Repetition. You hear this word often in Montessori. The child learns through repeating work with the material until he or she can achieve understanding. In addition repetition of experience is also very important. Last year we started going to camp twice: once in the fall for three days and once in the spring for five. When I noticed a close bond forming between the students in the spring, I wanted this opportunity for the children at the beginning of the year. The students also expressed a desire to attend camp alone as a school community instead of with another school, like we do in the spring. I felt that the two experiences would be very beneficial for the students. I wanted them to experience a goal setting/ leadership program that was centered on themselves and community service. In the spring, when they are with new people, they could take lessons that they learned from the fall and apply them by taking a leadership role.
Some of the students have done this program for almost three years. Every year I see how they bring a new aspect of themselves to the experience. The 5th years are more confident and are more open to the activities that are done with the students. The 6th years become leaders. The 4th years come into this with new eyes, not knowing what to expect, and teach the 5th and 6th years never to anticipate the outcome.
They all know the acronyms: Fist of Five, Brain ROVER, and VERPS. After three years, they all had this part down. But, none of them could remember everything that they leaned the previous years, nor was it expressed in the same manner as the previous years. When they did leadership activities, there was struggle, frustration, and exuberant joy when they were able to figure out how to work together. Students with stronger personalities had to learn how to step back and listen to other’s ideas. Students, whose personalities are a bit more timid, had to learn how to voice their opinion. In the end, they all had to learn how to work with different personalities and needs of others. They learned how to empower each other.
One big aspect of the leadership program is giving back to the community through service. The students have brainstormed some ideas that we will be working on throughout the year. They are expected to talk about this when we go back in the spring. They have many wonderful ideas.
In the end, I have discovered that for the children repetition is more than repeating something for memorization. They begin to realize that it is important to go into a situation with an open mind, even if you had done it a few times before. You are never the same person from year to year. You have experiences that mature you and open your eyes to new possibilities. When you are confident and knowledgeable with a circumstance, you can solve the problems that arise with more creativity. I saw this first hand with some of the fifth and sixth years. The fourth years are just starting out. It will be interesting to see how they apply their previous knowledge in the spring with the new challenges that are presented.
“I would like to remind you that although you may have done something similar to this last fall, that you have not done it with the group that you are with at this time.” Francesca, Miniwanca counselor.
Sincerely,
Christine