This began for me long before I was old enough to attend school. My mom is a Montessori teacher and director of Montessori Discovery School. My grandmother was a Montessori teacher, a special education assistant, an immigrant, and a med student 2 courses short of becoming an MD (that's another story)! My aunt is a kindergarten teacher. My dad has worked for the Salk Institute for over 40 years and he is a talent musician. My grandfather also worked for the Salk Institute after immigrating to the US from Northern Ireland. He was a talented carpenter and craftsman. I start with this information to give you insight on with whom I spent my childhood. These 5 people greatly influenced my outlook on education, leadership, and my place in this world.
If you are like me and grew up in a family of teachers you know what it is like. Vacations are always educational (and fun) and well organized. Learning was woven into every interaction they had with my brother and me. The foundations of Montessori education greatly influenced their interactions with us as well. In my school experience, before my first time attending public school as a 1st grader, I attended Montessori preschool and kindergarten programs. Learning was driven by my curiosity and guided by the teachers' understanding of my developmental needs. From a child's perspective it didn't "feel like learning" it just felt natural and fun. At home, I spent a majority of my time playing outside or making and constructing things. Even as teenagers my brother and I spent more time outdoors, playing sports, performing in plays, or dancing than in front of a TV. So the idea of learning happening through real-life experiences was a message that my family lived each day and the adults in my life intentionally gave us opportunities to discover this truth for ourselves. My grandfather and dad taught me how to use real tools to design and build things from scrap wood as young child. The critical thinking skills they pushed me to develop at a young age have supported me my entire life. The value of personal relationships was modeled so clearly to me as I grew older and more aware of how kind and selfless these adults were with their colleagues, friends, and complete strangers. I noticed how others looked up to them for guidance in personal and professional situations. This became extremely evident 6 years ago after my grandfather passed away and the brilliant people he had known through his job spoke of how touched they were by his character- his "true north".
When I was 17, I began working as an assistant at the preschool/kindergarten which my mom owns, directs, and teaches. This experience greatly shaped my vision of myself as an educator. I attended multiple conferences for early childhood education and hours of Montessori professional development workshops over the 6 years I was an official employee. I now was experiencing facilitating that student centered learning I had enjoyed as a young child. I was privileged to see that sparkle in a child's eye when she finally "got it" again and again. I began to understand why my mom, grandmother, and aunt chose to become teachers. I knew that education was the career I wanted to pursue. I didn't know if I wanted to work in the private or public setting though. This is when my aunt became a guiding light. Like me, she too had worked at Montessori Discovery School and had much training in Montessori methods. Through many conversations and time in her kindergarten classroom I came to the conclusion that I wanted to work in public schools. Not because I agreed fully with the model of public education, but because I felt there was a need for other methods of teaching to be available for all children not just those whose parents can afford private elementary school. I felt that my almost innate feeling about guiding learning rather than dictating it needed to have a place in public education.
Now, I do not pretend that my beliefs are unique. There are literally thousands of people and lots of research and now even the CA Common Core Standards that put great value on student centered, collaborative learning. I wanted to add my voice to that song. I teach because I've experience the power of authentic learning opportunities and I want my students to also have this foundation in their lives. The values and ideals my family has modeled for me speaks louder than any words they've spoken. It for this reason I believe the statements about education and learning that I made in my previous post.