Expert Episode: Follow the Child: Raising Independent Learners in the Infant/Toddler, and Primary Classrooms with Liliana Lemos, Educational Coordinator, Blanca Rincon, Toddler Teacher, and Joni Linch, Primary Teacher from Milton Montessori

Expert Episode: Follow the Child: Raising Independent Learners in the Infant/Toddler, and Primary Classrooms with Liliana Lemos, Educational Coordinator, Blanca Rincon, Toddler Teacher, and Joni Linch, Primary Teacher from Milton Montessori https://miltonmontessori.org/ Host Stacey Poehler interviews Milton Montessori educational coordinator Liliana Lemos, toddler teacher Blanca Rincon, and primary teacher Joni Lynch about Montessori philosophy and programs. They describe Montessori’s mission of supporting the whole child beyond academics through independence, critical thinking, and social-emotional growth, with Liliana explaining how she observes classrooms and aligns curriculum across age groups. Blanca outlines the infant-toddler environment, emphasizing emotional security, a two-hour work cycle, practical life skills, language and motor development, and strategies for self-regulation such as naming and validating feelings, clear boundaries, consistency, and offering choices. Joni explains the benefits of mixed-age primary classrooms and gives an example of tactile learning using red rods and number rods. They discuss intentional toddler-to-primary transitions, home strategies like organizing for independence and rotating fewer toys, and how Montessori prepares children for other school settings. Families can tour and enroll via miltonmontessori.org, with a waitlist for infants and immediate enrollment available in Toddler, Primary, Elementary, and Middle School classrooms. 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:14 Meet the Montessori Team 03:09 Why Montessori Matters 04:41 Infant Toddler Classroom 06:36 Toddler Emotions and Boundaries 08:45 Primary Mixed Age Benefits 10:24 Hands On Learning Materials 12:27 Transitioning Between Programs 16:33 Montessori at Home Tips 19:45 Preparing for Future School 22:32 Measuring Progress Without Tests 24:26 Tours and Enrollment Steps 27:19 Final Thanks and Sign Off