Free Panel Discussion

The years between 6 and 12 are a fascinating time of growth, imagination, independence, reasoning and discovery. But how well do we truly understand the child in this stage?

Join us for a FREE interactive panel discussion as we step inside the world of the 6 to 12 year old child and explore their needs, questions, development, and the environment that allows them to thrive.

Date: Wednesday, 19th August 2026
Time: 5:00 to 6:00 PM IST | 1:30 to 2:30 PM CEST | 8:30 to 9:30 AM BRT

Registration: Free
Register here: https://forms.gle/LcQVB7jczGFM1KTi7

Meet the panel of experts:

Kym van Straaten, Cape Town, South Africa: 
Kym van Straaten is a respected Montessori educator, having extensive experience as a Montessori teacher, principal, and teacher trainer. She has also worked on the development of the Montessori curriculum and design. She ran her own school, Randburg Montessori, in Johannesburg for children aged 18 months to 13 years for 18 years. She moved with her family to Hout Bay. She shares her life with her incredibly supportive husband Craig, daughter Amy, and son Travis.

Kym holds a Diploma in Human resources, B-Ed in Early Years Education, MACTE 3 – 6 Montessori Diploma, and AMI 6 – 12 Diploma.

Kym has lectured both nationally and internationally and regularly delivers presentations at parent evenings, workshops and the SAMA conferences as well as other ECD conferences in South Africa. She has served the greater Montessori community by leading the South African Montessori Association (SAMA) as President in 2016 and 2017 and serving on the Executive Committee for over 6 years.

Nishitha Kotian, Bangalore, India:
An engineer by education and a mother of two, Nishitha is an explorer of alternative education and a homeschooling parent. Her journey has led her to discover Montessori, nature-based learning, and the power of real-life experiences beyond the classroom.

Sara Caldeira, Sao Paulo, Branzil:
Sara was born in Porto, Portugal, in 1991 and moved to Brazil in 2014. Curious by nature and always drawn to different fields of knowledge, she first built her professional path through music, working as a pianist and collaborative pianist until 2019.

Motherhood brought new questions and interests, and together with her passion for music education, it eventually led her to Montessori. She began her Montessori journey with an Assistant Course taught by Gabriel Salomão and, from there, continued exploring and deepening her practice through several training programs, including the 3–6 Guide Course at CEMSP, the 6–12 Assistant Course, the 6–9 Guide Course at CEM with MACTE certification, and SchoolScape’s Elementary Audit and Elementary Full Courses.

Since 2021, Sara has been part of Escola Circular, where she works as a guide and currently also as a coordinator. Alongside her work with children and educators, she has been researching Montessori materials and closely studying their presentations, language, and possible adaptations to Portuguese. This work has involved ongoing dialogue and exchange with Montessori specialists as well as professionals from specific subject areas, with the aim of preserving the essence and precision of the materials while making them meaningful and accessible within a Portuguese-speaking context.

She enjoys learning alongside children and educators, exchanging experiences, and taking part in different educational initiatives and events. Her hope is to help make Montessori education more accessible, meaningful, and alive for an ever-growing number of children, families, and educators.

Moderator: Amukta Mahapatra, Bangalore, India:
Amukta Mahapatra, Founder-Director of SchoolScape, Centre for Educators, has been a leading voice in Indian school education for decades, advocating consistently for children’s right to learn with freedom and spontaneity. Beginning her career at The School K.F.I. in Chennai and later serving as the first principal of Abacus Montessori School, she helped shape contemporary Montessori practice from preschool to high school. Her work with UNICEF and the Tamil Nadu Education Department led to large-scale teacher-education initiatives that ultimately influenced statewide primary school reform. A catalyst for the democratic education movement in India, she has organised national and international conferences, presented widely, and contributed to publications on innovative educational practice. She currently serves on national and state ECCE task forces and is a life member of AMI and the Crafts Council of India.

Whether you are a parent, teacher, Montessori educator or simply curious about the elementary child, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Come with your questions. Leave with a deeper understanding of the child.