Villa di Maria Montessori School Podcast: Recent Episodes
Villa di Maria Montessori School
Villa di Maria is an AMI accredited Montessori school in Kirkwood, MO (St. Louis area) from ages 14 months through 12 years. Through this podcast we seek to raise awareness and celebrate the beauty of Montessori education.
In this latest episode of the Villa di Maria podcast, we get to hear from a lovely Villa guide who leads one of our Young Children’s Communities, serving ages 14 months to 3 years old. Lauren Begley is an experienced YCC guide who joined the VdM staff last fall. We are so lucky to have her expertise and warm guidance in our Redbud classroom. In this interview, Lauren shares how she discovered her passion for Montessori, what she loves about working with this age group, and how a Montessori toddler environment is unique from a typical daycare. Lauren touches on the rigorous training undergone by each Montessori guide, which includes in-depth study of the particular developmental stage of the classroom in which they'll be working as well as that age group's developmental needs. This episode is a great one for understanding the toddlers in your life and why we think a Montessori approach can make all the difference in these formative years. If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a positive review and share with your friends. Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day!
To learn more about Montessori and Villa di Maria, check out our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram!
Listen in on my conversation with Villa’s Wellness Coordinator, Sophie Argyres. Sophie is working on her Masters in social work at Washington University here in St. Louis and we are so fortunate to have her interning here at our school this year. She works with children one-on-one and in small groups teaching mindfulness, breathing techniques, and emotional literacy. One of her goals is to help children become aware of and learn to regulate their minds and bodies in the classroom to promote a peaceful and productive learning environment. Sophie provides wellness support for staff as well, offering yoga sessions and meditation moments throughout the week. I loved hearing about Sophie’s background and how she discovered mindfulness as a helpful tool for herself. She offers useful tips for parents that seek to foster a positive, calm environment at home as well. Be sure to listen through to the end to learn some calming breathing techniques for you and your family to practice (links below).
Wim Hof Breathing Technique
Alternate Nostril Breathing
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Sophie's Email: sophieia@villadimaria.org
To learn more about Montessori and Villa di Maria, check out our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram!
Today we’ll unpack another important aspect of the Montessori classroom, “Grace and Courtesy”. I’m joined by Children’s House guides, Heather Steinman and Jessie Braud to explain this Montessori verbiage and how they use these Grace and Courtesy lessons in their classrooms. Grace and Courtesy is part of the practical life area of the primary classroom (ages 3-6 years old). It is a framework or pattern for lessons that demonstrate to the child how to conduct themselves in the classroom, their family, society, and the world. Examples of these types of lessons are; “how to blow your nose”, “how to cough into your elbow crease”, “how to greet your teacher”, “how to give a compliment”, “how to receive a compliment”, and on and on. Grace and Courtesy is also used at the Elementary level (6-12 years old), but looks a bit different because of the child’s specific developmental needs at that age. Grace and Courtesy can be applied in a home setting as well. By the end of this episode, you’ll have the template and tools for implementing these helpful lessons in a way that fits your family and needs. Listen in and enjoy!
Check out our latest blog post on this topic for a condensed and practical read! http://www.montessori-blog.org/
To learn more about Montessori and Villa di Maria, check out our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram!
I had the pleasure of sitting down with our Elementary Enrichment Coordinator, Brea Blaylock, to discuss her new role at Villa and the Montessori approach to reading and writing in general. How does the Montessori philosophy towards reading and writing differ from a traditional one? Is there evidence and research to support the choices Dr. Montessori made so many years ago? From cursive to spelling, this conversation covers many questions brought up by parents when they send their child to a Montessori school. Make sure to listen to the end for some helpful tips for parents to use at home to assist their kids in their reading journey.
Check out this past blog article which provides further details about Montessori language materials and lessons in the Children’s House, as well as practicing at home.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave us a positive review and share with your friends!
To learn more about Montessori and Villa di Maria, check out our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram!
Do you love origin stories? Well, today we get to hear the origin story of our favorite place, Villa di Maria, from two women who lived it. I sat down with head of school, Laura Ceretti-Michelman and Children’s House guide (and Villa grad herself), Robyn Milos, to hear the stories of some of the incredible folks who made this school what it is today. How did VdM come to be in its current location and sprawling campus? Have you ever wondered how the tradition of Elementary hot lunch started? How has the school evolved in its over 50 years of existence while holding onto its roots? Hear the answers to these questions and more in this fascinating episode. Also, don't forget to leave us a positive review and share with friends! Thanks!!
To learn more about Montessori and Villa di Maria, check out our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram!
I can’t wait to share this lovely conversation with Villa parent, Han Zhao. Han’s daughter has been a member of one of our Children’s House communities for over a year. Han shares why she chose a Montessori school for her child and what drew her to Villa di Maria in particular. It was a pleasure to discuss with someone so thoughtful, the things we both love about this school and the Montessori approach in general; such as access to nature, respecting the child, hands-on materials, and educating the whole person. You will even hear how the Montessori approach informs her interactions with her child at home. If you’re considering a Montessori education for your child and want to learn more, this episode is for you! Don't forget to leave a positive review and share our podcast with others who might benefit from it. Thank you!
To learn more about Montessori and Villa di Maria, check out our website and blog or follow us on Facebook or Instagram!
Today we get to hear from more inspiring 6th year Villa students in the long-awaited conclusion of this two-part series on Montessori Model United Nations (or MMUN). The 6th years worked so hard this year to prepare for their conference in New York this past February. I know you’ll love getting to hear more stories of the fun they had, the friendships they forged, and the valuable life-lessons they learned. We couldn’t be more proud of their momentous work this year and the incredible humans they are. Make sure to listen to the end to find out whether they would recommend this experience to future students!
If you want to learn more about MMUN, check out their website at montessori-mmun.org or look up the blog article written by our own Ms. Colleen on our website villadimaria.org. Thanks so much for listening and have a wonderful day!
It was such a joy to interview some of our current 6th year students about their experience with Montessori Model United Nations or MMUN. MMUN is a gathering of students from around the world who strive to reach collaborative solutions to solve current world problems, much like the United Nations. MMUN is a really neat organization and I recommend you look up their website to learn more about their founding and impact.
https://montessori-mun.org/
It is a beloved tradition for students in their final year at Villa to participate in this incredible experience throughout the year, culminating in a trip to NYC. In my conversation, I learned about all the preparation, writing, interviewing, and fundraising the students do for MMUN. I heard fun stories from their time together in NYC and how that time uniquely bonded their class together. It was inspiring to hear all the things they learned and the lessons and values that will continue on with them from this time. Because of the abundance of important conversations to be had, this episode turned into a two-parter, so stay tuned to hear from more lovely students in the weeks to come!
If you want to learn more about MMUN and all that the students do to participate, Ms. Colleen wrote a wonderful blog post all about this topic. You can find that post and many more on our website at villadimaria.org. Thanks so much for listening and have a wonderful day!
Today we’re gonna talk about an extension of the Villa world, Camp Pegnita. During the summer months, Villa’s campus is far from quiet. Apart from the now two, year-round Children’s Houses and the YCC, Villa hosts the legendary summer camp on our expansive grounds! I got to chat with Samantha Clarke, co-director of Camp Pegnita, and learn more about the traditions and history that predates even Villa’s founding. Camp Pegnita celebrates their 75th anniversary this summer and there’s a reason children have flocked to it each year and returned as counselor’s. Samantha is also the mom of two boys who attend Villa and she’s a huge advocate of the Montessori method. She shares a bit about her journey to Montessori and how it benefits her family’s life. I hope you enjoy this extra fun episode! Go to camppegnita.com for more info!
Today we hear from Upper Elementary Villa guides, Tina Lavi Condratov and Rebecca Callendar. We discuss the 2nd Plane of Development, as it pertains to Upper Elementary, and why it is that some Montessori schools, such as Villa, separate 6-9 year olds into one classroom and 9-12 year olds into another, as opposed to keeping 6-12 years old all in one classroom. The 9-12 year old is particularly ready to dive into deeper, more complex issues and topics of study and you will love hearing about the incredible projects they take on. You gotta listen through the whole episode for some eye-opening Montessori wisdom, such as why students benefit from staying through their 6th year at Villa before transitioning to Middle School. What do we learn from watching Villa alumni as they transition to other schools and pursue careers? All this and more in this enlightening conversation with these amazing women. Hope you enjoy! Remember to follow us on our social media platforms and share with friends!
Today we dive deep into the 2nd Plane of development with Villa di Maria Lower Elementary guides, Melinda Smith and Megan Eilers. The 2nd plane of development, according to Dr. Maria Montessori, spans the ages of 6 to 12 years old and, in general, is characterized by relative stability and rationality compared to the planes that precede and follow. In this episode, Megan and Melinda help us identify some of the markers of this transition from the 1st to 2nd plane, characteristics you might notice in your own child around the age of 6. In our conversation, we explore the beauty of the Montessori Elementary classroom in particular and how it compares to the Children’s House as well as a traditional/non-Montessori classroom. It’s so neat to hear the passion these guides have for this age group and be reminded of how the Montessori approach makes such a difference in the life of the Elementary child. Listen in and enjoy!
You're going to love this interview with Melissa Andersen, Founding Head of School at MAP St. Louis, a Montessori adolescent program serving grades 7 through 12. Melissa is a wealth of fascinating and practical information about the 3rd Plane of Development (Montessori’s term for the teenage years). She offers wisdom regarding how adults can best support adolescents through all the changes that happen in this stage. I so enjoyed discovering more about MAP’s incredible learning environment and all the unique ways it meets the needs of the adolescent. Whether you’re a parent considering school options for your child or just want to better understand the teenagers in your life, this episode is for you!
Here's their website for more information: https://www.mapstlouis.org/
What a treat it was to sit down with Mary Clare and Teresa Muehlmann and hear their Montessori journey! Mary Clare started at Villa di Maria when she was 3 years old and graduated as a 6th grader in 2018. She now studies environmental science and studio art at Loyola University in Chicago. She shares how her Montessori background influenced her current studies and trajectory in life. Teresa gives us the parent perspective on the choice to send your child to a Montessori school and watching them transition into traditional school, then adulthood. We touch on topics of Montessori for children with learning differences, whether Montessori prepares children for the "real world" and how Mary Clare still draws on her Montessori experience in her education today. Hope you enjoy the show! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to learn more about Montessori and Villa di Maria!
Children from 0-6 years old are in what Dr. Maria Montessori called, the 1st Plane of Development. Dr. Montessori's understanding of the developmental stages of the child affects everything in a Montessori school from the materials in the classroom, to the small sized furniture, to how the guide interacts with the children. At Villa di Maria, we have a Young Children's Community for ages 14 months to 2.5 and several Children's House classrooms that serve ages 3-6 years old. How do we meet the needs of each age group in these environments? What is the transition like between these two classrooms? How does Montessori approach move-up dates? These answers and more in this engaging interview with guides, Ms. Braud and Ms. McAuley. Enjoy!