“The first essential for the child’s development is concentration. The child who concentrates is immensely happy.”
I haven't written much about our classroom but you've seen some photographs. My mom set up our back room as the girl's Montessori classroom. It's been a work in progress but about 6 months ago, we got very serious. Our classroom follows a "loose" organization pattern, typical to a traditional Montessori classroom. We've got a handful of the following materials:
Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, and Cultural which are organized onto shelves. This is typical of an Primary Montessori classroom which includes children ages 3-6. Of course our classroom is geared to Tessa and Teagan so, in that way, it's a version of the Primary classroom. For more info on the Montessori classroom, click here:
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We paint back there, we have snack back there, we read back there. Tessa very affectionately thanks Nana for her classroom, almost everyday we are back there. "Thank you my Nana for making my classroom. I like to do my big work, thank you Nana." I try to spend some time each day with the girls in our classroom, doing something from the shelves. It's usually Tessa's idea or these days, Teagan will open the door and call for me to "Come!" It's been a wonderful gift Nana had given us.
It isn't something we "must" do but something instead that seems to just be a part of what we do. It's space in our home serves as emphasis on Maria Montessori's philosophy (the woman who created Montessori) that learning is intrinsic in children. That there is is no separation between learning and living, their development is their "big work" and their learning. “And so we discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.”
The following videos are in the classroom. Tessa and our dear friend Libby are working on the Knobless Cylinders and Teagan and Will are using... (I forget the name).
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
you be great
Our days are met with more flow than ebb lately. Since Brians' travels and my being alone with the girls, I've found a way to connect to the magic of mothering. And what I mean is the creative being with children. The house hasn't lost anything by me not paying so much attention to it, in fact somehow, in this shift, my house is doing just fine. No major wash pileups, no unbeardble messes that haven't been tended to. (Well, the floor under Teagan's seat at the table is rather questionable...but...!!!). We've eaten just as well but somehow it's just been easier lately. And I'm teaching quite a lot of swimming lessons. But in it, I've taken some steps back and found an easier path. (Not my usual way, so I am quite proud of myself for this shifting.) It is, of course, a constant shifting whether or not I am engaged in it but for now, the shift is subtle and soothing.
A few funny moments in our house lately with both girls. Here's a few:
Teagan has been sitting on the potty, completely on her own accord and the other day she climbed up there and peed. She then motioned for the toilet paper, which Brian handed to her. She wiped and put it in the potty. She is amazing us, really. Mostly the amazement comes from the fact that with our first children such as with Tessa, we tried to match her development. She would present something to us and we'd offer it or provide the situation for her to repeat whatever it was that she had done. But with Teagan, and because she has Tessa sho sets the pace for our activities (using the potty for example) Teagan has an opportunity to do more. By do more, I simply mean we give her the chance to amaze us. It's as if, she, and I truly believe most children, have great potential if only we give them the opportunity.
Teagan is also diving to the bottom of the pool (with a little push) and picking up toys. Even me, as a swim teacher, never did this with Tessa as 14 months. But Teagan sees Tessa and why not?
After nursing Teagan the other night at bedtime, she laid down on the bed and looked at me then patted her butt. I followed her lead, patted her butt and she fell asleep within minutes... what our children are telling us, if only we listen!
As for Ms. Tess, as she approaches her 3rd birthday (which she clearly and proudly will tell you is September 15. Not 15th but 15) she has been finding such ease. She's managing to temper herself before reacting. I see it as her being able to identify her feelings and then process them before they take over. The other night she wasn't too happy about my having her sit up on my lap to read stories, as she wanted to be jumping on the bed!
So in my arms, very tired but resisting me, she said, "Mama I no loving you right now." I said, "That's okay, Tessa. I still love you." She repeated her statement, "I no loving you and I no like your hair in that kind of ponytail. It no look pretty." I then said, "Tessa it sounds like you're feeling angry, huh? I could understand that."
We proceeded to read the story and then she looked up, touched my face and said,"You are pretty mama." So many things happening in that conversation! Her identifying her emotions, her expressing them, moving on, then her apology in the end.
Today, as I left to teach swimming, she was crying a bit. I told her I would read with her when I got home and she felt soothed. She said, "Mama, I walk you out to your car. You take Dada's car, right? And I walk you out. You seem to have your hands full mama, I shut the door for you so you not be too tired for swimming lessons."
She kissed me and shut the car door. Opened the car door and said, "Mama you be great at swimming, k? You be great!"
And on that note, may we all be great!
A few funny moments in our house lately with both girls. Here's a few:
Teagan has been sitting on the potty, completely on her own accord and the other day she climbed up there and peed. She then motioned for the toilet paper, which Brian handed to her. She wiped and put it in the potty. She is amazing us, really. Mostly the amazement comes from the fact that with our first children such as with Tessa, we tried to match her development. She would present something to us and we'd offer it or provide the situation for her to repeat whatever it was that she had done. But with Teagan, and because she has Tessa sho sets the pace for our activities (using the potty for example) Teagan has an opportunity to do more. By do more, I simply mean we give her the chance to amaze us. It's as if, she, and I truly believe most children, have great potential if only we give them the opportunity.
Teagan is also diving to the bottom of the pool (with a little push) and picking up toys. Even me, as a swim teacher, never did this with Tessa as 14 months. But Teagan sees Tessa and why not?
After nursing Teagan the other night at bedtime, she laid down on the bed and looked at me then patted her butt. I followed her lead, patted her butt and she fell asleep within minutes... what our children are telling us, if only we listen!
As for Ms. Tess, as she approaches her 3rd birthday (which she clearly and proudly will tell you is September 15. Not 15th but 15) she has been finding such ease. She's managing to temper herself before reacting. I see it as her being able to identify her feelings and then process them before they take over. The other night she wasn't too happy about my having her sit up on my lap to read stories, as she wanted to be jumping on the bed!
So in my arms, very tired but resisting me, she said, "Mama I no loving you right now." I said, "That's okay, Tessa. I still love you." She repeated her statement, "I no loving you and I no like your hair in that kind of ponytail. It no look pretty." I then said, "Tessa it sounds like you're feeling angry, huh? I could understand that."
We proceeded to read the story and then she looked up, touched my face and said,"You are pretty mama." So many things happening in that conversation! Her identifying her emotions, her expressing them, moving on, then her apology in the end.
Today, as I left to teach swimming, she was crying a bit. I told her I would read with her when I got home and she felt soothed. She said, "Mama, I walk you out to your car. You take Dada's car, right? And I walk you out. You seem to have your hands full mama, I shut the door for you so you not be too tired for swimming lessons."
She kissed me and shut the car door. Opened the car door and said, "Mama you be great at swimming, k? You be great!"
And on that note, may we all be great!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Magic
This past weekend Brian was in Vermont and then in Boston. He went to spend time with our very close friends, Dari and Syd. We met Dari and Syd when we were living in Boston. They were barley dating and Dari and I became perfect running partners: she was a bit faster than me but I made up for it with my consistency and ability to plan out runs across the city.
Eventually, they moved in together and we lived down the street from them in Beacon Hill. We were the perfect neighbors: I would cook and they always brought ice cream for desert. And we've become perfect friends: I love both Dari and Syd and they love both me and Brian. And it turns out our friendship was never something we had to build, it has always been a beautiful trust and unearthly bond. We haven't been together much lately but it seems all we have to do is think of one another and our love stretches across the country. And we've had fun too, if Syd and I can relax enough to let Dari and Brian make us laugh! Well, probably more me than Syd but Syd, like me, is sensitive and at times prone to odd ailments, so.... relaxing doesn't come very easily to him either. But we're a good balance to Dari and Bri!
Well, Syd's stepmom passed away a few weeks ago and instead of a funeral, they had a celebration. Brian flew to Vermont to be there. It was in Dari's words, "magical." There was a ceremony with music and readings and speaking among the hills and fields of Lareau Farm. And just as his mom wished... the food was great, the live music was fabulous, the dancing was fun, the people laughed and cried... and it lasted until the wee hours of the night! How lucky for those who were there, to witness such a celebration in honor of a woman they loved.
And for Brian to have the opportunity to be with Dari and Syd, they slept in a log cabin and then spent the weekend riding bikes around Boston... it really soothed them all. A truly special time and though I wasn't there physically I feel fortunate as well, to be among Dari and Syd and Bri in the place where we all met, during such an intimate time. So thank you Dari and Syd for letting Brian and I in.
As for what I did last weekend... I found some magic as well! Tessa, Teagan and I did very little, made hardly any plans and simply lived in fun. I played with them and they appreciated it. We laughed and worked in our classroom and painted and swam and ran and jumped and slept together and I was lucky enough to hone in on who I really am as a mother. No distraction, just mothering and the creative joy of it overcame us. Tessa had very grown up behavior, and at one point said, "Mama my whole body feels happy." Teagan was as usual, bloomed with love. Here are a few of our moments.
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Eventually, they moved in together and we lived down the street from them in Beacon Hill. We were the perfect neighbors: I would cook and they always brought ice cream for desert. And we've become perfect friends: I love both Dari and Syd and they love both me and Brian. And it turns out our friendship was never something we had to build, it has always been a beautiful trust and unearthly bond. We haven't been together much lately but it seems all we have to do is think of one another and our love stretches across the country. And we've had fun too, if Syd and I can relax enough to let Dari and Brian make us laugh! Well, probably more me than Syd but Syd, like me, is sensitive and at times prone to odd ailments, so.... relaxing doesn't come very easily to him either. But we're a good balance to Dari and Bri!
Well, Syd's stepmom passed away a few weeks ago and instead of a funeral, they had a celebration. Brian flew to Vermont to be there. It was in Dari's words, "magical." There was a ceremony with music and readings and speaking among the hills and fields of Lareau Farm. And just as his mom wished... the food was great, the live music was fabulous, the dancing was fun, the people laughed and cried... and it lasted until the wee hours of the night! How lucky for those who were there, to witness such a celebration in honor of a woman they loved.
And for Brian to have the opportunity to be with Dari and Syd, they slept in a log cabin and then spent the weekend riding bikes around Boston... it really soothed them all. A truly special time and though I wasn't there physically I feel fortunate as well, to be among Dari and Syd and Bri in the place where we all met, during such an intimate time. So thank you Dari and Syd for letting Brian and I in.
As for what I did last weekend... I found some magic as well! Tessa, Teagan and I did very little, made hardly any plans and simply lived in fun. I played with them and they appreciated it. We laughed and worked in our classroom and painted and swam and ran and jumped and slept together and I was lucky enough to hone in on who I really am as a mother. No distraction, just mothering and the creative joy of it overcame us. Tessa had very grown up behavior, and at one point said, "Mama my whole body feels happy." Teagan was as usual, bloomed with love. Here are a few of our moments.
>
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