I've realized something about myself that is hard to admit - especially in such a public forum as the school blog...but confession is good for the soul, right? So here goes:
I'm not good at blogging.
There, I said it. I think the hardest thing about blogging is the consistency required. I think of things I want to write about, things I think our school community would like to read about and then promptly get distracted by other things and never get around to blogging. (Maybe you feel obligated to read the blog and are actually happy that I don't blog consistently. If so, please don't tell me - that would seriously hurt my feelings.)
Training yourself, disciplining yourself to do something consistently is a skill. It is a skill that often sets people apart whether they are more disciplined in their exercise routine and eating habits resulting in better health or their finances resulting in opportunities to be more generous to those in need or having extra money during times of crisis or in their daily meditation practices making them more balanced and in tune with their feelings and emotions.
Think about the people you know that you would describe as consistent or disciplined. How does that characteristic play out in their everyday lives? What is it about that person that sets them apart in your mind as "disciplined?" Is that something you desire? For yourself? For your child?
Montessori is about being consistent and disciplined. Children are taught from very early ages to consistently approach a task until success or completion. As Dr. Montessori said, "The more the capacity to concentrate is developed, the more often the profound tranquility in work is achieved, then the clearer will be the manifestation of discipline within the child." What this truly means for your Montessori student is that the work he delves into everyday is teaching him to be disciplined, not externally by false motivators like grades or stickers or even the praise of adults but more importantly self-disciplined by internal motivators like a sense of accomplishment and pride, a desire to grow and learn new things, and the pure joy of discovering his fullest potential. And all that aside from the actual academic learning that is taking place.
Even though blogging is hard for me to do consistently, I find joy (and thus motivation) in sharing small insights into the world of Montessori with you - hopefully helping you more fully understand your choice of Montessori education for your child and better equipping you to explain that choice to others.
I'll try to be more consistent but as the old adage goes "blogging up is hard to do."
Actually that was a song by Neil Sedaka called "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" which was an awesome song from the 60s - I just love oldies. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbad22CKlB4.
