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October-On Courage

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:54:02 GMT

Courage

“ Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy! ”

— Ms. Frizzle

Why Courage Matters at Leelanau Montessori

At Leelanau Montessori, we talk about courage because growing into who you are takes courage. In a Montessori classroom, children are continually invited to try things for themselvesto make choices, solve problems, work through challenges, speak honestly, and keep going when something doesn't come easily. They are given freedom, but that freedom comes with responsibility. They are learning not only what they can do, but who they are becoming.

If you've ever heard me talk about why I love Montessori, I've probably talked about the concept of friendliness with error. Dr. Maria Montessori recognized that mistakes are a natural and necessary part of learning. Our classrooms are designed to give children opportunities to notice their own errors, make corrections, and try again. Rather than an adult immediately pointing out what went wrong, the environment often allows the child to discover it for themselves.

This creates a very different relationship with mistakes.

nstead of thinking, I got it wrong, so I must not be good at this, a child can begin to think, Something didn't work. What can I learn from it? What can I try differently?

That takes courage.

It takes courage to attempt something new, to admit when something didn't work, to ask for help, to speak up, to repair a relationship, or to begin again. These small moments happen every day in a Montessori classroom, and over time they help children develop confidence in their ability to navigate life's challenges.

We use the language of courage at Leelanau Montessori because we want children to recognize that courage is not about getting everything right. It is about being willing to engage, to learn, to grow, and to try again. Our hope is that children leave us knowing themselves as capable people-people who can make choices, learn from their experiences, take responsibility for their actions, and contribute their own unique voice to a community.

Because each child has their own story and their own way of seeing the world. Courage helps them find the strength to live that story fully-and to make room for others to do the same.

Community Spotlight: By Sheila Willobee

Sheila is an alumni parent of LMPSA and is currently travelling the world with her family, Marshall, Lennon and Sawyer!

Looking back, I shouldn't have been so surprised that not everyone would share in the excitement over our family's new plan.

The Plan:

Live in Mexico for thirty days (give or take a month), travel around South America (unless we didn't feel like it by then), head down to the South Pacific (maybe Australia, but more likely New Zealand) and find a spot that felt like home. If we couldn't find such a place, then re-evaluate our options and go from there.

There was the standard line of questioning.

Have you ever been to Mexico, South America, or New Zealand? No.
Are you going to sell your house? Yes.
Are you going to keep all your stuff? With few exceptions, no.
What about school? We'll teach the kids at home.

But the biggest question on everyone's minds was saved for last and delivered in a hushed tone: "But...what if you don't like it?" To which we always replied, "Then we'll just come back home."

And the listener's reaction to that answer - either growing understanding or utter bewilderment - taught us a lot about how people view risk.

It became apparent that the people we'd forged relationships with inside the Montessori community were the most understanding and supportive of our new adventure. What was less apparent, but no less true, was that this same group of people were the ones that had given us the courage to embark on our new chapter in the first place.

Over the last 7 years, our family has steadily built a close-knit group of friends with the families and staff at Leelanau Montessori. During that time, our children have had their fair share of bad days. And, frankly, so have I. On some days, my children (like yours, I assume) were selfish. Sometimes, surly. Often, tired. More often, late. Timid. Distracted. "Very busy."

But also, my children (much like yours, I assume) were thoughtful. Empathetic. Artistic. Gentle. Patient. Determined. A kind friend.

Within this community, my children and I shared good ideas and bad ideas. Became silly and became frustrated. We did things we were proud of. And things we were not so proud of. We tried and succeeded. And we tried and failed. And, through it all, we were accepted by the people who call this special school home. It felt consistent. Unconditional. And in the cocoon of consistent, unconditional support, taking chances feels a lot less risky.

Our LMPSA family didn't teach us how to be courageous; they taught us that their support was unwavering, and that support has given our family the courage to do something truly out-of-the-box. Selling everything we own to travel without a final destination in mind? It's a crazy idea. One that might work. Or it might not. Either way, we know we have an amazing community rooting for us, and we will always have a place to come back home to, filled with people who support and accept us - crazy ideas and all.

Family Conversation

Can you think of a time you did something that you weren't sure you could do, but did it anyway?
Did you see anyone being courageous today at school?
How does it feel when you are about to do something you aren't sure you can do? How does it feel once you've tried it once?
Do you think being brave and courageous are the same thing?
Do you think all courageous things have to be about big things? Or can you be courageous in little ways?
Can you think of a time when you made a mistake and had the courage to try again?
Can you think of a time when you had the courage to speak up, ask for help, or tell someone what you needed?

"You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore."

-William Faulkner

Staff Perspective:

By Hope Rhan | Sprouts Guide

For far too many years I sat on the shore waiting for my life to change. Waiting for life to feel meaningful. Waiting for a change to happen all by itself. For 6 years, I worked in a restaurant completely hating the service industry yet I stayed because it was comfortable, the money was good, and I liked my bosses. Until one day I woke up and finally found the courage to admit to myself that I was utterly miserable and that I would have to make a change, life wouldn't just change by itself.

So I decided that I wanted to try and work in childcare. I began working in a daycare. I loved spending my days with the children and enjoyed building connections with their families. But I was treading water. It was so close to right but I felt like something was missing, something big. I eventually left the daycare and went back to working in a restaurant. I felt defeated, like I swam back to shore. Until a regular at the restaurant encouraged me to apply to LMPSA. I was hesitant, almost didn't even apply as I had no proper qualifications. Honestly, I didn't really know what a montessori school entailed. I applied and to my surprise, I was offered a position as an assistant in the toddler community.

I immediately felt inspired, I was surrounded by a community of educators who truly were there to serve the children. Not only did my colleagues inspire me but the children too. The Montessori pedagogy filled the missing pieces that the daycare lacked. The piece that stood out to me the most was the emotional education that was seamlessly integrated into the curriculum. Somehow, a class of 12 energetic and enthusiastic toddlers felt peaceful. I began to see the horizon again. I've never liked school, in fact hated it. But by the end of the first year, I applied to attend AMI 0-3 teacher training to receive my Montessori degree.

The teacher training I applied to was hosted in Portland, Oregon. I'd never traveled alone, let alone lived alone in a new city. I was anxious to say the least. Again, I found the courage to not only attend this training but to make a step towards a future for myself that truly called to me. Attending and obtaining my AMI degree was one of the most challenging yet rewarding, and life changing experiences.

For a while,It was too easy to get caught up in thinking that only big courageous moments are when life finally changes as that's when we see the most immediate changes. When in reality, it was multiple small acts of courage that changed my life.

Thank you for reading this month’s newsletter!

The Monthly Branch

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:49:18 GMT

Belonging

“ True belonging doesn't require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are. ”

— Brené Brown

Belonging is a word that seems to be everywhere right now. I'll admit, I usually hesitate when certain words suddenly become part of our everyday vocabulary. Sometimes they get used so often that they begin to lose the very meaning that made them powerful in the first place.

But belonging is different.

Belonging is the reason I am here. It is why I chose Montessori education as my life's work. It is why my partner and I chose this community for our own children. Long before belonging became a popular conversation, it was quietly shaping the way I understood education and the kind of world I hoped children could grow up in.

At Leelanau Montessori, we believe children are not simply preparing for life someday—they are living it now. Every day they experience what it means to be known, to be trusted, to be needed, and to be loved for exactly who they are. They also discover something equally important: that belonging isn't about fitting in or becoming more like everyone else. It's about bringing your whole self into a community that is stronger because you are part of it.

That kind of belonging asks something of all of us. It asks us to see one another, to make space for differences, to practice empathy, to repair when relationships become strained, and to celebrate one another's gifts. None of us does this perfectly. We learn it together.

To me, that is one of the greatest gifts we can offer children, a place where they know, without question, "I matter here." If our children leave our school believing that about themselves and extending that same gift to others, then we have done something truly meaningful.

Family Conversation:

One of the beautiful things about belonging (and most feelings for that matter) is that children can experience it and feel it long before they can name it. Here are some conversation starters to ask your children around the dinner table or in the car on the way home from school to get some insight into how they are experiencing belonging.

Who are you excited to see tomorrow?
What makes our classroom feel cozy and safe?
When did you feel like you were an important part of your class today?
What makes someone feel welcome?
When do you feel most like yourself at school?

Community Spotlight:

By Tess Waechter Smith

Belonging - a word that may evoke many stories, many experiences , many feelings perhaps of love and comfort, of longing and likely of pain and fear.

A definition my teacher taught me of belonging comes from tracing the etymology. Belonging means “to be in the long.” That is, it is a practice, a practice between beings. Belonging is a shared knowing that we cultivate and nurture overtime about how we be together.

And, we already belong. Nothing we have to do or be to earn it. Because we live and breathe, we belong to life. It is inherent - that means for our kids too.

It’s inherent, it’s a practice and it is essential to our survival as humans. The reality is we don’t always feel as though we belong. From the time we are young, we collect myths that wound our belonging making it seem conditional. In order to belong, we have to look a certain way, act a certain way, believe a certain thing. It is a practiced reality that we collectively live inside of, and it is a myth. Therefore, we can practice something different.

And, we already belong. Nothing we have to do or be to earn it. Because we live and breathe, we belong to life. It is inherent - that means for our kids too.

It’s inherent, it’s a practice and it is essential to our survival as humans.

The reality is we don’t always feel as though we belong.

From the time we are young, we collect myths that wound our belonging making it seem conditional. In order to belong, we have to look a certain way, act a certain way, believe a certain thing. It is a practiced reality that we collectively live inside of, and it is a myth. Therefore, we can practice something different.

Here’s an invitation to practice: Because of these wounds, sometime starting with other humans can feel like too much. So we can start with the trees, the water, the birds - even our pets!

Pause here. Take a breath, feel the ground and your feet. Let your gaze get softer and widen letting in more peripheral vision. With your next breath, imagine your lungs getting wider and filled with more air, feel the width of your shoulders, your hips, your toes. You belong to the trees and their roots, the water and its flow, the birds and their songs, your pet and their love. How might you feel that connection in your body? What becomes more available to you as you feel into this inherent belonging?

Some of the most powerful ways we can teach and offer our kids is through our own practice and embodiment of our values. Your practice toward belonging will be witnessed and felt by your kids.

We can also invite them into practice with us. On a walk, speak about how we belong to the trees and the earth. At bedtime or as you begin your day, touch your foreheads together with the out loud reminder - “we belong to each other.” What else? Think of a way you might practice belonging for yourself and a practice you could share with your kids.

Welcome to the web, you belong. We belong.

Staff Perspective:

By Janelle Cole | Cherry Lead guide

I have been an educator for as long as I can remember. My mom will tell you it began when I was 18 months old and my little brother, Stu, was born. I decided he was mine—mine to guard, teach, and direct. I’m sure he very much appreciated being my guinea pig as I helpfully taught him everything he didn’t need to know.

As I grew up, I coached, tutored, and volunteered in a variety of educational settings. My mom homeschooled me with the principles of growth mindset, exploration and discovery, and self-directed learning with guidance. As a result, I fell in love with learning—and with education.

That’s why my senior year of college was such a shock. Once I began working in classrooms, I remember thinking, "This isn’t the kind of education I signed up for… This curriculum preps kids for a trivia night nobody asked for, not real life." So I left.

For the next few years I raced road bikes, then moved to Colorado, where I learned carpentry, rode dirt bikes, and embraced mountain life. It was exciting, challenging, and full of problem-solving, but I still felt like I was searching for where I belonged.

Then my brother unexpectedly died.

Without the one person I always belonged with, regardless of time or distance, I was completely adrift. I returned to Michigan, half-heartedly searched for work, and landed in a Pre-K daycare. Whatever that fever dream was, it was decidedly not where I belonged.

One Friday night, at the end of my already impressively short rope, I Googled, "schools that prepare kids for actual life things" A blog about Montessori education appeared. My first thought was, "Ah yes, underwater basket weaving school. Why not?" But something made me keep reading, and before long I knew I had to try this. It was my Hail Mary—the last of my hope for a future in education.

Indeed brought me to LMPSA, where I met Arden, toured the school, and observed the classrooms. I was offered tea, a fresh-baked muffin, and smiles from children radiating joy and curiosity. After hearing about my background and philosophy of education, Arden said something I’ll never forget:

"I think you’re a Montessorian, and I want to offer you the job.”

A weight I didn’t know I’d been carrying lifted. For the first time in years, I felt like I had found where I belonged.

That feeling has only grown stronger.

In Montessori—and at LMPSA especially—I found people who cherish childhood, believe deeply in the responsibility and freedom of education, and choose hope over convenience. I found colleagues who know that belonging is more than showing up; it’s investing in a community, helping others grow, and leaving things better than we found them.

I found my home among Montessorians—parents, children, and guides—who choose the harder path because they believe it is the better one. I remain deeply grateful to have found my sense of belonging in the Montessori world, and at LMPSA, my home.

Thank you for reading this month’s newsletter!

Coffee & Conversation

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 07:27:25 GMT

Coffee and Conversation: Collaborating to Cultivate Potential

Laura has a Bachelor's of Arts from University of MIchigan, Primary AMI training from Montessori Northwest, a Masters from Loyola University and 15 years experience in Montessori teaching.

We know that it takes a village! Gather with Laura and other parents to discuss your child's growth and gain insight and support into human development and building bridges from Montessori to home.