by Michelle Landry
On August 2nd and 3rd of this year, my husband and co-Director Roy, myself, and our lead teacher Alison, attended the Danbury workshop, led by Lee Havis IMS. What began as a professional workshop among teachers has blossomed into tangible changes that affect the way the children in our program learn and work within our classrooms.
One of the primary lessons of Lee’s method is fostering independence through freedom of choice with the least amount of adult involvement. As we notice the children gaining confidence in their abilities to choose work and move freely about the classroom, we have seen increased engagement among peers and less dependency on the adults in the environment.
Another recurring theme during the workshop was the careful art of observation and patient waiting. Taking the time to use imagination previsioning before making a move was discussed. We, as teachers, are still finding it difficult to truly observe, without intrusion, or imposing our own agendas, but know that with time and commitment on our part, the prepared environment will encourage thoughtful and responsive choices of curriculum, which will benefit each child’s individual needs.
Finally, the workshop was a wonderful opportunity for us to ask questions, practice protocols, and receive firsthand clarification on how to put the scientific education into practice. I particularly enjoyed practicing behavioral interventions using role play and interacting with other Montessori teachers with the same mindset and goals for their programs! We left the workshop, feeling encouraged and equipped with the knowledge necessary to bring about a true natural reality of peace, order and harmony in our classroom. I encourage others to attend!