Horizons National's Summer Advantage

How do we learn to talk about the things that make us different, especially when those conversations feel uncomfortable?Award-winning journalist Michele Norris joins Biff Maier and Nicole Coman to explore the stories we carry, the assumptions we inherit, and the conversations that can help us understand one another. Through her Race Card Project, which invites people to express their experiences with race in just six words, Michele has collected hundreds of thousands of personal stories from around the world. She shares what those stories have taught her about identity, trust, and the value of listening beyond our own experiences.The conversation also turns to children and education. Michele explains why children notice differences earlier than adults sometimes assume, why schools have an opportunity to help young people learn to live and work across differences, and how teachers can create spaces where difficult conversations feel both safe and brave. She also reflects on researching her father's largely unspoken history and on the family kitchens where food, memories, and everyday rituals shape who we become.Together, they discuss:How six words can open the door to difficult conversationsWhat the Race Card Project has revealed about identity and belongingWhy children need opportunities to explore differences rather than learn to avoid themHow teachers can approach conversations about race with curiosity and careHow listening across disagreement can build trustWhy family kitchens and shared meals can become powerful places of connectionWhether in a classroom, a workplace, or around the dinner table, understanding one another begins with making room for each other's stories.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]

What happens when the two pedagogical standard bearers in Montessori come together around a shared vision for education?Denise Monnier of the Montessori Public Policy Initiative joins Biff and Nicole with Mary Beth McCormack and Dr. Lisa Roy to discuss the development of the U.S. National Montessori Curriculum, a collaborative effort involving the American Montessori Society and the Association Montessori Internationale USA. Designed to help policymakers and advocates better understand Montessori education, the free, open source resource aims to make it easier for Montessori programs to navigate state requirements and expand access, particularly in public education and publicly funded preschool.Together, they discuss:Why a shared national curriculum became necessaryHow AMS and AMI worked across their differences to identify common groundWhy the curriculum is designed primarily as a tool for advocacy and policyHow public Montessori programs can better serve children with different learning needsWhat Colorado's universal preschool program can teach us about access and family choiceWhy the curriculum supports, rather than replaces, high quality Montessori teacher preparationAt its heart, this project is about making Montessori education easier to understand, recognize, and access. It is also a reminder of what becomes possible when people with different perspectives come together around a shared purpose.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]

What does a Montessori classroom actually look like—and what is really happening beneath the freedom, movement, and choice?In this conversation, Biff and Nicole take on some of the most common questions and misconceptions they hear about Montessori. Is it a chaotic free-for-all? Is it overly strict? Do children get enough academics? Are Montessori students prepared for the “real world”—or for transitioning to a more traditional school? And does Montessori really mean no technology?Rather than simply defending Montessori, they unpack the ideas behind the approach: freedom within limits, the role of the prepared environment, the teacher as guide, carefully sequenced materials, multi-age communities, authentic social interaction, and the importance of giving children meaningful responsibility for their own learning.Together, they explore:Why freedom in a Montessori classroom does not mean a lack of structureHow Montessori balances academic rigor with individual pace and choiceWhy the prepared environment and Montessori materials matterHow children develop independence, problem-solving, and responsibilityWhat social learning looks like in a multi-age classroomHow Montessori schools approach technology while preserving the importance of human connectionFor anyone who has ever wondered what Montessori actually is—or why a Montessori classroom looks so different from the schools they remember—this conversation offers a closer look at the philosophy behind what you see.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]

What do children actually think about school?For this special conversation, we hand the microphones over to two very honest critics: nine-year-old twins Ishaan and Ayaan. After years in Montessori and a recent transition to a new school, the third graders have plenty to say about how they learn, what they love, what they miss, and what they would change.Their answers are funny, thoughtful, occasionally surprising—and often more insightful than adults might expect. They talk about choosing their work, grades and homework, learning at their own pace, working with friends, hands-on materials, research projects, technology, and what makes a lesson exciting. They also imagine their ideal classroom and share what they think schools could do to help kids make better use of their time.Together, they explore:What they remember—and don't remember—about starting MontessoriThe differences they've noticed between Montessori and their current schoolWhy they miss Montessori materials, reports, and opportunities to choose their workWhat grades and homework feel like from a child's perspectiveWhy learning at the right level matters when you've already mastered somethingWhat they would put in a classroom if they could design one themselvesMore than anything, this conversation is a reminder that children have ideas about their education, too. Sometimes the best way to understand what makes a school work is simply to ask the kids who are living it.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes part of how children learn, teachers work, and we relate to one another? Samantha Gleisten believes the answer isn't simply learning how to use new tools—it's strengthening the human capacities that should guide how we use them. Samantha brings her experience as a Montessori educator, digital citizenship teacher, and AI developer to a conversation about what education can contribute in an AI-powered world. She explains why relational intelligence, metacognition, interconnectedness, and the spiritual preparation of the adult matter more than ever—and how HeyBodhi, the AI platform she co-founded, is designed to support teachers rather than replace the human work of teaching. Together, they discuss:why Samantha believes Montessori has something important to offer in an AI worldthe difference between using AI to extend learning and using it to shortcut learningteacher burnout and the creation of HeyBodhihow AI can help teachers practice difficult conversations and reflect on their workwhy relational intelligence may become even more important as technology advanceshelping students develop metacognition and responsible AI habitsthe danger of creating unhealthy relationships between children and AImoving from student agency to the audacity to imagine and build a better worldAt a moment when AI is evolving faster than educators can keep up, Samantha offers a hopeful challenge: we may never be able to predict exactly what these tools will become, but we can decide what we want them to help us build.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]

What if the problem isn't that we're failing to find work-life balance—but that we're chasing something that doesn't exist?Katie Keller Wood joins Educating the Human Potential to rethink one of the most persistent ideas in modern life. Drawing on her Montessori work and her book Alignment, Katie argues that our lives aren't a scale where work and life compete for equal weight. They're more like a mosaic: a collection of pieces that shift, grow, and change across different seasons of our lives. The goal isn't perfect balance, but understanding what matters now—and making intentional choices about where our time and energy belong.Together, they discuss:why Katie believes work-life balance is a liehow the idea of alignment can help us navigate competing prioritiesthe difference between paycheck work and purpose workwhy meaningful work matters so much during adolescencehow Montessori helps adolescents develop confidence, identity, and a sense of contributionwhy adults working with adolescents need to be the "calm in the storm"what gives Katie hope about today's young peopleWhether we're raising adolescents, teaching them, or simply trying to figure out our own next chapter, this conversation offers a different way to think about purpose, priorities, and what it means to build a life that fits.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]

Across the country, Horizons National is helping change that. With more than 70 affiliated programs, the national nonprofit partners with schools to provide high-quality summer learning experiences that help students stay engaged academically while opening doors to new opportunities. At Lexington Montessori School, Director Maricarmen Sullivan and longtime Horizons student Mayelis Burgos-Sanchez share what that looks like in practice—and why its impact extends far beyond the classroom.Together, they discuss:how Horizons helps prevent summer learning losswhy meaningful relationships are just as important as academicscreating opportunities through swimming, enrichment, and hands-on learninghow Montessori principles support students from underserved communitiesthe role families, educators, and local partners play in expanding opportunitywhat one student's journey reveals about the lasting impact of investing in childrenWhether it's discovering a love of learning, gaining confidence in the water, or simply being surrounded by adults who believe in their potential, this conversation is a reminder that when children are given meaningful opportunities, six weeks can shape far more than a summer.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]

What happens when children spend time away from home—and why do so many parents find that harder than their kids do?In Educating the Human Potential's first-ever returning guest episode, psychologist and bestselling author Michael Thompson returns for a timely conversation about why summer camp remains one of childhood's most powerful developmental experiences. Together with Nicole Coman and Biff Maier, he explores why homesickness is a normal part of growing up, how camp fosters resilience and independence, and why today's culture of constant communication may be making it harder for children to develop confidence away from their parents.Together, they discuss:Why homesickness is a healthy developmental milestoneThe surprising reason camp friendships last a lifetimeHow camp counselors become powerful role modelsWhy independence requires time away from parentsTechnology, constant communication, and modern parentingHelping children—and parents—prepare for separationWhether your child is heading to camp for the first time or you're simply thinking about how children grow into capable, confident adults, this conversation offers thoughtful reassurance that sometimes the greatest gift parents can give is the space to grow.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]

What does it really mean for a child to become independent?For many parents, independence means tying shoes, getting dressed, or completing tasks without help. But in this conversation, Biff and Nicole explore a deeper question: What if true independence is about more than doing things alone? Drawing on Montessori philosophy, they examine how autonomy, choice, responsibility, and thoughtfully prepared environments help children develop the confidence and self-direction they'll carry throughout life.Together, they discuss:Why autonomy goes beyond simple independenceHow adults unintentionally undermine children's independenceThe importance of patience and allowing children time to do things for themselvesHow prepared environments encourage confidence and self-directionWhy offering meaningful choices builds agencyGoal-setting, executive functioning, and the power of initiationIntrinsic motivation versus rewardsHow Montessori classrooms balance freedom with clear expectationsWhy learner-centered education depends on structure, not simply freedomAt the heart of the conversation is a hopeful reminder: independence isn't something adults can give children—it grows when we create the conditions for children to make choices, solve problems, and gradually take ownership of their own lives. By stepping back just enough, we give children the opportunity to step forward.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]

What if the moments that change a life are often small, intentional acts of belief?In this inspiring conversation, Biff and Nicole are joined by Emmy Award-winning speaker, drummer, and bestselling author Clint Pulver to explore how mentorship, connection, and presence shape the stories children and adults tell about themselves. From the teacher who handed him his first pair of drumsticks to years spent studying workplace culture, Clint shares why people thrive when they feel seen, heard, and valued.Together, they discuss:• The teacher who transformed Clint's life by recognizing his gifts• Why mentorship matters more than management• The importance of balancing high standards with deep connection• How educators can help children discover their potential and worth• The power of simple praise and intentional moments• Questions school leaders should ask to strengthen culture• Why presence always comes before performance• How parents can create meaningful connection in everyday lifeAt the heart of the conversation is a powerful reminder: life-changing moments rarely come from control or correction. They come from relationships. Whether at home, in the classroom, or in the workplace, people flourish when someone believes in them enough to walk beside them. Sometimes all it takes is one person—and one moment—to change the course of a life.Contact Us: [email protected] the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhoodContact us: [email protected]