All Things Montessori
Education & Explainer
About
Welcome to the All Things Montessori Podcast, a podcast devoted to discussing everything Montessori. From classroom management to self-care, Montessori at home to staying inspired in this work; we cover it all. Hosted by AMI Trainer and Consultant, Jamie Rue and Montessori Teacher and Administrator, Rachel Merle-Smith. Email us at: allthingsmontessoripod@gmail.com Follow us at: @allthingsmontessori
Episodes
- Putting Lesson Planning Into Action
Rachel discusses practical lesson planning and record-keeping strategies for the classroom, focusing on creating efficient systems and confidently delivering lessons. The episode also mentions the All Things Montessori website launch.
- Let's Get Practical: How to Teach Songs to Children
Rachel details the Montessori approach to teaching songs in the classroom in this episode of All Things Montessori.
- How to Effectively Communicate with School Administration with Jamie Rue
Jamie Rue joins the discussion on overcoming the intimidation of communicating with school administration. Strategies for teachers and administrators to foster streamlined and positive communication are explored.
- Revisited: Cooking with Children
Jamie and Rachel revisit the topic of cooking with children, covering its application in both classroom and home environments. The episode also promotes the All Things Montessori website and various partner discounts.
- Ideas for the End of the Year | Classroom Edition
This episode of All Things Montessori provides ideas and activities to make the last few months of school engaging and enjoyable. It suggests listeners check out the episode on Cooking with Children for additional inspiration.
- The Power of Dance through Life, Grief, and Transitions with Kei Ikeda
This week, Rachel talks with friend and Montessori colleague, Kei Ikeda all about the power of dance. Kei shares a vulnerable story of navigating the grief of the sudden passing of her partner and how dance helped her during this incredibl…
- What is Montessori Parenting?
This week, Rachel dives into the Montessori parenting approach. Have you heard about Montessori parenting but aren't quite sure what it is? Tune in to find out! The All Things Montessori website is LIVE! Check it out. https://allthingsmont…
- Learning with Nature: How Spring Can Reawaken Your Classroom
A new season can bring new growth, excitement, and curiosity. This week, Rachel talks about botany lessons, nature walks, and how to encourage children to learn from nature. The All Things Montessori website is LIVE! Check it out. https://…
- The Third Year of Primary with Austin Matte
Austin Matte, founder of The Connected Montessorian and Head of School at Upstone Montessori returns to talk through the importance of that third year of primary, where it all comes together. Check out The Connected Montessorian, a proud p…
- Revisited: Freedom & Responsibility
Let's revisit two of the most crucial components of the Montessori classroom, freedom and responsibility. In this episode Jamie and Rachel sit down and talk through these two elements, how they work in the elementary environment, and how v…
- Let's Avoid Teacher Burnout: How to Prioritize Self-Care and Wellness
This week is all about implementing self-care practices in and out of the classroom. Taking care of yourself, especially if you're in a career that involves working with children, is not only a good idea, it's necessary. Check out The Conn…
- Navigating Social Justice as a Parent & Educator: A Conversation with Rachael Lucille
The incredible Rachael Lucille joins Rachel on the podcast today to talk all about social justice, navigating tough conversations through parenting, and how use books and literature as teaching tools. Rachael is a school program specialist…
- Montessori in the Home: Where to Start
Repeat after me: declutter, shift, order, beauty. This week's episode explores the idea of creating a Montessori environment in your home. Rachel breaks it down into simple terms and helps identify how to get started. Connect with ATM on I…
- Montessori Music is for Everyone
That's right. Montessori music (and music in general) is accessible to everyone, regardless of your musical background! This week, Rachel breaks down the ins and outs of Montessori music, how to get started in your classroom, and how to em…
- Building Confidence with Jamie Rue
In this dynamic episode, Jamie and Rachel discuss the importance of cultivating confidence in the elementary classroom. They talk through their own relationship to confidence, how to create an environment of acceptance and support, and how…
- Observation and Why it Matters
Observation is a pillar of Montessori education. But, why is it so important? This episode goes into all the details of observation and why it is so helpful to teachers, caregivers, and parents. It can inform, confirm, and evoke a sense of…
- What is Montessori?
Have you heard the word Montessori and felt intrigued but also confused? You're not alone. In this episode, Rachel breaks down the fundamentals of Montessori and identifies key elements to look for if you're considering a Montessori progra…
- Talking Transitions, Summer, and Change with Jamie Rue
Jamie is back on All Things Montessori for this wonderful conversation! We talk about the responsibility the Montessori guide can feel in the classroom, how to survive summer with your children at home, and the changes we've both been thro…
- Montessori for Grown Ups with Jamie Watts
This week, Rachel sits down with author and Montessorian, Jamie Watts to discuss Montessori for Grown Ups, Jamie's newest book. Jamie is the Director at Little River Montessori and has a wealth of knowledge of Montessori due to their exten…
- Toddlers, Motherhood, and Making Montessori Make Sense with Rachel Martin
This week, Rachel sits down with Rachel Martin from the Montessori Moms in the Wild podcast. They talk through raising children in the Montessori method, how to set up your home environment, and embracing the changes in the Montessori scho…
- Navigating the Bridge Between Home and School with Caroline Moulsdale
Rachel sits down with ABC Crate CEO and Founder, Caroline Moulsdale for this week's episode. Caroline started ABC Crate to help families bridge the gap between home and school by providing Montessori educational kits to build a supportive…
- All Things Parenting, Episode 5: Finding Power in Your Cycle with Lauren Barton
Today, I sit down with the incredible Lauren Barton to talk all about womanhood, motherhood, and our cycles. We touch on how to talk about periods with children, how we experience them ourselves, and how we can find power in knowing our ow…
- The Montessori Planes of Development
This week, we are going back to basics and breaking down the first and second plane of development. The first plane of development centers on 0-6 years of age. This child loves order, movement, and soaks everything up around her. The secon…
- All Things Parenting, Episode 4: Age Gaps Between Kids, Building Traditions, and Getting Outside with Leah O'Connell
On this fourth episode of All Things Parenting, my dear friend Leah returns to the podcast to talk about parenting. She has three beautiful children spanning the ages of 9, 4 and 16 months. We talk about the challenges and benefits of age…
- All Things Parenting, Episode 3: Taking Lessons from Our Own Upbringing with Zander Merle-Smith
On this episode of All Things Parenting, Zander is back to share his observations about entering a new phase of fatherhood. We discuss the hardship of watching your child get hurt, how to regulate our own emotions, and the beauty of the pr…
- Montessori, Anxiety, and IVF - Rachel's Journey to Motherhood
This week I'm sharing my interview on the wonderful podcast, Know Ya Flow produced and hosted by my friend Lauren Barton. I'm sharing it here because I detail a very low point in my life that led me to therapy, working through failure, and…
- Encouraging Curiosity about Social Justice with Shelby Kretz
Dr. Shelby Kretz is back on the podcast! Rachel and Shelby talk all about Little Justice Leader's new digital resource, how to have hard conversations with children, and how to move past shame and embrace curiosity when learning about soci…
- All Things Parenting, Episode 2: Raising Babies at Home with Alex Parris
The second episode of the All Things Parenting series focuses on raising children from a stay at home mom perspective. One of my best friends, Alex joins me for this incredible conversation all about gentle parenting, raising two kids, veg…
- Kei Ikeda Returns: Incorporating Dance into the Montessori Classroom
Kei joins Rachel to talk through Montessori Dance and how it can help educators introduce dance into their classrooms. They discuss how music is innate in humans, ideas of how to introduce dance to children, and the joy music and dance bri…
- All Things Parenting, Episode 1: Embracing Fatherhood with Zander Merle-Smith
The first episode of the All Things Parenting series focuses on fatherhood. My husband, Zander joins me for this episode and we discuss the first few months of parenting, grieving your former self, and his experience with Montessori. The A…
- Introducing All Things Parenting
All Things Parenting is a new offshoot of All Things Montessori. Becoming a parent has been the most incredible experience, and I wanted to sit down with experts, other parents, and my own husband to talk through parenting and doing it in…
- The Montessori Child with Simone Davies & Junnifa Uzodike
Join Rachel and Jamie as they sit down with the incredible authors behind to book, The Montessori Child. They discuss the four planes of development, the inspiration behind this book, and how parents can use this book as a guide to impleme…
- Capturing the Real Moments with Child & Family Photographer Leah O'Connell
This episode features the incredible Leah O'Connell, family and child photographer based in Charlottesville, VA. A best friend of mine and a innovative photographer, mother, and teacher we chat though capturing realness, doing Montessori i…
- Montessori & Infertility with Becky Myers-Pollock
Join Rachel as she sits down with primary guide and friend Becky Myers-Pollock as they talk through Becky's unique journey to pregnancy while being in the classroom. Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of miscarriage, fertili…
- Becoming a Montessori Parent
This week, Rachel sits down with a life update and talks through her journey to this incredible milestone. The All Things Montessori website is LIVE! Check it out. https://allthingsmontessoriconsulting.com/ Get 10% off your purchase at Spr…
- The Importance of Mentorship with Rising Tide Montessori
This week, Rachel sits down with Jamie Rue and Meg Trezise of Rising Tide Montessori to talk about their new Mentorship Program, Montessori Mentor On Demand. Interested in Montessori Mentor On Demand? Learn more by clicking on the link bel…
- Montessori Homeschooling with Chelsea Roberts
Rachel sits down with Chelsea Roberts, who leads the development of the Homeschool program for Guidepost Montessori. Through this work she supports families around the world who want to bring Montessori's plan of education as an aid to lif…
- Upstone Montessori: Austin Matte Returns
This week, I invited Austin Matte back to the podcast to give an update on his new school Upstone Montessori. Austin is a primary guide and founder of The Connected Montessorian, an online forum and resource for primary guides around the w…
- Living a Montessori Life
Join Rachel as she talks through how she is incorporating Montessori into her life while not being in the classroom. The All Things Montessori website is LIVE! Check it out. https://allthingsmontessoriconsulting.com/ Get 10% off your purch…
- A Conversation with Amy Williams
Join Rachel this week as she sits down with Amy Williams, of Amy Williams Academy. Amy is a longtime family educator/coach who has 30+ years of experience as a parent, teacher, facilitator, and school leader. She brings such wisdom to this…
- The Connected Montessorian with Austin Matte
This week, I got the chance to sit down with Austin Matte, primary guide and founder of The Connected Montessorian, an online forum and resource for primary guides around the world. We talk through his new school Upstone Montessori, being…
- Being Back in the Classroom with Jamie Rue
Jamie Rue is here and we are talking all about her experience getting back in the classroom. We talk through supporting children emotionally, how to adapt history lessons for the present day elementary child, and dig deep into why elementa…
- A New Montessori Perspective
Join Rachel as she talks through her new adventure in her Montessori journey. Join All Things Montessori on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/allthingsmontessori The All Things Montessori website is LIVE! Check it out. https://allthingsmont…
- Reflecting on 2021 & Mental Health
Rachel sits down this week to talk about her own personal experience with mental health in the Montessori classroom. She also reflects on 2021, goes through all the amazing episodes and guests, and shares insight about her own teaching jou…
- The Power of Language with Diane Nickerson
This week, Rachel sits down with Diane Nickerson, Director of Castle Island Bilingual Montessori School. They talk through how a bilingual program works in the Montessori space, the meaning behind words, and shared experiences with languag…
- Simone Davies | The Montessori Notebook
This week, Rachel sits down with Simone Davies from The Montessori Notebook, a podcast and online resource for Montessori parents. We talk through parenting, how to handle tantrums, and the beauty of the Montessori toddler age. Check out T…
- Social Justice with Shelby Kretz
This week, Rachel sits down with Shelby Kretz, founder of Little Justice Leaders, a company that helps teachers and parents talk about all issues revolving social justice. Check out Little Justice Leaders! https://littlejusticeleaders.com/…
- Celebrating 2 Years of All Things Montessori
In this episode, Rachel reflects the past two years of All Things Montessori and talks through the reason it was created. Thank you to everyone who has been on this journey with All Things Montessori! The All Things Montessori website is L…
- Learning Beautiful with Kim Smith
This week, Rachel sits down with Kim Smith, founder of Learning Beautiful, a company that creates Montessori inspired materials rooted in computer science and technology. Check out Learning Beautiful! https://www.learningbeautiful.com/ Joi…
- A Conversation with Infant and Toddler Expert Tracy Grewe
This week, Rachel sits down with Montessori infant and toddler development expert, Tracy Grewe. Tracy Grewe is an Infant and Toddler Development Consultant with 20+ years of experience as a Certified AMI Instructor running a Montessori sch…