Montessori Institute of America
3410 S. 272nd St
Kent, Washington 98032
Phone: 253-859-2262
Fax: 253-859-1737
Email: mia@montessoriplus.org
MIA
Visi ns
Grand View Intergenerational
Center Receives $30,000 Grant
G
rand View Intergenerational
Center (formerly Grandview
Preschool) in Dubuque, Iowa, re-
ceived a $30,000 grant in January,
2003, from the Iowa Community
Empowerment Initiative. The Iowa
Community Empowerment Initiative
is a partnership between communi-
ties and state government, “with an
initial emphasis to improve the well-
being of families with young chil-
dren.” This collaboration between
communities, individuals and other
agencies in the community is ex-
pected to bring about improved
quality of life for children, ages 0-5,
and their families. The grant is
intended to enrich the 0-3 classroom
and train the infant–toddler teachers.
For the past two years Tina
Nauman, educational director, and
other members of Grand View United
Methodist Church, have worked to
find acreage and to raise funds for a
new church building that would
house their worship and educational
services as well as school, child care
in a Changing World Winter, 2003
JASMINE LAU WINS
AMS NATIONAL
THESIS AWARD
Jasmine Lau, 1992 MTP of WA 3-6
level graduate, has been selected by
the American Montessori Society to
and an adult care program. The
receive the 2002 Outstanding
new building will open in June,
Montessori Master's Thesis award. The
2003, on forty-six acres on the
award will be presented to Mrs. Lau
highest elevation in the city of
(Kuan-Lau Swee-Chin) at the 2003
Dubuque. The new church, child
annual AMS conference in Covington,
and adult care and school will have
KY, on Friday, May 2, 2003.
a panoramic view of the Mississippi
Mrs. Lau received her M.A. in
River Valley and the states of Iowa,
"Planned Individualized Curriculum"
Illinois and Wisconsin. Ms. Nauman
from St. Mary's College of California in
states, “In celebration of this
May, 2002. She also received the
beautiful view, we have designed a
Outstanding Thesis award from St.
building with large, low windows
Mary's.
for the children, an extensive
Her thesis topic was "Comparison
covered porch area, and a natural
of Montessori and Skill-Language Arts
playground/park/garden ‘inter–
Instruction with Kindergarten Children
generational’ space to enhance the
in a Title 1 School."
beauty of our surroundings.”
MIA VISIONS will print more
Having taken the Montessori
information about the research results
Teacher Preparation of Washington
and where they can be obtained in
3-6 level course in 1991, Tina
the fall newsletter.
Nauman was instrumental in
opening the Grand View Preschool Inside
in 1997 with two morning classes From the Editor.......................... 2
and twenty children. The following MIA Annual Conference ............ 4
years have brought preschool Book Reviews ............................. 5
expansion with additional hours, MIA Board Nomination Form ... 6
programs and Continued page 3
 From the Editor
Pride In Our Accomplishments,
And Gratefulness To A Woman,
Ahead Of Her Times
Sharlet J. McClurkin
E ven though the theory of the “great leader” in
history may be out of fashion among historians, I, never-
theless, can’t see any other way of explaining what has
happened to education in the last century without
looking again at Dr. Maria Montessori. In 2007 we will
celebrate the 100th birthday of her first school in Rome,
and it is time to think about what would have happened
to education without her vision and
genius.
Traditional education, i.e. desks or
tables, work sheets, authoritarian
teachers, and classrooms empty of
manipulative materials, are still the rule,
after nearly 100 years. Adults just can’t
imagine any other way than using
power and control to teach children.
There are exceptions, however, as one
travels around the world to view
children learning. These oases of
beauty can be seen in hundreds of
countries. In a Montessori research
project in Beijing, the parents of
Montessori teachers said to the princi-
pal, “My children love to come to
school. They love their teacher!” In this
school two of the foundational principles of Montessori
education had been ignored (children were divided by
age and had only a one-hour work time), but it was still
enough of a taste of “freedom of choice” and “learning by
doing” that it was a success. In Korea the competitive
culture drives the Montessori director to implement long
circle times, work choices made by teachers, and tradi-
tional lessons in English. Despite the aberrations to the
Montessori philosophy, the Korean children are learning
well and are happy. In Hong Kong the government
requirements for each age group can restrict the mixed
age classroom, or can limit the freedom of the child from
moving among all areas of learning. To see a Chinese
child washing a table, however, is a lovely thing to behold.
A few years ago a vice-president of a major university in
north China said to me, “We know that the Chinese
comprehensive curriculum can teach our children the
2
basics, but we believe that Montessori education can
bring them creativity!”
Despite the challenges in today’s culture, new
Montessori schools are opening in many places in our
country. Even with under-capitalization, restrictive school
zoning codes, and lack of understanding in the public
educational community, Montessori entrepreneurs, with
vision for children in their communities, work ten to
twelve hours per day, choose to spend their money on the
classrooms rather than themselves, and keep the faith
despite the occasional complaining parent or challenge
of monthly payroll taxes. Our rugged individualism as
Americans, our belief in the capitalist system and the
individual entrepreneur, provided the fertile soil for the
Montessori philosophy of education in
the 20th century, and will, I believe,
continue to do so in the 21st century.
Where would education be today
without Montessori’s vision of
manipulatives? Look in school catalogs
to find copies of her decimal materials,
geometry, movable alphabet, and many
more, and it is clear that education
today has benefited greatly from her
view that children learn best through
their senses. Boxes of 1,000 cubes sit in
public school teachers’ closets, however,
often not used, mainly because the
teachers are not sure how to use them
successfully. Isn’t it ironic, as well, that
Montessori’s concepts of sensorial
learning arose in the same century as
computer technology? Without Montessori’s view of the
need for concrete materials, would three and four-year-
olds be sitting at their computers in classrooms?
Although Howard Gardner stated that he would send
his own child to a Reggio Emilia school, he has built upon
many of Montessori’s ideas in his theories of multiple
intelligences. One “multiple intelligence” classroom I
observed in my city could have been a Montessori el-
ementary classroom in many respects, with the exception
that math was still done with workbooks.
Perhaps the most outstanding and effective student of
Montessori, Nancy McCormick Rambusch, said something
very provocative to a group of teachers in Chicago shortly
before her death: “We were just a small band of Catholic
women with a dream of a better education for our
children. . . I believe that Montessori education was a
“charisma” (a special gift) for the 20th century.”
Grand View from page 1
staff. Ms. Nauman states,
“…at Grand View we operate our
preschool to the highest standards, as
a form of ministry with children of
all faiths and backgrounds and their
families… A healthy church exists for
its non-members. We, at Grand View,
do not exist for ourselves; we exist to
serve others.”
Expanded Special Needs Program:
A priority of Grand View’s ministry is
to serve families with special needs,
including non-English-speaking
children and those with special
health, educational and developmen-
tal needs.
Expanded Scholarship Program:
Grand View has a tradition of strong
commitment to low-income families
and a policy of “never turning away a
request for financial aid.” The scholar-
ship program helps families in need
by providing a reduced tuition
program. Twenty-six percent of the
children in the current programs are
supported by scholarship aid. As Ms.
Nauman emphasizes, “This tradition
will be expanded to continue to meet
the needs of even more families.”
Expanded Physical Facilities: The
new facility will include:
1. 138 on-site spaces for infants,
children, and the elderly;
2. Large, modern rooms designed
for the highest quality of infant
and preschool care;
3. A large, all-purpose room for
activities during inclement
weather and for cross-genera-
tional activities;
4. A fully handicapped-accessible
facility;
5. An unconventional “play-
ground” with
a) Complete accessibility for all
ages;
b) Raised and ground-level
flower, vegetable and butter-
fly gardens;
c) Safe playgrounds with
separated areas for age-
appropriate play for each age
level as well as areas for com–
Grand View School
bined play and socialization; celebrating, honoring and respecting
d) Shelters for the elderly and one another,” Ms. Nauman adds.
children to sit together in Adultcare Program: Due to the
shaded comfort and for growing need for adult care in the
imaginative play; area, Grand View offers a supervised
e) A variety of trees including care program for adults who need
deciduous and evergreen, for social stimulation or who are
shade and aesthetics; homebound due to health problems.
f ) 46 acres for participants and Based on positive research results,
to experience the wonders of Montessori materials will be used
nature in its many forms, with Alzheimer’s patients to help
including sunsets, prairie them relearn lost skills, increase the
grass, grasshoppers, mud, amount of time they are alert and
snow, sand, butterflies, awake, and to regain lost communi-
vegetable gardens, birds, etc.cation skills. Adult participants will
g) Picnic areas receive the benefits of a Christian
h) A meditation garden, includ- community comprised of a diverse
ing a labyrinth population. The program will offer
many opportunities for the genera-
Infant Program: The program will tions to interact together in art
facilitate each child’s growth into a projects, music, gardening, socializing,
healthy, balanced, generous, happy, reading and story-telling, eating and
and wise human being in a safe recreation.
environment. It will assist infants to Grand View Intergenerational
follow their natural rhythms, interests Center’s philosophy is as follows:
and developmental needs. Miss Our approach can be described as
Nauman continues, “During the first an “education for life.” When we
months of life the child develops his define what children take away from
basic attitudes toward the world. their years at Grand View, our vision
Children in these early years literally includes more than just the basic
absorb the life around them.” academic skills. Grand View teaches
Preschool Program: This program children:
emphasizes child-directed, individual- • to think and discover for
ized, hands-on learning within an themselves
environment especially prepared to • to discover their unique talents
meet the developmental needs of and possibilities
two-to-six year-olds. The classroom • to be flexible and creative
will promote a sense of community • to learn more than just the
among children, teachers, elderly, right answers
families and school. “The generations • to learn how to be a life-long
will work together helping, caring, learner
Continued page 5
3
 MIA Annual Conference
May 16-17, 2003
Shoreline Conference Center, Shoreline, WA

Learning
Without
Rewards or Punishments
ALFIE KOHN is the author
For All Teachers of eight books on education
and human behavior,
and Parents including Punished By
Rewards (1993) and The
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Schools Our Children
Friday, May 16 Deserve (1999). He has
written for most of the
DAY: Tour of Schools (optional)
EVENING: Hors d’oeuvres Buffet;
leading education periodicals,
MIA Research Panel and presen- has appeared twice on
tation by Paula Ilami “Oprah,” and was recently
LECTURE:“Punished by Rewards” described by Time magazine
by Alfie Kohn as “perhaps the country’s
Saturday, May 17 most outspoken critic of
LECTURE: “Choices for Children” education’s fixation on grades
by Alfie Kohn followed by [and] test scores.” Kohn lives
questions and answers (actually) in Belmont, Mass.
AFTERNOON: Montessori Program
and (virtually) at
and MIA Annual Meeting www.alfiekohn.org.
With Alfie Kohn,
Author and Lecturer
Full conference registration includes the Friday evening panel (prior to the lecture),
hors d’oevres buffet, Alfie Kohn lectures, and lunch on Saturday.
10 STARS Credits Available to Full Conferees.

❉ MIA Conference Fees

MIA Member $ 100 OPTIONAL FEES
Please register
Non-member $ 130 Friday Tour of Schools $ 25
before April 1 to (Includes transportation to and from the
ensure a place at Late fee $ 20
hotels and conference center on Friday)
the conference! (if registering after April 15th)
Saturday Transportation $ 20

❉ MIA Membership
(One Year)
$ 40 (To and from hotels and conference center)

Questions? email: mia@montessoriplus.org phone: 1-866-856-2262

4
 New MIA Schools Grand View from page 3
and exemplified by deed, word, and
& Certified Teachers • to learn for learning’s own thought. The success of our program
reward depends upon the consistent appli-
2002 - 2003 • to use success as a motivation cation of that philosophy. The feeling
to learn more of family, with a nurturing, supportive
NEWLY CERTIFIED TEACHERS • to think independently for partnership between home and
themselves school, further enhances the child’s
October, 2002
• to be actively engaged in the love of school, teachers and friends.
KOREA learning process Two Grand View teachers are
Jeong A Moon (21/2 - 6) • to learn through movement currently enrolled in MTP of
Jong Sook Lee (21/2 - 6) Grand View Intergenerational Washington’s 3-6 videotape course
January, 2003 Center has a “grand view” of their and two in the 0-3 course. Two more
ministry: The Christian and 0-3 teachers are to enroll in the
BLUFFTON, SC
Montessori philosophies of respect training this spring, as a result of the
Cindy Steinmetz (21/2 - 6)
for the child as an individual are lived community grant.
HILTON HEAD, SC
Lisa Albright (21/2 - 6)
Ann Nienow (21/2 - 6)
Jean Garren (21/2 - 6):
Book Reviews
Catherine Scarminach (21/2 - 6)
Jenny McCall (21/2 - 6)
Angela Izzillo (21/2 - 6) Kid’s Books on Black History
Leslie Goldsmith (21/2 - 6)
VISION OF BEAUTY by Kathryn Lasky. An illustrated biography of Sarah
KANEOHE, HI
Breedlove Walker, first free-born daughter of former slaves, who grows up to
Patricia LaBounty (21/2 - 6 become a successful African-American entrepreneur and benefactor. Ages 8-12
March, 2003 years. $6.99 Beautiful illustrations and full of hope and realization of the
SNOHOMISH, WA human potential.
Margo Mooney (21/2 - 6) SECRET SIGNS by Anita Riggio. A vibrantly illustrated tale of a young deaf
boy who must be brave in order to pass on a secret message about the location
NEWLY CERTIFIED SCHOOLS of the next safe haven on the Underground Railroad. Ages 6-12. $8.95 Older
children will have the maturity to read this story without fear.
November, 2002
PHILIPPINES FULL, FULL, FULL OF LOVE by Tish Cooke. A boy anticipates Sunday dinner
Smart Starters Montessori: with the relatives at Grandma’s house. Ages 3-7 years. $15.99 Hardback. A
wonderful book about an African American family.
December, 2003
A VOICE OF HER OWN by Karthryn Lasky. An illustrated biography of a
HOUSTON, TX
young slave girl, Phillis Wheatley, who became a celebrated poet on both sides of
The Village Montessori
the Atlantic at the time of the American Revolution. $16.99 Hardback. Ages 6-12
January, 2003 years. An inspiring book that shows children what slavery was and how a gifted
TAMPA, FL child-author turned her life into beautiful poems.
Montessori Academy of CARVER, A LIFE IN POEMS by Marilyn Nelson. A unique biography of George
New Tampa Washington Carver, told through short poems written in Carver’s voice and the
FEDERAL WAY, WA voices of many who knew him. $16.95 Hardback. A book of beautiful poems to
Evergreen Christian read to children, or for upper elementary to read and think about themselves.
Montessori
February, 2003
KOREA
Joh Un Kindergarten:
MIA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
Watch for your copy of the new MIA Directory to be published this
Fullip Children’s House
spring. Be sure to send your completed form and fees to MIA right
March, 2003 away so that your individual or school membership may be listed in
Montessori Corner at the 2003-04 Directory. Let us know by email if you need a membership
Princeton Meadows form: mia@montessoriplus.org.

5
 MIA
MIA BOARD
Board of Directors
2002 - 03
NOMINATIONS
The form below is for MIA members in good standing to use when submit-
ting nominations for the MIA Board election, to be held at the annual meeting
President May 17, 2003 at 4 p.m. at the Shoreline Conference Center in Shoreline, WA.
Sharlet McClurkin Each nominee must be a current member of the MIA board and be interested
3410 S. 272nd St. in, and willing to, serve on the MIA board for a three-year term. Please ascer-
tain your nominee’s willingness and ability to be involved in board meetings
Kent, Washington 98032
and committee activities prior to submitting their name. Currently, there are
Fax (253)859-1737 four open positions.
mtpwa@gte.net All board members have the opportunity to participate in the planning
and operation of our Montessori association. Our membership is very wide-
Vice President & Treasurer spread and the Nominations Committee would like the Board to reflect this
Rhonda Gear geographical diversity. We invite and encourage you to consider nomination
spmont@3-cities.com members from your area.
Nominations must be received by April 1, 2003, to provide time for the
Secretary information on each nominee to be entered onto a mail-in ballot. This ballot
will be sent to each member at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting.
Christine Brasier
ceacbras@msn.com Please submit nomination form with a paragraph of introduction and
a photograph of the nominees to: Heidi Tessier
Conference Committee 407 East 670 North
Kris Goodman Tooele, UT 84074
kgoodman@nwlink.com
MIA BOARD NOMINATION
Educational Director/
Hope Caprye-Boos Nominee:
cboos48410@aol.com
Highest degree or education earned :
MACTE Representative
Address:
Paula Ilami
Ebisgirl@aol.com Telephone: E-mail:

Newsletter Montessori certification: Years of experience:

Sharlet McClurkin
Kris Goodman Current position:
School:
Nominating Committee
Heidi Tessier Biographical Information:
tess@trilobyte.net
Nominated by: (Please give name, address, school and telephone number)
Editors
Kris Goodman
Sharlet McClurkin
Signature