By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Articulate core philosophical principles of traditional Montessori through The Tao of Montessori
• Evaluate classroom practices for alignment with authentic Montessori intent
• Apply at least three immediately usable tools that strengthen:
  • Observation
  • Neutrality
  • Child-led work

Yesterday I led my first parent education evening on Montessori education — and what we, as guides, are truly observing during the work cycle. I hope it will be the first of many.

At one point, our conversation turned to a familiar question:

How do we show parents their child is progressing — without simply showing them what they can do?

It’s a fair question. In traditional models, progress is visible and product-based:

• Completed worksheets
• Reading levels
• Math facts mastered

Montessori asks us to look deeper.

Core Idea: Montessori described ages 0–6 as a period of unconscious construction. Modern neuroscience (Lillard; developmental psychology research) confirms rapid neural pruning and synaptic formation during these years.

Parent Focus: Why environment matters more than early academics.