Inaugural Montessori Canada In School Professional Development Event in Ottawa

You’re invited to the inaugural Montessori Canada in school professional development event taking place at OMS Montessori in Ottawa! Engage in hands-on, peer learning with inspiring sessions for Montessori educators and school leaders.

Friday, February 14, 2025
Registration begins at 8:30 AM
Tickets are $129 each for CCMA Members and includes a delicious lunch. This event is not available virtually.
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets on Eventbrite
Need accommodations? 
We have reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate at the Courtyard Ottawa East for $159 CAD per night. The last day to book a room is Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Call the hotel directly at 613-741-9862 and use the group code CCM-N (The Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators). You may also click here for a direct online booking link.

Morning Highlights:

For Educators from Toddler to Adolescence levels:

• Engage in peer learning with inspiring workshops on the important topics of independence, risk-taking, and strong implementation of science.
• Gain practical insights deeply rooted in Montessori pedagogy that you can apply in your classrooms right away.
• Learn from passionate educators who bring expertise and real-life classroom experience to their sessions.

For School Leaders: A session offering much-needed time for moderated discussion and conversation on the challenges and opportunities you face every day.

Afternoon Focus:

For Toddler and Casa Educators and School Leaders

• Seamless Transition From Toddler to Casa – Understanding All Perspectives. This collaborative session will help both educators and school leaders together gain a refreshed perspective and practical strategies to support a seamless and happy transition for children, parents, and staff alike.

For Elementary and Adolescent Level Educators

• Rediscover Geometry: A Prism for Creativity, Curiosity, and Beauty. Based on Dr. Montessori’s Psychogeometria, attendees will explore geometry as a prism that blends logic, creativity, and beauty. Gain practical strategies and fresh ideas to inspire curiosity, inquiry, and exploration for students at the Elementary and Adolescent levels.

Morning Session Information:

Bridging Independence: Aligning Montessori Principles at School and Home
Presented by Kerry Gunn
(Toddler stream)

This engaging workshop is designed to support guides and assistants as they foster the parent’s knowledge about toddler independence and create consistency between home and the Montessori classroom. Participants will explore practical strategies to nurture the parent’s understanding of independence in everyday routines that align with Montessori principles. Through hands-on demonstrations, discussions, and reflections, guides and assistants will gain the tools to bridge the gap between home and school, creating a harmonious experience that empowers the child to thrive in both environments.

About Kerry: Kerry holds a Montessori Toddler credential and a degree in English. Kerry has extensive experience working with children from toddlers to grade 6. As a mother of three boys, she brings a deep, personal understanding of child development and the unique needs of young children. Her approach is rooted in the Montessori philosophy of fostering independence and nurturing each child’s natural curiosity. In addition to her role in the classroom, Kerry serves as part of the Ottawa Montessori School (OMS) leadership team, contributing to shaping the educational vision of the school and supporting the growth of both students and fellow educators. Her passion for early childhood education and commitment to creating enriching learning environments make her a valued member of the community.

Growing Brave: Montessori Foundations Rooted in Practical Life and the Importance of Risk-Taking
Presented by Kate Wilder
(Casa stream)

Join Kate as she reflects on the transformative role of practical life activities in fostering independence, creativity, and critical thinking in children. Through exploration and risk-taking, these activities empower children to grow into curious, capable, and resilient learners. Attendees will have the opportunity to reflect on their classroom practices, share experiences with implementing practical life lessons, and explore strategies for incorporating controlled risks into their environments. The session will focus on finding a balance between safety and independence, emphasizing how risk-taking supports child development. Kate will delve into the developmental consequences of minimizing risk, highlighting its critical role in fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and resilience in children.

About Kate: Kate’s journey into Montessori education began in 2002 when she worked as a Casa assistant. This experience inspired her to pursue formal training, and she earned her AMI 3-6 diploma in 2004. Following her certification, Kate worked as a co-teacher and a lead Casa guide. Throughout her career, Kate has gained extensive experience starting new classrooms and has developed a particular interest in literacy and inclusion within Montessori pedagogy. Kate completed her Elementary Certification in 2022 and currently leads a Lower Elementary classroom at OMS and is an integral part of their Leadership Team.

Creating a Thriving Science Community in Your Classroom
Presented by Mackenzie Leach
(Elementary stream)

Have you found teaching science in the Montessori elementary classroom overwhelming or intimidating? Have you ever had an experiment go sideways you’ve been reluctant to try again? You are not alone! Luckily, there is a way to have a thriving science community in your classroom with little to no setup or cost. Through the lens of the scientific method, science can come alive in your classroom without the overwhelm! Whether you’re new to the classroom or a veteran with many years under your belt, come and learn how the scientific method can help you engage students in science learning. From the experiments of the First Great Lesson to new topics like coding, this workshop will inspire you to do science with your students, give you an opportunity to talk with other educators about science in the Montessori classroom, do hands-on experiments, and return to your classroom with resources to get started right away.

About Mackenzie: Mackenzie holds an Elementary diploma from CGMS and an AMI Casa credential. After having worked in Casa for six years, she is currently in her fourth year of teaching Upper Elementary at OMS. Mackenzie’s passion for science led her to earn a B.A. in Biology and made STEM her focus while earning her B.Ed in Primary/Junior and M.Ed in Studies in Teaching and Learning. Discovering Montessori pedagogy and how seamlessly inquiry-based learning and cosmic education fit together, Mackenzie has deeply enjoyed sharing her passion for science with her students from Casa to Upper Elementary.

Montessori Meets STEM: Fostering Curiosity, Critical Thinking, and Independence
Presented by Annie von Eyken
(Adolescent stream)

What if you could make your STEM lessons both curriculum-compliant and deeply engaging for your students? In this workshop, we will explore how to blend the structured demands of the Ministry of Education with Montessori principles to create hands-on, student-driven experiences for middle and high school STEM. The goal of this session is to generate a toolbox of ideas on how to design projects and activities that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and independence – while also ticking off all the necessary curriculum boxes.

About Annie: Annie is an adolescent educator with a passion for exploring and implementing forward-thinking teaching strategies. She holds a BSc and MSc in Analytical Chemistry and a PhD in Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry. Based on this foundation Annie combines scientific inquiry and pedagogy grounded in Montessori principles to create dynamic, student-centered learning environments. Annie holds an AMI Montessori Adolescent Diploma, deepening her expertise in nurturing adolescent development and creating environments that inspire curiosity and self-directed learning. By blending Montessori pedagogy with her background in research, Annie strives to cultivate an environment where students gain academic knowledge and also develop critical life skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience.

Navigating Challenges and Finding Opportunities
Hosted by Carrie Whalen, OMS Head of School
(For School Leaders)

Come to connect, share experiences, and engage in moderated discussion and conversation about the unique challenges and opportunities you face in leading a Montessori community. Through peer learning and sharing, you will leave with fresh ideas and renewed confidence to lead your school with purpose, clarity, and a deep commitment to Montessori principles.

Afternoon Session Information:

Seamless Transitions from Toddler to Casa – Understanding All Perspectives
Presented by Blanca Sanchez
(Toddler and Casa streams)

How can we make the transition from the warm and cozy Toddler environment to the dynamic Casa classroom a joyful and confident step for children, parents, and educators alike? This workshop dives into practical strategies to make the transition as smooth as possible by addressing the emotional and developmental changes involved. Through tools like observations, visits, and a focus on developmental readiness, we’ll explore how to support families in embracing this exciting new stage. Leaders and educators will leave with a clear vision to ensure continuity, trust, and a thriving school community at every level.

About Blanca: Blanca opened her first Montessori school after completing her AMI training program in Mexico. Upon immigrating to Canada, she founded Kaban Montessori in 2002, a bilingual (Spanish) school, and today, it serves 150 students from Infants to Upper Elementary. A leader in infant/toddler environmental planning, Blanca has shared her expertise through lectures at Sheridan College and Toronto Montessori Institute and contributed to the CCMA’s accreditation guidelines for infant/toddler environments. She has also served as a CCMA Accreditation verifier and as program director for the Canadian Association of Montessori Teachers (CAMT), helping plan workshops and conferences. Known for her aesthetic sensibilities, Blanca believes that a well-prepared environment is essential for nurturing the soul of every child. The beauty and serenity of her classrooms reflect her ability to bring this vision to life.

Geometry: A Prism for Creativity, Curiosity, and Beauty
Presented by Regina Lulka
(Elementary and Adolescent streams)

Are you ready to infuse creativity and artistry into your Geometry program? Dr. Montessori‘s concept of Psychogeometria places the needs and tendencies of the child at the core of understanding geometric principles. “A single one of these discoveries is sufficient to open up a brilliant, unexpected path to the mind. And so interest is aroused—and where there is interest, indefinite conquests are assured.” (Psychogeometria pp 55-56) Join us to discover geometry as a prism that blends logic, creativity, and beauty. Beginning with the Story of Geometry, we will look at geometry in nature and art. Using the geometer’s tools – a compass and a set square – we will create intricate designs and dive into a renewed exploration of the wonder-ful Montessori materials. You will gain fresh ideas to ignite your own curiosity and imagination and “open up a brilliant, unexpected path to the minds” of your students.

About Regina: Regina began her Montessori life as a mother of two Casa children. This led to a life-long career working with children, parents, educators, and school leaders. For over 20 years, Regina enjoyed working and learning with Lower and Upper Elementary students and adolescents. Her work spans all three planes of development, blending classroom experience with roles in school leadership, teacher education, parent education, professional development, and Montessori advocacy. Currently a consultant with Montessori Partners, Regina continues to expand, deepen, and share her knowledge and passion for education. Regina’s Montessori teacher education sparked a fascination for the logic and beauty of the Geometry curriculum. She is always eager to empower fellow educators to find awe and wonder in Geometry that they can or bring to their students through story-telling and hands-on creations and discoveries that they can then share with their students.