Various inspirations

Soak up

I find that all of the information and perspectives that I bring to these posts come from the ideas and perspectives of others. But isn't that the same for everyone? We build on information that we've received, adding more insight (hopefully), and sharing more knowledge, more facets to the same diamond. Well, I wanted to take a moment to share with you some of the sources of my inspiration. They are often a mix of books, podcasts and conversations. In the future, I hope to have a separate page on my blog that is dedicated to gathering different resources, both for teachers and everyone else. I've been trying to embrace this extended time of sheltering in place by engaging in

"sponge work" And no, Montessorians, I don't mean the practical life activity that aids children in building the muscles in their hands by transferring water from one bowl to another via sponge. I just mean taking the time to learn as much as I can through reading lots of books, listening to lots of podcasts, and generally trying to engage my mind and body in activities that will promote health and godliness. I don't know what my future holds in any respect. So I might as well better myself in this "in between" time. With that said, below you'll find a list of books,podcasts, and practices that I've engaged in to promote my own mental health and journey in godliness. I hope you enjoy. Check out my podcast to hear more about my thoughts regarding these resources

Podcasts

All Things Montessori (shout outs to Jamie and Rachel)

Montessori Notebook (Simone Davies)

Code Switch (NPR)

The Urban Alternative (Pastor Tony Evans)

The Daily (New York Times)

Books

Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Pilgrim's Progress John Bunyan

Invisible Man Ralph Ellison

Montessori and Mindfulness by Susan Mayclin Stephenson

We were eight years in power Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Holy Bible by God

Practices

Pray (to Jesus)...a lot

Meditate (just keep breathing)

Take walks often

Get your hands in the dirt (garden if you can)

Write (gratitude journal, blog, letters, etc.)

Talk to a human, perhaps two; they can be big ones or little ones

Comments

Something I want my students to know...

I've had the privilege of teaching young children for about ten years. From the first fearful step into the 3rd grade classroom of P.S. 154 as a City Year Corps member, to looking up at my ninth and tenth graders during my teacher fellow year at the Collegiate Institute of Math and Science, I've been humbled to be in the presence of these young people. And now, in a primary Montessori classroom, with children who will remember me as one of their first teachers--if not the first teacher they've ever had--the stakes feel higher, even as I have to bend lower to look at my students in their eyes. I sometimes wonder if the message I want to get across to each child comes through in the way I'm teaching. If not, here's what I'd want them to know: Everyday I think about how I can be a better guide to you, and everyday I feel more inadequate to do so. I want you to know that you have far greater ability than you think, particularly the ability to do good in the world....

When a square is more than a square

While we've spoken of the long bead chains before, I wanted to focus on a specific point of interest. Each colored bead represents a certain number and a certain set of that number. When placed in a long chain, children are able to count them, identifying important numbers within the set. So in the Long bead chain of 5 (light blue in color) it has number tags for each set of 5 (5, 10, 15, 20, etc). There are larger tags for each square of 5 (that is, each set of 25). When a square tag is placed on each squared number, a square bead is placed as well. To think that Maria Montessori thought about the concept of squared numbers and considered a means to make it as concrete as possible! To think there are children all over the world who are learning a mathematical concept that they can feel in their hands before ever knowing how to connect it to an algebraic equation. It's quite baffling. What beautiful things God makes, both concepts and man to understand them.

All that has happened

I know I should be going into the new year with a forward gaze, but I am amazed at what has happened in the world (and in my life!) the past few months. Let me share with you. I began this blog and podcast with the intention of combining many different interests into one intersecting conversation. I am a Christian and I view my life through that lens. That is to say, I strive that everything I do would be done to give glory to God in light of His great love towards me and the world, chiefly shown through the death burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (That was a long sentence.) Under that umbrella, I am a Black man whose career is education. I believe that educating young people has a way of changing the course of their future. I have chosen to adopt Montessori pedagogy as the means through which I educate children. While I've been in education for 10 years, I've been on this specific journey of Montessori philosophy for the last 4 years. I've gone fr...

Grace and Courtesy

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