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Learning Opportunities for Adults

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The Children’s House Blog
Timely and pertinent Montessori, school, and parenting topics are addressed in our blog every other week and shared in the Waypoints and on our homepage.

Read the Blog

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Parent Library
This beautifully curated selection of Montessori and parenting books and videos is available for parent and staff use. You may browse at your leisure and check books out at the Front Desk. 

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Video Recordings
Watch the Independence series and Montessori Up Close videos from The Children's House archives. 

Video Archives

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More on Montessori

For articles and videos on the Montessori approach to learning, visit montessoriguide.org. To support Montessori learning at home, visit aidtolife.org

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Books on Mental Health

In our "Coffee with Trisha Short" discussions, some book recommendations have come up. Here is the list:

  • The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired by Daniel J. Siegel 

  • The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel 

  • Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn

  • Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive by Daniel J. Siegel 

  • Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids by Hunter Clarke-Fields MSAE


Events 2022-23

Coffee with Trisha, The Children's House School Counselor

Coffee with Trisha Short
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at The Children’s House

Parents and caregivers are invited for coffee with Trisha this fall. Trisha is our school counselor and will facilitate conversations surrounding topics on the emotional well-being and mental health of children, parenting, and supporting your child and yourself.

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Montessori Up Close: The importance of place and travel
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
7:00-8:30 p.m. via Zoom

Our Junior High faculty, Tree and Kristina, will present on the importance of place and travel in our Junior High school curriculum with plenty of time for Q & A. For parents of current Junior High students.

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Montessori 101 with Michele Shane
Thursday, September 22, 2022 or Tuesday, January 17, 2023
4 - 5 p.m. at The Children’s House

Required for all new parents and caregivers. RSVP and sign up for childcare here.

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Thrivers: What Really Helps Kids Find Happiness Today & Success Tomorrow
Michele Borba, Educational Psychologist & Author
Thursday, September 29, 2022
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom

Data shows that today’s youth are the loneliest, most stressed, and risk-averse on record. Though well-educated, they are failing to launch in real life. So how can we teach them to be mentally strong and more successful? Borba empowers both educators and parents to help kids thrive in today’s fast-paced, digital-driven, often uncertain world. Through her research, she found that the difference between those who struggle and those who succeed comes down to the personal traits that set Thrivers apart and set them up for happiness, as well as greater potential later in life. She offers practical, actionable ways to develop these Thrivers traits for kids and shows you how to teach your children to cope today, so they can flourish tomorrow in school and life. These are lessons that will last a lifetime. All are invited. The recording of this webinar will be available until October 31, 2022.

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Montessori Up Close: The Montessori Toddler
Thursday, October 6, 2022
4 - 5:30 p.m. at The Children’s House

A meaningful discussion with our YCC guides around the school life of toddlers and parenting. Parents and caregivers of children ages 0 to 3 are encouraged to read The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies prior to this discussion. Childcare is available. RSVP and sign up for childcare by Monday, October 3. 

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Montessori Up Close: Diving into the Primary Curriculum
Monday, October 10, 2022
4 - 5:30 p.m. at The Children’s House

Come learn more about your child's home away from home: How they go about their day learning, being curious, caring for themselves and their environment, and becoming more and more independent. Don’t miss this special and interactive presentation by our Primary faculty! 
For parents and caregivers of children ages 3 to 5. Childcare is available, sign up by October 6.

Coffee with Trisha, The Children's House School Counselor

Coffee with Trisha Short
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at The Children’s House

Parents and caregivers are invited for coffee with Trisha this fall. Trisha is our school counselor and will facilitate conversations surrounding topics on the emotional well-being and mental health of children, parenting, and supporting your child and yourself.

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Montessori Up Close: How young adolescents learn
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
7:00-8:30 p.m. via Zoom

Our Junior High faculty, Tree and Kristina, will present on Montessori's Planes of Development with a focus on the adolescence and academics, including plenty of time for Q & A. For parents of current Junior High students.

Coffee with Trisha, The Children's House School Counselor

Coffee with Trisha Short
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at The Children’s House

Parents and caregivers are invited for coffee with Trisha this fall. Trisha is our school counselor and will facilitate conversations surrounding topics on the emotional well-being and mental health of children, parenting, and supporting your child and yourself.

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Gift of Failure
Jessica Lahey, Educator & Author
Thursday, December 1, 2022
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom


Watch the introduction to Jessica's talk here.
Modern parenting has become defined by an unprecedented level of overprotectiveness. We all know parents who rush to school to deliver forgotten assignments, challenge teachers on disappointing report cards, mastermind their children’s friendships or interfere on the playing field. According to bestselling author, Jessica Lahey, “overparenting” has the potential to both ruin children’s confidence and undermine their education. By letting go and allowing children to learn how to solve problems on their own, we give them the tools to grow up to be self-reliant, confident, and successful adults. That’s the Gift of Failure. Jessica reminds us that teachers, and others who work with children, also teach responsibility, organization, manners, restraint, and foresight — important life skills that shape stronger futures. Lahey champions failure as a crucial element of long-term success while providing indispensable advice to parents for handling homework, report cards, social dynamics, competitive sports, and more. All are invited. The recording of this webinar will be available until January 31, 2023.

Coffee with Trisha, The Children's House School Counselor

Coffee with Trisha Short
Monday, January 9, 2022
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at The Children’s House

Parents and caregivers are invited for coffee with Trisha. Trisha is our school counselor and will facilitate conversations surrounding topics on the emotional well-being and mental health of children, parenting, and supporting your child and yourself.

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Junior High Open House
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
5:30 p.m. at the Park Street campus

Current Junior High students and faculty will give presentations and answer questions about the curriculum and everyday life of our Junior High program. 
For 5th and 6th year students and their parents.

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Religious Diversity: A Great American Strength
Eboo Patel, Interfaith America
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom

Religion is too often left out of the conversation on diversity. This is a shame because there is much to learn and admire about the American experience with welcoming religious diversity and nurturing interfaith cooperation. In this talk, founder and president of Interfaith America, and author of the recent book We Need to Build will tell the inspiring story of how the United States became the world’s first attempt at religiously diverse democracy, a potluck nation that invites the contributions of people from Atheists to Zoroastrians. All parents/caregivers are invited, parents of middle and upper school students are invited to listen with their children to consider the possibility of building bridges as a family. 

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Montessori Up Close: The Elementary Years
Thursday, January 19, 2023
4 - 5 p.m. at The Children’s House

Elementary school at The Children's House is different from the traditional model most parents experienced growing up. This presentation will explore the prepared environment of our lower elementary classrooms and how the curriculum moves from concrete materials to more abstract thought processes while supporting social and emotional learning.
For parents of current kindergartners (parents only).
Childcare is available. 

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Montessori Up Close: Life in Upper El
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
4 - 5 p.m. at The Children’s House

Parents of rising 4th years are invited to explore the upper elementary classrooms, meet the upper elementary guides, and learn how the Montessori curriculum continues through 6th grade.
For parents of current 3rd year students (parents only).
Childcare is available.

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Montessori Up Close: The Kindergarten Year
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
4 - 5 p.m. at The Children’s House

This opportunity dives deeper into Montessori and focuses on the capstone year of the Primary program. There will be time for Q&A and lots to learn about what it means to be a kindergartner at The Children's House. 
For parents and caregivers of Primary students who are not yet in Kindergarten. Childcare is available.

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Montessori Up Close: Identity & Resilience
POSTPONED

Our Junior High faculty, Tree and Kristina, will present on adolescent identity and resilience with plenty of time for Q & A. For parents of current Junior High students.

Coffee with Trisha, The Children's House School Counselor

Coffee with Trisha Short
Monday, February 6, 2022
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at The Children’s House

Parents and caregivers are invited for coffee with Trisha. Trisha is our school counselor and will facilitate conversations surrounding topics on the emotional well-being and mental health of children, parenting, and supporting your child and yourself.

Be SMART Gun Safety Learning Opportunity

Be SMART with Kira Walkup
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom


Kira Walkup is the local representative of the national Be SMART campaign. She will join us via Zoom on Tuesday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. to lead an opportunity for adults to learn more about the Be SMART campaign and how our community can make a difference in keeping children safe by normalizing the expectation that guns are to be securely stored away from children. 

Watch the recording and view the handout at the bottom of our video archives page

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Raising Our Village: Creating a Culture of Dignity
Rosalind Wiseman, Cultures of Dignity
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom

This webinar will help parents gain the tools to allow children to thrive. From young people’s friendships, anxiety, social media use, conflicts with friends and family, and the constant pressure to “keep up,” Wiseman will share how to best connect with young people, especially when they need us most. As our children navigate a constantly changing educational environment, we know supportive relationships and social skills are critical to their emotional well-being.  These skills are essential for young people to engage in education, manage emotions, and become responsible and positive members of families and communities. This session will define the difference between dignity and respect and the impact on communicating with young people, establish foundational principles in alignment with community and family values, help guide children and students as they navigate their friendships online, provide a deeper understanding of the role and purpose of emotions, and strengthen communication between adults and young people to avoid breakdowns and power struggles. Concrete skills required to increase adults’ ability to support the emotional well-being of the children and young adults in their care will be shared.

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Montessori Up Close: A conversation about creating a culture of dignity
RESCHEDULED: Tuesday, February 28, 2023
4 - 5:30 p.m. at The Children’s House

Sign Up Here

Our Elementary faculty will lead a conversation about how they support a culture of dignity in our Montessori classrooms. To get the most out of this discussion, please tune in live to the webinar “Raising Our Village: Creating a Culture of Dignity” with Rosalind Wiseman on February 15 or watch the recording afterward.
The conversation will be geared for parents and caregivers of children who are 6 - 12 years old.
Childcare is available. 

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Montessori Up Close: Social Emotional and Physical Development
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
7:00-8:30 p.m. via Zoom

Our Junior High faculty, along with special guest Carrie Ullery-Smith, will present on social, emotional, and physical development during adolescence with plenty of time for Q & A. For parents of current Junior High students.

Human Growth & Development with Carrie Ullery-Smith

Human Growth & Development with Carrie Ullery-Smith
Thursday, March 2, 2023
7:00-8:30 p.m. via Zoom

During the week of March 6, 3rd through 6th-year students will meet with Carrie Ullery-Smith to candidly acknowledge physical changes that will occur during puberty, discuss practical aspects of dealing with these changes, and address peer and societal pressures that relate to this new phase of life. On March 2, Carrie will share with parents the topics she will cover during an hour-and-a-half presentation on Zoom with time for Q&A.

Parents of 3rd through 6th year students will receive an email with the Zoom link.

Coffee with Trisha, The Children's House School Counselor

Coffee with Trisha Short
Monday, March 6, 2022
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at The Children’s House

Parents and caregivers are invited for coffee with Trisha. Trisha is our school counselor and will facilitate conversations surrounding topics on the emotional well-being and mental health of children, parenting, and supporting your child and yourself.

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Technology & Mental Health: What is the Link? What Can We Do?
Jill Walsh, Boston University
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom

We hear reports that technology use is associated with worse mental health outcomes for teens, but there is confusion about how and in what ways technology creates this negative experience. Walsh will walk through what the research says about this link, debunk common myths, and share technology’s often undervalued positive impact. Particular focus will be on thinking about quantity vs. quality of tech use as well as the use of technology as a mood management tool. She also will address the September 2021 data that proved a link between Instagram use and mental illness in teens. While Walsh will provide a research-based approach, she also is a working mother of two technology-obsessed kids which positions her to offer realistic and practical tools as well as conversations that can be implemented at home. Please join us for a topic that is important for all parents.

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Boundaries Without Battles: How to Be Flexible & Firm When Kids Need It Most
Erin Walsh, Spark & Stitch Institute
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom

Setting limits is always a challenging part of parenting. Heading into the summer months, it can be especially hard to know when to be flexible and when to hold the line. Walsh will explore why limits are critical to kids’ healthy development and identify practical strategies for setting boundaries without undermining connection. Using stories, warmth, and humor, she will help parents to clarify limits and follow through with consistency and care. This webinar is for parents and caregivers for all ages, early childhood through adolescence.