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.

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!