The Montessori Message

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Tag Archives: professional growth

The Discomfort of Growth

08 Thursday Aug 2019

Posted by Lisa Lalama in Learning

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choices, discomfort, growth, learning, personal growth, professional development, professional growth, school

Heather Siple-roaming 12-4_003.JPG

I made the decision to take an online class this summer. It was a carefully considered choice, one which would push me personally and professionally, and one that I knew would lead to growth in both of those areas of my life. I did not fully think about my discomfort with much of the class – the format, getting to know new teammates each week, and considering ideas that are far from my everyday experience at work or at play. 

As I write this, I am exactly halfway through the course. I have met people I would never have met otherwise. I’ve entertained ideas about subjects I’d never heard of or read about. I was asked to consider questions and reveal aspects of myself that I typically hold on to tightly. It has been a great experience and a scary one as well. 

As I reflected on this class and all that it entailed so far, I was reminded of what we ask of students each day. We ask them to be uncomfortable without fail, and often without giving them the choice to avoid this discomfort. We ask them to work with others who they don’t know, don’t like or who we know won’t contribute fully to the group experience. We ask them to speak up, listen well, be creative, get along with others at all times, and do a good job no matter the subject or their interest in the work. We ask them to be superhuman. Most of us, as adults, would not take on that challenge. Most of us would try to negotiate another way to do things or ask for assistance at every turn. Some of us might even opt out of an experience if it did not have some comfort and familiarity built in. 

There are things we do each day that allow us to have choices, and some things we simply have to do. Children must attend school. Time in school can be spent in a variety of ways that involve student choice along with the “have tos.” How do we want students to spend their time in school and recall their days in school in the future? Will they remember the learning, challenges and enjoyment, or the intense discomfort and unknowns? Balance is the key to building the strength needed to learn and grow.

The Four Agreements

10 Thursday Sep 2015

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

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Don Miguel Ruiz, Four Agreements, montessori, professional development, professional growth, staff, teachers, Wilmington Montessori, Wilmington Montessori School

4 agreements

Our staff was challenged to choose one of the Four Agreements to practice over the summer months. As part of our goal in working to build relationships and strengthen community, we participated in professional development in June which outlined the Four Agreements as shared in Don Miguel Ruiz’s book of the same name. Each of us chose to focus on one of the agreements and to return to school in August prepared to discuss our success and challenges with this work. It is an ongoing opportunity for our growth and increased knowledge of ourselves and each other.

As you know from our mission statement, lifelong learning is a strongly held value at WMS. Not only do we work to develop our students’ interest in learning, as a staff we are engaged in learning and developing through our work at WMS. Our professional development ranges from learning about best practices in education to “nurturing our spirit,” which is a strong component of the Montessori philosophy. One of the reasons we choose to work at WMS is to continue our journey of discovery and growth.

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