UW-River Falls offering two workshops in April for Montessori educators

March 10, 2017--Educators in public or private Montessori schools can gain professional knowledge and skills in two new workshops offered by the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Both workshops are on Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the River Falls Public Library.  

The first workshop, "Are We Supersizing Our Children?" is intended for early childhood educators and parents and will explore how to instill healthy lessons on nutrition and movement in Montessori classrooms. 

"Maria Montessori valued movement and was quoted as saying that movement, or physical activity, is thus an essential factor in intellectual growth," said Linda Jacobson, program manager for UW-River Falls Outreach and Continuing Education.  

Participants will learn how interventions in nutrition and physical activity can help cultivate lifelong health in children. Presenters are Susie Shelton Dodge, academic director at Hope Montessori Educational Institute in St. Louis, Mo., and Dr. Kelsey S. Echols, an emergency medicine physician in the Twin Cities and former Montessori child.  

The second workshop, "The Deep Well of Time:  Storytelling and the Elementary Child," is designed for elementary school teachers and parents. Michael Dorer, a master storyteller, and longtime Montessori educator, will bring the fun and energy of storytelling to classrooms or homes with his new book, "The Deep Well of Time." Participants will gain insights to become accomplished storytellers, an essential skill for Montessori practitioners.  

Advance registration is required and available online at go.uwrf.edu/Montessori. Fees for this workshop range from $39 to $79 with discounts available for registrations received before March 21 and groups of five or more. The fee includes instruction, lunch, materials and five professional development hours. Parking is free. Participants who are interested in earning graduate credits with additional tuition and coursework outside of the workshop should contact Jacobson at 715-425-3190 or email linda.r.jacobson@uwrf.edu.  

UW-River Falls provides lifelong learners with academic, professional development and enrichment programs that are practical, flexible, convenient and affordable. A complete list of courses, course descriptions and online registration information is available at www.uwrf.edu/Academics/GraduatePrograms/Montessori.cfm or may be obtained by calling 715-425-3256, 1-800-228-5607 or sending an email to outreach@uwrf.edu.