Montessori Education with Jesse McCarthy

Ever feel like you *should* be doing better?

Exploring sometimes challenging topics in Montessori, both at school and in the home

"I get that I shouldn't say 'good job' all the time, but then *what do I say*?"

"I haven't made a school lunch since they were 6," says Heike Larson, parent of now 10-year-old Henrik and 12-year-old Karina. Heike shares her experience and insight from about a decade in Montessori, both as a leader of a nationwide group of Montessori schools and as a Montessori mom of two fun-loving, industrious children.

Some "Montessori" schools are not what you might think, and this recording offers a few things to look out for.

Are you an overprotective parent? or maybe we're all becoming an overly protective society? A discussion with Free-Range Kids author Lenore Skenazy about regaining confidence in children and in ourselves.

This episode is for parents and teachers who understandably wonder why children "wander" in Montessori classrooms — or, put more bluntly, it's for those who've asked some form of the question "Why is that child, or my child, doing *nothing* in here?"

This episode is for all the independent, hard-working mothers out there — like my own wonderful and loving mom, Monica LePort, who helped raise me and my brother during the '80s and '90s in California, at at time when spanking was normal, parents were concerned about stalkers on the street, and kids like me were acting up and getting injured just as they've probably been doing throughout time.

Have you ever considered making Montessori a profession? Hear insights about the journey to becoming a great Montessori teacher.

A discussion with former Montessori child Meredith Narrowe about transitioning out of Montessori into public school and the larger world Jesse McCarthy | montessorieducation.com

There's a lot out there on how to help children with their strong emotions, but how do we deal with our own? Today I go over a listener's question about this and then offer 3 steps to handling anger and stress.

What do all these strange Montessori terms, like "Practical Life," "Prepared Environment," and "work," actually mean? Today, with the Montessori teacher Marissa Poole, we discuss some of the lingo that can confuse parents and teachers who are new to Montessori education.

1) Is Montessori for every child? 2) How do I best introduce Montessori materials to children at home? 3) Why does my child's teacher keep calling herself a "guide"?

It is the little things in life that over time add up to character. How do children develop self-discipline, and how can we aid in that process? Today we discuss these questions and more — including some related hot-topic cultural issues (like the incident of the MAGA kids and the Native American man) — with longtime Montessori parent and educator Gretchen Hall.

How can Montessori teachers and parents connect more for the betterment of their children — and of themselves? How do Montessorians effectively communicate what's going on inside the classroom? Can parents apply Montessori ideas at home? Today we discuss these questions and more with Transparent Classroom founder Jeremy Lightsmith and one of his newest team members, Liz Strong.

What actually goes on inside a Montessori Elementary classroom? Many parents have this question yet few ever hear a clear answer to it. Today we speak with Kelly Nastasi, a Montessori elementary teacher who's been working with 1st - 6th graders for over 15 years. Kelly offers a peek into her classroom and discusses what Montessori elementary is really like.

In this episode we talk with Kristin Kintanar, Montessori teacher and math enthusiast, to get a clear sense of what exactly children do with math inside Montessori classrooms and how it all differs from traditional schooling.

Montessori is easily misunderstood. There are all sorts of myths and misconceptions about it. In this episode we talk with Amy Kwong — a veteran Montessori teacher, parent and head of school — to untangle a few of the biggest confusions.

Have you ever felt that you're not good enough, that maybe there's something wrong with you? With me to discuss how we develop self-esteem growing up — and what parents can do to help or hinder that process in their own child — is psychology Professor Eddie Brummelman from the University of Amsterdam.

An interview with Stacey Dee, experienced infant & toddler teacher who offers new parents (and all of us) some tips on attachment

An interview with Ben Messelbeck*, a thoughtful & no-nonsense father who asks the tough questions on many parents' minds *Ben actually composed the musical intro to this podcast. His work can be found at benjaminmesselbeck.com.

Most people desire peace, and nearly all parents want their child to become a good person who, as the line goes, "doesn't wind up in jail." But it's not always so easy to raise peaceful children, especially if we're not yet peaceful ourselves as adults. In this episode, we discuss some ideas around peace education with Claudia Lee, a Montessori teacher of 3- to 6-year-olds who has a unique perspective on the topic. https://www.montessorieducation.com/podcast/episode-4-want-world-peace-grab-a-mirror

Understanding Montessori education as a parent — and applying some of it in the home — is not always so simple. In this episode, I speak with Erin and Andrew Ranallo about their experimental journey from basically zero knowledge about Montessori, to effectively using Montessori ideas and practices with their own children, Steggie (age 4) and Elon (18 months). https://www.montessorieducation.com/podcast/episode-3-becoming-a-montessori-parent

In this episode, we have a discussion with Berenice Saint-Saens, a Montessori educator who works with children from birth to 3 years, in both the classroom and the home. https://www.montessorieducation.com/podcast/episode-2-infants-toddlers-womb-to-world

In our first episode, we have a brief intro about the podcast and then jump right into a conversation about Montessori teaching and parenting with Alessandra Aristimuño, a teacher who works at the Montessori Primary or Casa level, i.e. in a mixed-ages classroom with children ~3 to 6 years old. https://www.montessorieducation.com/podcast/episode-1