Modeling Intrinsic Motivation

Welcome to the last episode of Season 2. And it’s a good one. Today I get to chat to Montessori educator and a nationally recognised anti-bias educator in the US, Britt Hawthorne. She’s all about creating inclusive and equitable environments for all learners and understandably her work has been recognized by none other than PBS, Drew Barrymore, Google Edu, Association Montessori Internationale, and more.

I have learned so much from Britt over the last year and a half, yes, about being an anti-racist parent and educator but also just how you can raise critically thinking children, children who can advocate for themselves, recognise injustice, call it out and do something about it. We all need people like this that raise their children in a way that shows us what is possible.

Links from the show

• Britt Hawthorne - website / instagram
• Join Britt's Collective Liberation community
• Dr Kira Banks
• More about the fundamental needs in Montessori
• Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves by Louise Derman-Sparks, Julie Olsen Edwards
• Dr Rudine Sims Bishop on mirrors, windows and sliding doors
• Britt's favourite books - bookshop.org/shop/britthawthorne
• look out for Britt's book coming in 2022, "Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide"
• redistributes funds to Keres Children's Learning Center and Sankofa Learning Center
• some of my favourite instagram posts from Britt:
  • pyramid of accountability
  • “If you’re tired, rest don’t quit” by darling and illustrated bby minna_so 
  • 8 ABAR goals to set for 2021
• 42 ways in Montessori we allow intrinsic motivation to express itself - insta post / blog post
• more about the spindle box
• tour of Kristina's space
• follow one of Simone's Montessori workshops here (from US$10)
• sign up for Simone's regular e-newsletter filled with Montessori inspiration

Listener question

Maeg asks
“I’m really having a hard time preparing work cycles for two daughters with totally #1 different interests. They are 3 & 1. Also my 3 year old is so focused and loves doing things all by herself (even when she was just a baby) however the 1 year old loves to join her older sister. Another factor is a very small apartment. We only have one low shelf that could fit the room so most of the time for the 1 year old were prepared in the shelf. What should I do. We’ll live in this apartment for the next five years before having our third baby."