Ashley Causey-Golden

I want to share this podcast I did with Janet Lansbury. I had such a great time!

Nurturing a Deeper Connection to Nature and Heritage (with Ashley Causey-Golden) - Janet Lansbury Educator Ashley Causey-Golden was drawn to Montessori principles but felt something missing that she longed to provide: cultural relevancy. She wondered, “What would it look like to create a Montessori space that uplifted, affirmed, celebrated Black children?” Fulfilling this desire has been a j...

Ma’at’s ideals are principles that were established thousands of years ago and I used them to guide me as my mirror of reflection regardless of what is trendy or popular.

Ma’at’s 4th ideal, I protect others' property can be a whole lesson to talk about and revisit throughout the different planes of development.

You can start having these conversations once you notice your child or students have entered the “mine” stage. Once the child has entered the world of ownership, it truly takes decades to fully understand the multiple layers, contexts, and history around ownership and property. So, starting with the child, through the lens of grace and courtesy by having discussions, sharing personal stories, and reading stories about protecting, caring for, and owning is a beautiful way to build upon the conversations of respect, ownership, and property as the child grows and develops.

Full blog post is available on www.afrocentricmontessori.com (link in bio)

I typically spend my learning in solitude nestled between late nights and early mornings but I am finding the importance of being open and vulnerable in community. I not only learn more about myself in these moments but I am actually able to hear myself and sometimes that is more valuable to me because it helps me realize the parts of me that need more growth and care.

Rooted’s first book will be Raising Antiracist Children.

We will be starting with part two - healthy bodies as our first part!

The intention is to walk with this book. This is not a cognitive exercise where it is about reading the "required" pages before our next meeting time. That being said the approach will be reading one section within a part--which means at times you may be reading only 3 to 5 pages. You will get to select the bold font headings that resonates the most with you and let that be your section to read.

For example, a few sections within Healthy Bodies are the following: Featurism and Colorism, Children have a Natural Desire to Learn, Why Do We Look Different?, Being Body-Positive--for Yourself and for Your Kids

You can choose one of these sections to read and share thoughts, reflections, ideas of practice, etc during our community discussions. It is okay if 3 or 4 people in the group choose the same section to read. The intention is for us to not only be engaged but to recognize where we are in our process and journey. This book is meant to be revisited again and again 📖

Interested? Click the link in my bio to join the Rooted community.

I spent the weekend in prayer and song because my Black body needed it after the news about the Buffalo shooting.

Please use this song, My Little Light from to sustain yourself in a world that is constantly trying to dim your light.

I speak joy, strength, courage, freedom, and ease into yours and the children who sing these words.

Download available for free on website (link in bio).

I am still sitting with Ma’at’s third ideal, I am peaceful. So much to talk about with this one alone.

Leaning into the wisdom of Rev. Dr. Donna Cox (quote below), introducing or practicing singing as a healing modality in your home can provide your child or student with a tool that they will be able to be used again and again.

“When spoken words are impossible or inadequate vessels, singing is a superpower, resonating through the body, shifting the atmosphere, and communicating beyond the words.” Rev. Dr. Donna Cox.

I created a child-friendly printable songbook for the African-American Spiritual, “Peace Like a River”.

There are 3 questions at the end to ask children after singing. This practice can help children remember what and who brings them peace, joy, and love.

You can download for free via my website link in bio.

For those who mother, it is a daily practice. Mothering is an action that extends beyond title or bloodline, it is the conscious choice that is made at each rising and setting of the sun.

I share the words of Lucille Clifton’s poem, “won’t you celebrate with me” because for many of us, on our journey of self-awareness, we are always growing and that should be celebrated!

Creating sacred spaces.

Let me tell you, I have been LOVING the and is it pushing me to think about how I am creating and holding space for Black children. I am in a space of re-remembering and creating learning moment for Black children using Montessori that centers Black humanity.

Although I use the framework of Maria Montessori as my educational philosophy, I am leaning, learning and being guided by Black writers, thinkers, dreamers, and creators past and present.

It is my intention and purpose that my words and works are sustaining to you on your journey.

Book: Juneteenth from

This third ideal means so much to me because the word, peaceful, has many layers to unfurl, explore, and find divinity within. This ideal is at the center of my work as an educator, wife, and mother because how the term “peaceful” is often talked about is contrary to what I believe peaceful to be.

Peaceful is more than avoiding conflict or not being aggressive. Peaceful is not a passive act or state of being. Peaceful is active…it is the constant act of recalibrating your internal (spirit/intuition) along with the external (flesh/environment).

I don’t use the word, against, because we are whole beings—light and dark. Peacefulness comes when we can bring into balance our entirety—the parts of us that bring and give life along with the parts of us that evoke harm, shame, and fear. We all flow in and out of these states of being and the work…the peaceful work…is being able to be still within those moments.

To read my full piece, visit my blog at www.afrocentricmontessori.com (link in bio)

Ma’at ideal #2: I benefit with Gratitude

I use the adinkra symbol, Sesa Wo Suban to talk about benefiting with gratitude because gratitude is a perspective shifter and it can transform the mind, body, and spirit if we allow it. It is not about seeing the bright side of every life situation.

Gratitude is making the active choice to see what is, our reality, and then choosing to find something that allows the whole self (body, mind & spirit) to give thanks, even if it is the size of a mustard seed.

I am slowly building out the richness that can come from each of Ma’at’s principles. I will be sharing and working through the second one tomorrow and throughout the week. I am enjoying the slowness of creating the holistic experience of learning that I am providing my son and other children and families.

Memorizing or discussing quotes is a valuable process to the critical thinking child. I believe that children already are critical thinkers. bell hooks in her book, Teaching Critical Thinking: Practical Wisdom, says this about children,

“Children are organically predisposed to be critical thinkers. Across the boundaries of race, class, gender, and circumstance, children come into the world of wonder and language consumed with a desire for knowledge. Sometimes they are so eager for knowledge that they become relentless interrogators demanding to know the who, what, when, where, and why of life. Searching for answers, they learn almost instinctively how to think.”

Read the rest on my blog (link in bio).

In my last post, I honor virtue, I shared that working on virtue is a daily practice. It is through the daily and slow work that we build and strengthen our character.
I wanted to share a few daily practices which include adinkra work and prayer. With these practices, you can use them daily or weekly in your own practices.

I wanted to incorporate a few grounding practices as I talk about Ma’at’s ideals to help children build a deeper relationship with their inner growth.

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People consistently ask how I use Ma’at’s principles within my home. I am going to go through each of the 42 ideals and share my thoughts, ponderings, and questions that I talk about with my son. I will also include information for older learners as well. ❤️

So let’s start with our first one…

I honor virtue

Please visit my blog (link in bio) to finish reading 💻