Donate Today!
Loading ...

BIRTH TO THREE: Beginner’s Mind in Montessori Education

$35.00

with Darla Miller, PhD
Level: 0 to 3
1 PD Hour

Category:

Description

Description

Maria Montessori was a decade ahead of contemporary researchers when she theorized that the first two years of life (not the university years) were the most critical to long-term human learning. Today scientists who study infant learning provide stunning confirmation that, indeed, the first years of life are the most significant for learning—not the least. The special sensitivity Montessori described in babies from birth to three—the unconscious absorbent mind—is surprisingly similar to a phenomenon we now call mindfulness.

In mindfulness, attention is isolated on immediate sensory experience, allowing for complete immersion in the present moment. Our adult brains are overwhelmed by an overload of information. We ruthlessly second-guess our past actions and endlessly fret about the future. We are worriers. We are supposed to be experts. But viewing the world as an expert can limit our openness to new possibilities, and how we fit into the larger context of an emergent universe. To increase creativity and reduce stress, Zen Buddhists recommend cultivating a beginner’s mind to see the world with fresh new eyes.

Babies come into the world with a beginner’s mind.  In the first years of life, the child’s mind is open, eager, and incredibly receptive. Children begin absorbing surroundings by looking, listening, touching, tasting, and smelling anything they can reach. This is the human being’s first tiny step toward eventually contemplating human existence as part of the emergent universe.

 

 

Lecture and Q&A with Darla Miller, PhD
Took place March 24, 7:00 PM EST
Level: 0 to 3
One CPD Hour

To watch Recording, click here.

 

 

 

In this presentation we discuss babies’ and toddlers’ sensory explorations of the environment in three major categories:

  • Creating Order out of Chaos by Finding Patterns
  • Exploring the Physical Properties of Matter
  • Discovering Cause and Effect

 

What you will get:

  • An understanding of how this first developmental plane fits into a Cosmic continuum across all levels.
  • An understanding of the very unique characteristics of this level.
  • A chance to ask questions, share, and hear the thoughts of others around the world.

 

Who is this for?

  • Teachers who want to create environments and activities that specifically nurture 0 to 3 children.  
  • Parents and Grandparents interested in nourishing their young ones during this crucial first phase of life.
  • School Admins who want to develop programs this age group.
  • Policy Makers who want to create programs and policies for 0 to 3 children.

 

BIO:  Darla Ferris Miller holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction with focus on very young children, and both infant and toddler and early childhood level AMS-credentialed certifications. She has served as a global advocate for families, young children, and Montessori education in her roles as college vice president, professor, textbook author, Montessori teacher, Montessori school head, Montessori teacher educator, consultant, and nonprofit board member. She has served two terms as a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS) Board of Directors.

 

Reviews (0)

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “BIRTH TO THREE: Beginner’s Mind in Montessori Education”

Related products

Sponsors

Want to Sponsor DTN? Click here.
Anthony Robert Zelle, Esq., Tony is an Earth lawyer. While serving as Chair and President of the Earth Law Center, following 30 years in private practice trying cases and arguing appeals, he served as lead editor and author of the only comprehensive book on the subject: Earth Law: Emerging Ecocentric Law-A Guide for Practitioners. Developed for law school curricula, and now part of developing LLM programs internationally, the book has also become the primary reference source for practitioners.

The focus of Tony's current work is developing Earth law in practice and creating revenue-generating opportunities for Earth lawyers.

Learn more about Tony’s journey from a recent Boston College Law School Magazine profile.https://lawmagazine.bc.edu/2025/02/voice-for-the-earth/

This will close in 0 seconds

Maisie Paddon, Maisie is spearheading the advancement of Earth Law by integrating its principles into transformative policies and business strategies that resonate with Earth-centric practices and Nature's patterns. At the helm of Project 2040, she seeks to revolutionize financial systems, foster circular economies, and develop regenerative food systems. Her extensive experience in top-tier management consulting, with roles at Ernst & Young and Capgemini, showcases her ability to lead complex innovation programs and engage with C-suite leaders. With a solid foundation in Philosophy and Climate Science, Maisie is deeply committed to beneficial systemic change. She champions the inclusion of Nature's voice in discussions that tackle the multifaceted crises of today's modern world, while aligning her efforts with global frameworks like UN SDGs, ESG principles, and ISO standards. Her holistic and emotionally intelligent approach underscores her pursuit of sustainable and equitable solutions.

This will close in 0 seconds

Kerry Hudson, Hudson works as an activist and public interest lawyer with a focus on social justice, and an academic and employment history addressing heirs' property reform and protections of the Florida aquifer. He served as co-founder and manager for a medical practice that focused on Environmentally Acquired Diseases, and the effects of that most macro of human phenomenon—climate change, on the most granular, personal issues—individual health and the chronic and intractable maladies brought on by changing climate. He has served as Education Director for Rights of Nature and eco-centric education, creating informational content addressing topics such as environmental protections and property law, and the Public Trust Doctrine, and creating supplemental educational content for the law school textbook Earth Law: A Practitioner’s Guide. He holds an MFA in writing, has a publication history with both fiction and non-fiction, and has authored funded grants examining strategies to mitigate generational heirs' property abuses. He holds a J.D. with a focus on Environmental Justice, social equity, and restorative justice and has created informational and educational content addressing the intersection of environmental and legal issues such as the one-percenters' climate change preparations. Currently based in London, He works on a long-form manuscript addressing the importance of property law, social justice, and the climate change crisis.

This will close in 0 seconds

April Elizabeth Finlayson, April Elizabeth Finlayson is an “Edu-neer” dedicated to designing holistic and transformational learning experiences. She has a fervent commitment to reimagining education, promoting lifelong learning and creating uniquely curated, humanizing educational experiences for youth, and the young at heart. This has led to the development of nearly a dozen innovative schools and numerous educational programs in the K-12, after-school learning, adult development and Higher-Ed spaces.

April’s style of leadership and service is rooted in making space for learner voice, agency and empowerment. She believes that the best teaching and learning is reciprocal, interwoven and interchangeable. April asserts that “if a learner knows that they are seen, affirmed, “in-powered” and protected while learning, they will feel loved, and will henceforth thrive!”

April's students and graduates have gone on to international and national renown in philanthropy, entrepreneurship, professional athletics, entertainment, and being great, enjoyable people. April was cross culturally raised and educated between The Bahamas, the USA and Canada. She completed her undergraduate degree in International Development Studies, Political Science and Management from McGill University, and earned both her Master's Degree in Mind, Brain and Education and her Doctorate Degree in Education Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

This will close in 0 seconds

Tara A. Pierce, Tara holds degrees in painting, the humanities, a J.D., and an LL.M. in Oceans, Environment, & Sustainability. This transdisciplinary background enriched her legal studies and contributed to the successful publication of several papers on Earth Law and Restorative Ocean Farming. Her latest thesis synthesised her entire academic and hands-on experiences into an approach to transforming the law into a healing practice. Tara regularly guest lectures on Ocean & Coastal Law developments for various institutions in the United States and Europe.

This will close in 0 seconds

Cat Haas, Cat Haas is the Director of the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor (EJM), where she oversees the research and development of the world’s most comprehensive database of ecological jurisprudence initiatives globally. Since 2022, she has led efforts to document and analyze the global evolution of Earth-centered law, with a particular focus on the Rights of Nature movement, ecological law, and Indigenous ontologies. Cat holds an M.A. in Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her research explored the influence of Indigenous cosmologies and pluriversal ontologies on the development and globalization of the Rights of Nature movement.
She also serves on the Steering Committee of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) Academic Hub, an interdisciplinary network of scholars specializing in ecological law and governance.
With a background in environmental education, Cat is passionate about fostering awareness and advocacy for sustainable, equitable legal frameworks that address the climate crisis and center ecological well-being

This will close in 0 seconds

Ava Roche, Ava is currently a pre-law focused senior at Columbia University studying Political Ecology, conducting her senior thesis on the socio-political effects of deep-sea mining in the Cook Islands. She is attending Columbia University’s Climate School next fall, and aspires to be an earth lawyer, with experience as the student director of the Earth Law Centers, “Earth Law: Emerging Ecocentric Law- a Guide for Practitioners” course last summer. She is an avid scuba diver who is passionate about protecting earths vital oceanic ecosystems, and is interning at Columbia Law Schools, "Sabin Center for Climate Change Law” this coming summer under Michael Gerrard. Above all, she can’t wait to TA with Earth Law Practice and work in such an impactful environment.

This will close in 0 seconds

Joseph O’Brien, Joseph recently graduated from Brown University with a concentration in environmental studies. At Brown, he organized an experimental climate negotiation simulation featuring non-human, non-state, and state actors. With a background in regenerative agriculture, political theory, and contemplative education, he is excited to support this year's cohort jump into the chaotic, beautiful, and generative world of Earth Law.

This will close in 0 seconds

Janet Marley is completing an MA in Ecopsychology at Naropa University. She is currently researching styles of governance in traditional indigenous societies of Turtle Island and how such wisdom ways can positively influence modern ecocentric regenerative residential communities and bioregional initiatives. She has a BA in Religious Studies from Brown University. Janet is a community organizer with an abiding interest in designing and co-creating intentional living and learning centers that model and teach connection, communication, and reciprocity with the natural world. Her gifts and roles include Teacher, Naturalist, Healer, Event Producer, and Facilitator of ceremony, council, rites of passage, vision quests, ecotherapy, and trauma integration work. She is a Montessori-trained educator and mom of two young children. She currently serves as a board member for The Circle for Change Initiative and is the Director of Programming and Events at the Manitoulin Eco Park, an indigenous-led nature connection facility in Ontario, Canada.

This will close in 0 seconds