Home Environment and Order in the First Three Years – Montessori Training Center Northeast

The Prepared Environment that Supports Adolescent Development

More Information

September 23, 2026

6:30 PM EDT

Community Education

Short Description

The preparation of the physical and psychological environment is key to a healthy development of an individual. The home environment must be prepared with care and knowledge for a newborn to develop optimally his/her human potential. The first three years of a child’s life is critical for the acquisition of language; the transition from reflexive to intentional and coordinated movements; and for the development of independence. It is often said that external order helps the child develop internal order. When a child knows where things are, when there is consistency and order, the natural tendency of any child is to do things by themselves. When the child gains knowledge and information from experiencing how to do things independently, they develop a strong sense of self, they trust the environment, and also they themselves know what they can do.

Community Education

Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will:

Know the importance of a prepared home environment
Fours areas to consider in preparing the home environment
What Dr. Montessori mean by Order in the First Three Years of Life

About Our Speaker

Nancy S. Kodera, M.Ed.

Nancy is an experienced global Montessori teacher trainer. She has given Orientation Courses through the Montessori Training Center Northeast (MTCNE) in Connecticut, the Washington Montessori Institute (WMI) in Washington, DC, and the Montessori Circle Philippines in Manila. She has also trained students in several countries in Asia: Fukuoka, Japan; Hanoi, Vietnam; Manila, Philippines; and Bangalore India. Twice Nancy presented at the Montessori Schools of Massachusetts (MSM) event about independence in toileting, and why practical life activities are very important for cognitive development of children under three.
While Nancy works globally, her journey as a Montessori educator began in Sudbury, Massachusetts where she started as a parent volunteer, worked as an assistant teacher, then a lead teacher after she took her 0-3 (also known as Assistant to Infancy) diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego. She took her Master of Education from Loyola University in Maryland. She has more than 25 years of experience working with children and families in Massachusetts. Nancy’s commitment to Montessori education and her passion for sharing her experiences and training have propelled her to embark on a journey as a global Montessori teacher trainer and a parent educator.