Grace and Courtesy

 One of the things that drew me to Montessori Education is that built within the philosophy there is a deep respect for children. By respect, I mean that the child is not seen merely as an empty vessel that the teacher is meant to fill up with knowledge. Rather, children are seen as the human beings they are. There is something humbling about intentionally maintaining the dignity towards someone who depends on others for support. But I have not merely described children in that statement; I am describing everyone. Adults may come under the guise of believing we are independent in a solitary way. Yet, we depend on children to further humanity. As a Montessori teacher (or a parent, or any adult really), we have the great privilege of being a bridge to the world we inhabit so that our children may take up their task of making that world better. So when I am giving a lesson on the binomial cube, or helping a child change into clean clothes after their "accident", I do so knowing ...

I wonder sometimes how it is that children, given the freedom, have the ability to create a game out of almost anything? It is certainly a lost art to adults. When we approach a task, we set forth with completing it from beginning to end, maintaining a motivation that is based upon what the task will achieve. For the child, it is the task itself that creates a sort of treasure. Children are trying to create themselves;  their task is to become. It gives them great enjoyment to do so. This is play. Granted, it makes some sense that adults would be sitting around talking about play as though it were the most serious activity; adults tend to be rather serious at times. For the child, play, is just fun, not development. And it is an amazing blessing that in the midst of that fun, somewhat unconsciously, they are problem solving, building executive function skills, and often challenging their physical coordination to better control their body. But this begs the question: can adults play...

Harlem protest A straight up confession I'm not sure how many people feel this, but in some ways, it seems like I am more busy now than I was before COVID-19. I'm not sure if the work I am doing is more, or that it requires  more energy from me. Perhaps it's both. But what I am sure of is that some of my work has been used as a tool to distract me from the increasingly devastating reality that so many people around me are walking in. I took a bit of a hiatus from writing posts and dictati ng podcasts last week, because I was so overcome with sadness, anger, and fatigue. It may seem like an excuse, but I just wasn't able to distract myself with creative work. Consider that this is an unprecedented time for all of us. Consider that so many people have lo st their jobs and are unsure of how they will care for their loved ones. Consider that so many people have lost their loved ones (or know of those who have suffered loss) due to the pandemic. And then there are the daily...

Reflect to Refocus I've been an educator for almost ten years and a Montessori guide for about half that time. One of the reasons I was moved to learn and practice Montessori pedagogy was because of the ways in which the philosophy connects with how I believe children and all people should be treated: with dignity, value, and love. The unique ways that Dr. Montessori considered the child in every aspect of her teaching philosophy is astounding. But equally unique is that she seemed to keep the end in mind.  I'd like to try and do the same. After all, the 3 year old in my class will one day be a 6 year old, then 9, 12, etc. Then what? What was Dr. Montessori aiming at? What should I be keeping in mind in regards to the reasoning behind my work? Not quite the Miss America Answer In a statement, Montessori sought to bring out the fullness of humanity, so as to create peace in the world. It's kind of crazy to think about. This brilliant educator was shooting for one of the high...

Holding Hands Have you had the privilege of holding a three-year-old's hand? It's amazing. It will probably be sticky, and I need you to not ask why...you don't want to know the answer. But it will also be small. Very small. And it may also squeeze your hand very tight. In that moment there is something you need to keep in mind: The child beside you firmly believes that you will take care of her. Let that sink in.   There is a level of seriousness to the work of a Montessorian. We are actively engaged in understanding children as they develop before our eyes, and look for cues that help us be a bridge to the didactic material that will grab their interest and speak to their need. It is both science and art.  It is quite difficult. And it is so much fun! Our Work (All of us) The work of the child is the work of becoming: mastering their bodies, their own senses, so that they can interact with the world all the more precisely and gracefully. They will discover the basic build...