On March 18th, Dr. Brian Swimme, a mathematical cosmologist, spoke at the American Montessori Conference in San Francisco. Dr. Swimme held the rapt attention of Montessori teachers from around the world as he made references to the Milky Way and our place in the Universe. In Montessori classrooms we talk about children learning about their place in their communities and the world. How awesome is it to teach young children about the Universe? Watch these enlightening videos.
This past weekend I had the fortune to listen to a talk given by Brené Brown.
Dr. Brown said, “Montessorians are committed to helping ground children in a deep sense of purpose. This feeling of worthiness is an essential trait in our increasingly anxious world”.
Drawing from her most recent research, Dr. Brené Brown talked about strategies that teachers and administrators can utilize to help children cultivate a spirit of hope, gratitude, connection, and curiosity. Dr. Brown also shared the newest research on hope as a cognitive behavioral process, the relationship between joy and gratitude, and how children develop curiosity, creativity, and a tolerance for disappointment.
Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW, is a professor and researcher at the University of Houston Graduatein Houston, TX. Her research topics cover a broad range of human emotion and experience, including vulnerability, courage, empathy, authenticity, and shame.
Dr. Brown has won numerous awards, including Houston Graduate College’s Outstanding Faculty Award. Her work has been featured on PBS, NPR, CNN, and Oprah Radio.
She is author of the books The Gifts of Imperfection: Letting Go of Who We Think We Should Be and Embracing Who We Are (2010) and I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power (2007).
Do you ever wonder why some children or adults see shy or slow to warm in social situations? As an educator, it takes patience to get to know students who do not readily verbally share themselves with others. Susan Cain has written a new book, Quiet The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Watch this video of Susan on Ted.com.
What does family mean? Children are curious and wonder why their family is different than other families. That’s a Family! is a part of Ground Spark’s Respect for All Project. Watch this wonderful preview of a short documentary on types of families.