Brainstorming Tour – Europe

At the invitation of the Institute Montessori Bulgaria, on April 5 we will welcome to Sofia Dr. Laura Flores Shaw – editor, writer and founder of White Paper Press, and Dr. Steve Hughes LP, ABPdN – Chairman of the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology with headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota and London.

During this fun and mainly visual workshop they will tell us why Montessori education provides a rich environment that supports the formation of academic and social skills, as well as problem solving skills that are now, more than ever, important to a lifelong success.

Dr. Shaw has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Psychology and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, where she specializes in the study of the relationship between consciousness, brain functions and teaching.

The research interests of Dr. Steve Hughes are focused on the development of the executive function and social intelligence, and the role that early childhood education can play in promoting the formation of these basic abilities.

Brainstorm tour: Sofia is part of the European tour of the two lecturers, who will come to our country after their visits to Paris and Bucharest.

LECTURE DESCRIPTIONS

Laura’s presentation: Montessori for All Brain Types

Designing optimal learning environments for all children requires an awareness of the interconnected growth of body, mind, and brain, and no educational approach offers a neurodevelopmental experience comparable to Montessori. Dr. Shaw brings a new, compelling, and accessible framework that helps everyone understand the unique power of Montessori pedagogy for children – with all types of brains.

Steve’s presentation: Surviving School Testing: Documenting Montessori’s Unique Outcomes

The Global Education Reform Movement attempts to improve school outcomes by narrowly focusing on academic testing, often to the exclusion of everything else that education can offer. Social and emotional development, life skills, general problem-solving, and character become deemphasized, and educational approaches that try to meet the wider developmental needs of children are marginalized. This trend is occurring even as mounting evidence shows that Montessori can promote superior academic outcomes while also meeting the broader developmental needs of children. How did we get here? How can the Montessori movement respond? Learn how to join an international initiative designed to show how Montessori can benefit children from all backgrounds, all over the world.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Laura Flores Shaw, Ed.D.

Dr. Laura Flores Shaw is the lead editor, writer, and founder of White Paper Press, an education company focused on increasing educators’ and parents’ scientific knowledge of learning and development. An education researcher with a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University School of Education, Dr. Shaw specializes in mind, brain, and teaching. Previously, Dr. Shaw briefly worked as a family systems therapist in the public school system where she realized her desire to work on the prevention rather than intervention side of mental health. That led her to revive a failing Montessori school where she created environments that allow children to flourish. In 2013, she left school administration to focus on increasing educators’ and parents’ scientific knowledge of learning and development to improve the lives of children and their families. Dr. Shaw’s current research focuses on exploration of normalization in practice and how Montessori teachers’ knowledge of normalization influences their teacher efficacy beliefs and behaviors with students. She also seeks to align the field of education with the research on sensorimotor development as it is intertwined with the development of cognition. Dr. Shaw also writes, speaks, and consults internationally on education, brain development, and parenting.

Laura’s web site: www.WhitePaperPress.us

Steven J. Hughes, Ph.D., ABPdN

Dr. Steven Hughes a pediatric neuropsychologist and Director of the Center for Research on Developmental Education, an education outcome research consultancy. His work is directed at measuring, tracking, and communicating about the wider developmental benefits of nontraditional educational experiences. He is the founding chair of the Association Montessori International Global Research Committee. Dr. Hughes previously was a faculty member in the Division of Pediatric Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Minnesota Medical School, and is past president of the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology. Dr. Hughes’ main research interests are on processes that promote the growth of executive functions, social-emotional skills, and moral reasoning. Dr. Hughes is a popular speaker and consultant for Montessori organizations around the world. As the driving force behind the Montessori Global Outcomes Project, he is helping Montessori organizations around the world show how Montessori education can help “close the gap” with children from under-resourced backgrounds.

Steve’s websites: www.GoodAtDoingThings.com

REGISTRATION

Registration fee: 249 leva

Early bird registration: 199 leva (all registrations by 10th of March, at latest)

Registration fee: 149 leva*

* Individual members of Institute Montessori Bulgaria and the team members of the educational organisations with a subscription to Institute Montessori Bulgaria take the advantage of special discount.

For more information, please e-mail us: office@imontessori.bg