The Montessori Message

The Montessori Message

Monthly Archives: February 2017

How will you grow?

23 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by Lisa Lalama in Learning, Teachers, Wilmington Montessori School

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community of learning, conference, learning, PETE&C, pete2017, professional development, teachers, technology

how will you grow.pngThis time of year brings with it a lot of professional development opportunities for educators. Last week, several teachers were able to attend a conference on technology integration. It is a conference held each year to share ideas and experiences with technology in the classroom. This conference is what all professional development should be…inspiring.

Taking the time out of one’s schedule to learn new things and to be inspired by the work of others is one of the things that energizes us each to enthusiastically work to do the best we can to support children’s growth. Each person has varying needs to improve his or her practice. Each year presents different challenges. Just when you think you have it all figured out things shift and new skills and knowledge are required.

Working in a school reminds us that we are all learners. We have things to learn from each other no matter how young or old. As another year’s opportunities for learning take place, where will you focus? What tools will you add to your already overfilled toolbox? It is in yearning for more and refining our practice that we continue to contribute to the lives of the children in our care.

Joy like a Fountain

16 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by Lisa Lalama in Montessori Education, Teachers, Wilmington Montessori School

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joy, teachers, teaching, toddlers

joyfountain.pngNothing is more gratifying than quietly working and hearing the soft voice of a teacher strolling down the hallway singing with toddlers, “I’ve got joy like a fountain in my heart.” Moments such as these literally fill our hearts. Working with young children can be delightful, frustrating, enjoyable, difficult and rewarding. After all, they are children, which means they are all of these things and more. People often ask how one can work with children every day or say they could never be a teacher. Isn’t it hard work? You bet it is, but there is no work that is more important or satisfying than working with children and watching them grow. When was the last time you had the pleasure of hearing sweet voices singing the next verse of a well loved song or asking the teacher to sing it one more time? If your job doesn’t provide this opportunity, ask a teacher what delighted her today, sit back and enjoy listening to the response. You’ll be glad you asked.

A Time of Growth

09 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by Lisa Lalama in Teachers, Wilmington Montessori School

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graduation, growth, sixth grade, teachers, toddlers, upper elementary

growth-blogSince Wilmington Montessori School serves children as young as 12 months old, we have an opportunity to watch them grow in every way before they graduate from sixth grade and move on to middle school. The youngest children in the school are very attached to their teachers. They depend on the same faces greeting them each day, helping them with their work, and sending them off into the arms of their parents at the end of the day. However, once these children move on to the next level at age 3, they often are shy and quiet in greeting their former teachers. They may smile or say hello if prompted. They have moved on and are creating new relationships. By the time they graduate from sixth grade, they may only recall their toddler teacher because a photo or parent reminds them of that time spent in the classroom.

Teaching, like so many things in our lives, plants seeds. Teachers plant ideas, build relationships and work to further the growth of those in their care. Most often, they do not have the pleasure of seeing the results of that work. As the oldest students in our school exhibit that growth during a performance or ultimately, at graduation, the teachers who worked with them when they were younger look on proudly, amazed at their growth and the people they have become. They are happy to have had a part in that development.

As you think back on your time in school, what seeds were planted that grew over time? How did others influence you in ways that they never may have known? How will you make sure those qualities exist in your child’s school?

It Takes A Village

02 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by Lisa Lalama in community service, Montessori Education, Wilmington Montessori School

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community, global citizens, global community, global village, it takes a village, kindness, Maria Montessori, montessori, Montessori education

ittakesavillage

About 20 years ago the phrase, “It takes a village,” was brought to the nation’s attention in a book written by Hillary Rodham Clinton. She did not author the phrase; instead it is believed to be an ancient African proverb, which translates to, “It takes a village to raise a child.” In the past month, I’ve been reminded of this proverb many times over.

Maria Montessori has shared her vision regarding the world village in which we live. We are called to honor those who came before us, to learn from the lessons others have learned and can teach us, and to rely on and support each other as we navigate our ever more complicated world. This is true for children and adults alike.

Every day in Wilmington Montessori school, I see examples of the village – children and adults alike – “raising” the children and adults in our community. This occurs from the moment a child holds the door for an adult entering the building in the morning to the adult who provides a warm smile when needed, and an entire classroom celebrating a child’s birthday with the birth and life celebration during which a child walks around the sun to commemorate each year of his or her life. Each of these examples may seem small when taken in isolation. When recognized as a tiny part of each day, they represent the village… our world and our planet.

Nothing we do for each other or in memory of others is too small an act. We are the village and we are here to support, nurture, and raise each other to continue to contribute to the global community or village in which we all live.

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