End of Year Reflections
From our youngest to our oldest, we have grown so much!
I still can't believe how incredibly well yesterday went. It was a perfect example of preparing the environment and then following the child in true Montessori fashion.
I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. It felt so good to see our community together for the first time; it felt whole. We have come so far this year, all of us. So many firsts, so much trust, and an incredible amount of passion created an amazing school year. Not even COVID can keep us down!
I know I said it before, but it can not be said enough; thank you. Thank you for finding us, for supporting us, for trusting us with your beautiful children. We are truly so honored to spend this time with the children and guide and teach them.
It was so much fun to watch the toddlers walk the bridge with such pride. Watching them grow this year has been such a treat. I remember those timid faces, unsure of what was expected of them, uncertain about leaving their parents at the car, and now I can hardly keep up with them as I walk them to the door and they run to get to class, eager to start their day. And now, welcoming the transitioning toddlers into the Primary classroom, well, it's exciting.
And those Primary kids...ugh! Some of those kiddos were with me last year; some joined us for the first time this year. All of them have created such beautiful bonds and connections that I know will be felt for years to come. We weren't able to celebrate the end of the year last year (stupid COVID). This was the first time we officially acknowledged our friends that are moving up and out. I can't lie; it was hard for me. I know it is time, and they are ready (and we still have ALL of the summer together), but dude...I'm gonna miss these guys!
I may not be with the children and connect with them the way Ms. Ellen and Ms. Jill do. They do the heavy lifting of observing, planning, and teaching. I get to do the fun stuff and have lovely conversations about birds recognized, rocks collected, and discoveries made. I am lucky to get quick hugs when I come downstairs and occasionally comfort a friend that is feeling sad. And frankly, I love it. I love that I still get to connect and bond with your children even though I am no longer officially in the classroom.
I do also want to acknowledge Ms. Ellen and Ms. Jill. I tried to yesterday, but words and big emotions don't always work well together. We really aren't anything without them.
Ms. Ellen stepped into my classroom, and she deals with me still saying "our room" even though it is 100% hers. It is a hard habit to break. I love the passion she brings with her every single day. Dr. Montessori described the work of the teacher as:
"The teacher's task is not a small, easy one! She has to prepare a huge amount of knowledge to satisfy the child's mental hunger. She is not like the ordinary teacher, limited by a syllabus. The needs of the child are clearly more difficult to answer."
Ms. Ellen sees each of the children as individuals and meets each right where they are. She comes in each day ready to prepare the environment for each child in that classroom. She observes, she listen, and she prepares. We are so lucky to have her!
Ms. Jill joined us right after the move to this location. Not only was the building new to Ms. Jill, but it was also new to all of us, which made for a lot of learning curves. Ms. Jill rolled with it right along with the rest of us. That ability to see the big picture, be flexible when needed while staying true to the pedagogy is exactly how Ms. Jill approaches her day in the classroom. So thankful Ms. Jill joined Wild Fern!
So there you have it. The end of the 2020-2021 Academic Year. A wild ride for sure, but worth each and every moment. I would do it again in a heartbeat. This is good because our summer program begins on June 28th, and we will be welcoming all of you back!
I can't wait to see all the smiling faces!
