A colleague and good friend of mine describes people’s stories about finding Montessori as their Montessori Love Story. I am partial, obviously, but I think mine is pretty amazing.
Being an elementary teacher was not something I ever thought I would be. I had gone to undergrad with a major in Geography with an emphasis on Computer Mapping and Geospatial Analysis. I had thought about going into education to teach middle school earth science around junior year, but for fear of my mother’s wrath, I knew it was too late to change majors (I’m joking, my mother is lovely.) So, I promised myself that if I ever got bored of the geospatial computer mapping world, I would go back to school to be a teacher.
I was on track to start my career as a geospatial analyst with a job offer before graduating in December of 2008. I was going to sit in a dark room with giant 3D glasses on my face, digitizing aerial photographs for the US Government. I know, exciting. I graduated and signed an apartment lease to move from the DC Metro area to St. Louis…when the economy tanked, and the company pulled my job offer. Dark times.
Something told me I was supposed to come to St. Louis despite not having a job. It felt like it was where I belonged. So with carry-on bags stuffed with pots and sheets, I moved across the country via plane. Once there, in an empty apartment with an air mattress, folding table, and two chairs, I applied for 250 jobs over two months, landing a gig as a receptionist at a doctor’s office.
While I loved this type of work, I slowly realized I was NOT a desk person – at all. Remembering my promise to myself, I enrolled in a MAT program to get my Missouri teacher certification in middle school science along with my master’s degree. I quit my job, became a graduate TA for the athletics academic department (cue me telling wrestlers to get it together), and enrolled full-time in school.
I was in my first survey class when about halfway through the semester, our professor told us that we would be visiting a Montessori school the following week. She told us that we couldn’t ever really “get” Montessori sitting in a lecture; we had to go see it. (Interestingly enough, this professor’s children were taught by one of my future mentors, who happens to be one of the most incredible humans on the face of the planet.)
I hadn’t ever heard of Montessori before. But, like most, I thought maybe it had to do with a religion made up of monks (be honest, you thought that too when you first heard the name.)
I showed up and walked into a primary classroom. It was adorable with tiny aprons, little chairs, and cute guinea pigs. I thought it was pretty cool. The head of school spoke with us about the primary class and then said we would go to the elementary classrooms.
We walked into that elementary classroom, and my life changed. I had never really understood what people meant by having a “calling.” But standing in that beautiful Montessori Lower Elementary classroom, I felt like I had been there my whole life. I felt like I was standing exactly where I was supposed to be. Everything was so inviting and stunning. I felt like I could sit down, settle in, and never leave.
The head of school took out the Timeline of Life, explained a few lessons to us, and let us walk around. After that, they said we were always welcome to come to observe, and they would be happy to talk to us more about Montessori. So I made an appointment with them before I left and was back the following week to visit. This was in October of 2010. By January, I was signed up for AMI Montessori Elementary training at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee.
I began training in June of 2011 and became a new person. What Montessori can do for a child changed everything for me. My whole outlook on life was different. What if I have been lucky enough to be a Montessori kid? Where would I be? Would I have actually had the courage to go for my dream of being a veterinarian? Would I have not struggled so much in school, learning that I was truly smart and capable?
I mean, who knows. If I had done all that, I might not be here doing my calling as a Montessori Elementary teacher. It puts me even deeper in the belief that everything that is supposed to happen happens, even if we can’t or don’t ever see why.
All that to say, Montessori can change the world. By allowing the whole child to develop to their fullest potential, who knows what we as humans could accomplish. I know I am sounding mega cheesy (this is my passion, after all), but it is what stirs me. It keeps me up at night; when I am so excited about the work, I get to do it the next day that I can’t stop thinking about it enough to shut my brain down.
Imagine what it would be like if ALL children had access to authentic Montessori, no matter their location or socioeconomic status. I could rant about the system of education in this country, the systematic racism and lack of respect education and educators get, and the lack of funding and commitment to this country’s children. But I won’t. At least not right now. Because this is a love story, damn it.
If you are new to Montessori, dig deeper and check it out. Know I am always here to chatter on about how great it is. Just click the contact me section of the website or leave a comment. We can hang out.