Campus Connection

Conference aims to inspire educators, parents as education style increases in popularity

The third annual Montessori Conference at UW-La Crosse comes as Montessori education continues to grow in popularity in Wisconsin. The conference, which has attracted more than 100 Montessori teachers, administrators and parents from throughout Wisconsin and the Twin Cities area, will be from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at UW-La Crosse. It will be the first full conference in the university’s new Student Union: The U. In a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, Keith Whitescarver, executive director of the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector, called Wisconsin a hotbed for growth in Montessori education. Milwaukee Public Schools went from 180 Montessori students in 1976 to more than 3,300 today, according to data compiled by MPS. MPS has seven Montessori schools and parent demand has led to adding two additional sites, according to the Journal Sentinel. The La Crosse School District is home to Coulee Montessori Charter School, located inside Northside Elementary School, and Coulee Montessori Adolescent Program, located inside Lincoln Middle School. The local programs have seen steady interest, says Laura Huber, principal of Northside Elementary School. Although Montessori is associated most with private schools, growth in Montessori education has been both in the private and public sector. Public-montessori.org identified 635 public Montessori school programs that opened between 1975 and 2014. Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori started the education style in the early 1900s. It combines multiple grade levels in one classroom where kids are encouraged, with some guidance from the teacher, to explore and be creative through self-directed activity. Hands-on learning, collaboration and exploration are key parts of Montessori education. [caption id="attachment_47764" align="alignleft" width="240"] Ann Epstein, UWL associate professor of educational studies.[/caption] The conference is an opportunity for Montessori teachers, administrators, parents and others in education to learn new ideas related to Montessori education, says Ann Epstein, associate professor of educational studies who has helped organize the conference all three years. “But, more than that, I hope it will help people find that spark to inspire themselves … and bring that back to their classrooms or homes,” she adds. The conference at UWL, organized by Continuing Education and Extension, started after retired teacher Nancy Schaitel, of Sparta, who was teaching a Continuing Education Introduction to Montessori class noticed a strong interest in Montessori from students. She and Epstein thought a conference — opening the subject area to a wider group and offering more topics — would make sense. The idea received support from the UWL School of Education, Professional & Continuing Education. This year’s keynote speaker Kathy Leitch, who started a Montessori school in Fort Myers, Florida, aims to leave the audience with new appreciation of Montessori’s legacy of establishing peace through education. Through Montessori pedagogy, ancient teachings and current research, Leitch will explore the impact that kindness, compassion and inner peace can have on education during her talk from 9-9:45 a.m. At 10 a.m. Teri Holford-Talpe, an assistant professor at UWL, will discuss how to raise awareness of empathy in children through children’s literature. Montessori educators looking for new and relevant children’s books on the theme of social justice will have the opportunity to explore several hand?picked children’s books. New this year, a special session was created for parents that can be paid for separate from the rest of the conference. The session, from 1:30-3 p.m., focuses on helping children learn the Montessori way. The special session opens up another option for parents who may not be able to attend the entire conference. People can register for the conference at the door. See the full schedule and more details at: www.uwlax.edu/conted/montessori/ Epstein is grateful for the support of UWL School of Education, Professional & Continuing Education Dean Marcie Wycoff-Horn, who has provided support for the annual conference including keynote speakers and scholarships for eight UWL students to attend this year’s conference. If you go — Who: Montessori educators and administrators; public and private school educators and administrators; parents What: Montessori Conference Where: UWL Student Union: The U, 521 East Ave. N. When: Saturday, Jan. 21