Montessori Toolbox

Find items here that you need to fill your toolbox. Documents, ideas, and organizational supports can help you make your Montessori more modern. Please click on the images for full pictures and descriptions.

Scroll down for free e-books & 60 Second Montessori videos.

Note: All creations and items featured on this site are original works created by Montessori Makers Group. If you share any of our content or creations, we kindly ask that you credit us accordingly.**

Meeting Note Template

This simple meeting note template really does the lion's share when it comes to keeping everything in order and everyone aligned. With spaces to record who is accomplishing tasks toward the goal and when, it serves as a helpful tracker to keep moving toward progress over time. It ensures that the ideas and goals from the last meeting aren't lost, while keeping everyone moving forward. This can also be put into a spreadsheet and carried over time. Reach out to us if you'd like support in implementing some new meeting standards.

Mosaic Needs of Community Building

The Mosaic Needs of Community Building came out of an examination of Maslow’s Hierarchy for Team Building, which was created from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

First Nations people teach us that human needs aren’t, in fact, hierarchical and are rather interdependent and holistic. Ex: physiological needs don’t always come before love (the quintessential story of a parent willing to leap in front of a car to push their child out of the way). Terry Cross, a First Nations member & scholar, came up with a nonhierarchical model based on how humans truly engage with the world. He pointed out that in hierarchies, most people do not have their needs met and they do not know self-actualization. Montessori holds the idea of self-actualization at the center, as we honor the child’s ability to follow the self on their individual trajectory towards their highest potential. It makes sense that when it comes to community building, either at the classroom level with children or in a whole school community of adults, a mosaic recognizes the whole being and the interconnected needs to thrive.

In this depiction, the Intellectual, Physical, Emotional, and Psychic needs are all interconnected. The Intellectual needs are those that challenge our thinking and encourage us to grow through encouraged creativity, as both the individual and community are in alignment. Physical needs are ones of safety in roles and in work. When expectations are clear and the culture is strong, community members feel safe in knowing what is expected from others and themselves. Emotional needs speak to the community’s ability to have strong camaraderie and comfort with speaking openly and honestly with other members. The Psychic needs are ones related to both the conscious and unconscious self. Community members feel valued because they experience and participate in constructive and honest feedback and are offered opportunities to develop professionally.

Mosaic Supports for Community Building

In this model, there is a Mosaic of Supports that are also interdependent. All supports are directly linked to a clear vision. Within this group of supports we find:
Clear Vision
The guide towards what organization hopes to become and accomplish.
Collaboration
A value placed on the “work” of teamwork and connectedness.
Empathy
An ability to see, understand and give grace to others for exactly who they are.
Feedback
Open communication and discourse about work and relationships.
Coaching
Thought partnership that shares the weight of growth.
Learning
Opportunities to grow.
Modeling
Being who we wish for the community to be.
Leadership Opportunities
Recognition that the community can learn from every member.
Zone of Potential
The area between what a community member can do now and what they have the potential to do with growth.

Gratitude Letter

At the start of each school year, I would ask new faculty and staff for the name and mailing address of someone they love, respect, and/or admire. I had them put it on a post-it note or index card and did not tell them why. I also asked that once they learned why, they keep the information close to their heart. At some point during the year, I would write a letter to their special person about the work they were doing in the service of children. They often learned of this letter once their special person contacted them and shared that they had received it. It is a great way to show gratitude.

Montessori Organizational Mapping

Montessori Organizational Mapping refers to the way that we seek to meet our greatest potential as an organization. Some may refer to this as strategic planning. Montessorians look for ways to reach our potential as an organization. This diagram depicts how, just as everything else in the philosophy is connected (such as the child, caregiver, and guide or child, environment, and guide) so are the steps to impart meaningful growth in an organization and reach full potential.

The parts are as follow:

The three main areas related to reaching your potential as a Montessori organization are:
Aim
Scheme
Implementation

Within these 3 areas, an organization must focus on the following understandings to fully reach full potential.

Aim
Mission
Vision
Values
Scheme
Intentions
Focus
Frameworks
Implementation
Curate
Control
Convey

Definitions:

Aim: Your Aim is your main purpose in work and existence as an organization.
Mission: This is your organization’s written Mission. This is your org’s purpose and how you achieve your goals.
Vision: The Vision an organization sets defines your hopes for the future.
Values: Values name your core beliefs and what you stand for.
Scheme: This is your main goal. Your Scheme is related to your Aim in that it guides your work.
Intentions: Your intentions lean into how you will get to your goal.
Focus: The Focus is where you zero in with your intentions, the category or categories of work.
Framework: Frameworks invite you to name the skills or resources necessary to meet your Intention.
Implementation: Implementation is the act of engaging in the work to meet your Aim.
Curate: The Curation process calls you to think through the initiatives that will get you to your potential.
Control: Control speaks to the controls of error you use to evaluate success of the initiatives chosen.
Convey: Reaching your organization’s potential can only be done through community effort. It requires you to share the whole, as well as the sum of its parts.

Free E-books

Click the links below to view and download our free e-books, created to support your success in curating strong Montessori schools.

DOWNLOAD

Enrollment growth and community engagement are essential for the long-term success of any Montessori school. To sustain and expand your school, you need strategies that not only attract new families but also nurture lasting relationships with current ones. This 43-page guide provides research-backed methods and practical insights to help Montessori schools increase enrollment, retain families, and cultivate a thriving community. From marketing techniques to family engagement strategies, you’ll learn how to create a school culture that parents and children love. Whether you’re aiming to fill open seats or establish a waiting list, this guide offers actionable steps to help you reach your enrollment goals while staying true to Montessori principles.

Fundraising for Montessori Schools e-book

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Financial sustainability is key to maintaining a high-quality Montessori education, and effective fundraising plays a crucial role in securing the resources your school needs to thrive. However, fundraising is about more than just raising money—it’s about fostering connections, strengthening community bonds, and sharing your school’s vision in a way that inspires support. This 32-page guide is designed for small and medium-sized Montessori schools seeking to build a strong fundraising foundation. It provides actionable strategies for organizing successful campaigns, engaging donors, and creating long-term funding solutions. Whether you’re planning your first fundraiser or looking to refine your approach, this guide will help you cultivate meaningful support while staying aligned with Montessori values.

Creating Strong Financial Structures for Montessori Schools e-book

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Financial stability is the backbone of any educational institution, and for Montessori schools, it is particularly crucial to ensure that the unique educational philosophy and individualized learning experiences can continue to thrive. With the growing demand for Montessori education, schools must navigate various financial challenges to remain sustainable and offer the high-quality education that families expect. This 53-page guide can help. Balancing financial stability while staying true to Montessori principles can be a delicate process, but it is essential to the long-term success of the school.

60 Second Montessori