Program of the conference
November 13-14, 3:30 - 10:00 PM CET
(Check your time-zone here.)
All the workshops are in English. Selected ones have a language sign to mark those that are also interpreted into other languages.
Saturday, November 13, 2021
3:30 PM CET / 9:30 AM EST
Technical check-in
4:00 PM CET / 10:00 AM EST
Welcome
4:25 PM CET / 10:25 AM EST

Keynote speech
Adult Development
Maria Montessori brilliantly mapped out 4 planes of child development. At the age of 24, according to the Montessori method, an adult is complete in all respects. Does that mean we've been the same ever since?
The work of developmental psychologist Robert Kegan takes this view further and comes up with a theory of adult development. He describes the gradual development of independent self-consciousness and the acquisition of qualities associated with wisdom and social maturity. Have you ever wondered what it means to be an adult?
At the conference, Jenifer G. Berger will answer questions about what the different stages of adult development are and how to understand them. This can be very helpful for better orientation as well as a more congenial response in relationships at work and in your personal life.
This keynote conversation will be led by Sue Pritzker and there will also be space for your questions. You will leave with a whole new perspective on yourself and others. You will be able to apply the knowledge you gain to your work with teachers and parents.
5:35 PM CET / 11:35 AM EST
Break
5:50 PM CET / 11:50 AM EST

Community activity
Leading with Levity
Creating a culture of levity (joy and humor) within our schools fortifies the bond and resilience of our communities. Research shows people are more generous, empathetic, and committed when they share laughter. This session will not only bring us lots of joy but will also give tools which you can bring back to your school community.
6:35 PM CET / 12:35 PM EST
Coffee break
7:05 PM CET / 1:05 PM EST
Workshops - series of 5 parallel workshops

Letty Rising
Is it request for Help or Bid for Connection?

Kathy Minardi
Guiding a Growth School Culture in Montessori

Mirka Vlckova
Receiving Feedback: “Is there a pony in there somewhere?”

Jennifer Davidson
How to Include and Work with Parents

Valaida Wise
Strategic Planning: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
8:15 PM CET / 2:15 PM EST
Break
8:30 PM CET / 2:30 PM EST

Panel discussion with Montessori leaders
One of the main themes of this year's conference is "Building Healthy Teams" and challenges we face while doing so. What can we actually imagine behind these words?
- What strengthens relationships?
- What does it look like when a team is working well together?
- And what to do when things are not going so well?
- In what circumstances does a team grow?
- As a leader, what can I do?
Our panelists will answer questions in this area. They will share with each other and with the entire audience situations from their schools, they will talk about their solutions of problems and share other insights into the functioning of Montessori school teams.
9:20 PM CET / 3:20 PM EST
Break
9:25 PM CET / 3:25 PM EST

Community activity
Making Connections
Let’s connect! Yes, even online we can look each other in the eyes and share joy and playfulness together. In this quick and fun session we will play a get-to-know-you game, laying another brick in our foundation of friendships.
9:45 PM CET / 3:45 PM EST
Conclusion
Sunday, November 14, 2021
3:30 PM CET / 9:30 AM EST
Technical check-in
4:00 PM CET / 10:00 AM EST
Welcome
4:20 PM CET / 10:20 AM EST

Introductory presentation
Formative Assessment is an important building block of all Montessori environments. Because Maria Montessori relied upon the principles of human development to inform her work, we describe it as formative. As an introduction to Dylan Wiliam's keynote, we will review ways in which we already embrace formative assessment as Montessori professionals. This short overview will discuss observation, the three-period lesson, friendliness with error and other Montessori tools as a warm-up to the exploration of formative assessment in the broader educational context.
5:00 PM CET / 11:00 AM EST
Break
5:10 PM CET / 11:10 AM EST

Keynote speech
The Practice of Formative Assessment
Over fifty years ago, David Ausubel suggested that the most important principle in effective education was to start from where the learner is, rather than where we would like them to be. While this sounds easy, every teacher knows that the sense that learners make of their educational experiences is often unpredictable.
What this means is that to create effective learning environments, educators need to find ways of eliciting evidence about what is going on in learners’ minds, and use this evidence to adjust or adapt the learning environment to better meet learners’ needs—in other words, formative assesment.
In this presentation, Dylan Wiliam will outline how teachers can elicit evidence of learners’ thinking, provide feedback to learners that is aimed at improving, rather than evaluating learning, and activate learners both as owners of their own learning, and as learning resources for their peers. The presentation will conclude by showing how school leaders can support teachers in developing their formative assessment practice by setting up, and supporting, school-based, teacher learning communities, focused on the simple idea that the best way to improve children’s development is to support the development of their teachers.
6:50 PM CET / 12:50 PM EST
Coffee break with partners
7:20 PM CET / 1:20 PM EST

Community activity
Bliss Infusion
Finding our happy-place, our bliss, and infusing it into our everyday work is the secret to a happy life. This holds true for us as leaders and also for our hard-working dedicated faculty and staff. In this session we will share ideas, activities, and ways-of-being which ignite our inner flame.
8:05 PM CET / 2:05 PM EST
Break
8:15 PM CET / 2:15 PM EST
Workshops - series of 5 parallel workshops (to be updated soon)

Elizabeth Slade
Building Resilient Montessori Schools

Sue Pritzker
Growing through Conflict Resolution: Community Approach

Amy Williams
Difficult Behaviour in the Classroom

Wendy Moomaw
Create Impact through Adult Development

Teng-Chien Yu
Transformation of the Prepared Adults
9:25 PM CET / 3:25 PM EST
Break
9:30 PM CET / 3:30 PM EST

Community activity
Roll the Credits!
Our final Community Activity is a farewell and ’thank you’ dance party!
Let’s hold up signs of ‘farewell’, ’thank you’, and special messages to our new and familiar friends, while moving and dancing to music. It’s a time to celebrate and recognize our growth as individuals and as a community!
9:45 PM CET / 3:45 PM EST
Conclusion & Toast
Have you already got your ticket for the conference?