keep our commitment to equity and inclusion in mind when developing your proposal. If you have a suggestion for next year’s theme, consider sharing via email – montessori@amiusa.org.

Read More +

2024 Montessori Experience Call For Presentations Proposals

In preparation for the 2024 Montessori Experience: Refresher Courses and More! in Dallas/Addison Texas, February 16 – 19, 2024, we are receiving presentation proposals for consideration. Workshops will be held Friday, February 16 and Monday, February 20. The theme “Educating for Peace” is inspired by Dr. Maria Montessori’s book Education and Peace. Submissions should be emailed to AMI/USA Events Director and should include: A brief bio of the presenter(s) (min 75 words – 100 words max) and a recent photo to be used on our website (png or jpeg file) A brief workshop presentation proposal (750-1000 words) and length of the workshop (generally 90 minutes) Any requirements or accessibility needs from AMI/USA Contact Information (email, phone number) The event will be in-person but may be taped and offered at cost to AMI/USA Members for 1 year. Please let us know if a video of your presentation can be shared at a later date. Submissions will be reviewed and considered on a first come, first served basis, until all time slots are filled. Please keep our commitment to equity and inclusion in mind when developing your proposal.

Read More +

U40: Montessori for the Future Summit 2023

  APPLY HERE! The American Montessori Society (AMS) and Association Montessori International / United States of America (AMI/USA) are thrilled to announce the U40: Montessori for the Future Summit. Join a diverse cohort of Montessori educators under 40 who are members of AMS and/or connected to Montessori through AMI/USA. These critical thinkers and creatives are committed to exploring and researching, value collaboration and diverse perspectives, and exchange knowledge to craft innovative approaches for the future of Montessori education. Participants will experience an immersive program to impact the Montessori Movement and work to improve how we think about how teachers are recruited, what teachers need to know to be successful with the ever-changing demands, and how to bolster teacher retention. Other ideas for exploration may arise from the initial work and will be incorporated as well. AMS and AMI/USA invite all Montessori changemakers to apply for this program that celebrates the extraordinary young educators (under 40) who have demonstrated tremendous impact and success in their respective positions. Why Attend By bringing both AMS and AMI educators together for this critical work, the global Montessori Movement will be strengthened. The initiatives that come from this work have the potential to improve teacher education and schools worldwide, thereby improving the support given to teachers. In addition, the structured program and guiding of diverse Montessori practitioners through this process will establish a movement that will continue to rethink structures and practices for our associations. Objectives Forward-thinking Montessori educators from established Montessori schools and teacher training programs along with AMS and AMI/USA staff, will discuss, research, and brainstorm sustainable pathways for Montessori to expand its reach and ways in which the pedagogy, teacher education, and school leadership can evolve to better meet the needs of children and adolescents of today. The group will propose ideas for both AMS and AMI/USA to begin working on innovative solutions. After this event, we hope to have developed a foundation for several long-lasting initiatives whose work will continue beyond this year. Event Details Cost Participation is directly funded by AMS and AMI/USA. This includes airfare, lodging, and 5 planned meals: Thursday: dinner Friday: breakfast, lunch, and dinner Saturday: breakfast Timeline Registration Opens: March 30, 2023 Submission Deadline: May 8, 2023 Notification of Acceptance: May 12, 2023 We look forward to reading your applications for this exciting gathering of minds. Please note: If accepted into U40: Montessori for the Future Summit, you must purchase airline tickets by May 22, 2023, and submit the receipt for reimbursement by May 25, 2023. Eligibility and Selection Process Participants are selected based on aptitude, experience, a desire to collaborate, a desire to innovate, and the drive to become more impactful leaders in the Montessori community who are committed to accelerating change within themselves and their organizations. Admissions will ensure a diversity of perspectives and experiences both in Montessori schools and teacher education programs. An AMS, AMI, or AMS-approved Montessori credential is required (any level). Those applying through AMS must have an active AMS membership. […]

Read More +

#MEx23 Press Release

Photograph above by: Jill Fannon Photography Click here for a pdf version of our Press Release The 2023 Montessori Experience: Refresher Courses and More Unites Over 930 Educators from Across the Country February 28, 2023 The 2023 Montessori Experience: Refresher Courses and More took place at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor this President’s Day weekend and was attended by over 930 Montessori educators, administrators, and caregivers. The opening keynote speaker was Nikki Giovanni, world-renowned poet and children’s book author. This was the first annual conference to take place completely in-person since the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Our event began Friday morning with an opening from our Executive Director, Dr. Ayize Sabater. Hundreds attended workshops throughout the day – a constant stream of Montessorians pouring in from all around the country. You could feel the energy in each room as attendees gathered to dive deeper into the topic of Spiritual Preparation. We gathered as a large group once more to honor author and long-time Montessorian Phyllis Pottish – Lewis as well as listen to our opening keynote, Nikki Giovanni. She read several poems and touched on many important issues that we are facing today. Nikki Giovanni began the night with a powerful statement – “If all I have are words then I have to use them.” Level intensives took place on Saturday and Sunday for Assistants to Infancy Assistants and Guides, Primary Assistants and Guides, Elementary Guides, Adolescent Guides, Administrators, as well as an open workshop track – Grounded and Growing for educators, administrators, and caregivers. Monday began with more workshops and opportunities for dialogue surrounding Montessori research efforts. The closing keynote “Sisters in Spirit” on Monday was a culminating conversation on spiritual preparation with three women and passionate leaders in the Montessori movement – Dr. Nitana Hicks Greendeer (Wampanoag), Interim Director of Weetumuw Katnuhtôhtâeekamuq; Pastor Jessica Jackson, Head of School for Morning Glory Montessori; and Karen Clark, Montessori-trained guide and coach with Know Thyself, Inc. Mr. Rico Newman (Choptico Band of Piscataway-Conoy Indians) brought our gathering to a close with a traditional blessing and parting words for educators – learn about the Original Teachings from the land where you are a guest. Lynne Lawrence, Executive Director of Association Montessori Internationale reminded us of the dire need to prioritize the rights of children in the United States. Finally, this year’s closing Town Hall featured the unveiling of our Strategic Plan presented by AMIUSA Executive Director, Dr. Ayize Sabater and members of the AMIUSA Board. Nikki Giovanni is introduced before taking the stage at the Montessori Experience on Friday, February 17, 2023.  Left to Right: Pastor Jessica Jackson, Koren Clark, and Dr. Nitana Hicks Greendeer (Wampanoag) at the Closing Keynote: “Sisters in Spirit” on Monday, February 20, 2023. Mr. Rico Newman (Choptico Band of Piscataway-Conoy Indians) sharing parting words with educators on Monday, February 20, 2023. Executive Director of Association Montessori Internationale, Lynne Lawrence at the closing of the Montessori Experience on Monday, February 20, 2023. AMIUSA Executive Director, Dr. Ayize […]

Read More +

JEDI Spring Series

SESSION 2: Exploring Gender Expansiveness in the Montessori Environment March 20, 2023 at 7 pm EST Transgender Visibility Day is on March 31, 2023. As a prelude to this day of recognition, our goal at AMI/USA is to explore gender expansiveness in Montessori settings. Please join us as Sara Bloomberg moderates an open discussion with Olli Lehman, M.A. and Ashley McLean, both Montessori colleagues who are personally and professionally close to this important topic. This conversation will take place via Zoom on March 20th at 7pm EST. About our Speakers: Sara Bloomberg, MA (they/them/theirs) lives on the unceded land of the Timucuan in what’s now known as St Augustine. Sara is a co-founder of Blossoming Beyond the Binary, a consulting group that helps educational communities embrace and develop gender diverse practices and curricula that uplift and center lgbtqia+ children, families, and educators. Sara co-wrote Queering Your Culture: The Importance of Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the Classroom for Montessori Life. They co-wrote Intentionally Inclusive: THE LGBTQIA+, Gender Diverse Montessori School for the Montessori Collaborative World Review: The Montessori Roots of Social Justice (AMS/AMI). Sara has led workshops for AIMS Illinois, Crescent Ridge Academy Montessori Education Instruction, Endeavor Schools, AMS TME, for the Montessori Alliance of Tennessee, BAMA, and MEPPI. Sara also presents on this topic for various AMS affiliated TEP Programs in the US and across the globe. Sara was the head of the Early Childhood division at the St. Augustine Public Montessori School in Saint Augustine, Florida; founding director of Battery Park Montessori in New York City. Olli Lehmann is a lead guide at City Garden Montessori School. She has been living authentically as a Non-binary Trans woman for 15 years. She received her Masters of Arts in Education and her Bachelor’s in English from Truman State University. She has been working in St Louis schools for 7 years. She has worked in a variety of roles, as an art teacher, classroom assistant, and for 2 years as a lead guide. She is currently working towards her 9-12 Montessori certification. While working at City Garden, she has organized a social justice club, as well as the school’s first Gay Straight Alliance. She is an advocate for all underrepresented students, and a supporter of all queer and trans children. Ashley McLean is a trained primary Montessori educator. She taught for 12 years at Wellan Montessori School in Newton, MA. After leaving her position in Newton and moving to Maine, she decided to homeschool her two elementary-aged children. Ashley has presented on several topics at the annual Montessori Schools of Massachusetts Conference and has written various posts for the Wellan Montessori School blog. She currently works as a Library Assistant at the Southwest Harbor Public Library in Southwest Harbor.  Ashley loves hiking, biking, reading, and writing, as well as spending most of her time exploring the outdoors with her family. To register for this session or all 3 sessions, click here: https://amiusa.org/2023-jedi-series-registration/ SAVE THE DATE! SESSION 3: Neurodiversity in the Montessori Environment: A Forum April […]

Read More +

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – January 16, 2023

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – January 16, 2023 On this day of service, the nation will honor the memory and tireless work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  On this day, and after it passes, all educators, from all backgrounds, will be well served by continuing to critically examine his philosophy regarding the purpose of education in our society, particularly for children of color.  Dr. King’s dream for education was “far grander than integration alone”. He envisioned education to be quantitatively and qualitatively equitable.   “It seems to me that education has a two-fold function to perform in the life of man and in society: the one is utility and the other is culture.  Education must enable a man to become more efficient and to achieve, with increasing facility, the legitimate goals of his life.”  This philosophy and ideology align with the basis of the Montessori movement founder Maria Montessori’s belief that, “This is education, understood as a help to life; an education from birth, which feeds a peaceful revolution and unites all in a common aim, attracting them as to a single center.” Historically, some marginalized communities within the United States, including African American communities, identify with Dr. Montessori’s message of inclusion and hope.  We are on the cusp of Black History Month.  It is the perfect time to explore the question posed by the great African American poet, Langston Hughes, in his historical poem, “What Happens to a Dream Deferred?” and to address if the current Montessori movement has succumbed to gradualism or is intentionally moving toward systematic equity… that complex combination of interrelated elements consciously designed to create, support, and sustain social justice.  Are Montessorians using personal and collective power and privilege, to, as past Montessori parent, advocate and philanthropist Kyle Galbraith expresses, “put our focus on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion as a logical outgrowth of our spiritual understanding of the Oneness of all life?”  Have Montessorians realized that “all lives are intrinsically interconnected, we cannot create a world that works for ourselves and our loved ones unless it also works for everyone else?” This is service to humanity. In honor of Dr. King and educational philosophy and work to bring equity into all schools, please join a diverse panel of Montessorians as they discuss how power and privilege in the Montessori community can be used to realize the dream of right of entry and justice in all Montessori spaces.   Panel Participants Sheri Bishop, AMI/USA Human Rights and Social Justice Advisor, Moderator Maia Blankenship, Co-CEO, Black Wildflower Funds Jimmy and Kyle Galbraith, Past Montessori Parents, Montessori Advocates, and Philanthropists Fatima Green, Assistant and Montessori Primary Level Trainee, Lee Montessori Public Charter School Sinuda Kapalczynski, Head of School/Guide, Fulton Montessori School BethAnn Slater, Head of School, Middleburg Montessori School and AMI/USA Primary Trainer Alex Brown, Advisory Board member, Black Montessori Education Fund Link to Registration: https://amiusa.org/2023-jedi-series-registration/

Read More +

The 2023 AMI/USA Montessori Experience: Refresher Courses & More!

Announcing the 2023 AMI/USA Montessori Experience, Refresher Courses and More! Join us in Baltimore, MD from February 17 – 20, 2023 for a weekend to focus on the Spiritual Preparation of the guide in service to all children. Each track and offering will provide a unique perspective on this important topic from our vibrant community of presenters and speakers including Dr. Donna Hicks, Sarah Werner Andrews, M.Ed., Koren Clark, M.Ed., Paula Lillard Preschlack, M.Ed. and many more dynamic leaders in our community. Download: The 2023 Montessori Experience brochure here!   Click here to register

Read More +

Fall 2021 Virtual Events for Administrators

Ready? Well, ready or not, another school year has already begun. As with the start of school years in the past, there are many things to grapple with in order to be prepared. Yet this school year’s readiness is particularly challenged by some complex matters. For one, the continuing and resurgent COVID-19 pandemic is complicating school readiness for many. Specifically, schools are struggling to decide whether classes will resume in-person, on-line, or a combination of both. Still another troubling matter is the shortage of teachers, which is not new but appears to be pronounced this year. Join AMI/USA for upcoming programming this fall to engage in conversation around the teacher shortage and a community town hall with Black institution-building Montessorians and trailblazing leaders in the Global Liberatory Education Movement. Mark your calendars! Wednesday, September 29 • 1:00 p.m. EDT: Addressing the Teacher Shortage…#ConsiderMontessori Speakers: Dr. Ayize Sabater (AMI/USA), Samantha Vejay (Washingtong Montessori Institute), Alan Preece (AMI Global), a representative from the Montessori Institute of North Texas & more… Thursday, October 14 • 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. CDT | 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. EDT: Making A Way Out Of No Way Click here to listen to the #UMustLearn episode Speakers: Dr. Ayize Sabater (AMI/USA), Pastors Timothy and Jessica Jackson of Morning Glory Montessori (Black Believers & The Montessori Way), Jill Evans of Goldenrod (Wildflower) Montessori (Ohio), Prudence Daniels of MomaHill Montessori (Lagos, Nigeria)

Read More +

2021 AMI/USA JEDI Series

AMI/USA is excited to continue learning alongside our community through a series of webinars focusing on issues of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion through a Montessori lens. Listen, learn, share and connect with experts and peers as we work to make Montessori spaces more inclusive and accessible.  Mark your calendars! Thursday, August 19 • 7:00 p.m. EDT: Critical Race Theory: Talking through the Confusion Speakers: Dr. Valaida (Val)  L. Wise and Wendy Shenk-Evans Moderated by: Dr. Ayize Sabater & Munir Shivji Saturday, September 18 • 12:00 p.m. EDT: Building Resilient Montessori Schools: A Discussion Speakers: Hannah Richardson, Rachel Kimboko, Daniel Bissonnette Moderated by: Elizabeth Slade Get 25% off retail price on Montessori in Action: Building Resilient Montessori Schools in the AMI/USA Bookstore! The eBook will be available within 24 hours of purchase. Print copies will be shipped after the September 18 event and will be shipped separately from other books. Sunday, September 19 • 12:00 p.m. EDT: Montessori Books: A Community Conversation Authors: Mariana Bissonnette – Babies Build Toddlers, Simone Davies & Junnifa Uzodike – The Montessori Baby, Erica Moretti – The Best Weapon for Peace: Maria Montessori, Education, and Children’s Rights, Elizabeth Slade – Montessori in Action: Building Resilient Montessori Schools Moderated by: Dr. Mira Debs (Diverse Families, Desirable Schools: Public Montessori in the Era of School Choice) Sunday, October 24 • 12:00 p.m. EDT: Neurodiversity and Disability through the Montessori Lens Speaker: Andrée Rolfe, Ed.D. Wednesday, November 10 • 7:00 p.m EST: Spiritual Vitality in Diverse Montessori Environments The panelists represent Buddhism (Lucy Golden), Christianity (Martha Ochoa), Islam (Maya Soriano), Judaism (Andy Lulka), Native American indigenous spirituality (Siobhan Juanita Brown), African spiritualism (Koren Clark), and Catholicism (Zoraida Villarrubia Concepción). Thank you to those who made a Collaborator donation to this series! BethAnn Slater, Lynne Breitenstein-Aliberti, Michelle Becka, Erin Lopez-Brooks, Alexander Montessori School, Metrokids

Read More +

Call for Proposals

We are so grateful for the skills, knowledge and experience of the AMI/USA community. Your unique perspectives are valuable. We are extending our annual call for proposals differently this year. In addition to inviting submissions for The Montessori Experience, we are expanding this call on a rolling basis for different types of programming throughout the year.  We were honored to have a variety of speakers, from different backgrounds and school communities share with us in 2020 and into this year. We received feedback that hearing from folks that are a part of the everyday classroom experience was valuable. We hear you and want to continue our efforts to provide you with practical professional development opportunities that will inform your daily practice.  Are you working in a Montessori school or do you homeschool using the Montessori method? Can you provide practical examples of what has worked well in your environment? Do you have best practices to offer? We want to hear from you!    Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion (JEDI) Series 2021 Proposals This series is now underway, click here to access the line up of sessions and to register. We hope to continue this series each year, so if you have ideas or a proposal you would like to send for 2022, please email the information with the guidelines specified below to Samantha Levine. Thank you for considering! In Fall 2020 we hosted the first installment of the Social Justice Webinar Series. In lieu of a registration fee we encouraged participants to directly donate to The Black Montessori Education Fund (BMEF). The programming included: De-Centering Whiteness in Montessori Spaces | Speakers: Katie Kitchens, Mara Matteson, and Colleen Wilkinson Remembering Indigenous Voices in the Classroom | Speaker: Trisha Moquino The Anti-Bias & Anti-Racist Administrator | Speaker: Amelia Allen Sherwood Preparing Ourselves Spiritually and Mentally for Revolutionary Social Change | Speaker: Sheri Bishop We received positive feedback from attendees and we recognize that our Justice/Equity/Diversity/Inclusion (JEDI) and Anti-bias/Anti-racist (ABAR) journeys are on-going. Are you a teacher who has found creative and sustainable ways to successfully embed JEDI and ABAR principles and practices in your curriculum and classroom culture? As we plan the 2021 JEDI Series, the intent of AMI/USA is to include presentations that may support our historical and theoretical knowledge and are giving more consideration to presentations that highlight how guides and other frontline practitioners have found creative and sustainable ways to successfully embed JEDI and ABAR principles and practices in their daily curriculum and classroom, school, and/or community cultures. We want to hear from you – guides, curriculum specialists that support art, music, reading, dual language, health and physical education, and those that are knowledgeable and skilled in supporting children that are neurodiverse.  We want to hear from educators from all age levels about what you are doing and the wonderful outcomes you are achieving. We would also like to highlight an adolescent community that is taking the lead to address JEDI/ABAR issues in their school classroom and community. We would […]

Read More +

Earth Day 2021 Updates

Meet the Earth Day Event Speakers! Join us on Earth Day April 22 starting at 7pm ET for a diverse panel of community leaders who will share on topics related to environmental education, environmental justice and sustainability. After the speakers share, we will have a Q&A and a casual conversation space. We can discuss questions arising from what the speakers shared and film Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops. We encourage attendees to share what they are doing in their communities. We are thrilled to announce the speakers for the upcoming event, more information and speakers will be added to the event website page as the event gets closer.  Speakers include: Carlos Chiver Jassan will speak about the regenerative work he is doing in México City and Montessori Everywhere’s The Earth Project Judith Cunningham will share about her work with Montesssori Model UN and upcoming Climate Summit and will be joined by Marilú Mejía-López. Marilú is a Montessori climate activist who developed two projects for the Youth Impact Forum which she will share Dallas Nelson is the Director of the Lakota Language & Education Initiative at the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He will share what they are doing around sustainability and environmental education. Dorothy Lerma & Stephanie Becerra are lead guides at Siembra Montessori and will share information about their medicinal herb garden and how they’ve kept the children connected to the land during this difficult year where physically being outside together is not always possible. Maritza Darling-Ramos is a Community Organizer with the Southeast Youth Alliance, a grassroots community organization located on the Southeast side of Chicago. Arielle King is a Maryland-based 23-year-old environmental justice and anti-racism advocate. Click here to learn more and register for the free event! Environmental Education Resources We hope you’ve enjoyed the resources provided to spark some Environmental Education ideas! We are excited to share some updates as we all prepare to celebrate Earth Day on April 22: Check out the Environmental Education Resource Library for more resources! Click here to view the recording for the Administrators Session held this Wednesday, April 7. Thank you to our panelists! Below are the Resources Highlighted by the 4/7 Session Panelists: Cosmic Education in the School Garden by Sarah Kozicki from the 2018 AMI/USA Fall Journal St. Croix Montessori School’s Environmental Education program Centennial Montessori – Independent School Example of Outdoor Learning from the Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative. Earth’s 10 Commandments Similarities between Environmental Education and Montessori No-Waste Lunch Guidelines Developing an Environmental Ethic Bio-Regional Quiz Environmental Education Resources Reminders: Encourage your students and/or children at home to submit a project to Montessori Everywhere’s three-month Earth Day celebration culminating in September 2021. Kids can connect with others around the world working on a similar project in their community. Have your school or classroom join Earth Day Network (EDN)’s “Three Days of Climate Action” April 20-22, 2021. If you don’t want to wait until April 20, EDN has curated a list of actions you can take right now. If your school already has something planned, you can register your 2021 event here. Watch the film Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops leading up to Earth Day 2021.

Read More +

“The Butterfly Effect” by Koren Clark

We are thrilled that Koren Clark is part of our distinguished speaker line up for the upcoming Virtual Montessori Experience. Koren will be sharing on the topic of Montessori as a healing tool for our liberation.  In preparation for her workshop, we are excited to share a link to an article she wrote that speaks to the nature of the workshop – it’s called, “The Butterfly Effect.” Click the image below to view the full article through Montessori International Koren Clark, MEd (Montessori education), is a Montessori-trained guide and coach with over 20 years in the field of education. She holds an AMS Elementary I credential, an Administrator credential from New Leaders, and California state-teaching certification. She is a UC Berkeley graduate and has gone on to conduct educational research internationally in Egypt. She has lived in Zimbabwe and Germany. Koren founded an independent school, Lotus Blossom Academy and is the designer of KnowThyself Inc., a Montessori materials and professional development organization. She currently serves on the board of the Black Montessori Education Fund and Montessori Life and also partners with Wildflower Schools, where she helps teachers develop liberated teacher-led Montessori micro-schools. Koren is a mother of three who loves spending time in nature and writing poetry. Thank you Montessori International for allowing us to share this article! Check them out on social media: @montessoriuk on Instagram and Montessori Centre International on Facebook. Want to learn more from Koren? Join us at The Virtual Montessori Experience for her session on Monday, February 15! Click here for the schedule and register by following this link!

Read More +

Call for Success Stories in Family Engagement

 Share Your COVID-19 Success Story at The 2021 Virtual Montessori Experience (February 12-15)  We want to celebrate you and all of the amazing things happening in your school community! We know this year has been a challenge mainly because of this pandemic but your ability to adapt has been inspirational and there is much to learn from your experience. Take a moment to reflect on all that you have accomplished.  Family engagement and support has taken on a whole new meaning in 2020 and we want to showcase the unique way that your school community has overcome some of these pandemic challenges during The 2021 Virtual Montessori Experience.  If you are willing to share your story, please submit a short video (no longer than 2 minutes). You can answer any of the following questions or simply tell your story of family engagement during the course of the pandemic.  How has the pandemic impacted your relationship with families? How have you engaged with parents as educators of children? How have you made families feel more included in your school community? How have you reframed your parent education to parent partnership? How are you listening to your families and responding to their needs? How have you helped families expand Montessori into their homes? Do you have any vivid examples of successful family engagement? Click here for a quick guide on making and sending in your submission!  Click here to complete the submission form!  Submissions are due by Friday, January 15, 2021  Please contact Samantha Levine, AMI/USA Director of Events, with any questions!

Read More +

Registration is now open for The 2021 Virtual Montessori Experience

Join AMI/USA & EAA February 12-15, 2021 for The Virtual Montessori Experience The year 2020 has been full of transitions — on a local, national and global scale. Many of these transitions have required unfathomable feats of adaptability. Join us February 12-15, 2021 as we explore these two concepts, through a justice lens, over the course of a weekend in ways that we hope will enrich, encourage and enliven! We are excited to be offering content in a variety of formats: Daily Keynote Presentations Panel Discussions with Trainers and Guides Shortened chunks of Refresher Course content at all levels Opportunities for socializing and networking Expect a weekend full of exciting sessions, most scheduled to be no longer than 1.5 hours at one time, interspersed with breaks to stretch your legs, walk your dog and catch up with old friends and new connections. Sessions will be recorded for attendees to view at their convenience. This year’s lowest price package has been slashed in half, when compared with previous year’s prices, for an all-access pass. The full schedule and details will be announced on a rolling basis! Sneak peek of our confirmed speakers We are grateful to be partnering with a number of experienced and dynamic speakers, including Keynotes: Trisha Moquino & Tracey Cordero – Indigenous Montessori Institute Level Intensives: Erin Smith (Assistants to Infancy), Ann Velasco (Primary), Tiffany Liddell (Assistants) Panel Discussions: Andrea Fleener, Cristina A De Leon Medina, Eder Cuevas, Liza Davis, Michelle Becka, Myesha Green Healing Space: Koren Clark And many more to be announced! Our lowest price “all access pass” will increase in price on January 16, 2021, so register today! Click here to learn more and register!

Read More +

Social Justice Webinar Series

AMI/USA is excited to learn alongside our community through a series of four free webinars focusing on issues of race, bias and injustice through a Montessori lens. Listen, learn, share and connect with experts and peers as we work to make Montessori spaces more inclusive and accessible.  All funds raised will support the work of the Black Montessori Education Fund (BMEF). Donate Today: US $50 US $100 US $150 Other Amount Mark your calendars! Monday, September 21 • 7-9pm EDT: De-Centering Whiteness in Montessori Spaces Speakers: Katie Kitchens, Mara Matteson, and Colleen Wilkinson White community members are invited to attend this event prior to attending the rest of the events in the series. Webinars will be recorded for later viewing. Sunday, September 27 • 4-6pm EDT: Remembering Indigenous Voices in the Classroom Speaker: Trisha Moquino Monday, November 2 • 7pm EST: The Anti-Bias & Anti-Racist Administrator  Speaker: Amelia Allen Sherwood Sunday, November 15 • 4pm EST: Preparing Ourselves Spiritually and Mentally for Revolutionary Social Change  Speaker: Sheri Bishop

Read More +

Fall 2020 Online Conference

Montessori Leadership for Tumultuous Times: Embracing Our Cosmic Task in Support of Universal Solidarity OCT 9 – 11, 2020 INTRODUCTION “Human Solidarity in Time and Space” (San Remo Lecture II, 1949) is a rallying call for Montessori school leaders, administrators and educators to pursue a vision of inclusivity, interdependence and the common good. Dr Montessori reminds us that we can draw on the timeless nature of “human solidarity, rooted in a distant past and extending its branches towards eternity” to provide leadership in a polarized and unequal society. This weekend of virtual sessions will provide expert guidance on issues of identity, diversity and culture, and provide new insights for those who are committed to building schools and communities where all feel welcome. To register, click here!

Read More +

The Circle of Distinction Nominations & Call for Abstracts

The Circle of Distinction The Circle of Distinction acknowledges an individual’s lifelong dedication, inspiration, creativity, resilience and passion within the AMI/USA community. We share a sense of commitment to the continuation of Dr. Montessori’s work and there is deep appreciation for the efforts of every individual. The Circle of Distinction offers an opportunity to provide thanks to those whose exceptional personal and professional contribution deserves special recognition. 2020 Honorees Joen Bettmann Barbara Gordon David Kahn Molly O’Shaughnessy Judi Orion Phyllis Pottish-Lewis Submit a nominee for 20201! Call for Abstracts In preparation for the AMI/USA The Montessori Experience 2021 in Orlando February 12-15, we are inviting submissions of presentation abstracts for workshop consideration (Friday, February 12 and Monday, February 15). Topics geared both towards seasoned Montessorians as well as those new to Montessori are welcomed and encouraged. The deadline for abstract submission is June 5, 2020. Submissions should be emailed to our office and should include: A brief bio of the presenter(s); A brief workshop presentation abstract including the proposed length of the workshop (workshops are generally 2-3 hours in length); Any requirements of AMI/USA; Contact information. Please indicate whether, if circumstances dictate, your workshop can be adapted for virtual programming and if you would be willing to present on that basis. Workshop presenters will be notified by June 30, 2020.

Read More +

2020 Administrators Retreat Update

It was with great difficulty that the decision was made to cancel the upcoming AMI/USA Administrators Retreat originally scheduled to take place in July in Traverse City, Michigan. We understand, however, that administrators may have been especially looking forward to this year’s retreat as a respite from the challenges of today, therefore, alternate plans are under consideration in support of this need. Please watch for more details as plans become firmer. Questions? Feel free to contact either Debby Riordan, Consultant to AMI/USA or Sam Levine, AMI/USA Event Manager.

Read More +

2020 Administrators Retreat

We are closely monitoring the situation surrounding COVID-19 and will communicate if the event is postponed or cancelled with as much advance notice as possible. At this point in time, we are still moving forward with the July dates listed below. We greatly appreciate your understanding during this unprecedented time and will continue to provide updates as they become available. AMI/USA Administrators Retreat July 12-14, 2020 · Traverse City, MI We are thrilled to be offering the next Administrators Retreat in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan! For details, click here.

Read More +

Seattle Overflow Hotel

Overflow Hotel for “The Montessori Experience” Additional sleeping rooms for “The Montessori Experience: Refresher Course & Workshops” 2020 in Seattle are now available at The Westin Bellevue, just a quick 6-7 minute walk from the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, where the event is taking place. Click here to make a room reservation using the AMI group rate.

Read More +

New Consultant Orientation ~ June 2020

New Consultant Orientation Yes, the time has come to announce the opening of applications for the New Consultant Orientation in JUNE of 2020! We could not be more excited that AMI/USA is partnering with the Consultation Committee to conduct this much needed training. Contact us for more information and application materials. Application materials along with the $50 application fee are due by January 31, 2020. A HUGE thank you to Arbor Montessori School in Atlanta for hosting the training for us!

Read More +

Seattle 2020 Brochure and Registration

The Montessori Experience 2020 Refresher Course & Workshops Seattle, Washington, Feb. 14-17, 2020 Get our official conference app iOS Android For Blackberry or Windows Phone, Click here For feature details, visit Whova >> Registration is now closed for The Montessori Experience: Refresher Course & Workshops in Seattle! Please take a moment to review our digital brochure to learn more about the speakers and workshops we will be offering this year. >> Check out our Facebook event page to connect with other conference goers and find people who may want a room share or room transfer! >> Order your 2020 Montessori Experience and 150th Montessori birthday t-shirts here!   Make your reservations at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue on Seattle’s East Side. If you need assistance, please contact 877-803-7534 or click here to find contact information by Region. If the group rate is no longer available, prevailing rates may be offered for some or all of your dates.

Read More +

Baltimore/Columbia Workshop Brochure

Baltimore/Columbia Workshop Montessori: Learning for All  October 11-12, 2019 Join us in Columbia, Maryland, for our first of two regional workshops in 2019-2020. We look forward to partnering with NAMTA for what will be their final regional workshop as well as with EAA, our continuing partner for major professional development events. Advanced registration is now closed. On-site registration will be available. If you have already registered, download the Whova app to create your personalized agenda and connect with other attendees! Get Whova Now >> Download the full conference brochure to learn more about our speakers and their presentations.

Read More +

Webinar: Supporting the Natural Development of the Will

Webinar Description: Supporting the Natural Development of the Will Live Event: September 19, 7:00 p.m. ET  The will is a psychic power that humans are not born with, but one that develops over time through experience following natural laws.  The child’s development of will; therefore, is a gradual process that is dependent upon an environment that supports its growth.  Unfortunately, misunderstandings abound regarding how best to support the will in children. It is widely believed that one must break the will in order to strengthen it, using various forms of controlling behaviors.  Montessori offers another approach that is respectful to the child and that is grounded in an atmosphere of free choice.  This webinar will discuss the necessary supports in the child’s environment to allow the will to develop naturally.  The influence of the adult, the physical environment and the community of children will be explored in detail. The live event has concluded. Click here to purchase a recording of the webinar.

Read More +

MPPI Conference Registration

Montessori Public Policy Initiative Through the Montessori Public Policy Initiative (MPPI), AMI/USA and the American Montessori Society are working collaboratively to communicate, influence, and participate in policy developments. We believe that by sharing a common voice with our AMS colleagues, the entire Montessori Movement will be strengthened. Registration for the annual MPPI Advocacy Conference is now open. Click the image below for details.

Read More +

AMI Administrators Course

AMI will be offering an Administrators Certificate for the first time in the United States July 7-12 in Houston, Texas! Click here to be directed to the Houston Montessori Institute for more information.

Read More +

AMI/USA Administrators Retreat

Registration for this year’s AMI/USA Administrators Retreat, formerly held by the Montessori Administrators Association (MAA), is now open!  The retreat will follow the opportunity to add knowledge gained through the first AMI Administrators certificate course in the United States.  The certificate course and retreat will be held in Houston, Texas this July.  For more information about the certificate course, please, call the Houston Montessori Institute at 281.822.8028, and for information and to register for the retreat, please, click here: https://maa2.wildapricot.org/event-3301383.

Read More +

Seattle Affiliates Conference

Montessori Guidance for Adapting to the Global Digital Culture April 4-7, 2019 Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Tacoma Washington The acceleration of technology and the complexity of changes in our current society will define the future for today’s children. Montessori educators will partner with leaders in the newly emerging field of “human technology” to examine technology’s impact on the lives of children and families. The balance to the acceleration of technology is explored through the power of story, nature, and self-expression. The call for a humane technology is also a call to explore the forces that ground us and help us to understand ourselves. As Montessorians we have the knowledge and practice that addresses the development of the “whole person.” A Montessori education develops critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity all within a microcosm of a respectful, harmonious society, thus preparing each individual to adapt to their own time, place, and culture. Follow-up lectures and discussions will include: • Guiding students through the turbulence of social media; • Technology and creativity in math, science, and the arts; • Working with parents to develop realistic guidelines for the right use of technology; • Storytelling as teaching; • The power of nature to inspire and guide development; and • The role of creativity and self-expression across the planes. View the conference flyer. View the evening events flyer. Visit the NAMTA website to view the conference brochure and schedule, register, and book lodging.

Read More +

Refresher Course Certificates

Refresher Course certificates of attendance are available by email (free) or regular mail (incurs a $5 processing fee). To request your own certificate, please click here. If you are requesting a number of certificates for a school, please download this certificate request form to your desktop and return it completed to the AMI/USA office. Please note Adobe Acrobat Pro or later is required to complete this form. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Pro, please email us to request an Excel version.

Read More +

Refresher Course Information

2019 REFRESHER COURSE The 2019 Refresher Course & Workshops will take place February 15-18th at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. SPEAKERS Keynote Speaker Refresher Course Speakers BROCHURE 2019 Refresher Course Brochure REGISTRATION Forgot to register for next week’s Refresher Course & Workshops? Just decided you’ll be joining us? Get a head start on your on-site registration: > Register here by Thursday, 2/14 at 5 p.m. CST; > Stop by Central Registration (Grand Foyer, 5th Floor) at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel to finalize the process. Registration Times: Friday, 2/15: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday, 2/16: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. SCHEDULES Friday 2-15-19 Saturday 2-16-19 Sunday 2-17-19 Monday 2-18-19 HOTEL LAYOUT First Floor Third Floor Fourth Floor Fifth Floor Eighth Floor **Bookstore orders made online from February 14-18 will be shipped on Tuesday, February 19.**

Read More +

Onsite Registration Available

Forgot to register for next week’s Refresher Course & Workshops? Just decided you’ll be joining us? Get a head start on your on-site registration: Register here by Thursday, 2/14 at 5 p.m. CST Stop by Central Registration at the Sheraton New Orleans to finalize the process Registration TimesFriday, 2/15: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.Saturday, 2/16: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. See you in New Orleans! AMI/USA The Child’s Place in TimeRefresher Course & WorkshopsNew Orleans, LouisianaFebruary 15-18, 2019

Read More +

2019 Refresher Course Keynote Speaker

We are excited to announce the keynote address for the 2019 Refresher Course & Workshops in New Orleans!  Challenges  and  Opportunities:  Why  Poverty  Matters  and  Why  Schools  Can  Matter  More  Tammy Pawloski, Ph.D.Life  with  limited  resources  can  negatively  impact  achievement  and  life  success,  but  the  good news  is  that  schools  and  teachers  can  matter  more! The  latest  research  from  neuroscience provides  direction  for  intentional  school  and  teacher  moves  that  can  dramatically  and  positively shift  the  trajectory  for  all  students. Learn  how  to  reframe  the  challenges  faced  by  teachers  in high-poverty  schools  as  opportunities  for  revealing  the  often-hidden  potential  of  every  learner every day. Tammy Pawloski is Professor of Education and Director of the Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty at Francis Marion University.  She holds a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina, and prior to joining the faculty of FMU in 2000, she served on the faculties of USC in South Carolina, and Ventura College and Pepperdine University in Southern California. — The theme for the 2019 Refresher Course & Workshops will be: The Child’s Place in Time. The Refresher Course will take place at the Sheraton New Orleans hotel February 15-18, 2019. More information about workshops and presenters will be available on the website soon! Early bird registration will open in October. If you have yet to book a room at the Sheraton New Orleans hotel, please click here to reserve a room as part of the AMI/USA group block. Alternatively, you may call 888-627-7033 and ask for Association Montessori International group rate. We look forward to seeing you in February!

Read More +

Diversity Forum Scholarships

AMI/USA would like to announce an additional scholarship opportunity for those interested in attending the Diversity Forum on Friday, February 15th, 2019 at the AMI Refresher Course in New Orleans. To be considered for financial assistance for the Diversity Forum, you must complete the following steps: – Submit a completed application to AMI/USA no later than January 23rd, 2019. – Register for the Diversity Forum within one week of receiving notification of a successful application. – Be able to and attend the Diversity Forum in its entirety, 2:00 – 5:00 pm, Friday, February 15. Five applicant names will be chosen by Embracing Equity for attendance at the Diversity Forum.Awardees will be notified on January 25th. Scholarship grantees must register for the Diversity Forum workshop. The workshop does not require either an AMI diploma or an AMI membership though the latter is strongly encouraged. The scholarship will provide waived registration fees for the Diversity Forum only. Additional Friday or Monday workshop fees, the Refresher Course fee, hotel, and travel are not included. Hotel reservations must be made independently. A $25 refundable deposit will be required at time of registration. A full refund will be made upon completion of the workshop by Diversity Forum attendance sheets. The Diversity Forum scholarships are being supported by the AMI/USA. Go to the application form.

Read More +

AMI Marketing Webinar for Schools

AMI Marketing Webinar for Schools More than 60 individuals interested in learning more about how to market Montessori schools listened in on an AMI Marketing 101 Webinar for Schools earlier today (Tuesday, November 6th).  If you listened in then we hope that you learned something useful to your mission of providing Montessori education to as many children as possible.  If you missed the webinar, never fear, click on the following link which will take you to a number of ready-made resources as well as comprehensive research results from the Neimand Collaborative on how to communicate effectively about Montessori education.  Should you have any questions, please, don’t hesitate to reach out to Debby Riordan, Executive Director of AMI/USA (debby@amiusa.org) or Lynne Lawrence, Executive Director of AMI global in Amsterdam (lynne.lawrence@montessori-ami.org). https://montessori-ami.org/resource-library

Read More +

Second Overflow Hotel for New Orleans

We are happy to announce that we have secured rooms at a second overflow hotel, just four minutes walk from the Sheraton, where the Refresher Course will be taking place. To make room reservations at the Wyndham New Orleans – French Quarter, please visit: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/groups/hr/ami-usa-refresher-course1.

Read More +

Refresher Course Overflow Hotel

We know that for some the reservation process at the Sheraton New Orleans has been a challenge. It has been a challenge for the AMI/USA office as well, but we are glad that we were able to help nearly everyone who reached out to us. The Sheraton New Orleans, however, has informed us that we are now officially sold out. Our overflow hotel is the Intercontinental New Orleans which is a 7-minute walk from our home-base at the Sheraton New Orleans. Prices are $189 for single and double rooms, $219 for triple rooms and $249 for quad rooms. For reservations, please contact the hotel by calling 1-800-439-4745, or go online to https://book.passkey.com/event/49805430/owner/110/home.

Read More +

2019 Refresher Course Brochure

We are excited to release the brochure for the 2019 Refresher Course & Workshops in New Orleans, February 15-18, 2019. Download the brochure. You have the option of printing the brochure and cutting out the registration form and mailing it to: AMI/USA 206 N Washington St, Ste 330 Alexandria, VA 22314 Alternatively, you can register online (recommended). To view updates about the 2019 Refresher Course & Workshops, visit https://amiusa.org/2019-refresher-course/.

Read More +

2019 Refresher Course Speakers

We are excited to announce the 2019 Refresher Course speakers! Our annual Refresher Course & Workshops will take place in New Orleans, February 15-18. 2019. We are looking forward to the energy that this historic city will lend to our gathering of Montessorians from across the country (and beyond!) and hope our participants come away from the event feeling energized and enthusiastic! The Child’s Place in Time is the theme for the 2019 Refresher Course. We can’t wait to see what kind of discussions are generated around this topic. The venue for the 2019 Refresher Course & Workshops will be the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Please click here to reserve a room as part of the AMI/USA group block. Alternatively, you may call 888-627-7033 and ask for Association Montessori International group rate. Stay tuned for information about alternative accommodations in New Orleans. Registration, along with our full digital brochure, will be coming in October. Please continue checking the website for additional updates about our speakers. We can’t wait to see you in February! Assistants to Infancy The Child’s Place in Time: Adaptation and the Spiritual Value  of Work Sharlyn Smith, international trainer, presenter, and AMI examiner. Sharlyn holds AMI diplomas at the 0-3 and 3-6 levels and has more than 25 years of classroom experience as well as experience as head of school. She is the 0-3 Director of Training at the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis. Primary “Unperverted by Prejudice and Undistorted by Fear” The Universal Child’s Sensorial Journey to Cultural Human Ginni Sackett, Director of Pedagogy at AMI, is an AMI trainer at the 3-6 level, as well as a lecturer, consultant, and examiner, with over 35 years of experience in Montessori education. Elementary A Deep Dive into Deep Time: The Goldmine of Story in the Timeline  of Life and the Timelines of Humans Carla Foster, Director of Elementary Training at the Montessori Training Center Northeast and the Montessori Institute of Prague. She holds AMI diplomas at the 3-6 and 6-12 levels and has been an elementary trainer since 2011. She was a keynote speaker at the 2017 International Congress.

Read More +

Montessori’s Framework: Reshaping Education for All Children

Montessori’s Framework: Reshaping Education for All Children November 8-11, 2018 Doubletree Dallas Campbell Centre, Dallas, TX School superintendents, administrators, trainers, researchers, teachers, and social service providers will join to create a comprehensive education model with Montessori at the center. Montessori education will be examined alongside trauma-informed practice and anti-bias awareness while results of research will guide our work to expand access for all children to quality Montessori education. Lynne Lawrence, executive director of AMI, and John Merrow, author (Addicted to Reform) and education journalist, will launch a discussion of a Montessori global strategic plan that can serve as a lasting model for public and private consideration. Key presentations will guide the discussions, study, and reflections that will define the framework for bringing Montessori into the center of reshaping education. Follow-up lectures and roundtable discussions will serve as stimuli for action to guide the implementation of Montessori in diverse settings and communities. Topics will include early childhood development, assessment and Montessori outcomes, the impact of stress and trauma, integrated services in a community, public policy, and leadership in the public sector. View the full program to see the full schedule, keynote titles and descriptions, breakout offerings, and speakers. Online registration is fast and simple, or a registration form can be printed from the program. Conference events take place at the Doubletree Dallas Campbell Centre, telephone: 1-214-691-8700. Please be sure to mention the NAMTA room block when making your room reservation.

Read More +

2019 Refresher Course Keynote Speaker

We are excited to announce the keynote address for the 2019 Refresher Course & Workshops in New Orleans!  Challenges  and  Opportunities:  Why  Poverty  Matters  and  Why  Schools  Can  Matter  More  Tammy Pawloski, Ph.D. Life  with  limited  resources  can  negatively  impact  achievement  and  life  success,  but  the  good news  is  that  schools  and  teachers  can  matter  more! The  latest  research  from  neuroscience provides  direction  for  intentional  school  and  teacher  moves  that  can  dramatically  and  positively shift  the  trajectory  for  all  students. Learn  how  to  reframe  the  challenges  faced  by  teachers  in high-poverty  schools  as  opportunities  for  revealing  the  often-hidden  potential  of  every  learner every day. Tammy Pawloski is Professor of Education and Director of the Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty at Francis Marion University.  She holds a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina, and prior to joining the faculty of FMU in 2000, she served on the faculties of USC in South Carolina, and Ventura College and Pepperdine University in Southern California. — The theme for the 2019 Refresher Course & Workshops will be: The Child’s Place in Time. The Refresher Course will take place at the Sheraton New Orleans hotel February 15-18, 2019. More information about workshops and presenters will be available on the website soon! Early bird registration will open in October. If you have yet to book a room at the Sheraton New Orleans hotel, please click here to reserve a room as part of the AMI/USA group block. Alternatively, you may call 888-627-7033 and ask for Association Montessori International group rate. We look forward to seeing you in February!

Read More +

Refresher Course 2019 Hotel

We are excited to announce that the hotel for the 2019 Refresher Course and Workshops – The Sheraton New Orleans Hotel – is ready to accept your room reservations! Please click here to reserve a room as part of the AMI/USA group block. Alternatively, you may call 888-627-7033 and ask for Association Montessori International group rate. We look forward to seeing you in February!

Read More +

Building Partnerships in Support of the Child, Teacher, and Parents

AMI/USA is excited to announce that registration for the first AMI Affiliate Conference in the United States is now open!  As a reminder, AMI/USA, EAA, MAA and NAMTA have committed to three joint professional development conferences throughout 2018 and 2019.  The first conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland in October of 2018.  Please, see the attached brochure for more information and click on the registration link to register for this event.  Click here for information about the November conference in Dallas, Texas and stay tuned for information about the April 2019 conference in Seattle. Click here to register for Building Partnerships in Support of the Child, Teacher and Parents. Click here to view the conference brochure. Reserve your room at the Sheraton Columbia Town Center by September 18, 2018 to receive the special NAMTA rate of $126 (lodge) or $144 (tower). Call 1-888-627-8318 and state that you are reserving under the NAMTA room block.

Read More +

Upcoming Professional Development Events

Upcoming Affiliate Events Just a reminder about this year’s professional development events, coordinated by the North American Montessori Teachers’ Association (NAMTA) in partnership with AMI/USA, the Elementary Alumni Association, and the Montessori Administrators’ Association. The events will take place October 11-14 in Baltimore, MD, November 8-11 in Dallas, TX, and April 4-7 in Seattle, WA. Click here to learn more. Click here to download the flyer.

Read More +

MPPI State Advocacy Retreat

MPPI State Advocacy Representatives, MPPI is thrilled to announce our Fall 2018 State Advocacy Retreat, to be held at the Crown Plaza Old Town Alexandria, September 30th-October 2nd. This third MPPI retreat will once again bring our Montessori advocates from all over the country together to participate in valuable advocacy training and share successes and challenges in our work. This year’s retreat will feature introduction of the new MPPI/MACTE Montessori Teacher Credential Recognition Toolkit through our credential recognition bootcamp. MPPI is excited to unveil our new Montessori/ECERS-3 and Montessori/CLASS Crosswalks, developed through dialogue with the ECERS authors and collaboration with Teachstone. Retreat attendees will have the opportunity for in-depth training on the development and use of these valuable tools. Hotel reservations for the MPPI State Advocacy Retreat are now available at this link, or by calling the hotel directly at 866-732-4555 or 703-683-6000 and identifying your reservation as MPPI, or Group Code WOT. Retreat registration will open in the coming weeks, first for MPPI State Representatives, then for all other interested advocates. We are excited to share all of the new supports we have to offer all of you and to have the chance to catch up on everyone’s work! For questions, contact Denise Monnier at denise@montessoriadvocacy.org.

Read More +

Montessori for Social Justice Conference

AMI/USA is a proud sponsor of the 2018 Montessori for Social Justice conference, to be held in St. Paul, MN, June 27-July 1. Montessori for Social Justice (MSJ) is dedicated to promoting anti-bias, anti-racist Montessori education. They bring together Montessorians of all trainings to work towards educational equity and the success of all children. At this year’s conference, AMI/USA is thrilled to support the keynote address, presented by Lorena and Roberto Germán, as well as scholarships for attendees. Click here to register and click here to learn more about MSJ.

Read More +

Keynote Address from Gretchen Hall

If you are one of the 1200 people that attended the 2018 Refresher Course & Workshops in Phoenix, AZ and were able to attend the Friday night Keynote Address, you know how inspiring AMI/USA Board President Gretchen Hall’s speech was. In addition to the brilliant Alice Waters, who was the main speaker, we heard from Alyssa Schwartz, Interim Executive Director of AMI/USA, Gretchen Hall, Board President, and Phillip O’Brien, AMI Board President. Many have asked for Gretchen’s speech, and we are happy to make it available here for all to enjoy and share. Very best, The AMI/USA Team Download a PDF of the speech here. Keynote Address – Gretchen Hall AMI/USA Refresher Course Phoenix, AZ  February 16, 2018 Sixteen years ago I attended my first refresher course, on the advice of a consultant.  I was at once, awed and intimidated by the greater community and yet felt a connection to something bigger than my isolated work as a teacher.  Since that day, I have attended every refresher course and my roles in the AMI community have evolved from teacher to administrator, consultant, trainer, presenter and as President of AMI/USA.   From my experiences, I stand here today with a very different perspective of our community than from that naive teacher of 16 years ago. It is from this perspective that tonight I would like to share with you a vision and an appeal. From where I stand, the AMI movement in the USA is standing at a precipice – with beautiful vistas on the horizon and a terrifying view of the chasm below.  How did we get here and how do we move forward is what we need to reflect on today. At the core of AMI’s mission is to preserve the legacy of Dr. Maria Montessori.  We have worked hard to preserve that legacy and today we enjoy a reputation of quality implementation and high standards.  Yet we have paid a price for this recognition.  In preserving, we became protective.  We fervently held onto the past and protected it from those who threatened it.   Just as a mother protects her baby, the protection originated from a source of love and devotion.  But as we know, too much protection is an obstacle to growth and over time we got in our own way.  We became exclusive and were critical and judgmental of those who thought differently.  Our movement became divided and fractured, even amongst ourselves.  Individual needs were placed above the needs of the community.  In protecting the past, we put the present and the future in jeopardy and we created chasms.  A culture of “them ” vs “us” evolved, a sentiment which is disturbingly reflected in our politics today.   We began to measure others on how “Montessori” they are and we used the term “Montesomething” to discredit and devalue others.  Classifying ourselves as “trained” and “non-trained” divided us further.  We boast that our pedagogy lays the foundation for social cohesion, yet we have failed to achieve cohesion in our own community. Dr. […]

Read More +

Refresher Course Certificate Requests

Refresher Course certificates of attendance are available by email or mail (with a $5 processing fee). To request your own certificate, please click here. If you are requesting a number of certificates for a school, please download this certificate request form to your desktop and return it completed to the AMI/USA office. Please note Adobe Acrobat Pro or later is required to complete this form. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Pro, please email us to request an Excel version.

Read More +

Refresher Course 2018 Speakers

We are excited to announce the speakers for the 2018 Refresher Course! Learn more about our speakers below. The 2018 Refresher Course & Workshops will take place at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, AZ. Click here to make a room reservation using the AMI group rate. Assistants to Infancy Maria Teresa (Chacha) Vidales is an AMI Director of Training at the Assistants to Infancy Level at the Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia. She has directed courses in Dallas, Texas, China and Australia. She also co-directed the Assistants to Infancy Course in Japan and San Diego, and collaborated with the course in Denver. Maria Teresa serves as AMI examiner, consultant, lecturer, and workshop leader. Maria Teresa also holds the AMI Primary diploma. She has operated a school in Mexico since 1989, and has been working with children close to thirty years. Chacha also served on the AMI Board of Directors. Montessori Schools San Diego Primary Jennifer Shields is a director of AMI primary training for the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University Maryland. Jennifer holds both the AMI Primary and Assistants to Infancy diplomas. She earned a B.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University and an M.Ed. from Cleveland State University. Since her lucky start as an assistant in an AMI class in 1990, Jennifer has participated in the Montessori community in a variety of roles. She is an examiner and consultant for AMI. Jennifer loves observing in classrooms, coaching teachers and teacher trainees, working with parents, and spreading the insights made by Dr. Montessori to anyone willing to listen, most recently to primary teacher trainees in Geneva, Switzerland. Jennifer delights in her three young-adult children, and in her wonderful husband. She relishes a daily ramble (especially with her German shepherd), reads novels and newspapers religiously, and cooks vegetarian meals in her free time. Elementary Jamie Rue is the Director of Elementary Training at Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University Maryland. During her ten years teaching in Montessori elementary classrooms, she served as a guide for children aged 6-9, 9-12, and 6-12. She holds AMI Primary and Elementary diplomas, and earned a B.A. in English and Religion from Augustana College (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and an M.Ed. from Loyola University Maryland. Jamie currently serves as treasurer on the AMI/USA Board of Directors and is a past vice-chair/treasurer of the AMI Elementary Alumni Association. Jamie presents at workshops and conferences around the world, but is happiest when at home with her husband and two teenage daughters. Assistants Maria del Coral Ruiz received her AMI primary diploma from the Centro Internazionale Maria Montessori, Perugia, Italy. She is a primary trainer, examiner and lecturer with AMI, and has over 25 years of Montessori experience as head of school in Puebla, and Monterrey, México. She has had training responsibilities in Puebla, México, Hang Zhou, China, Houston, Texas, U.S.A, San José, Costa Rica, Quito, Ecuador, Murcia, Spain and Montpellier, France. She spent many years working with abandoned and living in the street children in Puebla by providing Montessori experiences on different […]

Read More +

Refresher Course Diversity Forum

The entire AMI community is invited to come together at the 2018 Refresher Course in Phoenix to discuss what actions we can take to welcome the diverse future ahead. This open conversation will take place 5:00-6:00pm on Friday, February 16. For more information or to RSVP, please email Alyssa Schwartz.

Read More +

Register for the 2018 Refresher Course

Registration is now open for the 2018 Refresher Course & Workshops. We are excited to offer a full slate of workshops in addition to the main lecture sessions, all related to the 2018 theme: The Complete Classroom: Preparing the Intangible Environment. Look through the digital brochure (below) to view speaker info, workshop and session descriptions, registration info, hotel info, and more. Register online here. Please note: Monday’s Workshop A is now about AMI’s Bold Goal. Please visit our special events page to learn more. The NAMTA Adolescent Workshop will once again be held concurrently with the Refresher Course.  Please click here to learn more and click here to register. Make sure to book your hotel room at The Arizona Grand Resort soon in order to secure a room at the AMI group rate. Click here to book your room or call the on-site reservations department at 877.800.4888 to make your reservation with the AMI group rate. **AMI/USA’s room block at the Arizona Grand Resort is already completely booked.  Click here to view our overflow hotel options.**  View the digital brochure.

Read More +

New Refresher Course Events

Several special events will take place at this year’s Refresher Course and Workshops!  Details on locations will be available in your registration folder when you arrive in Phoenix. Friday Diversity Forum Gather to discuss what actions we, the AMI community, can take to welcome the diverse future ahead.  This open conversation will take place 5:00-6:00pm. It Takes a Village During the Keynote Address on Friday night, AMI/USA and NAMTA will present NAMTA’s newest film.  “It Takes a Village” is a short documentary demonstrating Lynedoch Sustainability Institute’s Ecovillage. Lynedoch Ecovillage is a small community approximately 12 km outside Stellenbosch, South Africa. Located midway between two very different environments, Lynedoch navigates a progressive approach to socially, racially, and economically integrated and inclusive community living. Gardens, woodlands, and home landscapes are surrounded by a small mountain range and creek to create a living and learning community of beauty and sustainability. The ecovillage includes a Montessori school for children to age 6. Book Signing Please join us immediately following the Keynote Address for a book signing with Alice Waters.  Copies of her new book, Coming to My Senses, will be available for purchase at the AMI/USA Bookstore. Saturday Yoga AMI Primary teacher and yogi Sarah Dosmann will once again offer early morning yoga sessions 7:00–8:00 a.m. in the hotel on Saturday & Sunday to help fellow participants become focused and centered in anticipation of the busy day ahead. School Tours School tours will be held at four AMI-recognized schools in the Phoenix area, beginning at 6:00pm: Keystone Montessori: Charter School. Toddler, Children’s House, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Adolescents Creo Montessori Community: Private School. Toddler, Children’s House, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary Tempe Montessori School: Private School. Nido, Toddler House, Children’s House, Lower Elementary Augustus H. Shaw Jr. Montessori: Public Montessori School. Children’s House, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Adolescent Sign up to reserve your spot for School Tour Transportation.  The ticket will include round-trip transportation to two AMI schools and back to the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa. Please contact Lauren Franchek with questions specific to School Tours. Sunday EAA Business Meeting At AMI-EAA’s annual business meeting, held Sunday morning 7:30-8:45am, we meet with members at the Refresher Course to: update members on events of the last year, discuss past and future summer conferences, inform membership about board transitions/introduce new additions, discuss outreach to Elementary teachers both domestic and international, introduce current pedagogues, look for ways to strengthen and serve mission – supporting elementary teachers in their work, answer member questions/queries At our upcoming meeting in Phoenix, we will be welcoming Melinda Nielsen and Regina Cyvas onto the board as Allyson Creel (Chair) and Wendy Tye (Outreach Coordinator) cycle off.  We are grateful for all of Allyson and Wendy’s years of dedication to AMI-EAA and we look forward to working with Melinda and Regina. This year’s Annual Summer Conference will be on July 17-22, 2018 at the University of Colorado-Boulder.  To submit a proposal to present, please click here. Yoga AMI Primary teacher and yogi Sarah Dosmann will once again offer early morning yoga sessions 7:00–8:00 a.m. in the hotel on Saturday & Sunday to help fellow participants […]

Read More +

Overflow Hotel for 2018 Refresher Course

Additional sleeping rooms for 2018 Refresher Course participants are available at the Best Western Plus Tempe by the Mall. +free parking and wifi +hot breakfast +free airport shuttle +free shuttle to/from the Arizona Grand Resort. **Guests must reserve shuttle service to the Arizona Grand Resort when they check in at the front desk.** To make a room reservation at the Best Western Plus Tempe by the Mall for the special rate of $149/night, please call 480-820-7500 and refer to the Association Montessori International/USA rate. Room reservations must be made by February 2, 2018 in order to take advantage of AMI/USA’s special rate.

Read More +

Refresher Course CEUs Available

AMI/USA, in conjunction with Loyola University, is pleased to offer Continuing Education Units for this year’s Refresher Course.  CEUs are offered in addition to college credit from Eastern Washington University. Please click the letter below to learn more, or email montessori@loyola.edu or montessori@amiusa.org for additional questions. Letter to Participants

Read More +

Refresher Course Scholarships!

AMI/USA is thrilled to announce that up to fourteen scholarships are available for teachers and administrators to attend the 2020 The Montessori Experience: Refresher Course and Workshops. The scholarship will allow teachers and administrators to attend who may not otherwise have the financial resources to do so.  Up to fourteen recipients will be chosen, with a representative number attending each workshop (i.e., 2 Assistants, 2 Administrative, 2 Equity Intensive Workshop, 2 A to I, 2 Primary, 2 Elementary, 2 Adolescent). Please click here to apply!  The application will close November 20. The fine print: Scholarships will take the form of waived registration for Saturday and Sunday sessions only. Supplemental Friday and Monday workshops may be purchased separately. Recipients must meet the criteria listed below and will be chosen by random lottery. Recipients must attend the entire conference; scholarships may not be transferred or postponed. A $100 refundable deposit will be required at time of registration and will be refunded after full attendance at The Montessori Experience: Refresher Course and Workshops. Each recipient must procure travel, lodging, and AMI and EAA (if required) membership, independently. Criteria for Acceptance +Hold an AMI diploma at the necessary level +Be an AMI, and/or EAA member if necessary for attendance or be willing to join +Currently work in a Montessori classroom or school +Is from a school with limited funds and would not be able to attend without additional financial assistance

Read More +

Refresher Course Workshops

We are excited to bring a lineup of engaging workshops to the Refresher Course again this year! Open to both AMI trained professionals and the general public, these workshops offer insight into various topics related to this year’s theme: The Complete Classroom. Scroll below to learn more. The 2018 Refresher Course & Workshops will take place at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, AZ. Click here to make a room reservation using the AMI group rate. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Mindfulness & Montessori: A Focus on Teacher Well-being and Stress Relief Presented by: Breon Michel, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Teachers are pulled in a million directions in order to meet the ever-changing needs of children and their families. The mind can feel like a sandstorm at the end of a jam-packed school day. This is where mindfulness comes in. Learn how mindfulness can quiet a busy mind, help teachers respond to challenging situations with greater ease, and serve as an energy boost throughout the day. The class will include an overview of what mindfulness is and how it relates to teacher well-being + classroom behavior. Teachers will take home research-based, practical tools, including short guided mindfulness meditations, that help them incorporate mindful breaks at work and home. Support Services and Interventions for Children in AMI Elementary Environments Presented by: Liesl Taylor, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Increasingly high percentages of children are experiencing levels of challenge and crisis significantly detrimental to their ability to access all that our environments have to offer. How do we approach supporting all children in the AMI school setting? With whom do we collaborate? How do we better prepare our selves and our environments for this essential work? Grounded in the context of Montessori pedagogy and contemporary research, we’ll delve into case studies as we consider these questions. By doing so, our point of departure in responding to a child in crisis or with significant challenges is from a place of deeper knowledge, understanding, and compassion, affording every child increased access to a richer and more meaningful education. Advocacy Training for Montessori Public Policy Presented by: Ashley LiBetti Mitchel, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. This workshop will provide information for advocates for excellence in Montessori education. You will learn about legislative and regulatory processes germane to the education policy world, and how to build strong coalitions for action. You will also learn about the Montessori Public Policy Initiative—a collaboration between AMS and the Association Montessori International/USA—and the exciting progress the organization is making to support effective policies to protect authentic Montessori implementation. Introduction to Montessori for Ageing and Dementia Presented by: Jennifer Brush, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Montessori for Ageing and Dementia is an innovative approach to dementia care that can be adopted for individuals or groups as a philosophy of care. The goal of the Montessori program is to support older adults and people living with dementia by creating a prepared environment, filled with cues and memory supports, that enables individuals to care for themselves, others, […]

Read More +

Refresher Course 2018 Speakers

We are excited to announce the speakers for the 2018 Refresher Course! Learn more about our speakers below. The 2018 Refresher Course & Workshops will take place at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, AZ. Click here to make a room reservation using the AMI group rate. Assistants to Infancy Maria Teresa (Chacha) Vidales is an AMI Director of Training at the Assistants to Infancy Level at the Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia. She has directed courses in Dallas, Texas, China and Australia. She also co-directed the Assistants to Infancy Course in Japan and San Diego, and collaborated with the course in Denver. Maria Teresa serves as AMI examiner, consultant, lecturer, and workshop leader. Maria Teresa also holds the AMI Primary diploma. She has operated a school in Mexico since 1989, and has been working with children close to thirty years. Chacha also served on the AMI Board of Directors. Primary Jennifer Shields is a director of AMI primary training for the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University Maryland. Jennifer holds both the AMI Primary and Assistants to Infancy diplomas. She earned a B.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University and an M.Ed. from Cleveland State University. Since her lucky start as an assistant in an AMI class in 1990, Jennifer has participated in the Montessori community in a variety of roles. She is an examiner and consultant for AMI. Jennifer loves observing in classrooms, coaching teachers and teacher trainees, working with parents, and spreading the insights made by Dr. Montessori to anyone willing to listen, most recently to primary teacher trainees in Geneva, Switzerland. Jennifer delights in her three young-adult children, and in her wonderful husband. She relishes a daily ramble (especially with her German shepherd), reads novels and newspapers religiously, and cooks vegetarian meals in her free time. Elementary Jamie Rue is the Director of Elementary Training at Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University Maryland. During her ten years teaching in Montessori elementary classrooms, she served as a guide for children aged 6-9, 9-12, and 6-12. She holds AMI Primary and Elementary diplomas, and earned a B.A. in English and Religion from Augustana College (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and an M.Ed. from Loyola University Maryland. Jamie currently serves as treasurer on the AMI/USA Board of Directors and is a past vice-chair/treasurer of the AMI Elementary Alumni Association. Jamie presents at workshops and conferences around the world, but is happiest when at home with her husband and two teenage daughters. Assistants Maria del Coral Ruiz received her AMI primary diploma from the Centro Internazionale Maria Montessori, Perugia, Italy. She is a primary trainer, examiner and lecturer with AMI, and has over 25 years of Montessori experience as head of school in Puebla, and Monterrey, México. She has had training responsibilities in Puebla, México, Hang Zhou, China, Houston, Texas, U.S.A, San José, Costa Rica, Quito, Ecuador, Murcia, Spain and Montpellier, France. She spent many years working with abandoned and living in the street children in Puebla by providing Montessori experiences on different environment sets. Parents Kristi McAlister is […]

Read More +

Refresher Course Hotel Open for Booking

The Arizona Grand Resort is open for booking!  Join us for The Complete Classroom:  Preparing the Intangible Environment at the 2018 Refresher Course in sunny Phoenix, Arizona, February 16-19. Click here to book your room or call the on-site reservations department at 877.800.4888 to make your reservation with the AMI group rate.   The group rate is available until January 20 or until the room block is fully booked.  We can’t wait to see you in Phoenix!

Read More +

Refresher Course 2018 Keynote Speaker

AMI/USA is thrilled to announce the 2018 Refresher Course Keynote Address will be delivered by Alice Waters! Over the course of 40 years, Alice Waters has created and passionately supported a culinary philosophy that maintains that food should be organic, sustainable and locally sourced. Opening her restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley in 1971, which has ranked among the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” for the last four decades, her commitment to finding the highest-quality, seasonal ingredients has created a network of local farmers and purveyors dedicated to sustainable agriculture. Her focus on education further led to the creation of the Edible Schoolyard Project in 1996, which is committed to transforming public education and supports projects that incorporate gardening and preparing healthy meals into the school curriculum. Waters’ influence is extensive: she is vice president of Slow Food International, a nonprofit organization that promotes and celebrates local artisanal food traditions and has more than 100,000 members in over 130 countries. Her other numerous honors include being co-recipient, with Kofi Annan, of the Global Environmental Citizen Award from Harvard Medical School in 2008, and being named to the French Legion of Honor in 2009. Her speaking engagements include, among others, lecture series and university talks related to food ethics and values, just and sustainable agriculture, and the transformative power of growing, cooking, and sharing food. Alice Waters is the author of ten books, including The Art of Simple Food: Notes and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution, In the Green Kitchen, 40 Years of Chez Panisse: The Power of Gathering, and her most recent book, The Art of Simple Food II: Recipes, Flavor, and Inspiration from the New Kitchen Garden. Alice Waters is also a trained Montessori teacher. Click here to read a recent interview in which she discusses how Montessori affects her cooking. For more information on Alice Waters, please visit http://www.prhspeakers.com/speaker/alice-waters.

Read More +

Refresher Course 2018: Phoenix

Mark your calendars! We are thrilled to announce that the 2018 Refresher Course and Workshops will be held in Phoenix, Arizona!  The Refresher Course will take place Presidents’ Day weekend, February 16-19, 2018.  Phoenix is home to a vibrant Montessori community, with more than 10 AMI schools and the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies, offering AMI primary and assistants teacher training.  The Refresher Course will be held at the Grand Arizona Resort, where attendees can swim, hike, and enjoy the beautiful desert environment.  The last time the Refresher Course took place in Arizona was in 1997, also the first year that a course was offered for Assistants to Infancy practitioners.  It has been far too long and we can’t wait to return!  More information about the hotel and speakers will be available next summer.

Read More +

2017 Workshop Presenters

Announcing the Workshop Presenters for the 2017 Refresher Course & Workshops!  We are pleased to announce the workshops presenters for The Calculating Mind: Cultivating Discovery, Persistence, Problem Solving, which will take place in Austin, Texas from February 17-20, 2017. To book a hotel room, please visit our hotel information page. Stay tuned for more information about additional workshops and special events. PARENTS’ WORKSHOP Life after Montessori – What Parents Can Expect Beyond the Classroom Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Alison Sherrill Alison Sherrill has served as an AMI guide and administrator for over twenty years. She is currently the Elementary Coordinator for AMI recognized Arbor Montessori School in Decatur, Georgia (18months – 14 years). Alison earned a BS in Early Childhood Education from The University of Georgia as well as a diploma from Association Montessori Internationale at the Elementary (6-12) level. She is also certified by the Children and Adults with ADHD Disorder (CHADD) organization to lead parenting classes. Alison is the past president and current Board member of the Montessori Institute of Atlanta, an AMI teacher training program. In addition to Alison’s work with families in a school setting, she serves as an officer with her national sorority, Sigma Kappa, in the mentoring of college age women at both the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of North Georgia . Alison is the proud parent of two Montessori daughters. FRIDAY SPECIAL INTEREST WORKSHOPS We are pleased to be offering two long-format special interest workshops on Friday, February 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Our expert presenters will cover important topics in depth in these interactive sessions, and professional development certificates will be offered for full attendance. Workshop A: Supporting the Dyslexic Child in the Montessori Prepared Environment Alison Awes Alison Awes holds Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) diplomas at the primary (ages 3–6) and elementary (ages 6–12) levels, a bachelor of arts in art history from Smith College, a master of arts in Latin American studies from Tulane University, and a master of education in Montessori education from Loyola University Maryland. Extensively knowledgeable, Awes has served as an elementary guide (teacher) in both lower elementary (ages 6–9) and upper elementary (ages 9–12) classrooms. Following many years of studying and working with children, Awes completed the rigorous AMI Training of Trainers Programme to become a teacher trainer. She is director of elementary training at the Montessori Center of Minnesota as well as co-director of elementary training at the Maria Montessori Institute, London. She further uses her expertise in her role as external examiner on AMI courses at other institutes and as an AMI consultant. Awes works to advance the philosophy and spirit of Montessori as a board member for both private and charter Montessori schools, as well as other organizations including the AMI Elementary Alumni Association. An international lecturer, she has given numerous workshops on a wide variety of topics including dyslexia, the psychological and physical prepared environment, and inspiring meaningful work in the elementary child.   Awes attended Montessori school until the age of twelve. […]

Read More +

Exciting New Events at the Refresher Course

We are excited to be offering some new activities at the 2017 Refresher Course & Workshops that will offer participants unique opportunities for networking, getting involved in advocacy efforts, and taking care of mental and physical health during this busy and productive weekend! More details will be available in the digital brochure, to be released next month. Morning Yoga Classes Primary teacher and certified Yoga instructor, Sarah Dosmann, will be leading early morning Yoga sessions from 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. in the hotel on Saturday & Sunday to help fellow participants become focused and centered in anticipation of the busy day ahead. State Advocacy Gathering Join Montessori advocates from around the country at the bar for an informal discussion and gathering.  Leaders from the Montessori Public Policy Initiative and representatives of state advocacy groups will be on hand to share insights and stories from their important work protecting authentic Montessori. Friday, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Parent-Infant Class For the first time, a parent-infant class will be offered Saturday morning from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Come observe a parent-infant class in session and have an opportunity to speak with A to I trained guides about how to organize parent-infant classes and the benefits for your school School Tours We are happy to announce that local school tours are back this year. We will be touring local AMI schools from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Read More +

2017 Refresher Course Speakers

Announcing the Speakers for the 2017 Refresher Course & Workshops!  We are pleased to announce the speakers for The Calculating Mind: Cultivating Discovery, Persistence, Problem Solving, which will take place in Austin, Texas from February 17-20, 2017. To book a hotel room, please visit our hotel information page. Stay tuned for more information about additional speakers and workshop content. KEYNOTE Ross Greene Ross W. Greene, Ph.D., is the originator of the innovative, empirically-supported approach now known as Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), as described in his influential books The Explosive Child, Lost at School, and Lost & Found, and in his forthcoming book Raising Human Beings. Dr. Greene served on the teaching faculty at Harvard Medical School for over 20 years, and is currently adjunct associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech. He is also the Founding Director of the non-profit Lives in the Balance, which provides vast, free, web-based resources on the CPS model; provides support and advocacy for behaviorally challenging kids and their caregivers; takes a strong stand against the use of corporal punishment at home and school, the use of restraint and seclusion in schools and restrictive therapeutic facilities, and the use of detention, suspension, and expulsion in schools, preschools, and daycare settings; and advocates for interventions that are non-punitive and non-adversarial for all kids.  Dr. Greene lectures and provides consultation to families, schools, and restrictive therapeutic facilities throughout the world and lives in Portland, Maine, with his wife and two kids. ASSISTANTS TO INFANCY Sara Brady Sara Brady holds AMI diplomas at both Assistants to Infancy and Children’s House levels. She has a Masters in Education from Loyola College in Maryland. Since 1999 Sara has worked extensively in a variety of Montessori settings: long-day care, pre-school and Montessori in the home. She has enjoyed working in Nido and Infant Communities as well as parent-infant classes. Sara lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and three children. Sara is qualified as an AMI Assistants to Infancy trainer. PRIMARY Uma Ramani Uma Ramani is AMI trained at the Primary (India) and Elementary (Hartford) levels.  She is a Director of Training at the Montessori Institute of North Texas (MINT) in Dallas, Texas. In addition, she enjoys consulting with schools, coaching and mentoring guides in their classroom practice. She has several years experience working in private, public and charter schools in the US. She enjoys bringing Montessori principles to parents and to adults working with children in Montessori and non-Montessori settings. ELEMENTARY Phyllis Pottish-Lewis Ms. Phyllis Pottish-Lewis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology from UCLA and a Master’s Degree in Education from Loyola College in Maryland.  Also, she holds both primary and elementary diplomas from the Association Montessori Internationale.  She received her AMI primary diploma with Francesca Claremont from the Montessori Institute of Los Angeles in 1971 and her AMI elementary diploma with Margaret Stephenson from the Washington Montessori Institute in 1977.  She has over 37 years of teaching experience with children and 36 years of lecturing on AMI elementary courses.  To complement her years in the classroom, she also has two years […]

Read More +

IMC Call for Abstracts

The theme of the 28th International Montessori Congress, which will take place in Prague from July 27-30, 2017, is “Pathway to Peace: Montessori Education for Social Change.” The International Montessori Congress is looking for teachers, educators, trainers, school leaders, and assistants to share techniques, practices, success stories, and real examples which helped make positive changes in their respective social communities. Learn how to submit an abstract here.

Read More +

Second Annual MPPI Retreat

The Montessori Public Policy Initiative is thrilled to announce that it has received a grant from Trust for Learning to hold its second annual MPPI State Advocacy Retreat. The first Retreat was held last October in Washington DC and was attended by 80 state representatives from 26 states. This second Retreat will be again held in Washington, just blocks from the United States Capitol, in late September. MPPI is eager to have even more state representation, as the important work of Montessori advocacy at the state level continues to grow. The annual Retreat gives participants the opportunity to network with one another and learn from each other’s experiences, as well as to hear from federal and state policymakers on successful strategies for engaging in effective policy work. For more information on the Montessori Public Policy Initiative, please visit www.montessoripublicpolicy.org.

Read More +

Save the Date for the 2017 Refresher Course!

AMI/USA is thrilled to announce the setting of next year’s Refresher Course and Workshops. Join us President’s Day weekend 2017 (February 17-20) in Austin, Texas! Austin, Texas’ state capital, is also the world’s live music capital. It is a vibrant city with incredible music, food, outdoor activities, as well as high quality AMI schools. Take some time during your stay to visit one of Austin’s more than 250 live music venues, enjoy Tex-Mex along the lake, or visit the home of the Longhorns at UT-Austin. We look forward to offering an exceptional weekend to refresh your practice, along with school tours and other offerings. Keep an eye on our website for updates and hotel booking information!

Read More +

2016-2017 Inclusive Education Course

The Montessori Institute of San Diego will be offering an AMI Inclusive Education Course for ages birth through 12 years in summer 2016! This supplemental course for AMI diploma holders was created to empower Montessori teachers with unique strategies to serve children who have behavioral, learning, and physical differences. For more information, download the brochure. Space is limited: Priority application deadline 2/25/16. Apply now!

Read More +

Refresher Course Transportation Deadline February 5th

Please click here to submit your travel information to 360 Destination Group to reserve transportation to and from the airport for the Refresher Course.  The link is very straightforward and provides complete airport instructions for ensuring that your trip goes smoothly.  Please note that your information must be submitted to them by February 5th, 2016 in order to reserve your transportation.  Once you’ve submitted your travel plans, please click here to find information about what to do upon arrival in LA. We’re looking forward to a fantastic Refresher Course in the New Year!

Read More +

Announcing the 2016 Advocacy Workshop

On Friday, February 12, please join us in Long Beach for the 2016 Advocacy Workshop. Presented by the Montessori Public Policy Initiative, the Advocacy Workshop is an opportunity to learn about the MPPI’s work and to practice your own advocacy skills. This year’s workshop has three components: Rich Ungerer, Executive Director of the American Montessori Society, and Bonnie Beste will share updates on the MPPI’s State Advocacy Retreat this past fall and provide exciting information on the group’s strategic planning process. Rebecca Pelton, President of the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE), will provide a short overview of the Association’s work on teacher licensure, and how MACTE and the national organizations are working to support Montessori teacher education nationwide through their outreach in the various states. Following Rebecca’s presentation, RB Fast, vice president of the Colorado Montessori Association and an AMI representative to the MPPI Council, will lead a session on Advocating for Montessori to legislators, providing participants an opportunity to learn from her expertise as well as from each other. RB’s extensive experience with state advocacy will help guide this workshop, as she takes attendees through the steps of contacting policymakers, lobbying, and advocating for Montessori thoughtfully and effectively. The Workshop will be held 3:30-5pm on February 12; it is free and open to all. Click here to register and click here to read about the rest of the weekend’s offerings.

Read More +

Parents’ Workshop in Long Beach!

AMI/USA is currently accepting registrations for the Parents’ Workshop, a part of the annual Refresher Course & Workshops!  This one-day workshop offers an opportunity for parents to learn from an experienced Montessorian about how they can support their children at home.  Please click on the flyer for more information and click here to register!

Read More +