It’s going to be a good year! Maybe even an amazing, awesome, and transforming one. Coming out of a darkness and depression can be the most high, beautiful, thankful place I can be; so maybe it was worth it? Maybe it was a load put on me that I could indeed bare but only through the help of others, God’s love manifested in their prayers and support. I have so many to thank and want to do so, on this blog:
Sara Kelly, Sarah, Mindy, Jenny – my sisters and housemates.
Elaine and Bill Shelden
Holly, Chip, Corinne and Josie and Buster
Molly, Kathy, Aaron, Suzanne, Lorenza, Paige, Haley, Rachel, Emily – my Montessori peers and friends
Jenell Paris – Anthropology professor
Laura Harrington – Dr. of psychology
Patrick, Gretch, Chris, Eddie, Nick – old and new friends!
My new “home” church called Mosaic has provided another amazing spiritual element to my life. I’ve never felt more welcome to a church or any group setting really. I want to share some of the things we reflected on and were asked to answer personally.
How has God tested my faith?
“coming to Urban Home works (the intentional community I live in) and having such passionate and prayerful roommates made me look at God again as a personal being and who I need to communicate with – in order for any good change to come to my life (which has recently been dried with a hardened heart sometimes because I left that relationship with the Lord.) And I forgot when I do so, She speaks! He’s challenged me to face my anger, jealousy, and pride. God has humbled me in the best way and through my education in Montessori too.” -me
Do you know what your best is?
“my best is loving people and seeing their best. Failure and Confidence too.” -me
And another gentleman shared that he thought it was a great question to ask himself and probably had never thought of it before-however he couldn’t find an answer to it. A woman responded to this saying that that was a sufficient answer and not knowing is a good sign that you haven’t arrived yet. I liked that.
Would you be willing to give your best to God?
Heck yes! But your best will not always be recognized by the world – be humbled and ok with it.
Do you have an action plan to begin to use your gifts, strengths, and talents?
Heck yes!
I will continue to be consistent in all areas of life, growing in self-discipline through God’s grace.
I will continue to reach out and ask for help.
**Dr. Laura Harrington opened my eyes to this truth:
“when you ask a person to help you, that is honoring them.”
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Rewards and Punishments
A surprising discovery made through Dr. Maria Montessori's observation of the first group of children in a children's house, in Rome Italy in 1907.
No need for rewards or punishment—Children have an Intrinsic Desire to learn. Observation of children has led to the knowledge that a child’s desire to learn comes from within and so rewards and praise are not necessary and can even decrease that intrinsic desire. From a recent study today, (years later after Montessori discovered this keep in mind) when two groups of children were given a task and one group promised a reward at the end and the other no reward—children in the group given a reward did it more quickly and would not repeat. The other children would take their time—showing that sustained interest leads to a deeper understanding. Again this was so surprising to Montessori that many experiments and further observation were necessary for her conclusion to abolish the rewards and punishment technique on children for it did no good and even could do damage to that internal drive in children.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Truth
I wrote a poem, after getting home from a bike ride today...I call it Truth because that is a word hard for me to define, but now I'm a little closer to it, I think:)
Truth
I saw truth and beauty in a sunset today.
I stopped riding my bike so I could practice mindfulness.
I simply wanted to stop and sit in the straw grass near to the edge of the lake and stones.
So I did.
I parked my bike to the fence and sat down among the straw that almost hid me, it was so tall.
I stared straight ahead at the small pinkish area of the sky. This was only the beginning of the revelation to come.
I kept my attention focused on that area and gradually but without visible movement that I could identify, the color spread upwards and outwards.
It was still a solid color, contrasting very much to the very solid blue skyline.
Then it came.
The holes, cracks, openings in the pink color emerged and rapidly grew outwards and spread quite rapidly.
The thought came to me, was planted in my mind, that these holes, cracks, openings in the pink color of the sunset were the flaws in me.
My weaknesses, my secrets, my vulnerability, my self-consciousness, my ugliness, my flaws
They were spreading to fill the entire sky I could see.
As it spread, I began to appreciate the look, the view I was experiencing was nice.
It was different than the solid pink.
It gave texture. It reminded me of a ripple in water when it is disturbed by something, like a stone or log.
The stone is sin. The stone could be sin.
Or the stone is the environment. The stone could be the environment that formed me to be who I am.
The rapidity to which the holes, cracks, openings spread made me think it was moved by some force.
A life force, I call a spirit, the soul, the Holy Spirit.
I’ve been taught and have accepted-
that God’s Holy Spirit dwells somewhere within every person in the world.
Therefore I thought to myself, watching the truth of the sunset dance before me…
God’s spirit, God’s self moves through us, through our holes, cracks, openings
And it was beautiful.
It was truth.
I couldn’t deny what was in front of me.
Truth
I saw truth and beauty in a sunset today.
I stopped riding my bike so I could practice mindfulness.
I simply wanted to stop and sit in the straw grass near to the edge of the lake and stones.
So I did.
I parked my bike to the fence and sat down among the straw that almost hid me, it was so tall.
I stared straight ahead at the small pinkish area of the sky. This was only the beginning of the revelation to come.
I kept my attention focused on that area and gradually but without visible movement that I could identify, the color spread upwards and outwards.
It was still a solid color, contrasting very much to the very solid blue skyline.
Then it came.
The holes, cracks, openings in the pink color emerged and rapidly grew outwards and spread quite rapidly.
The thought came to me, was planted in my mind, that these holes, cracks, openings in the pink color of the sunset were the flaws in me.
My weaknesses, my secrets, my vulnerability, my self-consciousness, my ugliness, my flaws
They were spreading to fill the entire sky I could see.
As it spread, I began to appreciate the look, the view I was experiencing was nice.
It was different than the solid pink.
It gave texture. It reminded me of a ripple in water when it is disturbed by something, like a stone or log.
The stone is sin. The stone could be sin.
Or the stone is the environment. The stone could be the environment that formed me to be who I am.
The rapidity to which the holes, cracks, openings spread made me think it was moved by some force.
A life force, I call a spirit, the soul, the Holy Spirit.
I’ve been taught and have accepted-
that God’s Holy Spirit dwells somewhere within every person in the world.
Therefore I thought to myself, watching the truth of the sunset dance before me…
God’s spirit, God’s self moves through us, through our holes, cracks, openings
And it was beautiful.
It was truth.
I couldn’t deny what was in front of me.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Humbly Bringing Change
Dr. Maria Montessori said,
"How splendid it would be
if we could, by standing ready
by treating the child intelligently
with understanding of his vital needs
prolong the period in which he has this capacity to absorb!
What a service we should render mankind
if we could help the human being to acquire knowledge without fatigue
If people could find themselves replete with information without knowing how they came by it-as it were by magic!
Thought it is true, is it not,
that all the works of nature are
perhaps, magical and mysterious?"
:)
-p. 28 in The Absorbent Mind
Thursday, October 6, 2011
KoriMontessorus!
I don't even know where to begin, but I think this is the best place and time as any. As many of you know I moved about a month ago to Minnesota to attend MTCM, the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota, in Saint Paul. I do have to say that thus far, the experience has been more than I could have expected! In the quality, the inspirational aspect, the dedication of the staff and my fellow trainees couldn't be any better. I finally feel I am where I should be in terms of a vocation and calling in life and although I am aware of how much further I have to go, I simply know I am stepping into a beautiful and significant profession. Montessori is so complex and different than any other method or tradition of education taught, that I know of, and I do get overwhelmed when someone who is unfamiliar with it asks me, "well what exactly is Montessori?" I get overwhelmed because I want so badly to do it justice and accuracy but have again a long way to go in developing this, what I see now as, skill...And that is what this blog is for now as well, to help me explain to the world unfamiliar with Montessori, what it is.
The Montessori method was developed over years of observation and trial and error scientific experimentation by a woman beyond her time, a genius really, and to me an anthropologist through and through. By profession however she was a physician, and the first woman to attain an M.D. in Italy (University of Rome) in 1896!! She then pursued a second degree in the Art, Science, and Profession of Teaching and from 1897-1898 Maria gained all the knowledge she could by reading all major works on education philosophy in the last 200 years. That is only the beginning of her impressive life.
What I absolutely love though, is where the seeds of the method came out of, that we now implement in Montessori schools around the world. (It is important to note too that Dr. Montessori never wanted it to called a method and merely gave credit to the children; And encouraged adults to look to the child, to follow the child and continue to learn from them.)
It all began after Maria Montessori worked with disabled children and produced amazing results in their test scores. She did this through introducing them to materials, many of which first were created by two important men: Gaspard Itard (1775-1838) and Edouard Seguin (1812-1880) who both researched and built upon their findings that children learn much better through engaging all their senses. After she was praised for these results, Maria was actually more intrigued and interested to see if "normal children" were being held back and not pushed to their potential and wanted to try out these materials on them. She was later given this opportunity through a crazy story and series of events that took place in the San Lorenzo district in an old housing project, coined the "shame of Italy", that began to be revived in the early 1900's. Dr. Montessori was then called upon to see to the children there who were left alone all day when the adults would go to work...to be continued:)
the daily quote, because she is so quotable!
"This phenomenon of creation and evolution makes manifest the power of God, who chose to make the newborn appear infinitely frail, while endowing him with the omnipotence of superhuman energies." San Remo Lecture: III The Absorbent Mind
endnote: the title 'KoriMontessorus" was created by one of housemates! Shout out to B-Love.
The Montessori method was developed over years of observation and trial and error scientific experimentation by a woman beyond her time, a genius really, and to me an anthropologist through and through. By profession however she was a physician, and the first woman to attain an M.D. in Italy (University of Rome) in 1896!! She then pursued a second degree in the Art, Science, and Profession of Teaching and from 1897-1898 Maria gained all the knowledge she could by reading all major works on education philosophy in the last 200 years. That is only the beginning of her impressive life.
What I absolutely love though, is where the seeds of the method came out of, that we now implement in Montessori schools around the world. (It is important to note too that Dr. Montessori never wanted it to called a method and merely gave credit to the children; And encouraged adults to look to the child, to follow the child and continue to learn from them.)
It all began after Maria Montessori worked with disabled children and produced amazing results in their test scores. She did this through introducing them to materials, many of which first were created by two important men: Gaspard Itard (1775-1838) and Edouard Seguin (1812-1880) who both researched and built upon their findings that children learn much better through engaging all their senses. After she was praised for these results, Maria was actually more intrigued and interested to see if "normal children" were being held back and not pushed to their potential and wanted to try out these materials on them. She was later given this opportunity through a crazy story and series of events that took place in the San Lorenzo district in an old housing project, coined the "shame of Italy", that began to be revived in the early 1900's. Dr. Montessori was then called upon to see to the children there who were left alone all day when the adults would go to work...to be continued:)
the daily quote, because she is so quotable!
"This phenomenon of creation and evolution makes manifest the power of God, who chose to make the newborn appear infinitely frail, while endowing him with the omnipotence of superhuman energies." San Remo Lecture: III The Absorbent Mind
endnote: the title 'KoriMontessorus" was created by one of housemates! Shout out to B-Love.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
I Will Change My Ways
These lyrics have recently hit home for me in my life at present, and I'd like to share them:) I know many see these as a break-up song lyrics, but it has many meanings, which is super neat and talented I think in song lyrics.
--------------------------------------------------
"It's empty in the valley of your heart. The sun, it rises slowly as you walk, Away from all the fears And all the faults you've left behind.
--------------------------------------------------
My Cave is depression, dependence. what's yours, do you have one? have you had one in the past you have walked out of?
My Sirens are the negative thoughts that bombard my head whenever i try to do the right, healthy and best thing for me in the moment. the sirens never seem to shut-up, but you just learn how to speak back, ignore or just push through the lies to the light, to the truth.
I liked to read what others have thought about the words and appreciated them greatly.
--------------------------------------------------
"It's empty in the valley of your heart. The sun, it rises slowly as you walk, Away from all the fears And all the faults you've left behind.
The harvest left no food for you to eat. You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see But I have seen the same I know the shame in your defeat.
But I will hold on hope and I won't let you choke, On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain And I will change my ways I'll know my name as it's called again
Cause I have other things to fill my time. You take what is yours and I'll take mine. Now let me at the truth Which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears. I can see widows and orphans through my tears I know my call despite my faults And despite my growing fears
But I will hold on hope And I won't let you choke On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain And I will change my ways. I'll know my name as it's called again
So come out of your cave walking on your hands And see the world hanging upside down. You can understand dependence When you know the maker's hand
So make your siren's call And sing all you want I will not hear what you have to say. Cause I need freedom now And I need to know how To live my life as it's meant to be
And I will hold on hope And I won't let you choke On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain And I will change my ways I'll know my name as it's called again."
--------------------------------------------------
My Cave is depression, dependence. what's yours, do you have one? have you had one in the past you have walked out of?
My Sirens are the negative thoughts that bombard my head whenever i try to do the right, healthy and best thing for me in the moment. the sirens never seem to shut-up, but you just learn how to speak back, ignore or just push through the lies to the light, to the truth.
I liked to read what others have thought about the words and appreciated them greatly.
a new mantra - I will find strength in Pain.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A Spiritual Nurturer
A quote from the Book: Nurturing the Spirit: In Non-Sectarian Classrooms
"I am a spiritual nurturer...I don't have to instill spirituality in a child, we have only to protect it from being trampled on and to nourish its growth."
ONE of the many reasons I can't wait to be a Montessori Teacher:)
"I am a spiritual nurturer...I don't have to instill spirituality in a child, we have only to protect it from being trampled on and to nourish its growth."
ONE of the many reasons I can't wait to be a Montessori Teacher:)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
stages of grief
Please watch this in its entirety, the first part explains what it is about:) this was on last evening's show of So You Think You Can Dance?
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
me today :) blasting in my car
I saw you today
My familiar stranger
Everything's changed
You have come so far
You're different now
Would you go back, would you want to anyhow
Chorus: Say goodbye, say goodbye
To the you I knew before
Say hello, say hello to a new beginning
Say goodbye, say goodbye
To the you I knew before
This is your genesis
Face to face
The present and past collide
And it's no mistake
I see the future is in your eyes
You seem so free
Like nothing's ever gonna keep you down
Chorus
You're different now
You're different somehow
You're different now
Chorus
Say goodbye, say goodbye
My familiar stranger
Everything's changed
You have come so far
You're different now
Would you go back, would you want to anyhow
Chorus: Say goodbye, say goodbye
To the you I knew before
Say hello, say hello to a new beginning
Say goodbye, say goodbye
To the you I knew before
This is your genesis
Face to face
The present and past collide
And it's no mistake
I see the future is in your eyes
You seem so free
Like nothing's ever gonna keep you down
Chorus
You're different now
You're different somehow
You're different now
Chorus
Say goodbye, say goodbye
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