“We shall walk together on this path of life,
for all things are part of the universe
and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.”
Dr. Maria Montessori, To Educate the Human Potential
Claudia Mann, MEd
303.907.0297
Recognize this Logo and Quotation? It’s my email signature. Maybe you’ve written me and seen it. If not, I hope you’ll reach out! ([email protected]) I’d love to know you and the part of the world you live in and love!
This Montessori quote is likely my favorite, although choosing is always difficult; there are SO MANY good ones to inspire. For me, it is the notion that we are all connected to form one whole Universe that touches my heart. I fully believe this to be true.
Years ago, I was part of a fellowship that did that typical thing of looking into your personality. I came up as a Connector. No surprise there. But traveling affords opportunities to connect in completely fresh ways.
This month I’m traveling again. It’s a gift to be able to spend time transporting myself around the globe and I’m so grateful for it. With that said, I thought I’d send you some of the highlights of my trip and why they matter.
If you choose to read on, you will learn that I was part of the AMS Innovation Fellowship Think Tank (IFTT). One of my groups focused on Inclusion. Our project was sharing stories to help us Understand, Heal, and Belong to one another.
We know that everyone has a story of exclusion or inclusion that has impacted their lives or may be continuing to impact their lives in both negative and positive ways. In our effort to bring the Montessori community together, we collected stories of teaching, guiding, growing, and coming together to face the challenges of inclusion that happen each and every day in our schools and classrooms. There’s been a lot of connecting in this work!
After a year of gathering individual histories, we’ve come to believe that sharing stories is the perfect starting point in forming a foundation of peace. In the coming months, I look forward to sharing more of our work and more of everyone’s stories for certain. If you’d like to share YOUR MontesStori, please reach back and let me know. I’ll give you all the details so you can decide if participating is for you.
In the meantime, we’ll be finding out how we may walk together on the path of life, or discovering connections between us that we never knew!
What I’m experiencing throughout this month of travel is the value of connecting, merging, and growing in understanding of new cultures, experiences, and, always, the people. In a world that seems so easily divided on painful lines, it is my hope and my mission to sow a few seeds of love through mutual sharing and increased understanding.
For now, here’s a little run-down of where I’ve been and where I’m headed!
Orlando: American Montessori Society – The Montessori Event
This year was no different in the reunion of friends that I value so much, but there was a fresh twist of joining with a group of new and new-ish friends as part of the Innovation Fellowship Think Tank. One of my two groups became particularly close this year, so joining with them to present our work was filled with love and gratitude. Our work on Inclusion brought us together and we had opportunities to share our work in presentations and recording stories at the conference.
My long-time mentee, Tatenda Blessing Muchiriri, received the Innovator Award this year. I couldn’t be more proud of his amazing work and, again, so full of gratitude for being able to walk this path alongside him.
Mexico
After a month in Mexico in November, we couldn’t wait to get back. This time, we are visiting our friends in Leon, Guanajuato as our home base. We’re gearing up with some new products for Fossilicious.com and we’re looking forward to connecting with a couple of schools here who are interested in using the Spanish translations of our Paleontology for Kids books in their elementary and secondary classes. Woohoo! In addition to just enjoying Leon, and its surroundings, I’m using this month to finish up my workshop for the Trillium P2P Montessori and Ecological Consciousness Summit that will be available this summer!
But it’s not all work and no play for sure! A temazcal in Juventino Rosas and a day-trip to Lagos de Moreno gave us opportunities to meet and enjoy people who share our passions. It is amazing to feel these heart-connections. We have more trips on the horizon to Cuernavaca and Mexico City, with a USA family rendezvous the night before we say goodbye to our friends on the southern side of the border.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
After sunny Mexico, I’ll travel to Calgary for the Children Change the World Montessori Conference. Last year was my first time at this very special conference and I can’t wait to go back! I’ll be offering the Saturday morning Keynote and two additional presentations: Cosmic Education and the Science of Reading and Keeping Cosmic Education at the Heart of the Elementary Program. My presentations always focus on Cosmic Education; which, of course is totally about connection!
Back in the USA
After CCtW, I’ll head to Oakland and Livermore, CA for a couple of days visiting schools and family before finally turning toward home. It will be wonderful to see Montessori friends in the area, once again enjoying connection through our love of all things Montessori.
So what’s all this have to do with Montessori education? For me, travel IS connecting to the universal world of humanity. It is a way that we can overcome the sense of division and detachment that seems to permeate social media and news these days. It’s also the very best way to experience our one whole unity!
