Resilience
I have the pleasure of attending the AMI USA (Association Montessori International USA) Montessori Conference this weekend which I did for the first time as an assistant in the Primary environment so many years ago. This event brings together Montessorians from all over the country. It offers us an opportunity to connect again and, of course, dive deep into the theme of the conference, this year, Resilience (such a timely theme!).
Resilience is such a perfect word for Montessori pedagogy and everything it encompasses. Dr. Montessori was incredibly resilient, which can be seen in her life's story. It was a required trait for her as the first woman to attend medical school in Italy and so many other significant accomplishments of her life. Resilience is a trait we foster in the children in the classroom. We do this through every part of the environment. The teacher (or the guide) supports the child's resilience in the way we allow the child the space to persevere and figure out challenges on their own before stepping in to help; the materials offer the child the power to work independently (without the need of an adult) until the skill is mastered, the adults in the classroom model resilience in their every movement. Resilience is a human trait we encourage, foster, and support in every way we interact with the child.
Having resilience as the theme of this year's conference is so perfect because of how deeply rooted this trait is in our work and because the world has been testing our collective resilience these days. We have all been forced to adapt and find new ways to interact with each other, offer and receive the various services of our community safely and well, adjust to a new way of living in a world of COVID-19. It has affected every area of our lives and forced us to pull up our resilience, sometimes out of the deepest corners of our being, for us to succeed and thrive.
On the first day of this conference, I have already learned that we are not alone. We are surrounded by amazing, capable, tremendously resilient people who, when asked, are here to support us, to help lift us and walk alongside us as we work through the challenges of life, whether that is COVID-19 related or just the regular yet challenging shifting world that brings its own difficulties every day. I have been reminded that we are a part of a global community of humanity that genuinely cheers us on, collectively and individually. I have been reminded that we are in this together. And this is what I want to remind our WFMS community: We are in this together!
I can't wait to share all the amazing things I am being reminded of and learning here with the staff, the children, and all of you!
