2020 Annual Report

Why It All Started: Accessible Montessori

With an assortment of educational tools and pedagogies at their disposal, how do educators and parents make the best choice for children?

(Photo by CDC on Unsplash)

The Montessori method stands out from other education approaches in that it provides a prepared environment for children based on their developmental needs, allowing children to learn at their own pace, both in terms of pursuing knowledge and developing empathy and interpersonal skills.

This approach echoes the 2019 objectives set forth in the Curriculum Guidelines of the 12-year compulsory education system: self-motivation, interaction, and common good.

The Montessori mixed-age classrooms, which have been implemented for over 100 years, may be just the solution for Taiwan’s current education crisis.

While appreciating Montessori’s ability to ignite each person’s innate qualities, Y2 co-founders Andy and Cynthia are inspired to start Y2 after witnessing the transformation of their own children in Montessori schools.

They first established the teacher scholarship program to provide financial support for teachers to undergo Montessori training abroad and to apply what they have learned in Taiwan’s educational environment.

However, we strongly believe that quality education should be accessible to more people, and out of this desire, the program Montessori Education in Public Schools began in 2018.

The aim is to promote Accessible Montessori through public schools, optimizing school resources to provide Montessori education to more children, and assist them in their learning and development.

During the three years of this program, Y2 has explored various methods such as supporting public schools to transition to the Montessori method, researching public policies, and providing assistance in implementation.

We have learned that, only with the coordinated efforts of the public sector, schools, and families working toward a common goal, can we provide the ideal education environment in which students can learn with peace of mind. Each of the three elements is indispensable, as each has its own share of obstacles to confront and overcome.

The first group of Montessori experimental schools will be selected in 2021 for Y2’s Public School Transition Project. This is but the first of many steps.

We are well aware that even greater challenge lies ahead—the next phase of entering the classroom. As we move forward, we grapple with issues that have confronted us since the very beginning.

Should schools gradually adopt Montessori concepts, or transition into a Montessori environment all at once? How to develop a Montessori program that harmoniously blends into public schools in Taiwan, while preserving the unique culture of each place? How do we define and represent the essence of Montessori?

These are a few of the many unpredictable unknowns we face, as we embark on this brave new adventure. They will continue to be challenges for us to always ponder and explore.

Going back to Y2’s mission, the goal of making Montessori more accessible still remains the focus of our work. In our effort to provide diverse education choice for Taiwan’s children and parents, we do hope to hear from you and to take your ideas into consideration.

Do you wish there are public Montessori elementary and middle schools?
Are you a parent or teacher worried about children’s education or simply a concerned citizen? 

Please share with us any suggestions, opinions, or thoughts!
Encouragements are always welcome!

Reach us via email: tmec@y2edu.org
or message us at our Facebook: search @y2edu

Join us and together, we can Be the CHANGE for Future Education!

This article is an excerpt from Y2 2020 Annual Report.

Have you heard the Y2 Podcast?

Interview with Y2 podcast “Chat 2 Heal” hosts—Cynthia and Diane

Have you heard the latest Y2 Podcast? Due to the disruption of scheduled programs and inability to host in-person events during the pandemic, Y2 decided to turn the crisis into an opportunity and launched the podcast Chat2Heal in 2020.

The podcast introduces a series of topics dear to the hearts of parents and teachers and discusses them in depth. What is the podcast about? Chat 2 Heal is hosted by two mothers, Cynthia Hang, co-founder and executive director of Y2, and Diane Teng, Y2’s COO.

Together, they decided to share their personal experiences, Montessori concepts and practices, and other related issues in a podcast that speaks directly to the audience, creates a space for healing, and occasionally wanders down memory lane before motherhood.

No lecturing, just empathy and support


With over 10 years of expertise in family relationships, Diane cheerfully explains, “Our show’s premise is: we’re not here to lecture anyone.”

As a mother, she commiserates with other parents. “The process of children’s education can be very frustrating. It’s impossible to see results right away, and it’s natural for parents to doubt themselves.

We simply want to share this process with everyone. We are all doing our best, and there is no one ‘right’ way to parent.” Through candid chats about these issues, podcast listeners will discover that they aren’t alone and that many others are going through the same challenges.

In fact, the podcast creates an environment of “empathy and support.”

Y2 podcast “Chat 2 Heal” host Cynthia

Cynthia often communicates with educators in her capacity as the executive director of Y2; however, she hopes to reach parents and anyone in need with this podcast, which features a more sensible and practical content.

Holding an AMI Montessori 0-3 Diploma, Cynthia naturally incorporates Montessori theories and practical applications in the easy conversation with her co-host.

The podcast is full of interesting content for adults, such as fatherhood beliefs and maternal gatekeeping. Moms aren’t the only ones that can benefit from learning how to apply Montessori methods in everyday life, even singles, DINK (double income, no kids) couples, and dads have found this podcast useful!

Many listeners are shocked to learn that the Montessori method doesn’t apply only to education settings, but can be utilized in all kinds of interpersonal relationships, such as parent-child relations and marriages.

Cynthia believes that “We don’t need to wait until we’re successful and famous to start changing the world. Taking a small step for yourself or your family is already a big step for humanity. We hope that people can be less harsh and more kind to themselves.” This is the main message of the Y2 podcast.

Strive to be a better human being, not a “perfect” parent


In recording Chat2Heal, Diane and Cynthia both realized that there is no such thing as a perfect mother; even so, the parenting process made them strive to become better people.

Full-time mothers who feel devalued may find strength in growing to become better human beings. Cynthia even joked that recording the podcast is very therapeutic for herself and that she feels somewhat incomplete whenever recording takes a long break.

Y2 podcast “Chat 2 Heal” host Diane

Diane hopes to become a graceful mommy. On her Montessori journey of learning, she realized that the most important lesson is not about Montessori’s methods or concepts, but in how to view children.

She believes that what is in her heart can be observed in her actions, just as the ancient Chinese classic Great Learning states: “Inner sincerity will surely be expressed outward.” Diane adds, “Because I trust my child, I’ve learned to take things slow and live life with grace.”

“What we’re sharing is not the solution to all of life’s problems. What we offer is empathy, which empowers people to deal with issues head on. In parenting, we seek to overcome, not be overwhelmed. We need to learn to give ourselves a break, not give up on ourselves,” explains Cynthia.

Many of us only start to learn how to accept and understand ourselves and others after becoming parents. Through the podcast Chat 2 Heal, Y2 seeks to empathize with, give comfort to, and support individuals in this community.

By learning to apply Montessori principles to everyday life, we can all take steps to create a better version of ourselves.

Written by Yu-Hsiu Su, Photo credit Fu-Sheng Li
This article is an excerpt from Y2 2020 Annual Report.

The path into the unknown: Montessori teacher training

interview with Fangyun Hsu, Chief Development Officer of Y2 Foundation for Future Education

What in the world would drive Fangyun Hsu, Chief Development Officer of Y2 Foundation for Future Education, to apply for leave without pay and travel to Italy on her own dime to undergo Montessori teacher training? Having spent more than 10 years working in the arts, Fangyun recalled how she felt three years ago upon deciding to join Y2: “I asked myself, what kind of job would I be willingly do without pay? My instinctive answer was ‘education.’” Without the paradigm shift through education, children are disconnected with real life learning, let alone the appreciation for the arts and culture.

01.png

Fangyun jokes that, although she works in education, she only started learning about education fairly recently. “I didn’t even know about Dr. Montessori, or that she had run an elementary and middle school.” To further understand what it means to be a “learner”, Fangyun applied for leave without pay in August 2019 and boldly set out for Bergamo, Italy to study at the International Centre for Montessori Studies Foundation (CISM - AMI Fondazione Centro Internazionale Studi Montessoriani). Under the immersive tutelage of Baiba Krumins Grazzini herself, Fangyun undertook the training for the AMI 6-12 Diploma. She recalls that “I followed Baiba’s training and immersed myself in the Montessori educational environment. In contrast to how I learned before, which was to only retain knowledge, learning by “doing” is a completely different experience. The lessons she taught by example and through her lectures had an extra weight and depth.”

Face your fears, reset, then boldly set out and explore

Fangyun explains that, even with her determination, she was extremely ill at ease in the beginning. The fear of being out of her comfort zone, her anxiety and unease, mixed with her demands of being a perfectionist all added to her stress. What’s more, the uncertainty of a sudden pandemic made her life as a teacher-in-training all the more difficult.

At this point, Fangyun sought to comfort herself with a number of mantras: “Growth comes from thrusting yourself into the unknown.” “Treat life like an experiment.” “Refusing to change is the greatest threat.” “Even with fear, you can still go on.” At first, she was only trying to survive; however, after a while, these mantras opened the door to more than surviving. She learned to accept, to reset, to surrender, to believe. Little by little, she changed and began to thrive.

“When children are confronting with challenges, does it feel as sudden and overwhelming as facing the pandemic?” Fangyun muses, firm in her belief that every individual possesses the courage and inherent ability to overcome unfamiliar situations.

“We cannot be fully prepared for everything life throws at us. All we can do is to try our best!” This faith has stood her in good stead as she mastered nine subjects, hundreds of teaching materials, and thousands of presentations!

Ignite the passion within each person

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic played havoc with Fangyun’s teacher training by disrupting the Montessori method’s focus on the sense of place and learning by doing. Of the 14 international students, 10 fled Italy before it went into lockdown. High-risk, senior trainers began teaching classes on Zoom. She and her remaining classmates faced a chaotic, unpredictable life, but they became each other’s anchor in the three hours of online classes each afternoon.

This experience not only taught Fangyun to cherish her freedom, it also gave her immense respect for her Montessori trainer for her willingness to try new things.

“This is what Montessori calls ‘Adaptability’. I can see how thoroughly my trainer embodies this quality, especially when dealing with so much uncertainty.”

Fangyun explains that “Undergoing teacher training is the best decision of my life. I feel as if I have been through a delicate yet seismic shift.” She describes that, prior to teacher training, it’s like she had gone through life wearing thick, coke-bottle glasses. Now that she has taken them off, she can see the world clearly with her own eyes and discover how exciting and fun learning can be. Unlike the traditional disjointed education system, Montessori’s Cosmic Education provides students with an integrated learning experience through the Five Great Lessons: Coming of the Universe and the Earth, Coming of Life, Coming of Human Beings, Communication in Signs, and The Story of Numbers.

What unfolds before the children’s eyes is the whole picture of knowledge. These lessons open the door to understanding the universe, ignite children’s curiosity, and guide them to further explore and learn of their own volition. Fangyun explains, “When we were in school, we would go from one class to another, learning this puzzle piece of information or that piece, but never taking in the whole of the puzzle. We were not active learners, and the bits of information that we did learn remained disjointed from our life and environment.” She muses that perhaps this is why students lose their sense of curiosity or motivation for learning.

“Even though I don’t work on the front lines of education, my passion can still be reignited. If an educator can reignite their passion for learning, for life, and for all beings in the cosmos, imagine how that passion can infect those around her and fire up children’s motivation for learning!”

Fangyun knows that there is still a long way to go to promote the Montessori method in Taiwan, but she is undaunted and full of confidence!

Written by Yu-Hsiu Su
Images provided by Fangyun Hsu, Fu-Sheng Li
This article is an excerpt from Y2 2020 Annual Report.