It’s Montessori conference season, one of our favorite times of the year! Whether it’s the AMI Montessori Experience, the AMS Montessori Event, or any of the regional Montessori gatherings, we look forward to all that the events have to offer—the sessions, the conversations, and the camaraderie.
Working Less for More Results
Montessori conferences allow us to step away from our day-to-day activities (WHAT we are doing) and refocus on the WHY. Attending only one conference every year or two may be the only time you get to work on your school rather than working in your school.
What do we mean by that? First, not all work is equal. When you work in your school, you are likely in reactive mode—addressing the many tasks you must complete while also putting out unexpected fires that arise throughout the day. In this situation, work feels stressful and never-ending.
When working on your school, you take a proactive approach that enables you to address concerns before they escalate into problems. You can strategize and enhance processes to benefit your students, staff, and parents. In this context, work feels rewarding and fulfilling.
The Power of Connecting
Creating and supporting community is a cornerstone of Montessori philosophy. As Montessori administrators and educators, we instill a sense of belonging in our children because a strong community helps everyone feel safe, valued, and supported, leading to improved health and well-being. As adults, we can still benefit from the same support within our community.
As we attend the conference educational sessions, we learn from the facilitators, our peers who likely have experienced similar situations, and others who offer different perspectives. Certainly, we can learn from books or online sources, connect with peers across the country through social media or Zoom, and even discover the latest Montessori product developments on various platforms. However, nothing compares to an in-person connection, where you genuinely feel the support and encouragement of your peers.
Cocktails and Conversations
Learning and connecting in a structured environment can be a wonderful experience, but let’s not overlook the Montessori emphasis on social interaction. Recently, our team sponsored a happy hour at the AMI conference, free of any agenda or presentation. It was simply designed as a time for Montessorians to gather, unwind, and get to know each other. It was wonderful to see so many Montessorians enjoying their time together. The room was filled with chatter and laughter as people bonded over shared experiences, and hugs were exchanged in support of one another.
Based on the responses from attendees, it was a worthwhile effort to create a deeper sense of community.
Our Mission of Working Less and Connecting More
As a company, our mission is to serve the Montessori community, and we aim to do so in various ways. Our primary objective is to simplify classroom and school management so educators can spend more time connecting with children. We also want to support our fellow Montessorians by providing educational resources and opportunities for them to connect and learn from each other. Please let us know if you have suggestions or topics you want us to address. We want to support you as effectively as possible.
If you plan on attending AMS this month, please stop by and say hi—we’d love to see you!
We would love to hear about your favorite conference or one you think we should attend.
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