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Programme |
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Friday • 6 June 2008 • Conference |
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| 08:00 – 09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Conference Welcome Susan Harris Evans and Amy Kirkham, Conference MCs Conference Opening |
| 09:15 – 10:10 | Montessori, 1907: Dawn of the 21st Century Dr Steven Hughes Maria Montessori has long been heralded as a genius decades ahead of her time. Multiple sources of information show us that children now in school will face adult life as “independent agents” to a degree unseen before in our history. They will not be tied to a single job, employer, or even industry, and will experience career paths that were unimaginable as little as 20 years ago. This is occurring even as the trend toward rigid control, high-stakes academic testing, and limited school curricula have robbed them of the opportunities necessary to develop the broad-based problem identification and problem-solving skills necessary for happy, productive—indeed, interesting—lives. The educational methods, materials, and developmental culture identified by Dr. Montessori 100 years ago have never been more relevant. In fact, the Montessori teaching method is more relevant now than at any point in its history. Learn how Dr. Montessori’s work in 1907 anticipated—by 100 years—calls for an approach to education that meets the needs for success, happiness, leadership, and progress in the world of the 21st century. |
| 10:10 – 10:25 | Montessori: Pathways to Social Reform New DVD This DVD puts forward Montessori’s international outreach to serve children in need as a comprehensive world mission of Montessori education both yesterday and today. Beginning with the Rome Centenary Conference in January, 2007, including commentary by Renilde Montessori, the video documents Montessori’s historic focus on the cause of children in difficult social environments. The video emphasises the revolutionary aspects of Montessori education not only in serving the underserved, but in preparing young adults who aspire to solve the problems of the future. |
| 10:25 – 10:30 | Book Launch - Peace: A Montessori Approach Canberra Montessori Society |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Morning Tea |
| 11:00 – 11:45 | Universal Moral Development: The Basis for Human Unity and Peace Allyn Travis Examining the moral foundations of Montessori education provides an orientation to both individual and social convictions that makes it possible to achieve the higher aims of Montessori education, especially around the overarching themes of peace and world unity. |
| 11:45 – 12:30 | “Education must be of a new type for the sake of the creation of a new world.” Rukmini Ramachandran Not the words of Maria Montessori as we might think but of Mahatma Gandhi - another visionary who on another continent spoke of the importance of the human spirit in education. Both understood that it is in childhood that the foundation of life is laid. Both of them spoke of the spiritual life of the child and the importance of education that looks to integration of internal and external aspects of life. Development they believed must seek to lead the human being towards inner discipline and social harmony. “Education should contemplate the whole life. Mere memorising and book-learning is not education. I have no faith in the so-called systems of education which produce men of learning without the backbone of character.” Mahatma Gandhi, October 1928 We stand on the edge of the another century. A brief look at the world tells us that it is time to look for the answers which may only be found within. We must follow the avenues opened up for us by the visionaries. It is we who must act upon the knowledge that we have. We need compassionate human beings who can discriminate between right and wrong. We must assist in the formation of well adapted human beings who can put aside their own needs to serve others. All hope for a bright future lies with the children. Education has urgent responsibilities which we must fulfil. |
| 12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 – 14:20 | Parents as First Educators Patricia Wallner Education begins at birth and the foundation for all future learning is laid in the home environment. Honouring and supporting the vital role of parents is integral to the Montessori approach. |
| 14:20 – 14:35 | In a Montessori Home: A Parent’s Guide to Preparing the Home for Children Birth to Three New DVD Three families introduce how the Montessori philosophy is in practice in their home. The DVD covers the preparation of the home from birth to three years and describes the four main areas to be prepared in a home: sleeping, dressing, eating, and playing. Learn how these families have embraced Montessori principles in their daily lives and see practical ways to incorporate these same principles into your life. |
| 14:40 – 15:15 | “A Sharp Call to the Public Conscience”: Maria Montessori and the Social Party of the Child Ginni Sackett Maria Montessori founded The Social Party of the Child in 1937 in Copenhagen, Denmark. This action was based in her conviction that charitable institutions and educational societies are insufficient to advocate for the world’s “forgotten citizen” and that governmental authority itself must be organised to champion “the Right of Childhood”. Seventy-one years later, what guidance can we take from this bold proposal calling upon the adult to become “a real knight” – who defends the child who is “patently weak against himself who is strong” – and offering humanity “a new viewpoint” for how we can satisfy our needs and at the same time solve our grave social problems? |
| 15:15 – 15:45 | Afternoon Tea |
| 15:45 – 16:15 | Sadhana - 2009 International Montessori Congress Rukmini Ramachandran Sadhana is the mind and body coming together to perform complex multi-level tasks initially with awareness but eventually lived and carried out without effort. As the child develops, the actions of the body and mind are knitted together in creating the fabric of the self. Practitioners, young and old, must engage in the thoughtful practice of central Montessori principles in everyday life. Through our every conscious action we must seek to live our theory thus having a positive impact on society at large. Rukmini Ramachandran will explore Montessori practice and principles through the perspective of Sadhana. She will also give participants a preview of the 2009 International Montessori Congress that will be held in Chennai India on 5-9 January 2009. The last Congress was held in Sydney in 2005 where participants resolved: “Let us declare a call for action and with a new resolve, work together on behalf of children.” The Chennai Congress will go the next step with “an inner search for the right action” to continue our work on behalf of children. |
| 16:15 - 16:30 | Our Challenge for the Next Century Annual Montessori Update |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | Special Ceremony: Masterman Montessori Indigenous Children’s Trust Judith Wheeldon, Director, Montessori Children’s Foundation and Representatives of the Masterman Family |
Saturday • 7 June 2008 • Sunday • 8 June 2008
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0-3 REFRESHER COURSEThe First Year of LifePatricia Wallner Coordinated, refined movement requires the whole circle of the senses taking in the information – sending it to the psyche (the psyche is forming) – and telling the body to move. That’s what psycho-sensory-motor development is about. We shall examine this integration of mind and body and the developing capabilities of the child in his first year of life. Looking at both the theoretical and the practical, we shall review how to best aid this early development and will give practical advice in setting up a Nido environment. In addition, the Assistants to Infancy Refresher will also discuss the importance working and communicating effectively with parents. |
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3-6 REFRESHER COURSEThe Sensorial Area: Beyond the PresentationGinni Sackett The Montessori Sensorial Materials are unique, open-ended manipulatives. Each Sensorial presentation initiates a child into exciting possibilities for the intellect, the imagination, and boundless creativity, with resounding repercussions for individual, social, and academic development. We will spend the two days of this workshop exploring how the 3-6 teacher facilitates this initiation and then stimulates the entire range of activities and spontaneous discoveries possible with these materials. Highlights will include: Sensory Education and the “Conscious Worker”; Conditions for Successful Presentations; Supporting Spontaneous Exploration; Extensions through Language; and Sensorial Foundations for the Older Child’s Achievements. |
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6-12 REFRESHER COURSELanguageAllyn Travis From the time of early human beings until today, our spoken language has unfolded, evolved and developed. Since the time of the Phoenicians our written language has been created. As our English language is a living language, it continues to grow and evolve. This Refresher Course will revisit our presentations and stories for this living language, discussing how we can help the children understand the grammar and syntax of their language. We will look at how we can develop interest in correct spelling, how we help develop clear thinking and the ability to make sound judgments, and how we can help the children become capable writers. |
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MONTESSORI WORKSHOPThe Creative Development of the ChildRukmini Ramachandran Maria Montessori maintained that the life of a human being is marked by distinct periods of development. In the successive periods children work toward different goals – building up aspects of themselves in different ways – physically, psychologically, intellectually, socially, spiritually. For healthy development to occur, each stage must be successfully completed. Development does not merely mark the passing of time. In order to develop the human individual must personally, intrinsically make an effort to move towards an uplift of the spirit. It is a more specific journey – the journey of the self. The Montessori philosophy of development has as its centre the harmonious development of every human child who builds a strong well adjusted human adult, capable of living his life well whatever his circumstances. All outward and inner development must be nurtured carefully. This is the immediate mandate. When the child’s physical and psychical needs are met by his environment, he becomes ready to live in the embrace of goodness. The values of society help him learn to pursue what he wants in his life. Montessori believed in collective action and saw human interdependence as the key to human progress. The creation of an adult who lives in harmony with his environment is possible only by the careful nurture in a harmonious environment provided to the young child. Such children build an ideal society that once again nurtures its children creating a virtuous cycle, enabling a quiet inner revolution. |
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ADMNISTRATORS' WORKSHOPCommunication and QualityJennifer Davidson, Peter Davidson, Steven Hughes, Amy Kirkham, Jean Miller, James Moudry, Pamela Nunn |
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| Daily Schedule | |
| 09:00 - 10:30 10:30 - 11:00 11:00 - 12:30 12:30 - 14:00 14:00 - 15:15 15:15 - 15:45 15:45 - 17:00 |
Workshop Sessions Break Workshop Sessions Lunch Workshop Sessions Break Workshop Session |
| Saturday, 8 June 2007, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Montessori Australia Foundation Discussion Forum (Optional) Each year a discussion forum will be held to update you on the work of the Montessori Australia Foundation and to discuss issues and opportunities facing the Montessori movement in Australia. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome. Free of charge. |
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