Professional Development Opportunities

The PEA-R Model

Join MSM for the Virtual Fall Speaker Series!

When

Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Tuesday, October 22, 2024

6-8pm

Can't make these dates? This series will be recorded and shared with registrants the day after the live event.

Where

This is an online event.

Audience

General Education teachers, Special Education teachers, Administrators, SLPs, Paraprofessionals, and other providers

Cost

$65 members/$85 nonmembers

Contact

Christina Gasbarro
Montessori Schools of Massachusetts


Registration for this workshop has closed. If you have any questions please email .

The PEA-R Model, borrowed from Occupational Therapy, helps staff with varied behavior management experience more efficiently assess and address challenges with student performance (behavior). PEA-R stands for Person-Environment-Activity-Relationship. This model is jargon-free and accessible to anyone. It facilitates a more systematized internal decision tree to help staff better organize their thinking around student behavior. Additionally, PEA-R can help create community-wide consistency in staff behavior management practices. Through this model, staff analyze and breakdown contexts where students are struggling and contexts where they are successful into more concrete variables. Then, with that information, staff are more readily able to identify specific barriers and supports to performance that are naturally occurring within the environment, rather than turning to more contrived behavior management strategies. The PEA-R model can help to create a more informed and effective staff approach to supporting student performance and build a truly inclusive, strengths-based program, starting with staff perspectives around behavior.

Meet Elise Wulff


Elise Wulff (she/her) has more than 20 years’ experience working with the neurodiverse population in both public and private sectors. With Aspire since 2007, Elise currently manages consultation and professional development services. As a neurodivergent individual herself, Elise applies her extensive experience and unique perspective in collaboration with neurodiverse individuals, caregivers, and providers to customize tools and strategies that enhance success across various life domains including home, school, and work. Elise has written curriculum to promote healthy self-awareness, disclosure, transition planning, and executive functioning. As an international speaker, Elise supports organizations and corporations to implement practical and sustainable inclusion. She has specific expertise in the neurodiversity framework, special education, universal design, social-emotional learning, tools to build independence, and strategies for executive functioning.

Elise received her undergraduate degree in psychology and theater arts from Emory University and her master’s degree in special education from Lesley University. Her clinical interests are in the areas of neurodiversity, executive functioning, parent/caregiver support, and effective and sustainable inclusion practices for individuals, educators, parents/caregivers, and providers.

Nurturing Nature

A Montessori Approach to Life Sciences Through Systems Thinking

When

Saturday, February 8, 2025
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Saturday, April 5, 2025 TBD

10-11:30am

Can't make these dates? This series will be recorded and shared with registrants the day after the live event.

Where

This is an online event.

Audience

Parents, Teachers, and Administrators



Contact

Christina Gasbarro
Montessori Schools of Massachusetts


Registration will open in November 2024.

Dr. Montessori once said, “Give the world to the small child.” As guides, we are tasked with introducing our students to the wonders of the natural world. Teaching Life Sciences can be overwhelming, especially when navigating the complexities of fostering curiosity and interest while also ensuring curriculum requirements are covered. How can we do it all without getting stuck in the monthly “theme trap” that insists one must study leaves in October and frogs in March? How can we shake up our Life Science shelves and bring the sciences back to life?

In this 3-part series, we will discuss ways to approach the Life Sciences that allow us to move beyond “parts of” puzzles and three-part cards and help our children understand the interconnectedness of the natural world through exploration and discovery. This workshop aims to ignite a year-round passion for the sciences. Our mission? To foster a holistic understanding of the natural world, empowering children to meaningfully interact with their environment while seamlessly integrating this exploration into the other curriculum areas within our classrooms.

Join me as we take a fresh look at the Sciences through the lens of Systems Thinking and explore ways to integrate this structure into our nature studies in the Montessori Early Childhood classroom. This workshop, designed to be interactive, will include PowerPoint Presentations, live materials demonstrations, resource handouts, and opportunities for shared experiences from the group.

Meet Natasha McKenzie


Natasha M. McKenzie holds an Early Childhood credential and has over two decades of Montessori experience. During this time, she has worn many hats, including lead guide, field consultant, school consultant, and teacher educator. Her current role an Instructor Academy Facilitator and Coordinator for the American Montessori Society speaks volumes about her commitment to the growth and development of both teachers and students within the Montessori community.

A graduate of the University of North Florida with a BA in History and a Master of Education with a specialization in Montessori Studies from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, Natasha’s global footprint is evident in her extensive teaching experience in international settings, including China, Vietnam, Tibet, Taiwan, Canada, and the United States. When not traversing the globe, Natasha calls St. Augustine, Florida, home.

EVENT REFUND POLICY

  • Substitution Policy: If a registrant is unable to attend an event for any reason they may substitute, by arrangement with MSM, someone else from the same institute/organization.

  • No Show Policy: Refunds will not be granted for no-shows

  • Refunds in Case of Emergency: If a registrant is unable to attend the Conference based on serious illness or death, a partial refund (amount paid minus a $50 processing charge) may be granted. Requests must be submitted in writing prior to the start of the event.

Refunds will be made to the same credit card that was used to register for the event.