My

Montessori
Vision
for
2024
Introduction
Welcome to Your Montessori 2024 Vision creation tool.
Inspired by the truly impactful talk on "The Spiritual Preparation
of the Teacher" by Eder Cuevas from Mexico at the end of 2021,
I decided to create this Visioning Workbook to help you think
about the next year and consider making a plan for your own
spiritual preparation.
The Workbook turned out to be highly successful; thousands of
people download it every year. We have updated the visuals and
are sharing it again so that you can use it to guide you through
thinking about your goals, activities, areas of growth, of service to
others and wishes and hopes for 2024.
We, as Montessorians, carry a big responsibility. Who we are and
how we show up for work every day impact the lives of children,
parents, our colleagues, and our whole communities.
"Just as a pregnant woman nurtures the child indirectly by preparing
her environment in a healthy way, so teachers nurture the child by
preparing the aid to life environment in their classrooms," says Eder
Cuevas in his talk. But it is not just the materials we need to pay
attention to, right? We, Montessori guides, are part of the
environment. We must never forget that. That is why it is of utmost
importance that we dedicate time and effort to our own spiritual
growth and preparation.
“…this is a question of a deeper calm, an empty, or better,
unencumbered state that is a source of inner clarity. This calm
consists of spiritual humility and intellectual purity necessary for
understanding a child, and which, as a consequence, must be found
in a teacher."
I hence invite you to step into your year 2024 by looking inside and
spending time with yourself. Use this visioning tool as a general
guide for this journey.
You will need an hour of quiet thinking time. Print this book and
prepare a pen to write with. Make a nice cup of tea and light a
candle.
The opening mind map is to give you a sense of orientation in the
work you are about to do.
Turn to question one and start with gratitude. Tap into the power
of noticing the good things in your life. Express gratitude to
yourself, write it down, and prepare to thank people you need to
thank.
Go through the questions I propose for you to think about:
collaboration, service to others, interdependence, rituals,
self-care, hope, nature, great work, observation, authenticity,
creativity, and growth. These are spiritual manifestations in us.
They are areas to consider and think about. Dr. Montessori wrote
that the best teacher preparation is the study of oneself. Let's
make it a principle to follow and let's make it the first step we take
as we enter the new year, the year of renewal.
I hope that this visioning tool will help you do that.
With feelings of great love and gratitude
for every single one of you and with
wishes for the best in 2024,
Yours,
Mirka from Montessori Institute
Gratefulness
Gratitude is the expression of thankfulness for the good
things in our lives. Too often we forget to practice gratitude.
And that is why it is importand to ask ourselves what are we
thankful for to others and to ourselves.

Also, saying “Thank you” makes us and others happy.

Who do you want to thank?

What am I grateful for to myself?

1. “I believe that life would be far easier and more serene were all
men united by the sense of profound gratitude that is none
2.
other than a way of participating in the divine power of
3. creation and in universal goodness. We should be grateful to
providence for enhancing the evolution of interdependent
To someone else relationships, making it so that men depend on the help of
To ______________________ for __________________________________ other men for all the necessities of life, thus contributing to
common good.”
To ______________________ for __________________________________

To ______________________ for __________________________________ Maria Montessori

Who do I definitely have to thank in 2024?

For ________________________________ Person 1 ____________________ for _______________________________________

Myself For ________________________________ Person 2 ____________________ for _______________________________________

For ________________________________ Person 3 ____________________ for _______________________________________

Collaboration
Collaboration is far more important than competition. Who
do you want to work with next year to create good in this
world?
What will be your most important collaborations?
What collaborations do I want to focus on in 2024?
"Our method demands of the educator is that he should
examine himself, and purge himself of his sins of tyranny, he
must tear down that ancient complex of pride and anger that
unconsciously encrusts his heart; strip himself of pride and
anger and become humble; this first of all; then re-clothe
himself in charity.

1. These are the spiritual qualities he has to acquire. This is the

central point of balance without which it is impossible to
proceed. This is his “training”, its starting point and its goal.”
2.

Maria Montessori

3.

NOTES

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Service to Others
When we help someone, we grow spiritually. When we serve
others, we feel happy. We have higher self-esteem and
self-confidence, we feel connected. It actually decreases our
level of stress.

How will you be of service to your community next

year?

What collaborations do I want to focus on in 2024?

“The purpose of life is to obey the hidden command which
1.
ensures harmony among all and creates an even better world.
We are not created only to enjoy the world, we are created in
2.
order to evolve the cosmos.”

3.
Maria Montessori

NOTES

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Independence within interdependence
We are all part of many larger systems. All of our lives we
strive for independence, yet we are all connected. And only
when we are fully ourselves, we can create a true
connection.

Which systems are you a part of? With whom do you

want to be truly connected while being your true self
next year?

what most important systems (family, school, team, friends,

etc.) I acknowledge in my life?
Bringing this into the conscious helps me be aware and be
present for these people.

1.

2.

3. "Today, however, those things which occupy us in the field of

education are the interests of humanity at large and of
4. civilization, and before such great forces we can recognize
only one country-the entire world."

5.
Maria Montessori
Rituals
Our daily rituals are important. In fact, the quality of your life
is directly connected to the quality of your rituals. They help
you be connected to others, they are a tool for emotional
control.

Make a list of rituals that make your life more

meaningful and make a commitment to regular
practice.

What rituals help me live a meaningful life?

1.

2.
"Order is one of the great needs of life which, when it is
satisfied, produces a real happiness."
3.
Maria Montessori

NOTES

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Self-Care
Meditation is a form of self-care. It is in the stillness of
silence we discover who we really are.

How will you meditate next year and what other

self-care practice do you commit to?

What practices of self-care do I commit to exercising next year?

1.

2.
“The vision of the teacher should be at once precise like that of
3.
the scientist, and spiritual like that of the saint.

How will I meditate? The preparation for science and the preparation for sanctity
1. should form a new soul, for the attitude of the teacher should
be at once positive, scientific and spiritual.”
2.

3. Maria Montessori

NOTES

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Growing
Montessori is a lifelong journey of growth and development.

Take some time to consider what is "The One Thing"

you definitely want to learn in 2024. And also,
remember to consider what are the things that you
want to "unlearn".

What is the one thing I definitely want to learn in 2024?

"Growth comes from activity, not from intellectual

understanding."
Maria Montessori
What are three other areas of growth that I will focus on next
year? NOTES
1. __________________________________________________________________
2.
__________________________________________________________________
3.

__________________________________________________________________
What are three things I want to unlearn next year?
__________________________________________________________________
1.

2. __________________________________________________________________
3.
__________________________________________________________________
Creativity
Creativity "happens" when something new is formed. Being
creative is a defining characteristic of human beings.

Creativity and spiritual growth are two sides of one

coin. How will you tap into "what could be" in 2024?

How could I be creative in 2024?

1.

2.

“Imagination does not become great until human beings, given

3.
the courage and the strength, use it to create.”

Maria Montessori

NOTES

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Authenticity
Transformation is the journey you are on. What are
your "braving" areas?

What are the three things i will be brave about to maintain

my authenticity next year?

1.

2.

3. "Every great cause is born from repeated failures and from

imperfect achievements."

Maria Montessori

NOTES

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Observation
Observing without judgement is one of the pillars of
Montessori philosophy. We observe to better understand
and to be able to follow...

Make your observation plan for 2024.

Where will i go for observation in 2024?

"She must not cease to observe them, because the birth of

concentration in a child is as delicate a phenomenon as the
When will I do it? Identify concrete months, it will help you make
bursting of a bud into bloom.
the time.

What practices will I do to make sure I also observe myself?
But she will not be watching with the aim of making her
presence felt. She observes in order to recognise the child who
has attained the power to concentrate and to admire the
glorious rebirth of his spirit."
Maria Montessori

NOTES

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Great Work
Work is natural to human beings. When our work is
meaningful, we flourish. What are your three most
meaningful goals next year?

What are my 3 goals in 2024?

1.

2.

3. "If one thinks about it, one finds that there is nearly always
some mysterious force which helps wherever there is great
work to be accomplished."
Maria Montessori

NOTES

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Hope
What good news are you hoping for in 2024?
Sometimes our hopes are fulfilled if we make sure to
voice them.

What do I hope for in 2024?

1.

2.

"What we need is a world full of miracles, like the miracle of

3. seeing the young child seeking work and independence and

manifesting a wealth of enthusiasm and love."

Maria Montessori

NOTES

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Nature
Nature enhances our wellbeing. Something magical
happens when we are in nature and truly connect with it.

Where in nature do you want to be in 2024? What will

be your "regular nature spot visit"? And how will you
help preserve our planet Earth?

What are the three nature spots i want to visit in 2024?

"There is no description, no image in any book that is capable

of replacing the sight of real trees, and all the life to be found
around them, in a real forest."
Maria Montessori
NOTES
Where in nature I want to go regularly?
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How will i help to preserve nature?

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Closing
Before we part, there is one more thing we wanted to
mention.

Vision boards work.

They take the thoughts and dreams in your head and turn
them into something real and tangible.

If you believe in the law of attraction, many great things may

happen for you in the next year that you planned for here.

May many wonderful miracles happen for you in 2024.

Mirka Vlckova
Thanks
Dear all,

You have reached the last page of this Visioning Workbook. I would love to hear your feedback. How did it go?
Please send me tips and ideas on how I can develop this tool for next year. My email is mirka@amiprague.cz.
I will personally respond to you. Thank you...
“What are your 2024 plans, Mirka..?”
Are you wondering?
I have what they call a "Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal" for 2024: to build a community of Montessori Entrepreneurs - an
international membership program for all Montessorians who want to bring Montessori to their communities!
The future of education, and therefore also the future of successful educational entrepreneurship (that is the industry we
are all in!), lies in building professional learning communities!
I want to give us all a competitive advantage in the world of education.
I want to accelerate the growth of all our Montessori projects!
In 2024, I will work on bringing us all to achieve success together.
If you want to start and grow your Montessori work by learning from others and sharing what
you have learned, join us.
The Montessori Entrepreneurs community is gaining momentum!
We are starting to work together on January 24, 2024.

With love and care.

Yours, Mirka
PS: More on how you can become a member go here. Last day to join is January 23.
https://amiprague.cz/work-with-mirka/montessori-entrepreneurs-community-membership-program/
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