So yesterday was the three-year anniversary of my mother’s passing. I found myself thinking about how I’ve just completed a three-year cycle, just like we have in Montessori education. In a way, I almost found some comfort in that thought, on what is usually a really difficult day.
Continue reading “Thank you, Mom, for my Montessori life”Why Montessorians Need to Read Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: The Remix by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
As educators, it is our responsibility to teach the children in our care to the best of our knowledge and ability. In order to do that, we need to continue to educate ourselves. There have been advances in science since most of us have been in school. We keep up on that and teach it. And even history gets new pieces added to it. For example, in April 2021, they found the home of Ben Ross, Harriet Tubman’s father. Who knows how much more of her story we will learn now?
Plus a lot of history that we learned in school was only part of the story. Figures who were painted as saints often had some major flaws that also need to be acknowledged. If we want to teach the truth. We need to be aware of the narrative that we are passing on.
Continue reading “Why Montessorians Need to Read Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: The Remix by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi”Patriotic Food Preparation Activities for Kids
Children love to help prepare food, whether for themselves or for friends and family. They can share in patriotic pride as they help to make a variety of red, white, and blue foods for celebrations at home or in the classroom. An added bonus are all of those practical life skills they’re working on, plus you can subtly add in a little history and science while you’re at it. The following ideas are meant for the kids to do on their own, with minimal supervision needed.
Continue reading “Patriotic Food Preparation Activities for Kids”Reflecting on White Fragility as a Montessorian – Concluding Thoughts
I have always been dedicated to promoting diversity in the Montessori classroom. I thought I was doing a decent job at it. I know I have done more than many of my peers. But I also know it has not been enough.
Continue reading “Reflecting on White Fragility as a Montessorian – Concluding Thoughts”Reflecting on White Fragility as a Montessorian – Diversity in Schools Then and Now
One of the things that Robin Diangelo asks us to think about is our schooling. What kind of school did you attend? What was the racial makeup? What about your teachers? Were they male or female, Black or white?
Continue reading “Reflecting on White Fragility as a Montessorian – Diversity in Schools Then and Now”Dear Dad, thank you for my Montessori life.
Today marks 10 years since my father passed away. It doesn’t seem possible that it has been a full decade when so many memories of that difficult time feel as recent as last week. But that’s how time works.
Over the past several months, I have been doing a lot of introspection on the role that Montessori has played in my life, how it still pertains to my life, and how it can impact my future. My father had a large role in that. So today, I want to pay tribute to him for that.
Continue reading “Dear Dad, thank you for my Montessori life.”Reflecting on White Fragility as a Montessorian – Our Excuses
One of our struggles as educators is grappling with the messages we received in our trainings and realizing that what may sound innocent and wonderful is actually problematic and needs to change.
How many of these statements, or versions of these statements, have you made?
Continue reading “Reflecting on White Fragility as a Montessorian – Our Excuses”National Geographic Kids Spring Books #Giveaway Ends 7/4 @NGKidsBks @HomeJobsByMom
I was always on the hunt for quality books in my classroom. The science area, in particular, was one I put a lot of focus on in the later years, eager to add as many realistic books as possible to engage the interest of the children and to whet their appetites for learning even more. The Nat Geo Kids books easily fit that bill. Read on to find out more about them and then enter to win a set for you to keep at home or to donate to a classroom! Continue reading “National Geographic Kids Spring Books #Giveaway Ends 7/4 @NGKidsBks @HomeJobsByMom”
Reflecting on White Fragility as a Montessorian: Black History Month
Every February, we eagerly celebrate Black History Month and tend to focus on the “firsts” – the first Black fill-in-the-blank. In White Fragility, Robin Diangelo uses Jackie Robinson as an example. We celebrate him as being the first Black man allowed to play major league baseball. A great achievement, right? But on page 26 of my paperback copy, she makes this eye-opening observation/statement:
Continue reading “Reflecting on White Fragility as a Montessorian: Black History Month”Reflecting on White Fragility – As a Montessorian: Learning From Past Mistakes
Reading through the introductory portions of White Fragility really sent my brain into overdrive. And this is only the appetizer to the real meat of the book. One particular incident really jumped out in my mind, a situation I didn’t handle as gracefully as I should have. And now I know better.
Continue reading “Reflecting on White Fragility – As a Montessorian: Learning From Past Mistakes”