About Maitri Learning
Maitri creates educational materials that are accurate, beautiful, durable, and usable. We named ourselves after the
Buddhist word maitri which means having a compassionate, kind heart. We keep the principle of maitri at the front of all
of our business decisions.
Maitri Learning was founded somewhat accidentally by a Montessori teacher who was trying to buy the perfect
materials for her classroom and couldn't find them anywhere. Now, the materials she created (based specifically on
the precise directions received in her AMI training) are used by Montessori teachers, parents, and teacher trainers
around the world.
Buddhist word maitri which means having a compassionate, kind heart. We keep the principle of maitri at the front of all
of our business decisions.
Maitri Learning was founded somewhat accidentally by a Montessori teacher who was trying to buy the perfect
materials for her classroom and couldn't find them anywhere. Now, the materials she created (based specifically on
the precise directions received in her AMI training) are used by Montessori teachers, parents, and teacher trainers
around the world.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| (c)2013 Maitri Learning, LLC. All rights reserved. Photographs in our materials may change as we work to continually improve our products. All card sizes are approximate. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Here's what AMI Teacher Trainer Judi Orion has to say about our materials:
"How delighted I am with your language materials, both for the toddlers and for the 3-6 year olds. It's so
have grown up with. How wonderful to have both options! I think your images would be great for toddlers
as well - not the labels, just the images. I appreciate your commitment to excellence and standards.
- Thanks, Judi Orion"
"How delighted I am with your language materials, both for the toddlers and for the 3-6 year olds. It's so
have grown up with. How wonderful to have both options! I think your images would be great for toddlers
as well - not the labels, just the images. I appreciate your commitment to excellence and standards.
- Thanks, Judi Orion"
| Each of our card packets comes in a sturdy, recloseable bag that makes it easy to store and rotate materials. |
| We recommend laminating our cards before using them.Click here for research-based laminating recommendations |
| Click here for audio lectures/ instructions on giving language presentations |
| Click here to see how these cards fit into the Big Picture of Language Development Step 1: Spoken Language Step 2: Phonetic Awareness Step 3: Creating Words (writing) Step 4: Reading |
| Our Materials are Research-Based and Aligned with the COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS |
Her studies at Harvard focus on cognitive neuroscience and neuroeducation (a transdisciplinary approach to education
that considers the child’s genetics, environment, capacities, and interests). Through that work, she was asked to be the
teacher’s representative on the Advisory Panel for the Annenberg Foundation's course Neuroscience in the Classroom
(developed in conjunction with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics). That course features two public
Montessori school classrooms (Zanetti Montessori in Springfield, MA) and Ms. Volkman mentoring in those rooms. This
course is available for free at http://www.learner.org/courses/neuroscience.
Ms. Volkman regularly speaks at Montessori conferences and schools across the country including AMS, the Montessori
Foundation, the Maine Montessori Association (keynote), the South Carolina Montessori Alliance (keynote), and the
Wisconsin Montessori Association (keynote), among others. There is good information describing her general approach
to the Children’s House at www.MariaMontessori.com.
Before coming to Montessori, Ms. Volkman worked as an instructional designer, writer, and educational consultant
(developing educational programs for physicians and business professionals). Ms. Volkman is the mother of a college
freshman (by birth) and a 7-year-old (by adoption). You can follow Ms. Volkman on Facebook (search for Maitri Learning)
or Pinterest.
Guarantee
Maitri Learning is dedicated to helping children forge a deep and intelligent connection with their world. We create
educational materials that capture the objects children encounter everyday through breathtaking photography. Teachers
and parents will find our language cards easy to introduce to children and, then, easy for children to use independently.
All materials are accompanied by:
Your satisfaction is guaranteed. You may return any unused item within 90 days and receive an exchange, replacement,or refund. If there was an error on our part, we will ship you a replacement and include return postage for you to return
the item you received in error. For other returns, we are happy to offer an unconditional exchange, replacement, or
refund. Unfortunately, we can not refund original shipping costs; return shipping costs are also the responsibility of the
customer.
Laminate Information & Research
Our lamination method is supported by data from a clinical study of lamination formats. (Click here to read more about
that study.) We print our cards on heavy weight, environmentally sound papers (not card stock which can peel away from
the laminate). We use a 5 mil laminate that extends just to the edge of the cards (not beyond) and we round the corners
(to eliminate the tactile distraction of "pokey" corners and to add to their longevity).
Based on the results of the lamination study, we recommend the following lamination procedures:
When you laminate, we recommend leaving a cm or so of extra laminate around the edges of the cards. This will
improve their durability and longevity.
Click here for printable laminating recommendations.
Privacy Policy
We respect your privacy. We will use your information in order to complete your order, send you our catalog, and email
you product updates/news from time to time. We may also offer your information to other reputable Montessori
companies (like NAMTA, Montessori Services) with whom we have an established relationship and whose offerings
compliment our own and add to the great work of Montessori education. If you do not wish to receive our catalog or email
updates, please send us an email and let us know.
We are a Green Company
Our manufacturing and shipping practices are environmentally-friendly. We print our cards on high-quality, acid-free,
heavyweight papers made from tree-free and/or recycled fibers; we use a laminate with a non-toxic adhesive; we print
our correspondence and catalogs on recycled papers; we use recycled/recyclable shipping materials; and we recycle
everything we can. All products are made in the USA with careful attention to the environmental impact of our work.
Acknowledgements
Maitri Learning has evolved with the help, guidance, and input of many extraordinary individuals. Click here to read more.
that considers the child’s genetics, environment, capacities, and interests). Through that work, she was asked to be the
teacher’s representative on the Advisory Panel for the Annenberg Foundation's course Neuroscience in the Classroom
(developed in conjunction with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics). That course features two public
Montessori school classrooms (Zanetti Montessori in Springfield, MA) and Ms. Volkman mentoring in those rooms. This
course is available for free at http://www.learner.org/courses/neuroscience.
Ms. Volkman regularly speaks at Montessori conferences and schools across the country including AMS, the Montessori
Foundation, the Maine Montessori Association (keynote), the South Carolina Montessori Alliance (keynote), and the
Wisconsin Montessori Association (keynote), among others. There is good information describing her general approach
to the Children’s House at www.MariaMontessori.com.
Before coming to Montessori, Ms. Volkman worked as an instructional designer, writer, and educational consultant
(developing educational programs for physicians and business professionals). Ms. Volkman is the mother of a college
freshman (by birth) and a 7-year-old (by adoption). You can follow Ms. Volkman on Facebook (search for Maitri Learning)
or Pinterest.
Guarantee
Maitri Learning is dedicated to helping children forge a deep and intelligent connection with their world. We create
educational materials that capture the objects children encounter everyday through breathtaking photography. Teachers
and parents will find our language cards easy to introduce to children and, then, easy for children to use independently.
All materials are accompanied by:
 | Step-by-step written lesson plans you can download | |
| Free equation masters you can download | |
| Ecologically-minded packaging that facilitates organization in the classroom or home | |
| The Maitri Guarantee |
Your satisfaction is guaranteed. You may return any unused item within 90 days and receive an exchange, replacement,
the item you received in error. For other returns, we are happy to offer an unconditional exchange, replacement, or
refund. Unfortunately, we can not refund original shipping costs; return shipping costs are also the responsibility of the
customer.
Laminate Information & Research
Our lamination method is supported by data from a clinical study of lamination formats. (Click here to read more about
that study.) We print our cards on heavy weight, environmentally sound papers (not card stock which can peel away from
the laminate). We use a 5 mil laminate that extends just to the edge of the cards (not beyond) and we round the corners
(to eliminate the tactile distraction of "pokey" corners and to add to their longevity).
Based on the results of the lamination study, we recommend the following lamination procedures:
| use 5 mil laminate (pouch or roll) | |
| round the corners on all cards, preferably using a corner rounding machine (available as a hand punch at craft | |
| stores or as a manual stack corner rounder such as the Diamond 1 or the CR-20 which can be found at many Internet stores) | ||
| paste or print material on heavy weight paper (32 lb.) NOT card stock (card stock tends to pull away from the | |
| laminate; it does not adhere well and will have a shorter life than paper cards) |
When you laminate, we recommend leaving a cm or so of extra laminate around the edges of the cards. This will
improve their durability and longevity.
Click here for printable laminating recommendations.
Privacy Policy
We respect your privacy. We will use your information in order to complete your order, send you our catalog, and email
you product updates/news from time to time. We may also offer your information to other reputable Montessori
companies (like NAMTA, Montessori Services) with whom we have an established relationship and whose offerings
compliment our own and add to the great work of Montessori education. If you do not wish to receive our catalog or email
updates, please send us an email and let us know.
We are a Green Company
Our manufacturing and shipping practices are environmentally-friendly. We print our cards on high-quality, acid-free,
heavyweight papers made from tree-free and/or recycled fibers; we use a laminate with a non-toxic adhesive; we print
our correspondence and catalogs on recycled papers; we use recycled/recyclable shipping materials; and we recycle
everything we can. All products are made in the USA with careful attention to the environmental impact of our work.
Acknowledgements
Maitri Learning has evolved with the help, guidance, and input of many extraordinary individuals. Click here to read more.
About Our Founder
Julia Volkman, Maitri Learning’s Founder and President, has been
teaching children and mentoring teachers in private and public schools
since 1997. Currently, she is the Teaching Assistant for Harvard
University’s Mind, Brain, Health, and Education course (Extension
School), nearing completion of her master’s degree in psychology at
Harvard University (Extension School), a Montessori Mentor consulting
with public and private schools across the nation, a columnist for the
Public School Montessorian, and an intern supervisor for the Northeast
Montessori Institute (AMS). Ms. Volkman earned her AMI 3 to 6+
diploma from the Montreal Montessori Training Centre, a bilingual
program.
Julia Volkman, Maitri Learning’s Founder and President, has been
teaching children and mentoring teachers in private and public schools
since 1997. Currently, she is the Teaching Assistant for Harvard
University’s Mind, Brain, Health, and Education course (Extension
School), nearing completion of her master’s degree in psychology at
Harvard University (Extension School), a Montessori Mentor consulting
with public and private schools across the nation, a columnist for the
Public School Montessorian, and an intern supervisor for the Northeast
Montessori Institute (AMS). Ms. Volkman earned her AMI 3 to 6+
diploma from the Montreal Montessori Training Centre, a bilingual
program.
| Click below for: a printable catalog list of products by item # free lesson plans |