BETTER THAN EXPECTED

Petunias are so often BETTER THAN EXPECTED 

Ø It is so great when things go well.

Ø It is wonderful when things turn out to be just as good as it is ‘in my head’.

Ø But, it is fabulous when things go BETTER THAN EXPECTED!

Ø That is what happened to me today.  It felt GREAT!

It cannot be planned for.  I cannot make it happen.  Being prepared and having some talented is helpful—but it does, in no way, assure things going BETTER THAN EXPECTED. 

In my work the only way things go BETTER THAN EXPECTED is when the children and staff mesh well with the program I am giving.  When I show up at a school and perform an educational music program I am prepared—I have some talent—I have good ideas—and I know how to employ effectively teaching techniques.  So things have always gone well for me (so far—knock on wood).

What makes a lesson, or anything for that matter, special and even BETTER THAN EXPECTED is not entirely tangible. 

Ø It is hard to grasp and define.

Ø It is that special something that you cannot predict or even imagine.

Ø It is why I love doing what I do!

MONTESSORI

Obviously, I am already talking about a Montessori experience this time.  That is what I do.  But let me go a little deeper than this example—a music program that went BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

How do we EXPECT the UNEXPECTED?

It is what we do in the classroom to help this alone, that makes Montessori so special?  Again, being prepared, well trained, etc…is helpful and necessary.  But, fortunately, it is not enough. I say fortunately, because without this extra something there is no magic.  

As Montessori professionals we need to do more, or at least work toward that end.  We come to recognize the signs and then get out of they way and let ‘BETTER THAN EXPECTED’ march through the door.

I try to ‘go’ where the children lead the lesson.

Let me explain.  I like to be well prepared and even visualize how the children will react to a lesson.  That is helpful to me—it helps me get ready for a job.  But once I am there and the lesson starts I do not get caught up in trying to make THAT vision a reality.  It is very simple—yet very important.  The reality of what happens between the children and I is pure magic—it is so often BETTER THAN EXPECTED—but I am always a little surprised by the effect.

Like I said, I love what I do!