Getting Their Attention: Ideas for Helping Kids Focus

Join Montessori Medical Partnership for Inclusion for an overview of attentional challenges and practical guidance to support your child in our recorded webinar: Getting Their Attention: Ideas for Helping Kids Focus.

Montessori education was specifically designed to develop the child's ability to concentrate deeply. Yet some children will continue to struggle with paying attention to what they are doing, what others are doing, and/or listening to others.

This webinar features guests Catherine Nehring Massie, Barbara Luborsky, and Michelle Lane-Barmapov.

Key Takeaways

Guest Speakers

Catherine Nehring Massie has been studying and researching Montessori education, special education, and the uniquely powerful developmental impact of combining the two. She studied Montessori Education at CISM, Bergamo, Italy, and has a master's degree in teaching elementary and special education. Catherine has experience as a Montessori mom of four children, an Orff Schulwerk music teacher, a Montessori teacher, a dyslexia tutor, and a Montessori school director. She was a founder of two (including the very first) Montessori Public Charter Schools in Maryland. Catherine has traveled and presented internationally advocating for inclusive Montessori schools through the integrated application of scientific and medical pedagogy.

Barbara Luborsky, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience as a developmental practitioner and 17 years as a Montessori mom. Barbara sees a strong affinity between occupational therapy (OT) and Montessori education. After many years of providing workshops and consultations at Montessori schools, Barbara’s work became more focused in 2010 when she began collaborating with Catherine to look at the issue of inclusion in Montessori education through integrated practice. Barbara has presented internationally to Montessorians at conferences and at the Montessori World Congress on the role of the OT as a member of the team, the affinity between OT and Montessori practice, addressing the needs of children with attention difficulties and the benefits of multi-disciplinary collaboration in a Montessori environment.

Professor Michelle Lane-Barmapov is the founder of the Montessori Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy program for children with autism. Michelle received the Premier's Award from the government of Ontario in 2005 for this program blend. She has lectured and been a keynote speaker in various cities in Canada, the U.S., Australia, China, and Czech Republic. She is also a published writer and co-chairs the advisory board for MMPI (Montessori Medical Partnership for Inclusion) with Dr. Joyce Pickering. In Toronto, Michelle works as a professor for the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies at Sheridan College. Michelle has a Master of Health Studies and an AMS Early Childhood credential. She is also a registered early childhood educator in Ontario and has her certification in cognitive behaviour therapy for children and youth.