Montessori For Equity: A Comprehensive System for Fitting It All in—ELEMENTARY
Do you struggle to fit in all the elementary Montessori lessons and also meet the needs of learners who need more? If so, you are not alone, and this online class is designed specifically for you! Based on 10 years of experience running Austin’s first free public Montessori school, we explore how to apply an “equity” lens to lesson planning and how to fit in enough lessons to keep the “Montessori momentum” going for children who are on grade level or above (i.e., Tier 1) and enough lessons to help children who are below grade level (Tier 2 and 3) accelerate as much as possible. This course is self-paced and can be accessed on your schedule to meet your needs.
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Lesson 1
Welcome to Montessori For Equity: A Comprehensive System for Fitting It All in. We look forward to hearing about which struggle you are most hoping to solve through this course.
Welcome to Montessori For Equity: A Comprehensive System for Fitting It All in. We look forward to hearing about which struggle you are most hoping to solve through this course.
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Lesson 2
In this lesson, we reground in our “why,” so we continue to hold it at the center of the work we do day in and day out.
In this lesson, we reground in our “why,” so we continue to hold it at the center of the work we do day in and day out.
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Lesson 3
In this lesson, we ground ourselves in the Montessori principles we want to use as anchors as we work to strengthen our practice.
In this lesson, we ground ourselves in the Montessori principles we want to use as anchors as we work to strengthen our practice.
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Lesson 4
In this lesson, we are going to name and talk about the unique needs of public Montessori schools and why “Business as Usual” isn’t working for all children.
In this lesson, we are going to name and talk about the unique needs of public Montessori schools and why “Business as Usual” isn’t working for all children.
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Lesson 5
In this lesson, we delve into how to apply the concept of equity to lesson planning so that we help meet the needs of all children.
In this lesson, we delve into how to apply the concept of equity to lesson planning so that we help meet the needs of all children.
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Lesson 6
In this lesson, we start with Step One of our process: Understand How Many Lesson Blocks Fit into Your Day.
In this lesson, we start with Step One of our process: Understand How Many Lesson Blocks Fit into Your Day.
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Lesson 7
In this lesson, we explore step two of the process, which focuses on which groups get which lessons.
In this lesson, we explore step two of the process, which focuses on which groups get which lessons.
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Lesson 8
In this lesson, we move onto Step Three, which focuses on which children are available when.
In this lesson, we move onto Step Three, which focuses on which children are available when.
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Lesson 9
In this lesson, we move onto Step Four, which focuses on assigning groups to certain times.
In this lesson, we move onto Step Four, which focuses on assigning groups to certain times.
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Lesson 10
In this lesson, we address the power of looking at your schedule through the lens of individual children.
In this lesson, we address the power of looking at your schedule through the lens of individual children.
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Lesson 11
In this lesson, we talk about how to use our new plans to support lesson planning for equity.
In this lesson, we talk about how to use our new plans to support lesson planning for equity.
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Lesson 12
In this lesson, we delve into strategies related to what to do if you are struggling to fit in enough lessons.
In this lesson, we delve into strategies related to what to do if you are struggling to fit in enough lessons.
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Lesson 13
In our final lesson, we pull it all together with some closing suggestions and strategies.
In our final lesson, we pull it all together with some closing suggestions and strategies.
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Meet your guide
Sara Cotner is the Founder & Executive Director of Montessori For All, an organization that builds tools and resources and offers coaching and consulting to ensure more equitable outcomes for children in public Montessori programs. Montessori For All launched Austin’s first free public Montessori school, serving nearly 500 children—infants through Upper Elementary. Sara has cultivated broad and deep insight into educational reform as a Teach For America national staff member, the founder of an independent consulting firm, an adjunct professor, and a teacher in various environments, including charter, traditional districts, and public Montessori. She holds AMS Elementary certification and a NAMTA Adolescent certification and attended Montessori school as a child.
FAQs
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Lifetime access to all 13 lessons
PDF handouts to further your insight and understanding
Coaching and support on your course assignments
Direct access to the course instructor for follow-up questions
Upon successful completion of the two assignments and the course videos, you will receive a professional development certificate
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The course has 75 minutes of video content (direct instruction). The two required assignments will take approximately 1 hour each. The additional independent work time will take approximately 3.75 hours. Therefore, the professional development certificate includes 7 hours.
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You are a Montessori guide in lower or upper elementary.
You are an administrator or coach who would benefit from having more specific strategies to talk about with teachers who are struggling with how to fit it all in.
You are a new teacher who would benefit from additional lesson planning strategies beyond what you learned during your Montessori training.
You are a veteran guide who is hoping to refresh your approach to lesson planning to make it more equitable, more aligned with moving the needle for children who struggle, and less stressful and more efficient.
Although this course talks a lot about the unique circumstances in public Montessori schools, educators in private Montessori schools will still benefit if they work with children at diverse levels in different subject areas.