Welcome!
“There is a great sense of community within the Montessori classroom, where children of differing ages work together in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competitiveness. There is respect for the environment and for the individuals within it, which comes through experience of freedom within the community.” ~ Dr Maria Montessori
Recent Posts
Work Avoidance
Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to “make him learn things,” but by the endeavor
Work Cycle Disruptions
“The mind takes some time to develop interest, to be set in motion, to get warmed up into a subject,
Transitions
The teacher’s first duty is to watch over the environment, and this takes precedence over all the rest. ~ Maria
Live Online Courses
The Practitioner’s Class foundational course based on the book, Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom, by Jane Nelsen and Chip DeLorenzo. The 8-session class uses a child-study approach to discovering the principles and tools of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom with real students. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with other Montessori educators in an experiential setting to learn how to implement the respectful and time-tested classroom management approach that builds responsibility, independence, motivation and empathy within classroom communities.
The 8-session Conflict to Collaboration course is designed for Montessori educators and school leaders who want to build strong, effective relationships with parents while maintaining professional boundaries and reducing stress. Children thrive when teachers, leaders, and parents collaborate with clarity, consistency, and mutual respect.
Many teachers experience stress from parent-related challenges: demands that feel unrealistic, disrespectful or emotionally charged communication, the time required to maintain frequent updates, and a lack of trust in their professional judgment. These challenges can drain energy, undermine confidence, and interfere with teaching. This course helps educators address these stressors directly by providing practical tools for setting kind but firm limits, establishing strong connections and fostering parent partnerships built on trust and respect.
Whole School Courses
Whole-School Courses are designed to help schools develop a consistent, respectful, and research-based approach to classroom discipline that is fully aligned with Montessori principles. This course, using a case study approach, focuses on helping teachers and administrators learn and implement the principles and tools of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom. Contact Chip for more information and scheduling availability.
Self Paced Video Course
The Book
Positive Discipline is designed to help young people become responsible, respectful, and resourceful members of their classroom communities. In this book, Chip DeLorenzo and Jane Nelsen
bring together Montessori and Positive Discipline for the first time,
offering a methodology for addressing behavior in the classroom
that is consistent with the core Montessori belief of respect for the child. Nelsen and DeLorenzo argue that preparing the social-
emotional environment is just as important—and as critical to normalization—as preparing the physical environment, and provide
tips for creating that environment, one that engenders cooperation,
contribution, and mutual respect. You’ll learn how to:
• effectively set and maintain limits with children
• foster children’s self-regulation and responsibility
• encourage open communication with your students
• help children attain a sense of belonging and significance
• And much more!
