Waterpark Montessori News & Media
See Clare’s keynote address at Montessori Europe Congress 2025 at: https://europeanmontessoricollege.com/montessori-congress-2025-presentation-from-clare-healy-walls/
EMC joined the EU-funded ACAδIMIA project in Reykjavík, delivering Montessori-inspired creative and inclusive teacher training through MonTech and SEDIN.
Discover how European Montessori College hosted a dynamic week of workshops, practice, and celebration, empowering educators and students through immersive Montessori experiences.
Earlier this month, the European Montessori Centre hosted a two-day Montessori workshop at Krohnstad Montessori in Molde, bringing together a vibrant community of early years educators.
We were warmly welcomed by our host, Edith Krohn Marleau, and joined by 55 participants from Montessori kindergartens including Edith’s kindergartens in Molde and Skaret, and also from kindergartens in Vikebukt and Kjolsdalen— all working with children in the 0–3 and 3–6 age groups.
In May 2025, our team at the European Montessori College was delighted to attend the Montessori Europe Congress in Oslo, right in our home city. This year’s gathering brought together passionate educators, researchers, and advocates from across Europe and beyond to explore the future of Montessori education in a changing world. The conference was aptly titled: Montessori – Out of the Box
When I was growing up in the 80’s, technology wasn’t as present in my home as it is today. My family didn’t have a television or a computer for years. Instead, we got creative in other ways—fixing our bikes, building with tools, crafting entire worlds with LEGO. Collaboration was a way of life because, in a big family, there was rarely a quiet space where someone wasn’t building furniture forts or playing an instrument.
I think we need to acknowledge that AI is here to stay, and whether we like it in its current form is not the issue. We live with it, all day long. “Hey Siri,” we say when wondering about something or needing to set a reminder. Artificial intelligence has been a part of our world for a while. It’s just that now, in its more obvious forms of ChatGPT and DeepSeek, for example, we’re threatened by the unknown and exponential growth of this powerful tool that we don’t quite understand. We don’t understand the implications of use nor its potential as a tool.
Montessori educators often approach new trends with caution, and for good reason. Montessori education has built its reputation on carefully designed materials and a deep respect for the child’s natural development. The introduction of technology, however, can sometimes feel like a disruption to these time-tested practices. But what if, instead of disrupting, technology could enhance Montessori education? By addressing resistance thoughtfully and strategically, educators can embrace technology as a tool that aligns with Montessori principles rather than detracts from them.
Technology is not inherently bad. In fact, it’s a testament to human ingenuity, creativity, and innovation. AI is impartial in itself. It is neutral like money is neutral.
The discussion should not be on the dangers of technology.
The discussion should be on the human intent, on ethical and responsible use, on moral and social norms (or what perhaps used to be norms).
Top of mind in politics and education is technology and the dangers various platforms or artificial intelligence present.
Sarah and Christina have been in beautiful historic Florence this week with the Acaδimia European Teacher Academy for Creative and Inclusive Learning. This is a wonderful EU-sponsored project which aims to share creative teaching methods from all over Europe (and one day the world!)
In ACAδIMIA we happily join forces with European universities, and educational and cultural institutions. The project is coordinated by a wonderful Action Synergy that we’ve had a pleasure to work with before.
Montessori Europe Congress Gdansk 2023 Promoting Solidarity and Social Justice in Montessori Education The Waterpark team had the huge privilege of attending the Montessori Europe congress in Gdansk, Poland this […]
This month, Sarah, Fergus, and Sandra travelled to Bologna to join the other eight partners for the penultimate transnational partner meeting for the MonTech project. We welcomed our new Italian […]
Unleashing the Montessori Magic: 7 Days of Inspiration, Creativity, and Montessori Marvels! Montessori in Kenya
In the beginning of my career, (forty something years ago!) I thought Montessori was a “nice” way of looking after children – that is until I started to read about it! Well, we all make assumptions about some things some of the time! Even I do! 😊 I quickly learned that this “Montessori thing” was a whole way of looking at life, not merely a method of education.
In the beginning of my career, (forty something years ago!) I thought Montessori was a “nice” way of looking after children – that is until I started to read about it! Well, we all make assumptions about some things some of the time! Even I do! 😊 I quickly learned that this “Montessori thing” was a whole way of looking at life, not merely a method of education.
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Paul is a student of children throughout the world and a highly regarded international and inspirational speaker and author.
As the education director at Designs for Lifelong Learning, Paul leads initiatives that empower Montessori school owners, administrators, and educators. For Paul, Montessori education is a way of life. He has worked in Montessori education for over fifty years as a teacher, school administrator, university professor, teacher trainer, administrator coach, researcher, consultant, and author.
Paul’s doctorate is in cultural anthropology, and he is an AMS early childhood and secondary certified classroom teacher. Paul is the author of An Observer’s Notebook: Learning from Children with the Observation C.O.R.E. He is also the co-author of 60 Days Montessori Observation Notebook and The Montessori Way, a definitive work on the Montessori experience.
Your role in WMI/EMC: Trainee trainer 3-6
When you began working with WMI: I joined WMI in 2023
Age groups you are qualified in as a Montessori teacher and where you studied: I have a qualification for 3-6 Years from Montessori Centre International (MCI), St Nicholas Charity
Your Montessori experience: Montessori nursery and elementary homeschool mother to my children in Paris, 17 years establishing and leading Bloom Montessori school (ages 2,5 -18) in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country you already do or will provide training in: I plan to commence WMI teacher training in Ex-Yugoslavia countries
Age groups you do provide WMI training for in your centre: hopefully 3-6 first and then 6-9 and 9-12
Other employment besides WMI: I also works as a Shamanic Practitioner
Other areas you have studied: Law School(MA), Shamanic practitioner (Professional diploma)
Your role in WMI: Trainer12-15
When you began working with WMI: 2023
Age groups you are qualified in as a Montessori teacher and where you studied: 6-9, 9-12 and 12-15 (all with WMI).
Your Montessori experience: Started 6-9 training in 2013. Worked as a teacher and principle in Senja Montessoriskole in 2015-16. Started in Hamarøy Montessoriskole, a 1 to 7 school in autumn of 2016. Adolescent program opened in the autumn of 2023. One of the founders, and a member of Montessori Nord-Norge.
Country you already do or will provide training in: Norway
Other employment besides WMI: Principle and teacher at Hamarøy Montessoriskole
Before finding my way to the Montessori approach, I was a producer for the national centre for the Norwegian author Knut Hamsun, as well as a scenographer, production designer, and pyrotechnician in a number of Norwegian films and TV series.
