Shows
Multilingual Montessori60. Co-Teaching in Oaxaca, MexicoIn this episode, I interview a former teaching team about their time working in a bilingual Montessori classroom together in Oaxaca, Mexico!
Charlotte Peck is a 3-6 Montessori educator and certified Positive Discipline Parent & Early Childhood Educator. Charlotte has over 13 years of experience working in non-profit youth organizations, public and private education, and Dual Language Montessori programs in the U.S. and Mexico.
Guadalupe Tinoco, or Lupita, is a 3-6 Montessori educator living in Oaxaca, Mexico. Lupita has worked in Education for almost 20 years and now runs a own Montessori program in Oaxaca called Ambiente M...2024-12-1859 min
Multilingual Montessori59. Bilingualism at 18 months: Everyone is "Nonni"Today’s conversation is the third in a series of check-ins with my good friend and new bilingual mom, Samantha. We previously checked in when Samantha’s daughter was 12 months and 15 months. If you missed our first two conversations, you can go back and hear them (they are episode 50 and episode 56).
We recorded this update back in the spring, when Samantha’s daughter was 18 months old, right after her family returned from a trip to Italy to visit her partner’s family.
I hope you enjoy this 18-month check in with Samantha!
Fol...2024-10-1744 min
Multilingual Montessori58. The Three Trimesters of Language DevelopmentMariana Bissonnette (she/her) is an internationally recognized speaker, author, AMI 0-6 trained Montessorian and AMI 3-6 Trainer-in-Training working with parents, teachers, trainees, and school leaders in implementing Montessori on either side of the classroom doors. She is also the founder of The PEACE Program (Parent Education and Child Empowerment) where she supports families, Montessori educators, and Montessori schools. Mariana’s work centers on the depth of the Montessori method in service of the child’s liberation from oppressive systems that constrain their ability to develop as they are trying to.
Our conversation today focu...2024-09-051h 06
Multilingual Montessori57. Montessori Toddlers with Nichole HoltvluwerNichole Holtvluwer is a mom and Montessorian with over two decades of experience working with young children. Nichole currently lives and works as a Montessori Toddler Guide at Hala Kahiki Montessori School on the island of Lāna’i, part of the Hawaiian archipelago, with her husband and their 3yo daughter and 7yo dog.
You may know Nichole as Radicle Beginnings on Instagram, where she shares lots of information and inspiration about supporting babies and toddlers using Montessori principles. Nichole is a hopeful enthusiast who believes when young children are respected and understood by the a...2024-05-101h 17
Multilingual Montessori56. Bilingualism at 15 months: Italy with a BabyToday’s episode is the second in a series of check-ins with my good friend and new bilingual mom, Samantha!
In our first conversation, I introduced you to Samantha and her one-year-old daughter, who is learning both English and Italian at home. We talked about the joys and challenges Samantha was experiencing with her daughter’s bilingualism, and what her daughter’s language use was like as she turned one year old. So if you didn’t get a chance to listen to that first episode, I encourage you to go back and listen to that...2024-04-2037 min
Multilingual Montessori55. The Montessori Child with Simone Davies and Junnifa UzodikeMy guests for this episode are Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike, the authors of the upcoming book, The Montessori Child. They are both accomplished Montessorians and authors, and just generally lovely people. We had a great conversation about their work and their upcoming book, and I know you’re going to enjoy it.
Simone Davies is the author of “The Montessori Toddler” and co-author of “The Montessori Baby” and “The Montessori Child” books, comprehensive guides to raising children in a Montessori way. Simone is an AMI Montessori educator based in Amsterdam. She also has a popular blog...2024-02-0753 min
Multilingual Montessori54. Inside a Dual Language Public Montessori Charter SchoolAlexandra Torres Guerrero is the Interim Principal at Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School in Washington DC, where students learn in both English and Spanish.
Alex was born in Bogotá, Colombia and has lived in the DC area since 2007. She is AMI-trained at the 0-3 and 3-6 levels, and is currently doing her AMI Administrators Certificate training. She has worked at LAMB for the past 12 years and recently became the school’s interim principal.
LAMB is a really unique school because it is a public Montessori charter school, and so I was excited to have...2024-01-1034 min
Multilingual Montessori53. Indigenous Montessori Education with Trisha MoquinoTrisha Moquino is a member of the Cochiti, Kewa, and Ohkay Ohwingeh Tribal Nations. She is the Co-Founder, Education Director and Elementary Keres Speaking Guide at Keres Children's Learning Center, an Indigenous Language Immersion Montessori school in Cochiti Pueblo, NM. Trisha also helps in the continued development of KCLC’s Indigenous Montessori Institute, an anti-racist teacher training grounded in our Philosophy of Indigenous Education.
In this conversation, Trisha shares what it’s like to be a part of a heritage language immersion school and why language revitalization efforts are so important for the Cochiti Puebl...2023-12-1347 min
Multilingual Montessori52. Literacy Learning with Zil JaegerZil Jaeger (they/them) is a Montessori educator, consultant and coach, with a passion for literacy and a commitment to anti-bias, antiracist education. They are Montessori trained at the 3-6 and 6-12 levels, with multiple literacy certifications. They believe that classrooms should be spaces of joy, critical engagement, and community-minded learning. An advocate for literacy learning, Zil is devoted to translating research into effective classroom strategies. They love supporting teachers, caregivers, and schools to empower children in their learning.
In this conversation, Zil shares insights into the sciences of reading, and how we can...2023-11-2950 min
Multilingual Montessori51. Equity in Public Montessori with Jasmine WilliamsJasmine Williams is the Race and Equity Specialist at the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector. Jazz provides race and equity guidance and education, and delivers Montessori theory and practice instruction for the NCMPS Montessori Teacher Residency.
Jazz has worked in bilingual Montessori programs for 12 years, including 8 years in a public program, as a classroom teacher, reading interventionist, Montessori coach, and academic director.
Jazz has lived in, volunteered in and traveled to 48 countries, most recently returning from four years in China. She is passionate about equitable and joyful Montessori education, and her dream...2023-11-1553 min
Multilingual Montessori50. Bilingualism at 12 months: Meet SamanthaToday we’re doing something a little different! This is the first episode of what will become a series of check-ins with my good friend and new bilingual mom, Samantha. In this first conversation, I’ll introduce you to Samantha and her one-year-old daughter, who is learning both English and Italian at home. We’ll talk about the current joys and challenges Samantha is experiencing with her daughter’s bilingualism, and what her daughter’s language use is like right now. Then we’ll check in again in another 3 months to see how things have changed! I’m excited to share Saman...2023-11-0237 min
Multilingual Montessori49. Multilingual Homeschooling with Elizabeth M. CastilloElizabeth M. Castillo is a multilingual poet, writer, teacher, and parent. Her childhood was split between the Congo and England, and she spent her adolescent years on the tiny, tropical island of Mauritius. She now lives in Paris with her family and two cats. Elizabeth homeschools her two daughters, and writes a variety of different things, in a variety of different languages, and under a variety of pen names. She also runs a handful of small businesses, dabbles in charity work and teaches languages part-time.
In her writing Elizabeth explores the different countries and cultures she grew u...2023-10-1844 min
Multilingual Montessori48. What if my child switches between languages?Today's Frequently Asked Question is from a listener: What if my child switches between langauges?
I'm back with another Frequently Asked Questions episode - a quick, bite-sized episode focusing on one frequently asked question about language acquisition, Montessori language development principles, or multilingualism. I alternate these episodes with the longer-form interviews parents, educators and experts in their fields on topics relating to Montessori and multilingualism that you’re already familiar with.
If you have a question about anything related to Montessori and multilingualism that you’d like me to answer on one of these episodes, you...2023-10-1114 min
Multilingual Montessori47. Bianca Solorzano on Montessori with BabiesBianca Solorzano is a Montessori guide and consultant for Baby Tour Guide. In the past Bianca has run her own Montessori Infant Classroom, otherwise known as a Nido, and has also held roles in Admissions and School Administration. She now supports parents and educators through her Montessori Babies Podcast, the Montessori Babies Course, and on her Instagram account, @babytourguide.
In our conversation, we talk about what Bianca loves about working with babies and their parents, and what it has been like raising her own son in their bilingual English-Spanish household. We also discuss how parents can support...2023-10-0438 minMultilingual MontessoriBonus Episode: Advice from Past GuestsToday is a very special day: I started this podcast exactly two years ago, in September 2021!
Since then, I’ve interviewed over 40 educators, parents, authors, researchers, professors and experts about Montessori and multilingualism.
A few months after I first started the podcast, in December 2021, I put together this bonus episode with advice from the first ten guests that I interviewed. At the end of each episode, I invited each guest to share some advice that they had for listeners, and I compiled all that advice into one episode to share with you.
Whether thi...2023-09-2028 min
Multilingual Montessori46. Jenna Clark Embrey, Dramaturg at Lincoln Center TheaterJenna Clark Embrey is the Literary Manager and Dramaturg at Lincoln Center Theater in New York City. Jenna develops plays and supports playwrights alongside serving as the Executive Editor of the Lincoln Center Review. She received her MFA from the American Repertory Theater/Moscow Art Theater School for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University.
Jenna is also the mom to a two-year-old named Amelia, who attends a German immersion preschool in New York. Jenna studied German as an adolescent, and now is re-learning German along with Amelia. We talked about how they utilize the time and place...2023-09-0658 min
Multilingual MontessoriFrom the Archives: 5. Hannah Ewert-Krocker on Montessori with AdolescentsIf you've ever wondered about Montessori at the adolescent level, this is the episode for you!
In this episode, I speak with Hannah Ewert-Krocker, a former Montessori child who worked as the director of the farm school program at the Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School for seven years. Hannah shares incredible insights about Montessori at the adolescent level, the joys and challenges of running a public Montessori program, and what she loves about working with adolescents.
Hannah also shares her thoughts about what it was like growing up with a mother who is a...2023-08-1657 min
Multilingual Montessori45. Jacqueline Ménoret, An American in ParisJacqueline Ménoret is an American living in Paris. Jackie graduated with a Master’s degree in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She works in higher education in Paris, coordinating French-speaking study abroad programs. Jackie founded the Immigrant Book Club in 2020, and is also the co-founder of a new bilingual magazine called Revue Version Originale, available this fall. Jackie grew up in Wisconsin and now lives in Paris with her husband and her cat.
In this episode, Jackie talks about learning French with her dad as a chi...2023-07-261h 04
Multilingual Montessori44. A Look at Virtual Montessori SchoolHave you ever wondered about what Virtual Montessori school is like? Not Montessori schools that temporarily held virtual classes during the pandemic, but an academic program designed to be a fully remote Montessori school?
In June of 2022, I graduated from Linköping University in Sweden with a Master’s Degree in Child Studies. For my final thesis, I conducted a qualitative study about teachers’ experiences, and their impressions of their students’ experiences, in a virtual Montessori program that started at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
My good friend and former coworker Claudia, an AMI 0-3 train...2023-07-121h 15
Montessori BabiesSupporting Multilingual Development with Gabrielle KotkovIn Season 2 Episode 19 of our Montessori Babies podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Gabrielle Kotkov of Multilingual Montessori!This week we discussed:Benefits of multilingualismDifferent approaches of supporting multilingualism in childrenDifferent language games and activities to playand more!Dive into Gabrielle's Multilingual Montessori Resources below.💖Website: https://multilingualmontessori.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/multilingual.montessori/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/multilingual-montessori/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hEdD2gDwQ50DGX...2023-07-1040 min
Multilingual Montessori43. What’s the best way to raise a multilingual child?Today's Frequently Asked Question is: What’s the best way to raise a multilingual child?
I'm back with another Frequently Asked Questions episode - a quick, bite-sized episode focusing on one frequently asked question about language acquisition, Montessori language development principles, or multilingualism. I alternate these episodes with the longer-form interviews parents, educators and experts in their fields on topics relating to Montessori and multilingualism that you’re already familiar with.
If you have a question about anything related to Montessori and multilingualism that you’d like me to answer on one of the...2023-06-2812 min
Multilingual MontessoriFrom the Archives: 15. Claudia Lundahl on Montessori with ToddlersI'm bringing back one of the podcast's most popular episodes about one of the most requested topics: Montessori with toddlers!
On Episode 15 of the Multilingual Montessori Podcast, I spoke with Claudia Lundahl, an AMI Montessori toddler guide, postpartum doula, and freelance artist living in London, England. One of Claudia’s first teaching experiences after college was teaching English in France through TAPIF, which stands for Teaching Assistant Program in France, where she taught English to French middle schoolers in a town along the Swiss border near Geneva. Claudia then discovered Montessori, and we talk about her experiences as...2023-06-141h 01
Multilingual Montessori42. Kaila Diaz of BilingüitosKaila Diaz is a sociolinguist who specializes in childhood and family bilingualism. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Alfredo and their 3.5 year old daughter.Kaila is the director of Bilingüitos, an educational platform and online community for parents raising bilingual kids. Kaila also hosts the Bilingual Parenting Podcast.
In this conversation, we talk about Kaila’s experiences growing up bilingual in a monolingual home, and her experiences now raising her own bilingüita, or little bilingual. We discuss common myths about bilingualism, and ways that parents can support bilingualism in their children.
2023-05-311h 01
Multilingual Montessori41. Montessori Moms in the WildLaura, Megan and Rachel are three trained Montessori guides and new mothers who host the Montessori Moms in the Wild Podcast. Between the three of them, they are trained in Montessori education for ages birth through twelve years old. Their podcast aims to serve caregivers who want to learn more about the Montessori philosophy but also want a bit of lightheartedness and realness when it comes to the ups and downs of parenting.
In this conversation, we talk about how Laura, Megan and Rachel all got their start as Montessori educators, how they met each other, and...2023-05-171h 09
Talking to GrandmaS2: Relearning your heritage language & culture alongside your parent with Gabrielle & Fran KotkovIn this episode, we talked with mother and daughter Fran and Gabrielle Kotkov about their experience reclaiming their Italian heritage language after it was lost two generations earlier.
Check out Gabrielle's work at www.multilingualmontessori.org! 2023-05-0949 min
Multilingual Montessori40. Sylvia Arotin of Guide & GrowSylvia Arotin is the founder and CEO of Guide & Grow. She runs My Montessori school in Sydney, Australia and is an international speaker and trainer for educators and parents, specializing in communication and guiding children's behavior. Sylvia holds an International Montessori 0-3 diploma, 3-6 assistants’ certificate, International Communications degree and a Masters in Teaching specializing in early childhood.
Sylvia created Guide & Grow from a desire to help raise tomorrow’s children and to create a movement towards supporting caregivers on their path to raise future generations. With its roots in Montessori, positive communication, positive discipline and building chil...2023-04-2658 min
Multilingual Montessori39. The Power of Language with Viorica MarianViorica Marian is a Psycholinguist, Cognitive Scientist, Psychologist, and writer known for her research on language, bilingualism, and multilingualism. She is the Ralph and Jean Sundin Endowed Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Professor of Psychology at Northwestern University, and is the Principal Investigator of the Northwestern Bilingualism and Psycholinguistics Research Laboratory. She received her PhD in Psychology from Cornell University, Master's degrees from Emory University and from Cornell University, and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Alaska.
Her new book, The Power of Language, which was released in April 2023, is a revolutionary book that g...2023-04-1151 min
Multilingual Montessori38. The Bilingual Montessori ProjectMarikay McCabe and Mirka Vlčková are two of the co-founders of The Bilingual Montessori Project.
Marikay McCabe founded Madrid Montessori School in 2006 and was its Director until 2017. In 2018 she established Learning Ecologies to continue supporting Montessori educators as a school consultant and by offering seminars on bilingualism and school organization & leadership. In 2020 she co-founded the Bilingual Montessori initiative in order to offer a virtual home for educators working in bilingual and multilingual schools. She received her Ph.D. in Anthropology from Columbia University and completed school management and leadership training from NAMTA and the Whole School Lea...2023-03-2959 min
Multilingual Montessori37. What are the stages of second language acquisition?Today's Frequently Asked Question is: What are the stages of second language acquisition?
I'm back with another Frequently Asked Questions episode - a quick, bite-sized episode focusing on one frequently asked question about language acquisition, Montessori language development principles, or multilingualism. I alternate these episodes with the longer-form interviews parents, educators and experts in their fields on topics relating to Montessori and multilingualism that you’re already familiar with.
If you have a question about anything related to Montessori and multilingualism that you’d like me to answer on one of these episodes, you can send...2023-03-1509 min
Multilingual Montessori36. Nasma Alkhafif on the Dialect DilemmaNasma Alkhafif is an Early Childhood Consultant and bilingual mom living in Columbus, Ohio. Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, she holds a Master's in Education and a Bachelor's in Psychology. Nasma is also a certified AMI 3-6 Guide and Positive Discipline Parent Educator. As a parenting coach and consultant, Nasma is passionate about providing children with the best environment and resources needed to reach their full potential. In addition to her professional work, Nasma is a mother of two bilingual children, and implements Montessori-inspired parenting in her home.
In our conversation, Nasma and I discuss how s...2023-03-0148 min
Multilingual Montessori35. Veronica Benavides of the Language Preservation ProjectHarvard-educated doctora of education Vero Benavides has spent her career exploring and advocating for the intersection of identity, language, and learning.
Throughout her career in education—as a high school and middle school teacher, a Fulbright scholar, a leadership coach, and the Executive Director of a leading early childhood educational research and training center—she's always sought to create strengths-based environments where all people and children thrive.
Now, as founder and CEO of The Language Preservation Project, Dr. Benavides works to support the reclamation and flourishing of heritage languages across global contexts. Through learning resources and...2023-02-1548 min
Multilingual MontessoriFrom the Archives: 3. Chelsea Daniel on Mindfulness and MontessoriIn Episode 3 of the Multilingual Montessori Podcast, I spoke with Chelsea Daniel, an AMI Montessori guide, birth doula, and certified yoga instructor living in Brooklyn, NY. Chelsea is the founder of Chickadee Yoga, where she teaches children's yoga, prenatal yoga, and postnatal/baby + me yoga classes. We discuss the intersection of mindfulness and Montessori, how to use mindfulness to support children, and how we as adults can use mindfulness practices to be our best selves when caring for children. We also chat about Chelsea's experience living in Austria for several years as a young child and learning to speak...2023-02-0137 min
Multilingual Montessori34. Paula Lillard Preschlack on The Montessori PotentialPaula Lillard Preschlack was a teacher and the head of school at Forest Bluff School in Illinois for over 25 years. Her work focuses on the principles and benefits of the Montessori approach. Paula attended Hampshire College and holds a Master's Degree in Education from Loyola College in Maryland, has diplomas from the Association Montessori Internationale for Assistants to Infancy, Primary, and Elementary Levels, and she audited the NAMTA/AMI Orientation to Adolescent Studies. Paula and her husband Jim have two children, now 18 and 20 years old. Her new book, The Montessori Potential, will be published in February 2023.
In...2022-12-1450 min
Multilingual Montessori33. Claudia Serrano Johnson, Bilingual Speech-Language PathologistClaudia Serrano Johnson is a bilingual speech-language pathologist and a mom of three living in Virginia. Claudia is passionate about empowering Latinx parents with accurate information on bilingual language development. On her social media platforms, she clarifies misinformation such as "Bilingualism causes delays", "Bilingualism confuses children", and "Bilingual children speak later." Claudia feels strongly that these myths negatively impact the bilingual community by making parents fear passing on their language or delaying parents from seeking the right supports for their children. Ultimately, Claudia hopes that by sharing this information, parents can continue fostering bilingualism in their families.
...2022-11-3049 min
Multilingual Montessori32. Linda McGurk on Outdoor Living with ChildrenLinda McGurk is a Swedish-American freelance writer and author of the book, There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient and Confident Kids. Linda is a passionate advocate for the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv and believes that the best childhood memories are created outside, while jumping in puddles, digging in dirt, catching bugs and climbing trees. Her latest book, The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Connect with Nature Every Day was published earlier this month.
In this conversation, we discuss Linda’s experiences parenting bilingu...2022-11-161h 02
Multilingual Montessori31. Can I Teach My Child a Language That Isn’t My Native Language?Today's Frequently Asked Question is: Can I Teach My Child a Language That Isn’t My Native Language?
I'm back with another Frequently Asked Questions episode - a quick, bite-sized episode focusing on one frequently asked question about language acquisition, Montessori language development principles, or multilingualism. I alternate these episodes with the longer-form interviews parents, educators and experts in their fields on topics relating to Montessori and multilingualism that you’re already familiar with.
If you have a question about anything related to Montessori and multilingualism that you’d like me to answer on one of the...2022-11-0910 min
Multilingual Montessori30. Meagan De Clerck on Multilingual HomeschoolingMeagan De Clerck is a multilingual mom of four. Meagan lives with her family in Northern Vermont and homeschools her children with a Montessori-inspired curriculum. Meagan’s children are trilingual; she and her husband use the one parent one language method in their home. Meagan speaks exclusively in Spanish to her children, her husband speaks exclusively in French, and they get English exposure from their community. Since we recorded this episode over the summer, Meagan has also started speaking Italian with her children every day at lunchtime (which you might recognize as the “time and place method”).
Meagan...2022-11-0242 min
Multilingual Montessori29. Is It Too Late to Raise My Child Bilingual?A question I hear all the time is: Is it too late to raise my child bilingual?
This is the first episode of a new series of short, bite-sized episodes where I’ll tackle a frequently asked question about language acquisition, Montessori language development principles, or multilingualism. I’ll alternate these episodes with the longer-form interviews that you're already familiar with, so every other week you’ll continue to hear from parents, educators and experts in their fields on topics relating to Montessori and multilingualism, with these shorter FAQ episodes in between.
If you have a ques...2022-10-2611 min
Multilingual Montessori28. Natalia Sáez, Bilingual Education & Applied Linguistics Professor at Columbia UniversityNatalia Sáez is a professor and researcher at Teachers College Columbia University focusing on second language development as well as bilingual/bicultural education. Natalia is also the founder and co-owner of TraducGlobal, which offers language services to clients around the world. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Cognitive Science from Universidad de Chile, and a Master of Arts degree in Applied Linguistics from Teachers College Columbia University, from which she also has a Doctor of Education degree specializing in Applied Linguistics.
In this conversation we talk about Natalia’s experiences growing up in both NYC...2022-10-1947 min
Multilingual MontessoriFrom the Archives: 13. Beth Allison on Learning Navajo With Her SonBeth Allison is a mom, educator, and entrepreneur who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Beth is Navajo and grew up on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, but she is not fluent in the Navajo language. When her son, who is now 2 and a half, was born, Beth decided to learn Navajo along with him. She quickly found that there weren’t as many teaching resources for an indigenous language like Navajo as there are for world languages like Spanish and Mandarin. So she began creating and sharing resources and videos for other parents teaching their children Navajo as well, which sh...2022-10-101h 24
Multilingual Montessori27. Diandra Morse from Bilingual PlaydateDiandra Morse is a bilingual mom, licensed clinical social worker and child advocate living in Syracuse, New York with her husband and two bilingual sons. Diandra is Dominican American and was raised in both the Dominican Republic and New York City. You might know Diandra from Instagram as Bilingual Playdate, where she promotes positive language attitudes towards all languages, language variations, accents, dialects and reminds parents that they are the heart of their child’s bilingualism.
In this conversation, Diandra shares her experiences raising two bilingual sons, and what it has been like to watch her husband tr...2022-10-0554 min
Multilingual Montessori26. Jesse Gevirtz on Montessori with AdolescentsJesse Gevirtz is the Director of Adolescent Programs at Austin Montessori School in Austin, Texas. Jesse has been teaching in Montessori schools for 25 years, 21 of them at Austin Montessori School. He holds an AMI Elementary Diploma and an AMI Diploma in Adolescent Studies. Jesse attended Montessori school as a child in Houston, Texas in the early 1970s. He is the parent of two Montessori children: both of his young adult daughters attended Austin Montessori School from their early childhood years all the way through the adolescent program.
In this conversation, we discuss Jesse’s path to Montessori an...2022-09-2158 min
Multilingual Montessori25. Yuna Seong, Language Program Director at Columbia UniversityYuna Seong is a language educator and assessment expert living in New Jersey. She is the Director of the Community Language Program, the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certificate Program, and the Language Program Management Certificate at Teachers College Columbia University, where she hires and trains language educators and language program professionals who aspire to teach and manage their own language programs.
Yuna earned her MA in Second Language Studies from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa with a focus on language Assessment, measurement, and program evaluation, and she is expecting her doctorate in...2022-09-0741 min
Montessori Moms in the WildMultilingual Montessori: A Conversation with Gabrielle KotkovToday we meet with Gabrielle Kotkov of Multilingual Montessori and discuss how a multilingual/multicultural approach to raising children can go so well with the Montessori philosophy. Gabrielle takes the time to fill us in on the importance of exposing your children to these concepts starting at a young age, as well as dispels some of the top myths and concerns parents bring to her about raising multilingual kids. If you have been considering, or actively implementing, a multilingual/multicultural approach with your family, this episode is for you!
Also, as promised, a link t...2022-08-151h 00
Multilingual Montessori24. Melina Gac Levin, Founder of NYC's First Forest School en EspañolMelina Gac Levin is an educator and bilingual parent who lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is the founder of Pueblo, which supports multicultural families through parenting classes and consultations. She is also the co-founder of Nido Forest, NYC's first forest school en Español. Melina has a dual Masters from Bank Street College of Education in Infant, Toddler and Family Development and Early Childhood General and Special Education. She is a former preschool teacher, and currently teaches graduate students at Bank Street College of Education. In this conversation, we discuss Melina’s experiences growing up with multiple languages and how...2022-07-2749 min
Multilingual Montessori23. Jackie Howard, Bilingual Educator and Former Montessori ChildJackie Howard is a bilingual educator and former Montessori child living in Austin, Texas. Jackie grew up speaking Spanish and English at home, and went to a Montessori school from kindergarten to 8th grade. She has worked in the education field for 13 years, first as a bilingual elementary teacher, then as an instructional coach mentoring teachers, and now as a high school humanities teacher and college consultant.
In our conversation, we discuss Jackie’s childhood memories of Montessori school and how she thinks her Montessori education has influenced her as an adult, as well as what it wa...2022-07-071h 01
Multilingual Montessori22. Lynda Apostol on Montessori HomeschoolingLynda Apostol is a Montessori teacher, parent, and homeschool coach who lives in Southern California with her husband and two children. Lynda has worked in both public and private schools as a teacher, instructional coach and administrator. During the pandemic, she decided to homeschool her young children, and we talk about how that decision came about in our conversation.
When she began sharing her homeschooling experiences on social media, she found that other parents were seeking guidance about how to homeschool their own children in a Montessori way. She decided to share her knowledge and experience by...2022-06-231h 06
Multilingual Montessori21. Sophia O'Brien-Udry on Teaching in a Bilingual Montessori SchoolSophia O’Brien-Udry is a Children’s House guide at a Montessori school in New York City. Although Sophia is monolingual herself, she teaches at a bilingual Montessori school, and we talk about her experiences working in a bilingual environment, and what she has learned about language from her bilingual colleagues and students. Sophia is also the Director of Culture at her school, where she partners with families to narrow the gap between the Montessori classroom and the home. In this episode, we talk about ways that parents and teachers can support children’s language development in the preschool years...2022-06-1327 min
Multilingual Montessori20. How Multilingual Montessori Came to Be: An Interview with Me!The guest for this episode is…me! I invited my good friend and former coworker Claudia to interview me about my education background and how I came to start Multilingual Montessori. Claudia was a podcast guest a few episodes back (linked below) and in honor of my 20th podcast episode, I thought it would be fun to be in the hot seat myself. I asked Claudia to interview me and she came up with some great questions for me about growing up in Manhattan and going to NYC public schools, teaching English in Italy, how I discovered Montessori, training in...2022-04-271h 17
Multilingual Montessori19. Siri Panday, Director of Education for Toddler and Primary at Marin Montessori SchoolSiri Panday is the Director of Education for Toddler and Primary at Marin Montessori School in Northern California. Siri is trained as both a 0-3 and 3-6 AMI Guide, and she has worked in Montessori schools as a guide, administrator, and consultant for over 20 years. Early in her teaching career, she had the opportunity to help open a Montessori Children's House classroom in Kathmandu, Nepal, and we chat about her memories of teaching in Nepal and learning to speak Nepali. Siri grew up bilingual in English and Norwegian, and she now has two daughters who are trilingual in English...2022-03-3040 min
Multilingual Montessori18. María Laura Ribadeneira, Polyglot in ParisMaría Laura Ribadeneira grew up in Quito, Ecuador where she spoke Spanish at home, English at school, and studied French outside of school. She went to college in the US (with me!) where she also studied Italian and Ancient Greek, and studied abroad in Italy and France. After college graduation, she moved to Paris for a masters degree, where she has lived ever since, and just became a French citizen a year ago.
In this conversation, we chat about language and identity, as well as navigating an academic life, a professional life and a social life i...2022-03-1645 min
Multilingual Montessori17. Being Bilingual and Bicultural with Tania Ginsberg-JambouTania Ginsberg-Jambou is a French-American bilingual mom and Montessorian living in California. Tania grew up speaking both French and English with her American father and French mother. Tania and her husband, who is French, have three children with whom they speak exclusively in French at home.
Tania is trained as an AMI 3-6 Montessori guide, and before she became a mother, she taught in a bilingual Montessori Children’s House in Paris. She shares what that experience was like for her and how bilingual education functioned in that classroom. In addition to her Montessori training, Tania is al...2022-02-2354 min
Multilingual Montessori16. Janina Burmeister on Life as an Expat MomJanina Burmeister is a mom and Montessorian living in Valencia, Spain. Janina is originally from Germany but she has lived abroad for the past twenty years! In this episode, Janina shares her experiences as an expat living in nine countries over the past two decades, and how that has shaped her cultural and linguistic identity.
Janina and her husband have a five-year-old son Henry who speaks three languages: German, English and Spanish. When Henry was a baby, Janina and her husband, who are both educators, realized that his language wasn't developing as quickly as they would have...2022-02-1625 min
Multilingual Montessori15. Claudia Lundahl on Montessori with ToddlersClaudia Lundahl is an AMI Montessori toddler guide, postpartum doula, and freelance artist living in London, England. One of Claudia’s first teaching experiences after college was teaching English in France through TAPIF, which stands for Teaching Assistant Program in France, where she taught English to French middle schoolers in a town along the Swiss border near Geneva. Claudia then discovered Montessori, and we talk about her experiences as a toddler guide, including what developmental work happens in a Montessori toddler classroom and what it’s like to be an early childhood educator and not be a parent.
Cl...2022-02-021h 00
Multilingual Montessori14. Romali Rosales Chavarría on Second Language Learning in the Montessori Children's HouseRomali Rosales Chavarría is a Montessori educator, researcher, and mom of two bilingual sons. Romali is from Mexico and lives in Glasgow, Scotland with her family. In the spring of 2021, she published an article in the Journal of Montessori Research called “Second Language Corner for Children’s House: A Practitioner–Researcher Journey Into Bilingualism in Montessori Education” in which she shared her experiences implementing an English language program in a Montessori Children’s House classroom in Mexico.
In our conversation, Romali shares her thoughts about implementing bilingual programs in Montessori, as well as the process of researching...2022-01-2641 min
Multilingual Montessori13. Beth Allison on Learning Navajo With Her SonBeth Allison is a mom, educator, and entrepreneur who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Beth is Navajo and grew up on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, but she is not fluent in the Navajo language. When her son, who is now 2 and a half, was born, Beth decided to learn Navajo along with him. She quickly found that there weren’t as many teaching resources for an indigenous language like Navajo as there are for world languages like Spanish and Mandarin. So she began creating and sharing resources and videos for other parents teaching their children Navajo as well, which sh...2022-01-191h 24
Multilingual Montessori12. Andrea Imhof on Supporting Language Development in the Early YearsAndrea Imhof is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Oregon. Her research focuses on understanding language development in the early years and how it is impacted by high-stress factors. Before she went into research, Andrea worked as an elementary school teacher and advisor in low-income neighborhoods of New York City. Andrea shares her advice from her dual perspective as a former teacher and a current researcher about how we can support language development in the early years. Andrea is also raising a bilingual son: her husband Lars grew up speaking Swedish at home, so they...2022-01-1251 min
Multilingual Montessori11. Tina Laboy and Rachel Coleman on Talking to Children About FoodThis episode is all about food! Tina Laboy and Rachel Coleman are the co-hosts of Mom Genes the Podcast. Tina is a Registered Dietician and certified personal trainer who lives in Austin Texas, and Rachel is a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist who lives in Southern California. Together on their podcast, they take listeners on a journey of unpacking their old beliefs about food and weight to increase their confidence and raise body confident kids.
I was curious to find out what advice Tina and Rachel could share about what language that...2022-01-0557 min
Multilingual MontessoriBonus: Advice from 2021 GuestsWelcome to this bonus episode of the Multilingual Montessori Podcast!
Since starting this podcast in September, I’ve interviewed ten incredible Montessorians, mothers and child development experts, from all across the United States and the world, who so generously shared their knowledge and wisdom about raising and educating multilingual children from a Montessori perspective. At the end of each episode, I invited each guest to share some advice that they had for listeners. I decided to compile all that advice into one episode that I hope you will find as inspirational and informative as I did!
...2021-12-1828 min
Multilingual Montessori10. Renee Chen on Montessori in China and the U.S.Renee Chen is a mom of two girls, who moved with her husband and children from Shanghai, China to Austin, Texas five years ago. In this conversation, Renee shares the joys and challenges of raising bilingual children, and of being bilingual herself, in a country where she isn't a native speaker. She talks about her experience starting a Mandarin-language class for her daughters' friends, and how she helps her daughters maintain their Mandarin fluency as they grow older. We also discuss differences and similarities between Montessori in China and in the United States!
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Multilingual Montessori9. Ayanna Lewis on Montessori and LiteracyIn this episode, I speak with Ayanna Lewis, a librarian, a Montessorian, and a lifelong learner. Ayanna went to Montessori school as a child from ages 3 to 11, and today she is a Children's House guide in Denver, Colorado. Ayanna and I met during our Montessori teacher training at the Maria Montessori Institute in London. In addition to her AMI Diploma, Ayanna also has two masters degrees: one in reading, writing and literature, and one in library sciences. Before she became a Montessori guide, she worked as a school librarian for fourteen years!
In this conversation, Ayanna and...2021-12-0145 min
Multilingual Montessori8. Sonia Cagle, an American Mother in SwedenIn this episode I speak with Sonia Cagle, an American mother of two who moved to Sweden with her husband almost four years ago. Neither Sonia nor her husband spoke any Swedish when they moved, nor did their two young children. We talk about what the move to Sweden was like for their family and how the experience of learning the Swedish language was different for each of them.
Sonia and I also talk about the differences between the Swedish and American education systems, and how children’s home languages are supported by the schools and community. So...2021-11-1056 min
Multilingual Montessori7. Jessica Whinery on Starting a Montessori SchoolIn this episode I speak with Jessica Whinery, a Montessorian, mom, and entrepreneur in Austin, Texas. She is an AMI 3-6 Montessori guide who started her own Montessori school in August 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Prior to that, she and her partner Joe took a year off to travel throughout Asia in 2019 with their then-three year old daughter! We talk all about what that experience was like for their family and how it led to the decision to open her own Montessori school.
Jessica is Indian-American, and she shares what biculturalism looks like in...2021-11-0351 min
Multilingual Montessori6. Lucie Tamášová on Global Access to MontessoriIn this episode I speak with Lucie Tamášová, a mother and Montessorian who lives in Prague. Lucie shares her experiences working in Africa over the past twenty years with the NGO that she now runs. She also talks about the joys and challenges of bilingual parenting with five children - Lucie has three children and her partner has two - and how the bilingual experience has differed in raising each of her children.
Lucie is also the founder of the Childhood Potential online Montessori conference happening in November. We talk all about how the idea to hol...2021-10-2754 min
Multilingual Montessori5. Hannah Ewert-Krocker on Montessori with AdolescentsIf you've ever wondered about Montessori at the adolescent level, this is the episode for you! In this episode, I speak with Hannah Ewert-Krocker, a former Montessori child who worked as the director of the farm school program at the Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School for seven years. Hannah shares incredible insights about Montessori at the adolescent level, the joys and challenges of running a public Montessori program, and what she loves about working with adolescents. Hannah also shares her thoughts about what it was like growing up with a mother who is a trained Montessorian, and her...2021-10-201h 00
Multilingual Montessori4. Merila, Monolingual Montessori Mom on Raising Bilingual ChildrenIn this episode, I speak with Merila, a mom of two who first learned about Montessori when she sent her older son to a Montessori school when he was 22 months old. Her boys are now 6 and 2.5, and we chat about the joys and challenges of parenting from a Montessori perspective, and how Merila went from thinking Montessori sounded kind of cultish to being, as she puts it, a “hardcore” Montessori mom.
I was particularly interested in interviewing Merila because she and her husband are both monolingual parents, born in the United States, but they made the decision to i...2021-10-1343 min
Multilingual Montessori3. Chelsea Daniel, Yoga Instructor and Montessorian on Mindfulness with ChildrenIn this episode, I speak with Chelsea Daniel, an AMI Montessori guide and certified yoga instructor living in Brooklyn, NY. Chelsea is the founder of Chickadee Yoga, where she teaches children's yoga, prenatal yoga, and postnatal/baby + me yoga classes. We discuss the intersection of mindfulness and Montessori, how to use mindfulness to support children, and how we as adults can use mindfulness practices to be our best selves when caring for children. We also chat about Chelsea's experience living in Austria for several years as a young child and learning to speak German there. I hope you enjoy...2021-10-0637 min
Multilingual Montessori2. Jinny Gonzalez, Director of Early Childhood at Austin Montessori School and Bilingual MomIn this episode I speak with Jinny Gonzalez, an AMI-certified 0-6 Montessori guide and the Director of Early Childhood at Austin Montessori School in Austin, Texas. Jinny is originally from Puerto Rico and is a mom to three boys, and she has been working in Montessori for 22 years. In this conversation, we chat about Jinny’s experiences teaching in a dual language immersion Montessori classroom, her experiences raising bilingual children, and advice she gives to teachers and parents about supporting young children’s language development. Jinny is a walking encyclopedia of Montessori information - I hope you enjoy this conv...2021-09-2848 min
Multilingual Montessori1. Tais Zeitune, Brazilian Mum and Montessorian in LondonWelcome to the first episode of the Multilingual Montessori podcast! On this episode, I speak with Tais Zeitune, a Brazilian mother and Montessorian living in London with her Irish husband Will and their two-year-old son Luca. In this conversation, we discuss what first drew Tais to Montessori, how Montessori philosophies have influenced her parenting style, her experiences teaching in a montessori children’s house, and the role that bilingualism plays in her family’s daily routine. Tais has wonderful insights about Montessori and bilingual parenting - I hope you enjoy this conversation!
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...2021-09-2135 minMultilingual MontessoriWelcome to Multilingual Montessori! (Trailer)Welcome to Multilingual Montessori, a podcast where we’ll discuss multilingualism, multiculturalism, and raising children from a Montessori perspective.
I’m Gabrielle Kotkov, an AMI Montessori guide and certified TESOL instructor with a Masters in Child Studies, and I’m the founder of the Multilingual Montessori website and Instagram account. In this podcast, I’ll be interviewing parents who are raising multilingual children, Montessori guides who have taught in bilingual classrooms or who are themselves multilingual, and adults who grew up speaking two or more languages. We’ll talk about the intersection between language and identity, how to find ba...2021-08-2101 min