Welcome Autumn--Change

It is a hot and humid day today where I live. A reminder that hot weather at the end of August is not unusual.

I think a day like this just makes us appreciate cool fall days even more.

Autumn is such a beautiful season. I am a big fan of fall colors, sweater weather, and sitting around a fire while gazing at stars.

I welcome the changing seasons. It would be difficult for me to live where the weather is the same all the time. I am always ready for change and enjoy seeing the life cycle of plants unfold before my eyes. It helps me feel connected to nature.

Being resistant to change must be a burden. Change is going to happen, it is inevitable. If we welcome change it is easier to live with. If we resist change we will be unhappy for sure.

Change is a part of our human condition. Nothing stays the same for long. We grow older and hopefully wiser as time goes by. Our roles in life change. We go from being parents of young children to parents of adults all too quickly. We my be caring for an elderly parent or be living without their guidance.

Change is going to happen so it is best to welcome it—not resist it. The only constant thing is change. We can count on that.

Montessori

Children like routine, order, consistency, and predictability. Change can be problematic when working in a Montessori environment. But as stated above, change is unavoidable even in the most well run school and experienced teachers.

Children are quick to notice small changes and inconsistencies in the classroom. They are generally quick to point out when a shelf has been moved or some work is in a different place. Too many changes in a short time can bother the students. It is also true that being too ridged will not be good for the classroom dynamics. Once again we are called to strike a good balance of a certain amount of constancy and enough change to keep things interesting and fresh.

We can help children accept change by modeling accepting behavior and language with the children. Although routine is important in the beginning of the year, as the school year progresses we need to do things out of order once in a while. These small changes can help children become tolerant of bigger changes down the road.

Changing work on the shelf regularly will keep the children interested in coming to school and doing new things. If a work is gathering dust—put it away and try something different.