Our own Montessori story.
All Things Montessori started with an idea between two friends. Rachel studied under Jamie at the Washington Montessori Institute and after graduation they became close friends. As Rachel was starting her own classroom, she found herself turning to her Montessori albums, her fellow teacher friends and long phone calls with Jamie for advice and support. Throughout the years, these conversations got more and more real, honest and affirming.
One day, Rachel had an idea. What if the conversations with Jamie could become a podcast. Jamie agreed and they began planning. Once they began recording, they both knew that this was something special and something that they hoped would reach the Montessori community. They kept recording and the Montessori community began to listen.
For the past two years, All Things Montessori has gained listenership all across the world. Listeners describe it as "a go-to place when feeling overwhelmed and uninspired," and "it feels like I'm sitting down with good friends."
Thank you for listening and welcome to All Things Montessori.
The Women Behind the Mic
Rachel Merle-Smith | Host
HI! I'M RACHEL
My road to Montessori was filled with turns, chance meetings, uprooting, and trust. I first heard about Montessori through a family member, but I wrote it off, thinking that I never wanted to be a teacher. However, Montessori just kept coming up in my life. Every few months I would hear about it or my mind would wander to the possibility of learning more. One day in May while living in New York City, I decided to look into it a little more. I reached out to the Washington Montessori Institute hoping to talk to someone in the Primary Training Course. Serendipitously, Jamie Rue picked up the phone and she began to tell me all about the elementary course and why I should move to Maryland and take the course starting in July.
And so I did. And, here I am.
After five years as a nanny in the US and in Italy, three years in the classroom, one year in the administration, and a year experience virtual learning due to the pandemic, here I find myself ever more passionate about Montessori education. One thing that has stayed true over all these years is my love of talking about Montessori.
The All Things Montessori podcast is a space for honest conversations revolving around Montessori education. Episodes about the struggles, the failures, the beauty and the true purpose of our work.
Thank you for being here and as always, thank you for listening.
Jamie Rue | Co-Founder
Jamie is a trainer, examiner, and consultant at the elementary level, Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Her career in Montessori education is now in its third decade, and includes 10 years as a teacher in a school classroom and 10 years as a trainer of teachers.
Jamie has presented at conferences throughout the United States, as well as in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. She has coached teachers and advised administrators at schools around the world. Jamie holds an AMI 6-12 diploma from Washington Montessori Institute, and an AMI 3-6 diploma from Montessori Training Center Northeast.
Born and raised on an island in the Pacific Northwest, she has an M.Ed. from Loyola University Maryland, and a B.A. in English and Religion from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She loves to read, cook, and travel with her family in her spare time.