Head-Long into Life

This shows how I feel about my latest venture.

The girl in this Norman Rockwell painting has determination written all over her face. She is running 'head-long' to her art class, I assume, and she may be a little late.

This is how I describe how I feel about finishing something I started in 2003--my Master's Degree.

• I am determined to get it done--soon, I hope
• I am in a hurry to get started--Jan. if all goes well
• delayed BUT never too late

We all need determination when we face a challenge.  It helps us through the tough times and gives us what we need to rise to the difficult task in front of us.  Without determination we would wither and fade when facing the first bump in the road.

Sometimes a sense of urgency can get us off the 'slow track' and help us simply "get-er-done".  As long as we go 'head-long' into something that we have thoughtfully and carefully discerned to be what we are meant to be--or do--or become. 

• It is never to late to learn.  
• It is never to late to make a difference.  
• It is never to late to make positive changes to ones self or ones community.

  

• It is a waste of time to regret what we have not learned.
•  It is a waste of time and energy to complain about  our lives--whatever the complaint is
• It is a waste of time to worry about things we do not like about our life and community.

We must be willing to be part of the process of change, to reap the reward of that change.

MONTESSORI

• Determination
• Diving head-long into a project
• Sense of urgency

I often see 'determination' on the face of the children I am privileged to work with.  Whether it be to in learning a new song about Venezuela or to place the smallest cube on top of the Pink Tower, just so.  This is a beautiful thing to watch.  We give the children a safe, rich environment to bring that determination and accomplish amazing things.

Children frequently dive 'head-long' into a project and get consumed with finishing that task and accomplish so much more in the process.  Think about a child that finishes all of the Cube Chains.  He/she has counted, organized, laid out and put away, so much work, rugs, counters, number arrows, over several months time.  The child can be truly proud of work well done.

The sense of 'urgency' can be good and not so good.  If it come from the child and he/she is following that voice inside that tells us all when we need to "get-er-done, then that is the voice to listen to.  If the sense of urgency is an impatient parent or teacher, that can be a negative influence on the child's natural development and growth.  This is the delicate balance we contently have to maintain. 

But it is so rewarding and FUN to be a part of the kind of educational system that cares about the child at this basic and unchanging level.  

I am proud to be a Montessorian!

Friday

FRIDAY

This picture is by Norman Rockwell.

Once again, it is the end of another work week. I have had 3 very busy and challenging weeks at work. My class got 7 new children as of January 4th. These children need a lot of extra attention to become familiar with the work in our room, the rules we have, and in general--get used to being away from Mom and Dad and be happy in school.

Things are going very well. It is nice having more children in the room. Nineteen seemed to be a small class. Now we have 26 (when everyone is present) and we are busy, and the children seem happy. The "new" children are fitting into the classroom routine, and making friends. It is great to see that happen.

As for the teachers--there are three of us in the room most of the time. The addition of 7 more children is good for us--we all have plenty to do and that makes the time go by quickly.

I had a particularly great group activity yesterday. We talked about several thing. Starting with the calendar. I told them that yesterday was in the past, today is the present, and tomorrow is the future. After doing our calendar activity I turned the conversation another direction. We talked about how Norman Rockwell (this month's featured Artist) painted pictures that helped teach people lessons. The conversation lead to a discussion about HOPE. What do you HOPE for. Many children hoped for a certain treat like ice cream or candy. Then I said--OK, no more hopes about food, what else do you hope for? A 5 year old boy said, "I hope one day I will have only one house to live in." (His parents are divorced and have shared custody.) Other children hoped to become Basketball players and Ballerinas. It was one of those magical moments in the classroom. I was so proud of being a teacher that day!

My advice to you today is to think about what you HOPE for. Think big so that you will go about your day and week with HOPE IN YOU HEART.

Take care,

MissT