Spanish with Ms. Cindy
Mission Statement
At Spanish with Ms. Cindy, my mission is to nurture confident, curious, and globally competent language learners from birth through adolescence. Rooted in Dr. Maria Montessori’s vision of Cosmic Education, my program supports learners in developing a deep sense of connection - to themselves, to others, and to the world around them. I believe that language is not just a skill, but a bridge: to culture, empathy, and global understanding.
Every lesson, experience, and meaningful interaction is designed with clear, long-term goals and purposes in mind. Ultimately, this unconsciously guides learners to develop the understanding that human language is a tool to be used for communication, connection, and cultural awareness, - a concept fully supported by Dr. Maria Montessori's Cosmic Idea, and that language is not just memorized isolated vocabulary or phrases that ultimately lack real-world, practical opportunities to be used.
Learners engage with the Spanish language in a way that's intentionally designed towards developing meaning through music, storytelling, movement, science, literacy, and the arts. Familiar, relevant contexts in the home language (English) invite learners into not only the Spanish language, but also its history, culture, and the present day happenings in Latin America so learners can develop an understanding of their own meaning and purpose in the world around them.
My Curriculum: Learning Spanish from the Outside In™
Using my proprietary research-based, scaffolded approach and curriculum grounded in the Cosmic Idea and entirely handcrafted by me, Spanish is introduced in ways that honor each learner's developmental readiness, individuality, and natural curiosity. Rather than relying on immersion alone, my proprietary curriculum, Learning Spanish from the Outside In, builds L2 through meaningful context combined with hands-on experiences, and interdisciplinary learning. My curriculum is intentionally designed backward from the desired outcomes - bilingual communication, cultural competence, and global awareness.
Learning Spanish from the Outside In™ is a proprietary curriculum developed as part of ongoing doctoral research in Curriculum and Instruction by Cynthia Montoto at Boise State University. All content, materials, and methodologies associated with this curriculum are protected under copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or use of any part of this curriculum without explicit permission is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Global Competence & Citizenship
Inspired by Montessori principles and aligned with UNESCO’s definition of global competence, I aim to help learners become not only bilingual, but also kind, aware, and empowered stewards of our planet. The end goal is to support every learner in becoming a thoughtful communicator and compassionate global citizen - one word, one lesson, one connection at a time.
UNESCO defines global competence as the capacity and disposition to understand and act on issues of global significance, including examining local, global, and intercultural issues, understanding different perspectives, and interacting respectfully with others. It encompasses knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed to navigate an interconnected world and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive future (UNESCO, 2019).
About Ms. Cindy
Meet Ms. Cindy
Cindy Montoto (a.k.a. Ms. Cindy) is a dedicated educator, curriculum developer, scholar, and advocate for joyful, respectful, and inclusive language learning. With over 15 years of experience supporting children and families, she brings a rich blend of developmental insight, cultural fluency, and pedagogical expertise to every learning environment she cultivates.
Her academic journey includes a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in Child Development and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Boise State University, where she is a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) under Dr. David Gabbard, pursuing both a Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum & Instruction and Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.). Her research explores Montessori's Cosmic Idea, bilingual and multi-lingual language education, second language (L2) acquisition, and the sacredness of indigenous learning. Her approach to instruction is rooted in Montessori principles and human rights education.
Cindy’s training is grounded in internationally recognized AMI Montessori pedagogy through the Montessori Institute of Prague, where she earned her Certificate in Building Bilingual Programs and is currently completing an AMI Certificate in Foreign Language Learning in the Montessori 6–12 Classroom. This dual focus - on academic research and Montessori practice - uniquely positions her to design holistic, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate curriculum for the learners of today.
She is the founder and creator of Learning Spanish from the Outside In™, a proprietary Spanish language curriculum inspired by Montessori's Cosmic Education and supported by current research in L2 acquisition, cognitive development, and intercultural understanding. Her program blends music, movement, storytelling, and cultural history to invite leaners into meaningful connection with the Spanish language from the earliest years through adolescence.
Cindy was selected as a 2025–2026 Wassmuth Center for Human Rights Education Fellow, further deepening her role as a leader in global competence, human rights education, and dignity-based instruction.
When she’s not giving a lesson or writing curriculum, you can usually find her with her family, thrifting or antiquing, playing trivia, or rewatching her favorite movie series, Pirates of the Caribbean.
My Teaching Philosophy
I believe children learn best when they feel safe, seen, are respected for the human beings they are, and are given opportunities to be curious. Language isn’t just something we memorize - it’s something we live. Inspired by Montessori’s Cosmic Idea, my teaching philosophy supports learners as they explore language through real-world themes, multi- sensory experiences, and development of meaningful cultural connections.
Spanish with Ms. Cindy Programming is Available At:
Rose Hill Montessori School
Ms. Cindy is a proud and dedicated teacher at Rose Hill Montessori School where students receive a comprehensive Montessori education with experienced staff that guide students toward becoming confident, creative, empathetic, culturally aware, and responsible children who are nurtured toward having a lifelong love of learning. All students at RHMS receive twice weekly instruction from Ms. Cindy utilizing her proprietary curriculum, Learning Spanish from the Outside In™.