The first Mini Minnesota Montessori Conference was held at St. Kate's University on October 17, during MEA.
John Horton, EI Educator at J.J. Hill Montessori shares his thoughts and reflections on this inaugural MN Montessori professional development conference.
"...the biggest take away for me was the sense of community.
Talking with fellow Montessori educators through collaborative
work and learning."
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(You could win one of the darling place mats used on the Toddler table!)
The Minnesota Montessori Network has created the interactive Montessori exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair in the Education Building for five years. It has inspired countless families to find Montessori options for their families, as well as bring Montessori values into their homes. Delightfull
y, it has become The Great Montessori Get Together for current and alumni families and faculty!
Given that this endeavor requires substantial investment of time and money, it is critical to mindfully care for its value. At this five-year mark, your feedback is essential. Please use this quick survey to let us know your thoughts. Your answers will be anonymous, unless you choose to provide your name/email (which is needed if you would like to be added to the drawing for the toddler table placemat).
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Montessori Education Week
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Save the Date!
Montessori Community Event
Date: February 23rd, 2020 (afternoon)
Location: St. Catherine University
Ballroom in the Coeur de Catherine (CDC)
More details to come soon!
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MinneMinds Coalition Sunset Leaves MNMN Advocacy Gap YOU Can Help Fill!
Since our inception, the Minnesota Montessori Network has deeply appreciated belonging to the MinneMinds Coalition as an Advisory Committee Member. We were one of over one hundred Minnesota organizations united to help tackle one of the worst-in-the-nation early childhood opportunity gaps among our youngest children. Many of you joined our support of MinneMinds in person at the Capitol during legislative sessions or at your schools for press conferences and legislator tours. Much has been accomplished in the seven years of its existence, and much is still to be done. MinneMinds often served as a master coalition of early childhood coalitions and was THE instrumental force ensuring the early childhood funding was focused on diverse delivery methods that could include our current Montessori schools.
This coordination was so valuable - both in lobbying for legislation and funding for our youngest citizens and in fostering much-needed cross-coalition collaboration in monthly coalition meetings. The Minnesota Montessori Network is now going to need to maintain direct connections with at least 15 early childhood coalitions to ensure Montessori is meaningfully represented in the early childhood advocacy landscape. If you are interested in becoming a “point person” for the Minnesota Montessori community with one or more of these partner organizations, please send us an email at
info@mnmn.org
.
You can
read the full article from MinneMinds
or
watch a short video
t
o learn more about their sunset.
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Todd Otis Public Policy Internship
Apply today (Deadline November 7) for an internship with Think Small! The
Todd Otis Public Policy Internship
is a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about Minnesota’s early learning policy and advocacy. The intern will work Think Small’s policy team to advance the organization’s public policy priorities. Work varies throughout the session and will include opportunities to support grassroots and direct lobbying efforts. The intern will attend hearings and meetings with state legislators at the capitol. They will interact with coalition partners. The intern will also support Think Small’s advocacy communications by helping to prepare emails and social media posts.
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No Small Matter Screening
Attend a screening of
No Small Matter
– the first feature documentary to lay out the overwhelming evidence for the importance of the first five years, and to reveal how our failure to act on that evidence has resulted in an everyday crisis for American families, and a slow-motion catastrophe for our country. Following the screening, there will be a conversation to explore how we can make change here in our community.
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Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour
As a reminder, there is no Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour this month. The first Policy Hour of the season will be on Tuesday, December 3 from 12-1 at Think Small in Minneapolis.
Ann Kaner-Roth Policy Hour is a monthly opportunity for early childhood and afterschool professionals to connect with each other and learn about current policy issues in an informal setting. The events are provided to the field at no cost by the Minnesota's Future Coalition.
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Advocacy Resources
Think Small made some updates to the policy and advocacy resources on their Think Small website. Check their
Action Steps to Advocacy
, which includes all you need to learn about your elected officials and stay updated on early childhood issues in Minnesota.
You can keep all the contact information for your elected officials in one easy-to-reference place when you fill out the updated
Know Your Numbers form
.
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NAEYC Equity Statement
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recently released a statement on advancing equity in early childhood education:
All children have the right to equitable learning opportunities that help them achieve their full potential as engaged learners and valued members of society. Thus, all early childhood educators have a professional obligation to advance equity. They can do this best when they are effectively supported by the early learning settings in which they work and when they and their wider communities embrace diversity and full inclusion as strengths, uphold fundamental principles of fairness and justice, and work to eliminate structural inequities that limit equitable learning opportunities.
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Montessori Book Reading
Local Montessorians Publish a New Book - Readings at Local Schools in November
Hatching the Cosmic Egg is an illustrated picture book for children. The author is Michael Dorer. The illustrator is Beth Wilson, who is a guide at World Learner's School. A five song CD accompanies the book; the musician is Andrew Kutt, a Montessorian from the Washington DC area. Hatching the Cosmic Egg book readings and signings are planned locally. All area Montessorians invited to attend one or both:
Sunday, November 17, 2019, at Lake Country School
3755 Pleasant Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Contact is Ben Moudry, Principal. 612-827-3707 Ext. 115
Sunday, December 12, 2019, at World Learner School
112050 Hundertmark Rd, Chaska, MN 55318
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Contact is (952) 368-7398
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Upcoming Professional Development
Fall Administrators Meeting
Open to all current Montessori Administrators
Location: Early Childhood and Advance Montessori at St. Kate’s
Date: November 7, 2019
TIme: 9:00 - 11:00
Is your school holding a Professional Development? Consider opening it up to other Montessorians! Email us at
mpro@mnmn.org
to add them to the monthly calendar.
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Mandala Montessori - Lead Children’s House Guide
Mandala Montessori, Minneapolis, MN, is seeking a Lead Guide to join our Children’s House (3-5) classroom for the 2019-2020 school-year. Position may be available immediately if interested in this current school-year.
Mandala Montessori respects and admires our teachers for choosing such a noble profession and are honored when great teachers choose Mandala Montessori as their place of employment! We provide competitive salaries, paid time off (PTO), sick time, paid Spring & Winter break, holidays and various insurance benefits. Other benefits discussed upon hiring! We thank you for your interest, please submit your resume to:
mandalamontessori@gmail.com
or apply online at
:
http://mandalamontessori.com/careers
Montessori Public Policy Initiative (MPPI) - State Advocacy Associate
Please see
this announcement
f
rom MPPI. MPPI is expanding and they are hiring a State Advocacy Associate to work with our Director of State Advocacy to provide technical assistance, coaching, resources, and other supports to our state advocacy groups. Job description, qualifications and application procedure can be
found here
.
Application materials must be received by November 4, 2019.
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