When I first came to this school, I wasn't thinking about being home with mom or a babysitter until I was is kindergarten. I wasn't thinking about how a lot of kids were different than me in going to school at a much later age. I definitely didn't think I went to daycare, namely because my parents didn't think about it that way, and they didn't talk to me about it in that way. Even now, I don't consider my time spent before the age of five, daycare, simply because it makes up such a big part of who I am.
Twelve years ago, I wasn't thinking about the full life I had ahead of me and how to spend it. Now, at the end of the Montessori era in my life, I'm ready to immerse myself in everything that comes with going to public school, like sports events, classes, dances, and just the overall experience. Change has been a big part of my life lately, almost all for the better. I think the best way to be ready for change is to embrace it. I am ready for change, equipped with many tools Montessori has given me; helping me become the person I am and want to be.
Observing in the classrooms was very interesting. As I worked my way up from two year olds to twelve year olds, I really began to see how things were similar in each classroom. For example, recently I learned that the binomial cube, (a lesson I have been working with since primary) is actually used to learn algebra when you get to around sixth and seventh grade. That's how early we start handling materials used later for complicated mathematics. Another thing I noticed is that the colors red, blue, and green are often seen in many of the materials, and that feeds directly into many materials used for math at a higher level.
Peace and respect are other skills that are grown through all ages. They are practiced in the Stepping Stones classes, the Primary classrooms, Lower, and Upper elementary classes. They are even practiced regularly by the teachers and adults in the classrooms. Observing in the classrooms has been a wonderful experience that has let me hone my respect and peace skills with children of all ages.
Observing in the Stepping Stones' class was almost comical, as I imagined myself when I was two and three doing the exact same things the students were doing. Memories hid in every corner of the room, even if they were just ghosts of memories, feelings and ideas. It was very easy for me to be around children of that age, because I have spent so much time around me younger sister, Claire, who is two.
It wasn't as easy for me to be around the primary students, even though I still knew how to handle it if one approached me during my observation. It was hard mainly because I wasn't as familiar with the way the children's minds worked. How much did they know about why I was there? I wanted to make as little disruption as possible, so I had to choose my words carefully.
Lower Elementary was interesting and very different considering I knew most of the kids in the class pretty well. My sister is that age, but interacting with her is very different from the way I interact with the kids from Lower Elementary because I've known Norah since the day she was born.
The Upper Elementary classroom is a second home, because I've changed and grown with it in the past three years. My Upper Elementary years have been some of the best I have had in my Montessori era. Every year, there have been different and exciting new people to meet and become friends with. My first year in Upper Elementary was very new, and was full of change. We had moved into a fellowship hall that belonged to a church across the street, but it was still an awesome Montessori experience. This year, my last year as an Upper student and as a Montessori student, time flew by fast. I met new friends like Siniya, Claire, Elia, Keoki, Aaron, and Lily. I continued to learn with a friend I've known for years, Abby.
At Montessori, I've helped, been helped, got a chance to observe and watch others do the right thing, something Montessori has taught us all to do. Montessori has started a fire, helping enable me to do everything I want to do in life. I've learned how to communicate with others around me, and to stand my ground when I know what the right decision is for me to make. I'm sad that I have to let the bigger part of Montessori for me go, but I'm ready to take on the world. I'll never forget how much Montessori helped me, and how much it is still helping me today.
-Eliza Patterson, 12 years old-
