Por /By Diane M Nickerson, MS Ed.
Castle Island Bilingual Montessori
Getting Ready for Back-to-School
(Hint: It’s not just the school supplies shopping)
What do a tantrum throwing preschooler and a hardcore rap music blasting teenager have in common? Both are exploring their limits, an important aspect in the process of learning. And beyond gathering the sharpened #2 Pencils, new spiral notebooks and glue sticks for the first day of school, let me please share with you how we, the adults, can get ready for the start of the new school year:
Right now, at home and at school, parents and educators are getting ready for children to do their best learning. At my school, the way the teachers do this is to prepare themselves first. We know that when the adults, the ones who are guiding the learning, are ready, then the children will be able to absorb and practice with, including making mistakes, new information and skills. I know for sure that from practice (lots and lots of it from my work to guide both students and my own four sons) that when we can
remember first to breathe, then to observe, and finally to think, I stop being reactive to children’s unwanted behavior. Then, and this is the important part for creating opportunities for the child to gain the best learning, I can offer to them options so that they themselves can make good choices.