It feels like it was long ago that I learned that it is relationships, not just hard work or personal interest, that make things happen. Sure, you can ‘get things done’ without having any real connection to or care about the people with whom you interact, but it is in finding and nurturing connections with others where we infuse a job or initiative with meaning, commitment, and longevity. It is through our efforts to listen to and notice the capabilities and worth of others that we bring energy and appreciation to ideas. And it is in taking the time and finding the silence and humility to step out of the center and recognize the motives, needs, and aspirations of others that we find our purpose rather than invent or impose it.
It is wonderful to be reminded of this concept by being back in the Dominican Republic, working with 3MM. We are immersed in a setting where I can feel the warmth of developed and developing relationships, with individuals who are excited about the work and the people before them.
A year has passed and much has changed. The space is being remodeled, staff have come and gone and come back again, and enrollment seems to have skyrocketed. Still, it seems as if Wendy and I have been able pick up where we left off -- and I truly hope that we are appropriately and effectively expressing our commitment to the school and the community.
It is a big thing to be trusted by one individual, much more so by a whole group of individuals with a shared purpose. I do not take trust lightly and, therefore, I tread lightly.
I want this program and the entire experience to be valuable and eye opening for our Buffalo State participants. But I also very much want to meet the needs of the 3MM students and staff and to stay in line with their mission and vision for the children in their care.
So each week we schedule a group meeting to discuss progress and questions. At the meetings our participants have shared the experiences they have had with the children and ask for guidance and tips that can make future interactions even better. Also, for nearly a week we welcomed Mary, a teacher from Buffalo’s Bennett Park Montessori, into our group. She became a valuable Montessori resource for the teacher candidates (as well as the 3MM teachers) modeling activities and lessons.
Each day our group interacts with children and they work hard to remain within the parameters defined by the Montessori method and 3MM teachers. Even though they are filled with their own teaching methods and interests, child development theories, and school experiences, I am proud to say that our teacher candidates have been treading lightly as well…showing respect while sharing their knowledge, time, and enthusiasm.
It is wonderful to be reminded of this concept by being back in the Dominican Republic, working with 3MM. We are immersed in a setting where I can feel the warmth of developed and developing relationships, with individuals who are excited about the work and the people before them.
A year has passed and much has changed. The space is being remodeled, staff have come and gone and come back again, and enrollment seems to have skyrocketed. Still, it seems as if Wendy and I have been able pick up where we left off -- and I truly hope that we are appropriately and effectively expressing our commitment to the school and the community.
It is a big thing to be trusted by one individual, much more so by a whole group of individuals with a shared purpose. I do not take trust lightly and, therefore, I tread lightly.
I want this program and the entire experience to be valuable and eye opening for our Buffalo State participants. But I also very much want to meet the needs of the 3MM students and staff and to stay in line with their mission and vision for the children in their care.
So each week we schedule a group meeting to discuss progress and questions. At the meetings our participants have shared the experiences they have had with the children and ask for guidance and tips that can make future interactions even better. Also, for nearly a week we welcomed Mary, a teacher from Buffalo’s Bennett Park Montessori, into our group. She became a valuable Montessori resource for the teacher candidates (as well as the 3MM teachers) modeling activities and lessons.
Each day our group interacts with children and they work hard to remain within the parameters defined by the Montessori method and 3MM teachers. Even though they are filled with their own teaching methods and interests, child development theories, and school experiences, I am proud to say that our teacher candidates have been treading lightly as well…showing respect while sharing their knowledge, time, and enthusiasm.