This is a two day workshop for primary kaiako.
Day one: Saturday 13 September The Story of Communication and Signs
Day two: Sunday 14 September Working through the History and Mathematics Curriculum
Day 1: Saturday 13th September
‘The pleasure that the child finds in stories shows the satisfaction he gets in having the power of reconstruction through the power of imagination. It is wrong to think of the imagination as a sort of mirror that reflects images, because imagination is the essence of the human mind which builds and constructs. Imagination does not develop from what the child hears but from his own efforts in the world.”
The 1946 London Lectures Maria Montessori, P178
The story of Communication and Signs is one of the five great stories which scaffold the learning in Montessori classrooms for the 6-12 year old child. It traces the beginnings of human communication and the development of writing.
How can we as educators encourage writing in our Montessori environments and ensure collaborations and an understanding of the basic writing processes, bring success and enthusiasm to the telling of powerful stories?
What are some of the stumbling blocks for children when researching? How can we provide strategies and structure to enable lively and informative information writing?
In this day-long face to face workshop, with a focus on guidance for narrative and information writing, participants will be invited into the world of learning to write. Strategies and exercises to stimulate interest and action for writers will be given, alongside challenges and advanced crafting lessons for more fluent writers in 6-9 and 9-12 classrooms. We will examine elements of structuring, elaboration, character and place, revision, and author techniques. Note taking and writing for research will be included in an information writing session.
Day 2: Sunday 14th September
Come prepared to share your collective wisdom while we align NZC History curriculum to what we do in our classrooms to ensure that everything is covered. By September we will also have a better idea of where the conventional system is headed with the new-look maths coming out. We will spend time unpacking the the WHY we do what we do.
This is an opportunity for you to discuss, share ideas and gain ideas for ways forward.
Date: 13th and 14th September, 2025
Time: Saturday: 10.00 – 4.00 pm: Sunday 9.00 – 2.00 pm
Delivery: Face-to-Face
Location: Montessori@Berhampore School, 105 Britomart Street, Berhampore, Wellington
Food:
Morning and Afternoon tea will be provided on both days.
Please ensure you bring your lunch.
Facilitator for The Story of Communication and Signs
Fiona MacKenzie is a writer and educator, born and raised in New Zealand, and based in Australia. She has spent more than twenty years teaching children ages six to twelve in Montessori classrooms and in NZ and Australian public schools. Along this journey she developed and honed her expertise in teaching writing to children. In addition to being a qualified primary classroom teacher, she has an AMI Montessori Teaching Diploma (six to twelve year-olds), a B.A. Communication majoring in Radio and Sound, and a M.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Technology, Sydney. Whilst teaching in a Montessori school in Sydney, Fiona attended the first of four inspiring writing courses at Columbia Teachers College in New York, which gave her the impetus to further develop her interest in writing and benefit her students. Retiring from fulltime teaching in December 2022 she proceeded to fill her time by writing a book. Writing is a Journey – Tips, Lessons and Montessori Perspective gives guidance in teaching narrative writing for Montessori teachers of 6-12 year olds. Fiona is passionate about teaching writing to primary age children, giving practical guidance in crafting narrative skills for the telling of powerful stories. She has spent the majority of her time teaching children aged nine to twelve in Montessori classrooms and is able to offer a wealth of experience in working with this age group, alongside tips and lessons suitable for six to nine year-old beginning writers.
Facilitators Sunday
Mathematics:
Dimitra Pantazis, Montessori@Berhampore School, Wellington
Tania Gaffney, Wa Ora Montessori School, Wellington
History:
Ashleigh Millar, Meraki Montessori, Auckland
Abbie Meredith, Meraki Montessori, Auckland
