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Your girls are back! In this episode, we all sit down to discuss various life updates and the way in which our Montessori journeys continue to unwind. Megan bought a school, Rachel's feeling like a veteran homeschooler, and Laura promises to release the episode immediately and without any editing whatsoever - but she lied.

After a months-long podcast disappearance (travel, life chaos, and Laura’s dad passing in November), the three Montessori-trained moms pop back in with updates (midlife crises, Hilary Duff is BACK, Megan's loving beans & losing teeth); then they dive into Montessori peace education- what does it really mean? What does it look like in the classroom, and what can we do at home to support this integral part of the philosophy (perhaps more relevant now than ever)? TLDL: less “be nice,” more building humans who can cooperate, think critically, respect dignity, and care for their community, with peace woven into everyday routines, boundaries, and conflict repair (not permissiveness). 00:00 Teaser00:22 Welcome to the Podcast02:08 Why We Disappeared03:52 Disney 10K Recap06:24 Megan’s New Obsessions09:02 Rachel’s Life Updates14:13 Introducing Peace Education15:38 Montessori’s Peace Roots22:13 Peace in Daily Practice36:07 Natural Consequences Explained36:39 Gentle Not Permissive37:42 Peaceful Parenting Tips38:22 Slow Mornings Self Regulation41:02 Choices And Problem Solving45:15 Go Outside Build Community48:00 Being Parents Versus Teachers50:33 Confessions: Grill Fire52:56 Confessions: Tooth Crown56:51 Confessions: Midlife Crisis Jeans59:21 Wrap Up And Where To Listen

The Moms are BACK! Rachel, Megan and Laura sit down to their dusty microphones for a much needed catch up session. Sit back and relax while your favorite Montessori messes share about life lately, with a few extra confessions baked in ;)

In this episode, Rachel and Laura discuss balancing the elements of fantasy and reality in parenting from a Montessori perspective. They talk about how they handle popular culture, such as Disney characters and holiday figures like Santa Claus, while maintaining a realistic understanding for their children. They also touch on the influence of consumerism on children's characters and how this differs from when Montessori principles were first developed. Drawing from personal experiences, they offer insights into managing screen time, addressing the confusion that modern animation can create, and the importance of intentional and involved parenting. 00:00 Introduction and Hosts01:12 Unscripted Episode Format01:53 Listener Comments and Feedback02:31 Montessori and Modern Fantasy04:02 Navigating Fiction with Kids04:09 Disney and Fictional Characters12:40 Screen Time and Its Impact23:14 Holiday Characters and Traditions30:33 Navigating Beliefs with Children32:34 The Tooth Fairy Dilemma33:29 Balancing Magic and Reality37:34 Confessions of a Type A Mom48:52 Type C Parenting Realizations51:54 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

Laura and Megan do a surprisingly good job of holding a relatively focused, unscripted conversation to share their top tips for maintaining educational momentum over the summer for preschool and elementary-aged children. As always, the aim is to empower parents with realistic, low-maintenance ideas for staving off pesky summer retention issues (aka the summer "slide") while keeping it fun enough that you *maybe* don't completely lose your mind this summer break....? GOOD LUCK.

Finally circling back for the back half of our previous discussion! As caregivers and/or educators, we all deal with young children who have big feelings and lots of emotions! It is a topic discussed a lot on social media, we see it everywhere today, and it can be overwhelming navigating the new science and guidance on this topic- especially if you are in the thick of it and experiencing some big emotions of your own! Luckily, the Montessori philosophy supports the education of the WHOLE child, and this includes emotional regulation! We are going to dive into that today, and this episode is the first part of a two part episode that covers all the ways the Montessori philosophy prioritizes and empowers emotional regulation.

In this episode of Coffee Talk with Montessori Moms in the Wild, host Rachel welcomes seasoned educator and Montessori coach, Lynda, to discuss various aspects of Montessori homeschooling. With a background in infant and toddler education, Rachel shares her own homeschooling experiences and reveals how Lynda’s program has significantly contributed to her success. Lynda elaborates on the recent changes to her Montessori teacher program, including the introduction of the Montessori Homeschool Bootcamp and the Mastery Program aimed at providing structured, personalized guidance for homeschooling parents. They discuss the importance of systems and support in homeschooling, and reflect on the personal challenges and rewards of implementing Montessori education at home. The episode wraps up with valuable insights on how Montessori should challenge conventional educational practices and encourage lifelong learning. Check out Lynda's website here! 00:00 Introduction to Coffee Talk with Montessori Moms00:25 Meet Rachel and Lynda01:40 Rachel's Montessori Homeschooling Journey03:12 Lynda's Montessori Programs and Services10:14 Balancing Homeschooling and Work12:56 The Long-Term Benefits of Montessori Education19:33 Favorite Montessori Teaching Areas23:54 Final Thoughts and Announcements

Our very own Rachel Martin sits down with Rachel Merle-Smith of All Things Montessori to tell her story and discuss, you guessed it, all things Montessori! Check out the All Things Montessori Show here! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-montessori/id1479488862

In this Coffee Talk episode, Laura, a trained Montessori educator and mother of two, shares her approach to managing children's curiosity about other people's bodies. Laura discusses the importance of exposure to diverse representations, open and honest conversations, and educational resources to de-stigmatize differences. She emphasizes the need to focus on function and respect over appearance, and she provides practical advice on how to guide children through understanding societal norms and the impact of their words. Laura also touches on the broader context of diversity, equity, and inclusion, offering insights for parents and educators navigating similar challenges.

In this short but sweet Coffee Talk, Rachel covers the widespread image of Montessori floor beds. She discusses what their purpose is, as well as what her personal approach has been as a trained infant/toddler guide and mom of three. This one is a great reminder that you don't have to do it ALL to be a successful Montessori home! Check out our link tree here to find deals on floor beds!: https://linktr.ee/montessorimomsinthewild?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaa25riLBF-5XLUf7nhE-CTAHf2aBB2ymSBlrm-c_c9NHIQLQ0015B6zY3o_aem_9XtlHzorbJb3-1QReyN8Rw

As caregivers and/or educators, we all deal with young children who have big feelings and lots of emotions! It is a topic discussed a lot on social media, we see it everywhere today, and it can be overwhelming navigating the new science and guidance on this topic- especially if you are in the thick of it and experiencing some big emotions of your own! Luckily, the Montessori philosophy supports the education of the WHOLE child, and this includes emotional regulation! We are going to dive into that today, and this episode is the first part of a two part episode that covers all the ways the Montessori philosophy prioritizes and empowers emotional regulation.

In this week's Coffee Talk, Megan sits down (with a surprise guest) to chat about her journey to normalization in her brand new Children's House classroom. Megan shares in what ways she has had to evaluate herself, her approach, her priorities, and how building community through a heavy focus on practical life (and grace & courtesy, but more about that another time!). This episode is a fantastic reminder of why practical life is more the heart of the normalization process, and why it is so very important we don't skip over these often tedious lessons and steps!

Tis the season to circle back and re-evaluate our game plans on tackling the topic of Santa Claus as Montessorians! Laura and Rachel sit down in this episode to discuss their approaches to rectifying the magic and fantasy of the holiday season's most famous character against the focus on truth and reality we strive for the entire rest of the year! This one covers how the moms are navigating Santa conversations with their alert and inquisitive 4 year olds, along with how they're handling receiving gifts, giving back to the community, and above all else- modeling respect and empathy for others!

You've asked, and we are finally delivering! Laura delves into the topic of early phonics and letter sounds, particularly for children aged three to six, aligning with Montessori principles. Laura explains a bit about how early literacy and phonics is approached in the Montessori setting, as well as discusses the Orton-Gillingham approach to reading instruction, highlighting its multisensory, evidence-based methods. Emphasizing a child-centered, tactile approach to teaching letter sounds, she provides insights into phonetic teaching practices, shares personal anecdotes, and offers practical tips for both parents and homeschoolers. Particularly, she focuses on the importance of building and encouraging literacy by making the learning process fun and engaging for young children. 00:00 Introduction to Coffee Talks 00:26 Apologies and Acknowledgements 01:18 Today's Topic: Early Phonics 02:41 Understanding Orton-Gillingham 04:10 Montessori and Multisensory Learning 04:37 Challenges with Flashcards 06:58 Teaching Phonetics at Home 09:12 First Pass Through the Alphabet 18:10 Advanced Phonics and Spelling Rules 20:24 Handling Tricky Words 24:52 Encouraging Early Writing 26:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

After a seemingly simple reel goes viral, Laura, Megan, and Rachel sit down to discuss the unexpected increase in followers and social media engagement. The trio explain the philosophy and intent behind their post with nearly 4 million views, address a few of the comments that stood out, and confess how they really feel about being so insanely famous! ;)