Free to Be Learning
Free to Be Learning
"True education is bringing out what is within, rather than a pouring in."
What is Free to Be Learning?
The answer begins with the question – what is education really supposed to be?
True education is bringing out what is within, rather than a pouring in.
Let's focus education on helping our children and ourselves become all we can be, radiating the love, joy and happiness of being alive.
I welcome you to our courses where we will explore the common threads between educators, starting with Maria Montessori and psychologists, philosophers and thinkers from ancient times through today and into the future of what quantum education might look like. You can find educational ideas from inspiring individuals along with practical applications for you and your children. Our essential goal is for children of all ages to be happy and you as parent and teachers to rejoice in your own personal development!
Books
Mary Ellen Maunz's Montessori books
Free to Be, Maria Montessori's Essential Message and The Golden Thread are available now in paperback.
Browse the books
What We Can Offer You
Courses
Via online or in person. 90-minute courses on various insightful & inspiring education and learning topics. Request a courses catalog in the contact form below.
Observation Services
Via online or in person. A new set of eyes on home or classroom layout, materials available to children, as well as substance and style of communications with children can propel you forward.
Consultations
Via online or in person. Consultation with you and/or your staff to answer ongoing questions on your school, your classroom, your teaching, or your personal growth.
Refresher Courses
Via online or in person. Available on any aspect of Montessori early childhood and lower elementary.
Professional Development
Via online or in person. Required everywhere in the US and abroad, you can have the professional development that you want and need for your school.
Weekend Seminar Presentations
Via online or in person. Your choice of topics that you can host for your staff, parents or the entire community. Many schools choose Friday evening and two sessions on Saturday.
Full MACTE Accredited Training
Via online and in person. Programs offering teacher preparation for Infant-Toddler, Early Childhood and Elementary levels. Online training for all interested parties followed by options to attend summer residency and a full school year internship to gain full certification through Institute for Montessori Training.
From my personal gallery of joyful pictures of children deeply engaged in their work, taken around the world where I have taught and spoken.
We can bring a new world of joyful learning when we put the children first. I know we can do this, because I have done it.
Meet Mary Ellen
Hi! I'm Mary Ellen Maunz
Lover of all aspects of the dynamic, spontaneous development of every child, I have dedicated my life to what I now term Free to Be Learning. Through our love and understanding, we can free children of all ages to be all they can be.
We can bring a new world of joyful learning when we put the children first. I know we can do this, because I have done it.
I am blessed to be the mother of three grown children, all of them creative, amazing adults. With a BA in Child Development and a M.Ed. in Integrative Learning, and Montessori certification for 3-6 and 6-12, I've been an early childhood and elementary teacher and administrator for 50+ years and a teacher educator since 1980. I have had opportunities to speak, teach and observe classrooms on six continents.
My specialties are sharing the light of great educators, the education of the heart, all things Montessori, supporting early reading abilities, the nurturing of the soul's inner potential and you!
The Awe of Kleenex
This little cutie woke me up one bright Sunday morning, joyfully pulling Kleenexes out of the box, one by one. She waved each Kleenex in front of the open window, relishing the light, the colors and the movement she saw.
My first reaction was to tell her to stop, but then I realized that she was deep into concentration and joy, so I let her keep on, and grabbed my phone to capture the moment.
Get in Touch
Please reach out with any questions or requests for more information. We are working to provide online access to sign up and purchase courses and other offerings soon.
Email us directly: maryellen@freetobelearning.com
Free to Be Learning Pioneers
A representation of educators, psychologists, philosophers and thinkers that Mary Ellen has discovered are some of the key 'free to be learning' pioneers from ancient times evolving through modern times.