Back to Portland

The mid-west was sunny and cool; Portland was scorching! The thermometer hit 99 degrees but I still persevered and walked from my hotel to the training institute for my orientation with six new Assistance to Infancy trainees at Montessori Northwest.

Nancy Lechner, Montessori Northwest's new A to I trainer and former graduate of the Masters program at Loyola was on hand to help me orient the students. It turns out, as it always does in Montessori circles that she had been to my former school in Canberra, Australia, presenting a workshop - I missed her by a day. It is a small Montessori world.

The team at MNW were gracious enough to have me over for a quick social which was the perfect way to end my sojourn. It's been only six months, but I feel like an "old" friend whenever I visit.

The train continues with academic year programs starting up in Atlanta, San Diego, Milwaukee, Portland, and of course right here at home at the Washington Montessori Institute, Loyola's on-site training partner, located at our graduate center in Columbia, Maryland. I look forward to meeting a new group of Montessori practitioners in the fall.

Well enough of this diversion. I must return to marking the ED 625 Advanced Studies papers turned in from the recently concluded intensive summer session. There are some extremely articulate individuals in our program and the advanced study is a great way for them to demonstrate all that they know.  And I get to read them all :), I promise to reference all of your great ideas when I introduce the program to a new summer group in 2015. 'till then.....

Montessori Institute of Milwaukee

I am standing in front of an old All-Girls Catholic School, which has now been redeveloped into office space for multiple Wisconsin based not for profit groups. To my right is the mighty and picturesque Lake Michigan, it recalls to me why the Great Lakes are so named. A quarter turn to my left and through a patch of Maple trees I can see the skyline of downtown Milwaukee in the distance, just close enough so it's there if you need it. I am talking to the Director of the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee Allyn Travis, who is pointing out the features in her view and explaining why she can never leave. Inside the Institute is state of the art, a full classroom of Montessori teacher trainees are being skilled on the finer points of Montessori elementary pedagogy, as Allyn uses a projector to capture every detail.

So many students at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee are taking up the Loyola Masters of Education option. They are an international group that has come to this lovely center to pursue their AMI elementary training over a 3 summer format. Others wait in the wings taking the foundation course and are ready to jump into the academic year format in the fall.

Thank you for the tour Allyn I promise to say hello to Carolyn Hunter and Jackie Kirk. Two beloved Montessori teachers from Australia who you have similarly helped along in their careers.

Peace,

Jack

Meet me in St. Louis

I thought I had been everywhere, but as I flew into St. Louis last week I realized it was my first visit to the city.

I was there to greet a new cohort of Loyola students just starting out in their multi-summer AMI primary training odyssey. A journey that will conclude when they wrap up their Masters of Education in Baltimore at the conclusion of their AMI diploma.

The group has just moved into a lovely facility which will serve as a teacher training facility, as well as a lab school. Dr. Annette Haine's the primary trainer gave a beautiful presentation on the thermic tablets which captivated the attention of the group. There is something so amazingly therapeutic about Montessori Education and it is why with all wonders in the world it must be seen to be appreciated.

Annette let me know that the Institute will be hosting an academic year program starting in the fall of 2015 in addition to their multi summer cohorts, busy times ahead.

I am a little miffed that I only had a few hours to spend in St. Louis what a fantastic city, still I spent those fleeting minutes wisely with a drive along the Mississippi and check in at the arch, a peek at the Ball Park and the finest slab of ribs I have ever tasted.

What a town. I'll be back!