Seton Montessori Instiute welcomes Dr. Steven Hughes, Pediatric neuropsychologist and Montessori advocate, to our Annual Fall Seminar on Saturday, November 10, 2012. 

Morning Session: Building Better Brains: The Neurological Case for Montessori Education

In this highly visual, rapid-paced and entertaining talk, Dr. Hughes describes how Maria Montessori's brain-based approach to education provides an unparalleled foundation for the development of academic, social, and executive functions critical for advanced problem solving and lifetime success. He shows how Montessori education parallels what we now know about brain development and fosters the development of advanced cognitive functions, social cognition, and such higher-order competencies as empathy and leadership. Download a PDF file of the slides here.  Watch a screencast of the entire talk here.

Afternoon Session: Talking Straight about Montessori Education

Every club has its own codes and language, and the “Club of Montessori” is no exception. But is Montessori a “movement,” a “method,” or is it “education for the 21st century”? Montessorians know what they mean when they discuss “pedagogy” and “planes,” but does the language they use connect them, or distance them from parents and other interested (sometimes skeptical) parties? 

How we talk about what we do makes a difference in how others perceive us and our work. This workshop will identify some of the unique terms that make up the Montessori vocabulary, and explore ways to communicate Montessori concepts with more mainstream audiences. Working together, we will develop useful and accessible ways of describing the vision, methods, and values of Montessori education to parents, allies, and the broader community.  Download a PDF file of the slides here.

More about Dr. Hughes

Steven J. Hughes, PhD, LP, ABPdN is a board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist who specializes in assessment and treatment planning for persons who have problems with attention, concentration, organization, planning, and related executive functions. He also consults with organizations about educational program evaluation, and speaks to groups around the world about developmental education, neurocognitive disorders, parenting, and other topics of interest to parents and educators. Dr. Hughes serves as Chair of the Association Montessori Internationale Global Research Committee. 

Dr. Hughes completed his PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Minnesota and his post-doctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, where he served as a member of the faculty of the Division of Pediatric Clinical Neurosciences from 2001 to 2011. 

In his clinical work, he has specialized in neuropsychological assessment of children and adolescents with a wide range of learning, developmental, and medical disorders, and assisted in the supervision and training of future neuropsychologists. Himself a Montessori parent, Dr. Hughes has helped many families from the Twin Cities Montessori community understand their child’s special educational or developmental needs. He is a lecturer at the Maria Montessori Institute in London, England, and the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota. He is also a frequent speaker at Montessori schools, regional and national conferences, and other events around the world.

His research interests include measurement of attention and executive functioning in children and adults, the effects of living in poverty on child development, and the neurodevelopmental benefits of classical Montessori education.

 

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