Grace and Courtesy

 The sensorial area of the Montessori curriculum has always been fascinating to me. They tend to be the more colorful materials in a Montessori classroom, standing out against the plainness of unadorned walls and shelves, making silent proclamations to the children to investigate and peruse. The red rods beckon them. The pink tower stands erect as a quiet monument towards budding curiosity. The constructive triangles seek one to dream new dreams. Children have this natural curiosity and desire to have engagements with the world around them through their senses. These days we adults don't have time for such exploration. But what is mindfulness if not a reconnection to our inherent ability to engage with the world around us in this present moment through the God given receptors we've been given, namely our senses? I'm still learning to give children (and myself) space for exploration. To do so is to lead one's heart to praise of some sort. There's just so much beauty ...

 As I've been taking my Spring Break as an extended time of contemplation, I wanted to focus in on one aspect of Montessori pedagogy that I continue to strive towards, namely the preparation of the Adult. In truth, Montessori educators are often very keen to setting up their classrooms, based on the previous experiences they've had with children, and taking into the consideration the specific children that are in their care. It's a great gift that so many of the shelves in my classroom are on wheels since, inevitably, there will be certain ideas about what I "know" children need that will manifest quite differently in the children in front of me showing the need to pivot in adjusting  the space. But I wonder how much we do that when it comes to our very presence in the space? I remember having a teacher come to observe in my classroom as a substitute. She was constantly moving back and forth, trying to get a better view of what was happening in every area of the r...

  Right now I am on Spring break, so it allows me the opportunity to be able to write. I'm thankful for this. But I am also thankful for the privilege of being able to teach in a lot of different spaces, to children of all ages. Teachers are an interesting breed, especially those guides of young children. They tend to have such big hearts, yet can also be prone towards wanting to control our little towns inside our classrooms, forgetting the bigger picture.  Depending on the type of guide you are (in public school, or private school, Montessori or otherwise) you have such a limited time with these little ones. The mark that you have on their lives will go well beyond your own. The same is true for the families we get to serve. Usually we are with them at the beginning of their journey as parents. So it speaks to the type of impact we can have on everyone in the household. What a privilege to carry.  And yet it's so exhausting. The self control and thoughtfulness is far be...