I always wait until something inspires me to post a new blog and sometimes I worry that it won't happen in a timely manner. The great thing about this work though, is that it is constantly inspiring.
This morning I am excited by a short e-mail sent to me by the parent of one of our kindergarten students. At re-enrollment time, when parents are being asked to make another huge financial commitment, and a leap of faith in the face of free public kindergarten, this is a particularly poignant note. It brought to me a fresh awareness of how we never know when people first join us, whether they will be the parents who see it, who get it, who feel it and come to love it, or the parents who walk though the doors and leave unchanged. Either parent is fine, wonderful, valuable, and a joy to work with. But sometimes in this exhausting job, filled with hours of hard work both in and out of the classroom, to hear the story of how a parent has come to see what her child has become under our care and her parenting is a much needed medicine!
We spend our 30 - 40 hours a week in the classroom teaching to the individual and the group. We keep our notes, our records, our thoughts, our ideas and our hopes for each and every child every day. Then we clean, organize and manufacture the endless materials and activities, two to three a day, to keep the dream ongoing. We meet and talk strategies, how to walk the line between accomplishment and growth, entertainment and fun. We figure out how to modify ourselves, our expectations, and our environment to maximize everyone's well being. We talk to parents, we seek out specialists, we come up with programs. We keep up with the endless paperwork and documentation required to exist (well, kinda). We shop, we build, we get sick, and we work. We smile. No matter what. Not because we want to fool people into thinking we are angels, but because the bottom line is, our families and our kids deserve it. We are asking them to trust us, to believe in what we do, even when the fruits of our labor aren't always immediately evident.
The truth is, the three year Montessori cycle is an enigma. It is a mystery and miracle unto itself. The third year reveals, finally, everything that has happened up to that point. It is like a phoenix rising out of ashes. It really does happen that way. We all see the little increments of capability over the first two years, the odd skill gained, the friends made, the independence won. But is it worth thousands of dollars, couldn't this have happened anyway? The answer is yes, if you look at each event individually. And really, in the light of eternity, what do those skills even mean?
In the third year, these skills come together over the course of the winter to reveal the true gift. The child who looks at himself and sees a competent being. Who realizes his power over himself and others. Who finally gets that all the work he has done has meant freedom to build his true self. Whether he is a reader, an artist, a builder, or a teacher. He relaxes into a confident, competent person who is now truly, a self taught learner. It is great when the academics are impressive, but the real gift is the inner knowledge of how to feed oneself, to know how to build what is important, and to trust in that ability. Academics ebb and flow, with time and experience, but who you are inside will always be there.
So we secretly watch and hope, and rejoice when we see the birth of this knowledge. We hope that parents are aware enough to see it too. There are lawyers, doctors, housewives and cleaning ladies, builders, landscapers, musicians and plumbers. There is no way of knowing which of these parents will be the ones who keep the faith, and listen to the inner music of their children's lives. There is no way of knowing which children will be most affected by the experience, and so we don't screen. We take everyone. The earth is peopled with all kinds, all deserving, all of value. We all enter on a level playing field, and we all emerge changed for the better by the experiences we share here every year. But to those who stay, and watch, and learn and support and SEE, thanks.
And, thanks for telling us what you saw, because it reinforces us, makes our lives legitimate. Thank you Erica.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Where does help come from?
We have had a lot of bad news this past year. Rising prices, health care issues, joblessness, homelessness, illness, shortages, planetary destruction..the list goes on. Most of us feel like we're swimming upstream is a fast current. Honestly, my heart has failed me when it comes to organizing yet another community service project for my students to become involved with.
Each year we choose a cause to join, be it collecting blankets for animal shelters, food for the soup kitchen, coats for the cold, or raising money to buy a goat for a community in need, or for schools in Afghanistan. But this year, I have felt the pain of my families trying to stay on top of their own lives in the face of this fallen economy. I didn't know how to ask for more from them.
The other day I stood with an interested observer who witnessed a small child accidentally spill a container of things she was collecting for collage - sequins, bits of fabric, ribbon, pompoms, beads, etc. They scattered everywhere. The woman said, "What do you do in a case like that?" and I answered , "nothing" reflexively.
Nothing? It seemed so detached. My thoughts raced to defend this answer. Why nothing? A number of reasons. By jumping in, I give the child several messages: 1)OH MY GOODNESS!!! - scaring her -2) this is a terrible mess, let's get it picked up! -instilling a feeling of shame or badness 3) I'll do this for you, you need help. - incompetence. So by doing nothing, or reacting very slowly, I give the child the gift of independence and confidence in herself as she handles a crisis. But as these thoughts tumbled around in my head in a split second, I realized none of them were all that important compared to what was about to happen. Instead of defending my response, I smiled and said, "watch, I don't need to do anything."
Sure enough within a few minutes there were 3 other children who had left their work or play, and gotten down on the floor to busily collect the debris. No one asked them to, no one rewarded them, they just saw that help was needed and they knew what to do. No words were exchanged. It's the law of children. They see, they know, they do. There is no reward, no recognition, no parade....it's just what needs to be done.
I recall reading a study where scientists tested babies in a lab. The scientist dropped a pen. The babies crawled over, picked it up and stretched their hands out to the scientist. Every one. Over and over. Even though, ostensibly, they didn't know what a pen was, or why it was needed. Children are born understanding the concept of assistance and selflessness. It is a trait that needs to be nurtured.
In our school, a number of our families are givers. They are handing down the legacy of taking responsibility for their school community by giving gifts that allow other families to stay on through difficult times. In witnessing this circle of life, I have once again found the heart to step up in the face of tough times to support a cause. Next week, I will ask my students once again, for their ideas about what can be done to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. We will develop a plan, and pennies will be collected. We will approach businesses and ask for help. We will become a group who makes a difference. A school who can say, we see, we know, we do. And we don't need a parade either!
Thanks to my small friends who continue to teach and inspire me every day. And thanks to Tabitha who asked me that simple question that helped me find my lost heart.
Each year we choose a cause to join, be it collecting blankets for animal shelters, food for the soup kitchen, coats for the cold, or raising money to buy a goat for a community in need, or for schools in Afghanistan. But this year, I have felt the pain of my families trying to stay on top of their own lives in the face of this fallen economy. I didn't know how to ask for more from them.
The other day I stood with an interested observer who witnessed a small child accidentally spill a container of things she was collecting for collage - sequins, bits of fabric, ribbon, pompoms, beads, etc. They scattered everywhere. The woman said, "What do you do in a case like that?" and I answered , "nothing" reflexively.
Nothing? It seemed so detached. My thoughts raced to defend this answer. Why nothing? A number of reasons. By jumping in, I give the child several messages: 1)OH MY GOODNESS!!! - scaring her -2) this is a terrible mess, let's get it picked up! -instilling a feeling of shame or badness 3) I'll do this for you, you need help. - incompetence. So by doing nothing, or reacting very slowly, I give the child the gift of independence and confidence in herself as she handles a crisis. But as these thoughts tumbled around in my head in a split second, I realized none of them were all that important compared to what was about to happen. Instead of defending my response, I smiled and said, "watch, I don't need to do anything."
Sure enough within a few minutes there were 3 other children who had left their work or play, and gotten down on the floor to busily collect the debris. No one asked them to, no one rewarded them, they just saw that help was needed and they knew what to do. No words were exchanged. It's the law of children. They see, they know, they do. There is no reward, no recognition, no parade....it's just what needs to be done.
I recall reading a study where scientists tested babies in a lab. The scientist dropped a pen. The babies crawled over, picked it up and stretched their hands out to the scientist. Every one. Over and over. Even though, ostensibly, they didn't know what a pen was, or why it was needed. Children are born understanding the concept of assistance and selflessness. It is a trait that needs to be nurtured.
In our school, a number of our families are givers. They are handing down the legacy of taking responsibility for their school community by giving gifts that allow other families to stay on through difficult times. In witnessing this circle of life, I have once again found the heart to step up in the face of tough times to support a cause. Next week, I will ask my students once again, for their ideas about what can be done to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. We will develop a plan, and pennies will be collected. We will approach businesses and ask for help. We will become a group who makes a difference. A school who can say, we see, we know, we do. And we don't need a parade either!
Thanks to my small friends who continue to teach and inspire me every day. And thanks to Tabitha who asked me that simple question that helped me find my lost heart.
Friday, December 18, 2009
The unexpected gift
Happy Holidays to everyone! It has been a crazy few weeks as we bring our classroom to the absolute peak of frenzy making decorations and covert gifts, singing songs, learning about holidays around the world, decking our halls with everything from popcorn to dreidels! We always have a wonderful time, really there is no better place to be this time of year than in a Montessori classroom. But it's exhausting and I feel it more every year.
Today I got a lovely gift that melted the exhaustion away. We had a visit from a pretty young woman, studying in Europe, who wanted to observe our children as part of her preparation to teach. She came in full of curiosity, great questions, and positive energy. She looked at every area, impressed by the lovely materials and the depth of curriculum available to all ages. She recognized the link from simple to complex, the manner in which children bring themselves along academically without adult direction once they have mastered basic organization and developed an understanding of a work cycle. Her eyes widened as she caught on to the things we brought to her attention. She asked lots of personal questions of us, how we became teachers, how we found Montessori, why we chose this path.
But the absolute best thing about the morning was when she looked outside and said, " I remember climbing that tree," or when she saw an activity and touched it lovingly and said, " I remember this work". I could see recognition and nostalgia in her face as she watched the kids, and heard her understanding of what she was observing when she addressed the children. I was so proud of her, beautiful, brilliant young woman, who not so long ago ran around this yard, and worked diligently in this classroom, who never gave up, who challenged herself daily and with joy, who mentored her two younger siblings as they came up into the ranks of the Montessori classroom.
To host her here today, as she chose to come back and learn yet again from the Montessori environment from whence she came, to have her look at us adult to adult and care about our journey as she looked around with new eyes, was the best present I could get this year. I feel validated yet again. I feel the rightness of my choice yet again. I am thankful to still be here, in this same beautiful place, where those who want to come back can still find us. And so very lucky. Thank you Beth!
Today I got a lovely gift that melted the exhaustion away. We had a visit from a pretty young woman, studying in Europe, who wanted to observe our children as part of her preparation to teach. She came in full of curiosity, great questions, and positive energy. She looked at every area, impressed by the lovely materials and the depth of curriculum available to all ages. She recognized the link from simple to complex, the manner in which children bring themselves along academically without adult direction once they have mastered basic organization and developed an understanding of a work cycle. Her eyes widened as she caught on to the things we brought to her attention. She asked lots of personal questions of us, how we became teachers, how we found Montessori, why we chose this path.
But the absolute best thing about the morning was when she looked outside and said, " I remember climbing that tree," or when she saw an activity and touched it lovingly and said, " I remember this work". I could see recognition and nostalgia in her face as she watched the kids, and heard her understanding of what she was observing when she addressed the children. I was so proud of her, beautiful, brilliant young woman, who not so long ago ran around this yard, and worked diligently in this classroom, who never gave up, who challenged herself daily and with joy, who mentored her two younger siblings as they came up into the ranks of the Montessori classroom.
To host her here today, as she chose to come back and learn yet again from the Montessori environment from whence she came, to have her look at us adult to adult and care about our journey as she looked around with new eyes, was the best present I could get this year. I feel validated yet again. I feel the rightness of my choice yet again. I am thankful to still be here, in this same beautiful place, where those who want to come back can still find us. And so very lucky. Thank you Beth!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Today I made the time to have lunch with a new colleague, a fellow administrator. I thought we would discuss our respective classroom situations, the effects of the economy and leadership quanderies. Instead, we wound up sharing our "how we came to love Montessori" stories, and reveling in the joy of coming to work every day.
When you find someone who understands what Montessori means educationally and spiritually to a developing child, it feels like you've found someone in the secret society of those who are aware of " the gift". It is almost possible to feel guilty to be in on this wonderful secret that many have not, and will never discover.
The conversation turns to how many amazing and beautiful things we witness in a day, how profound the experience has been for our own children and family, and how absolutely wonderful, across the board, Montessori parents are. They become friends, teachers, and allies and we miss them terribly when they finally leave.
My colleague and I come at this experience from two very diverse paths. I have been involved with Montessori since I was 19, and have had my school for almost 30 years. She spent the same time in corporate America, as a business woman, project manager, and Mom. She found Montessori for her last child, after realizing that her others had been negatively impacted by their educational experiences in more traditional schools. She administrates and I teach. And yet, we have the same perceptions of this life we have chosen. We get the same sense of fulfillment that has nothing to do with financial reward.
We both love our schools and our lives revolve around giving our all to making them better. We both mourn that we sometimes have to compete with reputations of schools that are less than they should be, but carry the Montessori name. We both want to end the prevailing myths that abound regarding Montessori: they are too lenient; they are too strict; they don't prepare the child for regular school; they are religion based... etc. But these myths were around when I started in 1978, and they may be forever. And, as always, those who look closer will continue to find us and see the wonderful reality.
As the economy worsens, we are both doing what we can to help families who are committed to stay onboard. We are proud of the fact that our people are not defecting to save money. They are hanging on. They are cutting back in other ways to keep their dream of raising balanced, empathetic, peaceful, self taught learners, kids who can find their way in any environment, problem solve, and respect others, alive. They are preparing their children for life, and to be the next keepers of our planet. Having the honor to participate in this dance is the true gift we are thankful for these holidays.
And if you came into our classrooms and watched us for a day, you too, would feel the joy, and see the gifts the children give to each other and to us. You would want to be part of it all, and you would be in on the secret, too. I am privileged to work in such a great community with so many dedicated colleagues and families. I want to thank all of you who consider Montessori for your child, in all parts of the world. Together, we can keep this going, for the love of the children...
When you find someone who understands what Montessori means educationally and spiritually to a developing child, it feels like you've found someone in the secret society of those who are aware of " the gift". It is almost possible to feel guilty to be in on this wonderful secret that many have not, and will never discover.
The conversation turns to how many amazing and beautiful things we witness in a day, how profound the experience has been for our own children and family, and how absolutely wonderful, across the board, Montessori parents are. They become friends, teachers, and allies and we miss them terribly when they finally leave.
My colleague and I come at this experience from two very diverse paths. I have been involved with Montessori since I was 19, and have had my school for almost 30 years. She spent the same time in corporate America, as a business woman, project manager, and Mom. She found Montessori for her last child, after realizing that her others had been negatively impacted by their educational experiences in more traditional schools. She administrates and I teach. And yet, we have the same perceptions of this life we have chosen. We get the same sense of fulfillment that has nothing to do with financial reward.
We both love our schools and our lives revolve around giving our all to making them better. We both mourn that we sometimes have to compete with reputations of schools that are less than they should be, but carry the Montessori name. We both want to end the prevailing myths that abound regarding Montessori: they are too lenient; they are too strict; they don't prepare the child for regular school; they are religion based... etc. But these myths were around when I started in 1978, and they may be forever. And, as always, those who look closer will continue to find us and see the wonderful reality.
As the economy worsens, we are both doing what we can to help families who are committed to stay onboard. We are proud of the fact that our people are not defecting to save money. They are hanging on. They are cutting back in other ways to keep their dream of raising balanced, empathetic, peaceful, self taught learners, kids who can find their way in any environment, problem solve, and respect others, alive. They are preparing their children for life, and to be the next keepers of our planet. Having the honor to participate in this dance is the true gift we are thankful for these holidays.
And if you came into our classrooms and watched us for a day, you too, would feel the joy, and see the gifts the children give to each other and to us. You would want to be part of it all, and you would be in on the secret, too. I am privileged to work in such a great community with so many dedicated colleagues and families. I want to thank all of you who consider Montessori for your child, in all parts of the world. Together, we can keep this going, for the love of the children...
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Montessori in the Home
Many parents come into the Montessori environment, see the order and serenity, and wonder how this happens. The mats are wiped and put away, the floors and food tables are clean, the dozens of activities are organized in their places on the shelves. What makes the magic happen, and how can you tap into it?
The key is organization, logic, and accessibility. In a Montessori classroom everything is at the child's level, and organized left to right, top to bottom and simple to complex. There is a formula, and at the root is trust in the child's ability to use the tools he or she is given. You can create this environment in your home with a little creativity and thought.
Sit down on the floor, and imagine life at your child's level. What is accessible? Are there hooks at eye level to hang jackets or other clothing? Is there a table and chair/ work area, in each room that is sized for small people's comfort? What about food - Can your child get a snack or drink without depending on grown up benevolence? Where is the bed, can your child get in and out with ease? Are toys and games laid out in an organized fashion on shelving, or are they thrown in a toy box?
A place for everything and everything in it's place is the key. Clothing in small child sized drawers, toys organized in bins by category; (building/vehicles/art) easy to manage bed covers to make bed making simple, and limiting choices to a few of each item works wonders. Healthy foods can be on the bottom shelf of the fridge, like a few cut up carrots or apples, and a small pitcher holding one small glass of juice or milk to help with independence. A clean up pail and sponge in the corner, with a child size dustpan and brush encourage handling accidents.
If you encourage independence and responsibility, and curb the impulse to do things for your child just because it's more expedient, your efforts will pay off handsomely. You will show your child respect and receive the same in return. There are many references for parents who want a Montessori home, including How to Raise An Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldon. Check them out and go for it!
“He who is served is limited in his independence.” Maria Montessori
The key is organization, logic, and accessibility. In a Montessori classroom everything is at the child's level, and organized left to right, top to bottom and simple to complex. There is a formula, and at the root is trust in the child's ability to use the tools he or she is given. You can create this environment in your home with a little creativity and thought.
Sit down on the floor, and imagine life at your child's level. What is accessible? Are there hooks at eye level to hang jackets or other clothing? Is there a table and chair/ work area, in each room that is sized for small people's comfort? What about food - Can your child get a snack or drink without depending on grown up benevolence? Where is the bed, can your child get in and out with ease? Are toys and games laid out in an organized fashion on shelving, or are they thrown in a toy box?
A place for everything and everything in it's place is the key. Clothing in small child sized drawers, toys organized in bins by category; (building/vehicles/art) easy to manage bed covers to make bed making simple, and limiting choices to a few of each item works wonders. Healthy foods can be on the bottom shelf of the fridge, like a few cut up carrots or apples, and a small pitcher holding one small glass of juice or milk to help with independence. A clean up pail and sponge in the corner, with a child size dustpan and brush encourage handling accidents.
If you encourage independence and responsibility, and curb the impulse to do things for your child just because it's more expedient, your efforts will pay off handsomely. You will show your child respect and receive the same in return. There are many references for parents who want a Montessori home, including How to Raise An Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldon. Check them out and go for it!
“He who is served is limited in his independence.” Maria Montessori
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Maria
After operating a Montessori preschool for the past thirty years, I believe that most people have some idea of the basic premise of a Montessori classroom. They can tell you that we teach to the individual, set up curriculum areas where the child is free to make choices, and have a strong emphasis on personal development and responsibility. Some may even be aware of the work we do to bring cultural awareness, tolerance, and acceptance of inherent differences to the children. Community service and care of the environment are also key components of a good Montessori program. But I wonder who really knows anything about Maria Montessori herself, or how many gifts she is responsible for giving to the world.
Maria Montessori is my hero. The more I learn about her, the more I am in awe of this dynamic, brilliant and courageous person. She directly influenced such key figures as Anna Freud, Jean Piaget, and Eric Erikson who used her work as a jumping off point for their own. Her educational insights have recently received scientific support as the secrets of the brain are unlocked. Popular educator and author Howard Gardner impressed the educational community with his work defining multiple intelligences, and how to incorporate them into a successful learning environment, but 100 years ago, Maria Montessori was already implementing the same concepts in her children’s houses. She was unquestionably an educational genius with a gift for observing and understanding human behavior.
And how many people know that she was also the first female physician in Italy, at a time when women had few options outside the home? While teaching medical students, she found time to devote to various social reform movements, work in free clinics, and promote women’s rights. She traveled Europe accepting speaking engagements as a peace activist, and child labor law reform advocate. While working to improve life for the underprivileged , she accepted a post as the director of a school that was formerly an asylum for “deficient and insane children”.
Always a humanitarian, she insisted her staff treat the children with respect and dignity, and began studying the patterns of their behavior. She designed purposeful activities that promoted self care, and care of the environment. The children responded so quickly that she soon found herself creating more and more materials that spoke to their developmental interests, based on her scientific observations of their behavior. In time, her students were performing at or above the level of their “normal peers”. This led her to wonder what children with no handicaps could learn if presented with the same opportunities. The Montessori method was born, and completely changed the world of education in the early 1900’s. Because of her work, we have child sized furniture, learning centers, movement based curriculum, multi-age classrooms, manipulatives, and preschool education.
Truly, Maria Montessori was no less than a prophet. She was the embodiment of a true humanitarian, always willing to get down and work with the poorest poor, or handicapped. She had the strength and courage to fly in the face of society to advocate for the rights of women, children, poor, and downtrodden. She fought for world peace, understanding that peace begins within each one of us, and taught that lesson every day of her life. She was a beacon of light, controversial and dynamic, a true gift to the world.
As you begin to dream of what you want for your child educationally, those of you who come to Montessori schools should know that you come to more than a preschool. You come to a historic house of love, light, hope, courage, inspiration and peace. That is the legacy of Maria Montessori, and one I am proud to promote.
Connie Mercier
Administrator
Auburn Montessori School
Auburn, NH 03032
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