Teaching on Purpose combines elements of Jane Nelsen’s Positive Discipline with strategies and exercises from other leaders in positive psychology and human development, seen through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens.

The course will guide adult learners through their own transformations to help them develop their own styles of classroom leadership and prepare liberated Montessori learning environments. 

This 21-day micro-learning course, with 15 short daily recordings and activities and three live one-hour interactive sessions, is suitable for teachers at all levels from infancy to adolescent. Press play on the video below to hear Dr. Luz talk about what to expect in this course!

Course Design: Each week, participants will watch a short 10-15 minute video and complete a short 15-30 minute follow-up activity daily for five days (Friday through Tuesday). The week will close with an hour-long synchronous Q&A and follow-up session and a day reserved for review and integration.

Course Dates: October 27th-November 16th

Live Sessions: November 1st, 8th, & 16th, 8-9pm ET

Course Outline:

Week 1

• Day 1—10/27: Paper Child – How micro and macro-aggressions can affect people
• Day 2—10/28: Troubling Behaviors of Children Brainstorm
• Day 3—10/29: Helpful Behaviors of Children
• Day 4—10/30: The Encourager
• Day 5—10/31: Step in to the Encourager Meditation
• Day 6—11/1: Live Q&A
• Day 7—11/2: Review and Integration Day

Week 2

• Day 1—11/3: What’s Your Why? -Vision for the Classroom
• Day 2—11/4: From Laddership to Leadership
• Day 3—11/5: Styles of Teaching – Authoritarian, Authoritative, Permissive, Uninvolved
• Day 4—11/6: Freedom with Limits
• Day 5—11/7: Phase Meditation for Teachers 
• Day 6—11/8-: Live Q&A
• Day 7—11/9: Review and Integration Day

Week 3

• Day 1—11/10: The Pillars of Motivation
• Day 2—11/11: Autonomy – The Choice Is Theirs
• Day 3—11/12: Competence – Master of Many (designing independent work)
• Day 4—11/13: Relatedness – Connection before Correction
• Day 5—11/14: Focus on Solutions
• Day 6—11/15: Plan for Implementation
• Live Q&A + Celebration: Rescheduled, date TBA

Paying by check: We accept payment via most credit cards. To request to pay by check, use this form. You will not be registered until your check has been received. Once your check has been received, we will enter your registration for the event and confirm via email. For questions about payment, contact payments@public-montessori.org.

Photos and Video: NCMPS may take photos or record video during this event. By participating in this event, you consent to your likeness being used for promotional purposes without compensation, and you release NCMPS from any liability related to this use. If you do not want your likeness used in this way, you may inform the event staff, and NCMPS will make its best effort to prevent such use.

About the Instructor

Dr. Luz Casquejo Johnston has been in the field of education for over 20 years and has been in the Montessori movement in every capacity. She started her Montessori journey in the 70s as a primary student. She came back to Montessori as an adult and earned her AMS Lower Elementary I Credential. She has worked in charter schools as a Lower Elementary guide and served for seven years as a Montessori charter school administrator. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the Joint Doctoral Program at California State University San Marcos and University of California, San Diego.

Dr. Luz is currently an Associate Professor in the Kalmonovitz School of Education at Saint Mary’s College of California. She is also a consultant and has designed and delivered trainings on elementary Montessori and issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to schools in the U.S. She is an international speaker with specialities in Montessori elementary education, child development, DEI and school leadership.