Advanced 

Practitioner's Class

 

Deepen your understanding. Strengthen your practice. Help children change not only their behavior, but their perspective about how they find belonging and significance.

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Advanced Classroom Applications

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Collabortive Case Studies

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Deepen Understanding of Mistaken Goals

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Strengthen Classroom Im

COURSE OVERVIEW

Deepen Your Understanding. Hone Your Practice.

 

The Mistaken Goal framework is the lens through which we understand the roots of misbehavior and the foundation of the PDMC child study process.

The Advanced Practitioner’s Class builds on the foundation established in the Practitioner’s Class with an advanced study of Mistaken Goals: how they develop, how children’s beliefs about belonging and significance drive behavior, and how our responses can help children develop more constructive beliefs—and change behavior over time.

Through experiential activities, observation, reflection and child study, you’ll deepen your understanding of each Mistaken Goal while adding new PDMC Practices specifically designed to address the beliefs behind the behavior.

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What You’ll Gain

 
  • ✓
    Greater insight into the motivations behind behavior
    Explore how Mistaken Goals develop, how belief systems manifest through different behaviors, and the particular dynamics associated with each goal.
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    More skill and precision in identifying Mistaken Goals
    Develop additional ways to observe behavior, recognize patterns, and identify what may be motivating an individual child.
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    More PDMC Tools—and a deeper and focused understanding of why they work
    Explore specific responses for each Mistaken Goal and learn how they help children develop more constructive beliefs about belonging and significance.
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    Greater effectiveness with individual children
    Become more skillful at finding approaches that work for individual children, observing the response, and adapting your approach.
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    Stronger child study skills
    Learn and practice systematic process for working through child studies with teaching partners and developing individualized Student Support Plans.

The Importance of Advanced Study

 

Moving From Experience to Deeper Insight:

Understanding the motivations behind behavior is a lifelong process. Even after years of experience, there is always more to see and understand.

Practitioners who revisit Mistaken Goals after applying the framework for a while almost always say the same thing: with experience, they see the framework—and the children they work with—with greater insight and understanding.

The Advanced Practitioner’s Class was developed to provide the time and space for that deeper study. Because the more clearly we understand what lies beneath a child’s behavior, the more effectively we can respond, and support that child’s successful experience in the classroom community and beyond.

Who Should Attend?

 

This course is ideal for:

  • ✓Montessori Teachers
  • ✓Lead Guides
  • ✓Assistant Teachers
  • ✓School Administrators
  • ✓Instructional Coaches
  • ✓Educational Leaders
  • ✓Practitioner’s Class Graduates
  • Prerequisite: Completion of the Practitioner's Class. Level 1

Course Tuition

Early Bird Registration

$375

Early Bird Discount available until 3 weeks before the class starts.

Regular Registration

$425

Standard tuition after the Early Bird registration period ends.

SPECIAL PRICING

Group Discounts


Bring your team and save! Schools registering multiple participants are eligible for discounted pricing.

Participants Discount
3–5 10% Off
6–10 15% Off
11–20 20% Off
21+ 25% Off

Planning to Register Your Team?

For groups of 21 or more participants, please contact us to discuss customized pricing and private cohort options.

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Class Dates: Every Tuesday

Session Date Format Time
Session 1 Tuesday, January 12, 2027 Live (Zoom) 7:00–9:00 p.m. EST
Session 2 Tuesday, January 19, 2027 Live (Zoom) 7:00–9:00 p.m. EST
Session 3 Tuesday, January 26, 2027 Live (Zoom) 7:00–9:00 p.m. EST
Session 4 Tuesday, February 2, 2027 Live (Zoom) 7:00–9:00 p.m. EST
Session 5 Tuesday, February 9, 2027 Live (Zoom) 7:00–9:00 p.m. EST
Session 6 Tuesday, February 16, 2027  Live (Zoom)  7:00–9:00 p.m. EST
Session 7 Tuesday, February 23, 2027 Live (Zoom) 7:00–9:00 p.m. EST

One session will be self-paced—a review of Mistaken Goals—to be completed prior to the first live session.

“Your work is everything I have always wanted for classroom management founded on Montessori's work.”

 

Montessori Educator

FACILITATED BY

Chip DeLorenzo

For more than 30 years, Chip DeLorenzo has worked as a Montessori educator, helping students, teachers, school leaders, and parents build respectful, cooperative, and thriving communities. As co-author of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom with Jane Nelsen, Chip is recognized internationally for integrating Positive Discipline principles with authentic Montessori practice.

Chip has presented workshops, conferences, and PDMC training programs for thousands of Montessori educators around the world. His practical, experience-based approach provides teachers with strategies they can apply immediately while remaining faithful to Dr. Montessori's vision of child development.

Chip served for more than 20 years as a Montessori teacher and Head of School at Damariscotta Montessori School. He has also worked extensively with Montessori adolescents, giving him a broad perspective across every stage of a child's educational journey.

Whether educators are new to Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom or looking to deepen their practice, Chip's thoughtful, practical approach helps schools foster classrooms built on mutual respect, responsibility, and joyful learning.

Montessori educator for over 30 years
Co-author of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom
Former Montessori teacher (21 years) and Head of School (20 years)
International presenter and school consultant

Ready to Continue Your Journey?

Take your Positive Discipline practice to the next level and gain the tools needed to create lasting change in your classroom and school community.

Join an Upcoming Advanced Practitioner's Class

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