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Utah Montessori Council

utahmontessori.org November 2009

Dear Montessorians;

We are pleased to present your registration materials for our 7th Annual Conference, “Best Practices in the Classroom and Beyond” to be held at the Montessori Community School in Salt Lake City February 5 - 6, 2010. This year’s conference features keynote speaker, Jonathan Wolff, Founder and Director of Learning for Life and Montessori Leadership, and member of the International Montessori Council Board of Directors. We hope you and your faculty will plan to attend.

The volunteer efforts of our members and friends help us to keep costs low while offering a professional conference experience with something to interest everyone from parents to administrators. Early Bird registration is still just $50 per person until December 15th, and $60 thereafter. This year we’ve added the option of registering for Friday or Saturday only. Registration includes appetizers and school tour on Friday evening and lunch on Saturday. There is also a $25 UMC membership fee per school, or $5 per individual for the 2010-2011 school year. Membership entitles your school to be listed on the UMC website and to be eligible for UMC school certification.

We welcome school exhibits featuring student work from your classrooms or photo displays of your school. Come prepared to shop since our vendors often offer special conference discounts. Vendors who have confirmed so far include Waseca, Insta-Learn, Priority Montessori, Discovery Toys and Educational Sounds and Images.

Following is information on some Salt Lake City hotels. Please book your rooms early and inquire about group rates for your school.

Homestead Studio Suites-1220 E. 2100 S., 1.8 miles, 801-474-0771, $85/2 queen beds - in Sugarhouse Marriott University Park–480 Wakara Way, 1.8 miles, 801-581-1000, $86/2 doubles, pool-near Red Butte Gardens Scenic Motel– 1345 Foothill Drive, 1 mile, 801-582-1527, $56/2 queens - family owned - no frills Wildflowers Bed & Breakfast-936 E. 1700 S, 1 mile, 801-466-0600, $85/1 queen - quaint, historic home

Complete the enclosed registration forms and return with registration fees (checks payable to UMC) no later than January 15th. Please pass this on to other Montessorians. See you in February!

Sincerely,

Duna Strachan, UMC Conference Coordinator

duna@soaringwings.org

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“Best Practices in the Classroom and Beyond”

Utah Montessori Council 7th Annual Conference

Friday and Saturday, February 5th - 6th, 2010 Montessori Community School

2416 East 1700 South Salt Lake City

Friday 4:00 pm Registration, Tour of School, Munch & Mingle

5:00 pm Round Table Discussions:

Toddler Level: Vivian C. Hill, Infant and Toddler Trainer Early Childhood Level: Kelly Webster, Elizabeth Academy

Elementary & Middle School Level: Jeff Whitehead, Montessori at Riverton General: Jonathan Wolff, IMC Board of Directors

Saturday

8:30 am Registration

9:00 – 10:30 am Keynote Address: Creating a Collaborative, Montessori "Best Practice" Program - Establishing and

Maintaining Authenticity and Consistency Through All Program Levels Jonathan Wolff

Via a process called the “Montessori Best Practice Matrix” based on Dr. Montessori’s scientific pedagogy, explore the standards and benchmarks for developing and maintaining authentic

Montessori instructional programs and prepared environments. Jonathan studied with Mother Isabelle Eugenie, one of Maria Montessori’s first students, earning an AMI credential at the Early Childhood level and began his career as a Montessori educator at one of the first Head Start Montessori Centers in the US. Thirty years later he works with parents, educators and

leaders around the globe focusing on best practices and leadership development.

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Saturday Morning Workshop Session 10:45 am – 12:15 pm

A. Toddler Environment: Classroom and Material Design Leah Linebarger

An interactive workshop where you can share your thoughts and experiences on creating and placing materials in the Toddler Classroom. A brief overview will be provided on how we facilitate the needs of the toddler in the Montessori

Classroom. Participants are asked to bring one work or activity to share. Leah Linebarger holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Science from Westminster College. She received her AMS IT/Toddler teaching credential from Montessori Education Center of the Rockies and has been with Soaring Wings Montessori School for 5 years.

(Toddler)

B. The World According to Biomes Sharon Duncan

Learn how you can present the world to children through biomes and integrate the Montessori Curriculum by weaving geography with science and language to show how everything is connected and nothing exists in isolation. Get ideas on how to present the parts of a biome (air, water, soil, plants, animals, and energy from the sun) with experiments, art, drama, and language activities. Sharon is certified in both Montessori primary and elementary (6-9) with 25 years of classroom experience. She is a founder of a small school in Athens, Ga and the author

and illustrator of the biome materials from Waseca.(Early Childhood, Lower and Upper Elementary)

C. Fostering Relationship Intelligence: A Peace-making Curriculum for Montessori Schools

Sura Hart Increase mutual understanding, respect and cooperation in your classroom and school with this hands-on

exploration of a dynamic curriculum integrating the teachings of Maria Montessori and Nonviolent Communication developed by Marshall Rosenberg, PhD. Use disagreements and conflict as opportunities for students to learn

valuable relationship and peacemaking skills. Sura Hart is co-author of The Compassionate Classroom, Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids and The No-Fault Classroom. Ms. Hart has over 23 years experience in elementary and

secondary education in the private and public sector. Hart is a CNVC (Center for NonViolent Communication) certified trainer, an experienced presenter and worldwide leader in the incorporation of NVC in schools. (All)

D. Bringing the Elementary Cultural Subjects to Life

Debbie Price The natural world holds a special fascination for children, and they are born scientists. Come discover the

richness of the cosmic curriculum and discuss how to bring the cultural subjects to life. The challenges of our future will require innovative thinkers who understand the cosmic approach which Montessori embraces. Debbie

Price has a B.A. degree in Chemistry from Whitman College, and has worked in forensic and environmental chemistry. She is MEPI certified at the Elementary One level and has been teaching since 2004 at Montessori

at Riverton. (Lower Elementary)

E. Get Parents on Your Education Team Souzzann Zink

Your students are with you less than half their waking hours. For the magic of Montessori to bring about the internal motivation, independence, and peaceful nature it promises, get everyone on board. Learn practical ways to give parents the support they need to use the principles at home. When parents really get it, families stay with

your program. After 25 years teaching children and adults of all ages, including 15 years in Montessori classrooms, Souzzann now consults with and trains educators and administrators and promotes Montessori education through her

company, Montessori for Everybody. (All)

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F. Rapid Renewal for Children and Teachers: Rejuvenating and Balancing Our Personal Energy When Stress, Fatigue, and Overwhelm Visit Us

Jonathan Wolff Help children and adults to be calm, collected and self-directed by overcoming stress, anger, hyperactivity and inattentiveness. Jonathan Wolff is Founder and Director of Learning for Life and Montessori Leadership, and a member of the

International Montessori Council Board of Directors. (All)

Luncheon and Door Prizes 12:15 pm

Saturday Afternoon Workshop Session

1:15 – 2:45 pm

G. Finding Peace, Making Peace, Living Peace: Families, Classrooms, Communities of Adults and Children Working Together

Lois Bobo, PhD Our peace curriculum should be as ever-present as the air we breathe, so how do we make it happen? This

workshop will offer practical solutions, provide hands-on experiences, and offer a chance to share ideas and best practices for creating classrooms, schools, communities and beyond that are committed to peace. Dr. Bobo has

been a Montessori parent, teacher, administrator and director of teacher training. She holds Montessori credentials at the Early Childhood, Lower and Upper Elementary levels and has taught Montessori Middle School

as well. She currently works as Field Experiences Coordinator at Western Governors University in Salt Lake City. (All)

H. Environmental Awareness

Stacy Schmidt Environmental awareness can be practiced in the daily curriculum of a Montessori classroom. The children can

participate in sustainable activities that will create a sense of environmental responsibility. In this workshop we will discuss school composting, recycling, gardening and conservation. Stacy holds a BS degree in Environmental Science/Geography from Southern Oregon University. She received her Montessori credential from Montessori

Education Center of the Rockies ad has been an early education teacher at Little Miners Montessori since 2005. (All)

I. Building Opportunities for Toddler Independence Vivian C. Hill

In this workshop we will discuss how to develop an environment for independence. We will examine how your program is working, the role of the adult and what changes would make it more child-directed. We will explore the cornerstones of a true Montessori toddler program: independent snack, stand-up diapering and circle. Vivian C. Hill is a Montessori Infant and Toddler trainer and consultant. She was Head of the Toddler Department at Children’s Garden Montessori in Washington for seven years before moving to Utah. She is degreed in Child

Development and is AMS credentialed at the Infant/Toddler level. Her 27 years of experience include teaching, administration and teacher education. (Toddler)

J. The Art Experience

Ali Clark and Julie Finnegan The primary goal of a Montessori art program is to discover and nurture joy in the art experience with focus on the process. Using this approach to art education, we will discuss classroom set-up and offer participants the chance to learn through making art. Ali received a BFA from the University of Delaware. Her background as an

artist and her interest in working with children led her to an MA in Art Therapy from the School of Art institute

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in Chicago. Ali is currently the lead art teacher at Little Miners Montessori School in Park City. Julie received a BFA from Michigan State University. She developed the art curriculum at Little Miners Montessori School and

teaches workshops for elementary children and women. Her focus is on teaching joy in the art process in expectation of building authentic creativity. (Early Childhood)

K. Why Some Kids Can’t Read – Understanding Dyslexia

Mary K. Hales This workshop will combine hands-on demonstration along with lecture and discussion to help attendees better understand what the term “dyslexia” really means, and how this disorder affects not only reading, but spelling and writing abilities. Information regarding the best ways to assist children with reading disabilities will also be presented. Dr. Hales is a neuropsychologist whose work focuses on brain functioning and how it impacts cognitive

abilities, learning and behavior. She has specialized for several years in the evaluation of children and adolescents with learning disabilities of all types. She completed a PhD at the University of Utah. (Early

Childhood, Lower and Upper Elementary)

L. Fostering Relationship intelligence: A Peace-making Curriculum for Montessori Schools

Sura Hart Increase mutual understanding, respect and cooperation in your classroom and school with this hands-on

exploration of a dynamic curriculum integrating the teachings of Maria Montessori and Nonviolent Communication developed by Marshall Rosenberg, PhD. Use disagreements and conflict as opportunities for students to learn

valuable relationship and peacemaking skills. Sura Hart is co-author of The Compassionate Classroom, Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids and The No-Fault Classroom. Ms. Hart has over 23 years experience in elementary and

secondary education in the private and public sector. Hart is a CNVC (Center for NonViolent Communication) certified trainer, an experienced presenter and worldwide leader in the incorporation of NVC in schools. (All)

M. Heads of Schools: Adaptive Leadership - 6 Principles for Piloting Montessori

Schools Through the Winds of Change Jonathan Wolff

Adaptive leadership, an approach developed by Heifetz at Harvard offers leaders an opportunity to understand their organizational communities in a systemic and developmental way. Due to staff and time constraints,

Montessori leaders too often take on the role of chief cook and bottle washer with little time and energy left over to think strategically or plan the future of their school community. Especially during times of economic

stress, budgetary constraints and enrollment challenges, Montessori leaders need ways to increase their effectiveness, not their workload. Jonathan Wolff is Founder and Director of Learning for Life and Montessori Leadership,

and a member of the International Montessori Council Board of Directors. (Heads of Schools)

Annual UMC General Meeting 3:00 – 4:00 pm

We invite representatives of each school to join us to review the year’s highlights and plan for future UMC events. If you have an item for the agenda please contact UMC President Valerie Whitehead at

msvalerie@montessori-at-riverton.org. The general membership of the UMC normally only meets once each year so if you have ideas or comments on building a better UMC, please join us.

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Utah Montessori Council 7th Annual Conference

“Best Practices in the Classroom and Beyond”

Registration includes appetizers Friday evening & lunch Saturday. Presenters attend free of charge. Friday Evening Events Number attending: Munch & Mingle 4:00 – 5:00 pm _________ Round Table Discussions 5:00 – 6:00 pm Toddler Level led by Vivian C. Hill_______ Early Childhood Level led by Kelly Webster_______ Elementary/Middle School Level led by Jeff Whitehead ________ General Discussion led by Jonathan Wolff________

Saturday Workshops

Name and Title (please print)

Morning Session

(circle one)

Afternoon Session

(circle one)

V = vegetarian GF = gluten

free DF = dairy free

A B C D E F G H I J K L M A B C D E F G H I J K L M A B C D E F G H I J K L M A B C D E F G H I J K L M A B C D E F G H I J K L M

Please attach a separate sheet of paper to list additional participants.

School Name _____________________________________________________________

Mailing address___________________________________________________________

Phone_________________________E-mail_____________________________________

Number of people attending full conference = ______ X $50 ($60 after Dec. 15th) = _________

Number attending Friday evening only = _____ X $20 ($25 after December 15th) = _________

Number attending Saturday workshops only = ______ X $40 ($45 after Dec. 15th) = _________

Annual UMC membership fee ($25 per school, $5 per individual) +_________

Total enclosed (please make checks payable to UMC) $__________

Please list anyone in your school who has been working in Montessori education for 20 years or longer:

_________________________________ ___________________________________ Name Title Years in Montessori Name Title Years in Montessori

Please mail registration and payment no later than January 15th to:

Duna Strachan, 2083 Equestrian Ct, Park City, UT 84060

Questions? Contact Duna at duna@soaringwings.org or 435-640-4858. Thank you!