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Join us for a festive and insightful episode of Montessori Mindset as Head of School Melissa Rohan hosts a special Christmas Q&A! In this live conversation, Melissa answers your most frequently asked questions about Montessori education, bilingual learning, adolescent development, parent partnerships, and behind-the-scenes life at Waterfront Academy.

Whether you’re a Montessori parent, educator, or simply curious about the method, this episode brings warmth, wisdom, and a touch of holiday joy.

🎁 Places to Shop for Your Child’s Gift

1. Montessori Services – Practical Montessori materials and child-sized tools
https://www.montessoriservices.com

2. Lovevery – Stage-based play kits designed for early learning
https://lovevery.com

3. Hill’s Kitchen – Local shop for cooking tools and creative kitchen gifts
https://www.hillskitchen.com

4. CrunchLabs by Mark Rober – Engineering and STEM subscription boxes for curious kids
https://www.crunchlabs.com

5. Labyrinth Games & Puzzles – Board games, puzzles, and family fun
https://www.labyrinthgames.com

6. East City Bookshop – Independent bookstore with children’s favorites
https://www.eastcitybookshop.com

7. Solid State Books – Community bookstore with a great kids’ section
https://solidstatebooksdc.com

8. Catholic All Year by Kendra Tierney – Faith-based gifts and resources for families
https://catholicallyear.com

9. Waterfront Academy TPT Storefront – Montessori-inspired digital resources
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Waterfront-Academy

10. Waterfront Academy School Store – Show your support of Waterfront Academy with School Merch.

Https://www.waterfrontacademy.org

🌟 Experiences for Active & Creative Kids

Looking for something beyond toys? Give your child the gift of movement, creativity, and adventure this summer:

1. The Little Gym – Build confidence through gymnastics, dance, and fun physical activities
https://www.thelittlegym.com
2. Joy of Motion – Inspire self‑expression with engaging dance programs for all ages
https://www.joyofmotion.org
3. Camp Aventura – Outdoor exploration, teamwork, and summer adventures in nature
https://campaventuradc.com
4. Miracle Theater – Spark imagination with family‑friendly performances and live shows
https://themiracletheatre.com

💙 Give Back While You Gift

Waterfront Academy Annual Giving – Support our mission and community while celebrating your child

Donate Now: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=GTNCPL9C7L58W

#ChristmasGiftIdeas #HolidayMagic #ActiveKids #CreativeKids #FamilyFun #MontessoriLife #JoyOfLearning #WaterfrontAcademy #FaithAndCommunity #AnnualGiving #Christmas2025

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In this segment, Melissa Rohan, Head of Waterfront Academy, answers your most pressing questions about Montessori parenting, teaching, and holiday classroom ideas. Discover practical tips and resources to enhance your child’s development and create an inclusive, joyful learning environment. 🌟

Topics Covered in This Episode:
✨ Fine Motor Skill Activities for 3-Year-Olds
✨ Tips for Introducing a Second Language to Toddlers
✨ Managing Toddler Boundaries During Daily Tasks
✨ Montessori-Inspired Christmas Gift-Making Ideas
✨ Cursive Handwriting Resources for Ages 3–6
✨ Inclusive Christmas Curriculum with Global Traditions

Whether you're a parent or a Montessori teacher, these hacks and insights are designed to inspire and support you! 💡

🎄 Mentioned Ideas & Resources:
1️⃣ Salt Dough Ornaments
2️⃣ Sandpaper Letters
3️⃣ Global Holiday Books (e.g., Las Posadas, The Legend of Old Befana)
4️⃣ Music & Art Projects for the Holiday Season

📌 Have a Question for the Next Episode?
Drop your questions in the comments below or message us! Melissa loves sharing her expertise and learning from your insights.

💬 Let’s Connect:
🔗 https://www.waterfrontacademy.org/
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📘 Facebook: / waterfrontacademy
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WaterfrontAcad/status/1...

📢 Don’t Forget to Like, Subscribe, and Hit the Bell Icon 🔔

Stay tuned for more Montessori tips, parenting hacks, and creative classroom ideas. See you in the next episode of Q&A with Melissa!

#MontessoriParenting #MontessoriEducation #QandAwithMelissa #ParentingTips #FineMotorSkills #LanguageLearning #InclusiveEducation #MontessoriClassroom

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Welcome back to Montessori Mindset, the podcast from Waterfront Academy where we explore child development, education, and the many ways we can help children grow into confident, compassionate, and capable humans.

In this episode, host Melissa Rohan sits down with Coach Tony from The Little Gym Capitol Hill—a beloved community space where children discover movement, build confidence, and experience pure joy.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in This Conversation:
Coach Tony’s journey into gymnastics and youth physical development

Why The Little Gym is such a special part of the Capitol Hill community

The powerful role of movement in children’s health, emotional well-being, and brain development

How trends like screen time and post-pandemic shifts are changing the way kids play

Practical advice for parents to encourage active, balanced lifestyles at home

🌟 Why This Episode Matters
Montessori education emphasizes the connection between movement and cognition—and Coach Tony brings that philosophy to life every day in the gym. His passion for children, community, and joyful play shines through in this inspiring conversation.

📍 Learn More

Discover The Little Gym Capitol Hill: https://www.thelittlegym.com/dc-capitol-hill/

🛒 Looking for more Montessori-aligned activities?

Check out our full collection of printable resources here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/waterfront-academy

👇 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Montessori activities you can do at home!

📱 Follow Us on Social Media:
➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaterfrontAcademy
➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterfrontacademy/
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➡️ Twitter: https://x.com/WaterfrontAcad


#MontessoriMindset #MontessoriEducation #ChildDevelopment #EarlyChildhoodEducation #MontessoriPodcast #ParentingTip #EducationPodcast

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Welcome to our parent workshop on dual language acquisition! In this session, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of bilingualism and explore how children can learn two languages from an early age. Whether you’re a bilingual family or simply curious about the cognitive benefits of dual language education, this workshop offers valuable insights and practical tips for supporting language development at home.

🎥 What to Expect:

Benefits of dual language learning for children:

-Key milestones in bilingual development
-Strategies for reinforcing both languages at home
-Tips for overcoming common challenges in bilingual education
-Resources and activities for language-rich environments

💬 Engage with Us: Have questions or want to share your own experiences with bilingual education? Leave a comment below! We’d love to hear from you and provide additional support for your child’s language journey.

🛒 Looking for more Montessori-aligned activities?

Check out our full collection of printable resources here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/waterfront-academy

👇 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Montessori activities you can do at home!

📱 Follow Us on Social Media:
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Welcome back to Montessori Mindset, and today we’re diving deep into the world of Montessori education — especially what it takes to leap from teaching in a classroom to founding your own school.

The guest is Fabienne Deaton, founder of Starling Montessori, which opened in the 2024–25 school year and is now thriving in its second year. Her school serves toddlers with heart, purpose, and a deep commitment to Montessori principles.

💬 In this episode:
1️⃣ What first drew Fabienne to Montessori
2️⃣ The leap from teacher to school founder
3️⃣ Lessons learned in year two
4️⃣ Hopes and dreams for Starling Montessori’s future

📚 Referenced Resources:

1.Chicken Little The Sky Isn't Falling by Erica Komisar, LCSW
Read the blog:
https://www.waterfrontacademy.org/single-post/navigating-adolescence-with-confidence-chicken-little-the-sky-isn-t-falling-by-erica-komisar-lcs
2. Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters by Erica Komisar, LCSW
Read the blog:
https://www.waterfrontacademy.org/single-post/embracing-early-parenthood-insights-from-being-there-why-prioritizing-motherhood-in-the-first-thr
3. Main Street Millionaire by Codie Sanchez
4. $100M Money Models by Alex Hormozi

🔗 Learn more about Starling Montessori and Fabienne’s below.

https://starlingmontessorischool.com/

🛒 Looking for more Montessori-aligned activities?

Check out our full collection of printable resources here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/waterfront-academy

👇 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Montessori activities you can do at home!

📱 Follow Us on Social Media:
➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaterfrontAcademy
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➡️ Twitter: https://x.com/WaterfrontAcad

#MontessoriEducation #StarlingMontessori #HStreetHighlights #MontessoriToddlers #MontessoriFounder #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #FaithBasedEducation #SpanishImmersionSchool #WaterfrontAcademy #ParentingInsights #EricaKomisar #MontessoriPodcast

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Join us for an inspiring founder-to-founder conversation as we dive into the heart of Montessori education with Andrew Kutt, a respected Montessori leader and visionary. Together, we explore the philosophy, challenges, and joys of bringing the Montessori approach to life in schools and communities.

This is more than just an interview—it’s a meaningful journey into the legacy and future of Montessori education. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or Montessori enthusiast, this conversation will inspire you to see education through a new lens.

Check out our full collection of printable resources here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/v...

👇 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Montessori activities you can do at home!

📱 Follow Us on Social Media:
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➡️ Twitter: https://x.com/waterfrontacad


#Montessori #MontessoriEducation #MontessoriJourney #AndrewKutt

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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kathy Minardi, founder of the Whole School Leadership Institute and a leading voice in Montessori education. With over 40 years of experience — including 17 years as head of Aidan Montessori School — Kathy shares her wisdom on leadership, emotional intelligence, and the true meaning of the Montessori mindset.

✨ Learn how Montessori principles can transform not just classrooms, but entire communities.

🛒 Looking for more Montessori-aligned activities?

Check out our full collection of printable resources here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/s...

👇 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Montessori activities you can do at home!

📱 Follow Us on Social Media:
➡️ Facebook: / waterfrontacademy
➡️ Instagram: / waterfrontacademy
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➡️ Twitter: https://x.com/WaterfrontAcad

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Unlock the potential of your child's growth with our Parent's Workshop at Waterfront Academy! 🌟 In this video, you'll find everything you need to know about our Montessori-based approach to early childhood education, the benefits of bilingual learning, and how we incorporate the Catholic tradition into our curriculum. ✨

💡 Discover how our programs are tailored to foster independence, critical thinking, and a love for learning in children from Primary to Early Adolescents.

🛒 Looking for more Montessori-aligned activities?

Check out our full collection of printable resources here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/waterfront-academy

👇 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Montessori activities you can do at home!

📱 Follow Us on Social Media:
➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaterfrontAcademy
➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterfrontacademy/
➡️ Pinterest: https://pin.it/4MNtyF4kq
➡️ Twitter: https://x.com/WaterfrontAcad

#Montessori #Education #ChildDevelopment #WaterfrontAcademy #MontessoriMethod #MontessoriParenting #EarlyChildhoodEducation