Cleansing, Wikipedia defines this term as ‘the elimination of undesirable elements’. When you think about it, this could relate to anything – food, drink, people, clutter, even your own thoughts. Anything that you find ‘undesirable’ can and should be cleansed out of your life. But how motivated are you to make it happen? Spring is [...]
Blog
Me too!
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013
I met a Montessori teacher from Seattle recently – we were both working on organizing a new teacher-training program in Canada. Right away I saw something familiar about her, although we had never met. I peered through my glasses and untamed hair at her glasses and untamed hair and had the feeling I was looking [...]
Seasons of Change
Sunday, March 17th, 2013
Ahh, the concept of ‘spring forward’ – who decided that this would be a good idea? Well, they must not have had small children. I had read about how you should prepare for daylight savings by making your child’s bedtime 15-minutes earlier every night the week before. Yeah, right – as if that would really [...]
Immigration
Friday, March 1st, 2013
Bruce and I hadn’t been to Vancouver since the ‘70’s. And then you barely slowed down as you crossed the border. So as I was happily talking to the customs officer at the airport explaining that I had been invited as a guest speaker at a college, it didn’t occur to me that this could [...]
Your Relationship With Food
Wednesday, February 20th, 2013
I love food! I love tasting all different flavors – and I love how I feel when I am full. I love dining at restaurants. A nice meal out where you don’t have to make a mess in the kitchen is addicting. Simple, easy, no clean-up. Pay someone else to do it, and go home [...]
Balance
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012
Last week I stopped in the Moose Tracks Class to watch them playing a version of the “Have You Ever?” game. The children stood in a circle while one stood in the middle and said, “If you like to swim in the ocean, switch places.” Everyone who liked to swim in the ocean switched places [...]
The Montessori Way
Friday, June 1st, 2012
A Montessori school is a collection of children, teachers and parents who are all there for the same reason. We have all sought out a place where there is academic stimulation, respect, safety, support and peace. We often see the child’s sigh of relief when walking into class after the morning’s hectic pace. Teachers feel [...]
Montessori Living
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
We experienced a very sad episode in our lives last week. A former student of mine died in his sleep at the age of 20 from complications related to sleep apnea. Through the funeral I thought about Justin’s sweet nature, his angelic little 4-year-old face surrounded by a halo of shaggy blond hair. He lit [...]
Education for Life
Saturday, March 24th, 2012
It’s that time of year again – sunlight shining where it hasn’t in months, snow falling when you really don’t think it will, giddy rehearsals for the Earth Day play, teachers planning to close out this school year with the all the pomp and circumstance that is due. As teachers happily discuss summer plans, I [...]
The Quiet Crisis in Science
Friday, February 3rd, 2012
I was recently part of a group invited to examine the education curriculum at a local university. Someone commented, “We could reduce the number of science and math classes – our teachers see science and math and they run.” I couldn’t help but blurt out, “How are the children ever going to learn to love [...]
Dual Language vs Dual Immersion
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
These are hot topics in the Park City public schools this year – “dual immersion”, “Spanish immersion”, “French immersion”. Public schools have been experimenting with the immersion approach where half the day is taught in English and half the day is taught in a second language. Park City public schools hope that dual immersion Spanish [...]
The Light In Their Eyes
Monday, December 12th, 2011
I ran into an old friend the other day. She regaled me with how her little boy, a former student, who is now 25, is enjoying a very successful career as a model. He was the beautiful little 3-year-old who was interested in everything, seemed to learn to read by osmosis, always knew something amazing [...]
I love my job!
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
I love my job! I get to wander in and out of classrooms every day, talk to little friends, teach a few odd classes here and there, dress up as Typhoid Mary and Queen Isabella and organize teacher workshops, conferences and parties. I get to visit schools throughout Utah and everywhere else I may go. [...]
Parent/Infant Program
Friday, October 7th, 2011
Soaring Wings Montessori School gave birth to a new program a few weeks ago – a class for parents and infants. The principle is the same as in all Montessori classes – the room is carefully prepared with activities specific to the needs of the children. The teacher is trained in the developmental aspects of [...]
A Child’s Choice
Sunday, September 18th, 2011
The Montessori philosophy is built upon the concept of promoting independence by giving a child choices. When the student walks into the classroom, whether she is 18 months old or 11 years old, the teacher greets her and asks, “What would you like to do today?” A toddler student sees something attractive and heads toward [...]
