Durham Public Schools PL

Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator; Anu Venkat | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY This session is designed for any staff working in or supporting a Montessori school in an instructional role. Mindfulness is becoming an essential practice in education, helping children develop emotional resilience, focus, and self-awareness. Integrating mindfulness is a natural fit in a Montessori environment, where independence and self-regulation are key. Both Montessori and mindfulness encourage a non-judgmental awareness of the present moment, allowing children to develop inner discipline and emotional control.
Subject Area(s): *None (Non-Instructional)
Topic(s): Social Emotional, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: All Roles (Non-Specific)

Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Linda Zankowsky | [email protected] | Presenter; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY In this hands-on workshop, participants will design and create meaningful Montessori shelf work that supports comprehension, vocabulary development, and written expression. Grounded in both Montessori principles and research-aligned literacy practices, the session focuses on materials that promote independence, choice, and deep thinking. Educators will leave with ready-to-use materials and clear strategies for integrating them into the work cycle.
Subject Area(s): Strategy-Based for any content
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Teachers

Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Erin Carroll | [email protected] | Presenter; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY This session is designed for any staff working in or supporting a Montessori school in an instructional role. Sit Spots & Nature Journaling Observation is at the heart of Montessori practice and nature is one of its most powerful teachers. In this two-hour session, you'll explore sit spots: a simple but transformative practice of returning regularly to a quiet outdoor space to observe, notice, and record the natural world. Through nature journaling, you'll experience firsthand how this practice builds children's focus, curiosity, and connection to their environment. You will leave with hands-on ideas for integrating sit spots and nature journals into daily routines - no matter what ages you work with.
Subject Area(s): Strategy-Based for any content
Topic(s): Outdoor Learning, Social Emotional, Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Assistant Principals, Instructional Assistants, Principals, School Counselors, Teachers

Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Katie Keller Wood | [email protected] | Presenter; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY
Subject Area(s): *None (Non-Instructional)
Topic(s): Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: *None (Non-Instructional), 2nd Grade
Targeted Roles: All Roles (Non-Specific)

Presenters: Teresa Van Acker | [email protected] | Presenter; Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY Outcomes: To understand how to integrate science, social studies and literacy in a meaningful way that supports phonic, fluency, sentence structure, sequencing and comprehension. To include Cosmic Education in a meaningful way. Waseca instructional materials will be provided for the session and one lucky winner will take home the full set!
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Linda Zankowsky | [email protected] | Presenter; Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY This session explores how Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) principles can be meaningfully aligned within Montessori classrooms without compromising core practices. Participants will examine how observation, flexible grouping, and targeted support can function as natural extensions of Montessori environments. The session emphasizes practical structures for integrating tiered supports into the work cycle, using data to inform instruction while preserving independence and child-led learning. Educators will leave with a clearer framework for supporting all learners through a cohesive, Montessori-aligned MTSS approach.
Subject Area(s): Strategy-Based for any content
Topic(s): MTSS
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Social Workers, Assistant Principals, Instructional Assistants, Principals, School Counselors, Teachers

Presenters: CMSTEMP | [email protected] | Presenter; Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY This session is designed for any staff working in or supporting a Montessori school in an instructional role. It provides a broad understanding of the principles that guide Montessori Instruction
Subject Area(s): Strategy-Based for any content
Topic(s): Social Emotional, Curriculum and Instruction, Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: All Roles (Non-Specific)

Presenters: George Ward | [email protected] | Presenter; Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF LUCAS MONTESSORI SCHOOL ONLY
Subject Area(s): Strategy-Based for any content
Topic(s): Culturally Responsive Practices, Social Emotional, Team Building, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: All Roles (Non-Specific)