The Key to Success and Longevity
Infant/Toddler Mentoring Community
Whether you are new to the classroom or have been teaching for years, you may have questions such as, How do I work with families to bridge the gap between school and home during the toilet learning process? How do I share my observations and concerns with parents in a way that builds partnership? How do I balance the workload of being a new teacher and still take care of myself?
Join other Infant/Toddler Guides for weekly online meetings, discussing important topics relevant to the time of year, asking questions, sharing concerns, and mining the collective intelligence of the group. This cohort is led by Uniit Carruyo, an Infant/Toddler Guide, teacher trainer, and Montessori consultant, who shares expertise and insight, and brings in relevant guest speakers to better address the needs of the group.
We welcome any Montessori practitioner looking for a space to rejuvenate, reflect, and reconnect to our higher purpose. We are better together!
We are now accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year!
Infant/Toddler Mentor Highlight
Uniit Carruyo, M.Ed.
Uniit Carruyo (she/her) is an author, artist, and educator with 25+ years experience with children 0-6. She is a Montessori teacher trainer, and has presented at conferences both nationally and internationally. Ms. Carruyo’s publications include Team Teaching in Early Childhood Settings: Leadership Tools for Reflective Practice (Red Leaf Press, 2017), Montessori Life, The Infant Toddler Journal, Ithaca Child, and Clarice, her self-published children’s book. She founded and directs Flaming Imagination, a coaching and consulting organization for educators and caregivers. Ms. Carruyo holds an MS Ed Leadership from Bank Street College of Education, a BS in Psychology from SUNY Fredonia, and an AMS Infant Toddler credential from CMTE. Find her at www.flamingimagination.com.
Virtual Mentoring Communities
Mentoring Topics for Infant/Toddler Guides
The topics covered each week will be tailored to meet the needs of the group. Examples include:
Partnership & Communication
- Partnering with your classroom team
- Parent communication – emails, calls, photos, carline
- Communicating concerns , communicating the positive
- Writing insightful progress reports
- Turning the challenging parent into a partner
- Supporting parents/caregivers with toilet learning in the home
- Leading effective parent/caregiver education workshops
- Being a child’s first teacher- nurturing a joyful connection to learning
- Bringing the family into the environment
Classroom Systems
- The prepared environment
- Planning & record keeping
- Classroom systems (the flow of the day)
- Prioritizing daily observation
- Classroom management-indirect influence
- Inner discipline and self regulation
- Grace & Courtesy
- Sharing roles and responsibilities with the team
Preparing for Events
- First week of school & Back to School Night
- Preparing for and leading parent/guide conferences
- Current & prospective parent/caregiver observations
- Culturally sensitive classroom celebrations and traditions
Curriculum
- The child is the curriculum: care of self
- The child is the curriculum: care of the environment
- Providing “just right” work
- Creating a needs driven, yes environment
- Incorporating art and music across the curriculum
- Ensuring that the children have a connection with nature
- Developing a community of service
- Supporting the spiritual nature of the child
- Adaptations for students with learning differences (sensory, social-emotional, math based, language based)
Preparation of the Adult
- Self-care
- Identity work
- Knowing your bias, identifying blind spots
- The invisible curriculum
- Growth mindset
- Closing out the year, goal setting, preparing for the next year
- Self-reflection and gratitudes
Contributing to Montessori Research
Our model is research-based. Participants in our 2023-24 mentoring cohorts were part of a research study looking at the impact of this mentoring model on teacher burnout and teacher self-efficacy. Participants in the mentoring cohorts experienced a statistically significant reduction in degree of burn out by the end of the school year, with 0 mentees reporting “very high” or “high” degrees of burn out.
Virtual Mentoring Communities
2026-27 Pricing
Lead Guide Cohorts
Full Price $2,250- Weekly online sessions begin in August 2026 and continue through May 2027
- Each 90-minute session includes a presentation, discussion and brainstorming related to the presented content, and Q&A
- Participants receive access to their cohort's discussion board, where they can add questions to the "parking lot" and continue the discussion between mentoring sessions
- Participants can choose to pay in two equal installments - one in August 2026 and one in January 2027
School Leaders Cohort
Full price is $3,450- Weekly online sessions begin in August 2026 and continue through May 2027
- Each 90-minute session includes a presentation, discussion and brainstorming related to the presented content, and Q&A
- Participants receive access to their cohort's discussion board, where they can add questions to the "parking lot" and continue the discussion between mentoring sessions
- Participants can choose to pay in two equal installments - one in August 2026 and one in January 2027
Virtual Mentoring Communities
Benefits
Interactive Learning with Expert Montessorians
Empowering you in targeted areas critical to teaching and leadership
Practical Help in Real Time
Get timely and specific answers to pressing questions, expediting your progress and growth
A Collaborative Community of Peers
Mine the expertise of colleagues while building a network of invaluable partnerships
Continuing Professional Development Hours
Participants in our mentoring communities are eligible to receive CPDs from either AMI-USA or AMS.
Is Montessori Mentoring Right For You?
Watch the Webinar to Learn More
Fill out the form below to watch our webinar on Montessori Mentoring Communities.
Infant/Toddler Mentoring Community
Apply Now
Click on the link below to complete your application to join the Infant/Toddler Mentoring Community. When submitting your application, you will be charged a non-refundable deposit of $50. If accepted into the program, the deposit will be put toward your remaining tuition. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a first-come, first-serve rolling basis.
Applications will be accepted through July 31, 2026.
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