I spent Wednesday afternoon in my son James's classroom. I wasn't volunteering; I was observing. James attends Montessori Children's House, and part of the Montessori philosophy is to observe children as they work. Both parents and teachers are encouraged to watch children carefully in order to learn about them. When I was there, I tried to disappear from the children's awareness. I sat in one place and avoided making eye contact. If a child approached me, I would nod to acknowledge them and then shift my focus. They soon forgot about me and I had the opportunity to truly see my son and the environment in which he spends most of his day. It was wonderful.
I hope that you'll take the same opportunity in the Elms. I invite you to come in and just watch. How does your child interact with our classroom world? How do they settle into their work? How do they overcome difficulty? You may not have any epiphanies, but you'll certainly come away with a little more understanding -- even if it's why those sushi erasers are so important.
And I'm sure I'll learn from you, too. Elizabeth Treat, the uber-volunteer who has been spending three days a week with us, often "just" watches during activities. Our conversations have brought many things to light for me -- I don't get a chance to be invisible in the Elms as much as I'd like.
So...please come. I'll put together a little sheet with things to look for and tips on how to "disappear." Let me know when you're coming so I can make sure we don't have an unusual schedule that day.
See you soon.
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