Retreating to the Country

 This past weekend we went on a staff retreat.  I took all the lovely ladies of Maple Tree to a beautiful guest house in Port Williams at Taproot Farms.  The House is called Swallows Nest because of all the nesting swallows around the house and property.  I really can't even begin to express to you how utterly beautiful it is there and how perfect it was for us.

In this picture you can see a beautiful symbol on the mantle.  We were told that the original owner was a Waldorf teacher and that she use to host the children she taught in the house for special times.  The place felt magical and it was the right place for six Montessori Teachers to get together and connect not only on a personal level but also to reconnect with some of our materials and work.

Everything was included in our farm stay.  We had amazing food brought to use each day that was local and organic.  We had a massage therapist come in a give each teacher a 45 minute massage.  We hiked, we drank a fair bit of wine, we laughed a lot and we got closer and became even better friends.

 We also worked with the materials and practiced with our master teacher.  Thank You Ms. Wendy!! We love you for this and we sooooo appreciated you sharing your incredible work binder.

 I have included some pictures from Ms. Wendy's binder because you need to see how much work went into making it.  Both Ms. Wendy and myself come from teacher training that dictated that we make our materials.  Material making was just as important as showing your teacher you knew how to use the materials.

Many new Montessori Teachers do not have to make their material anymore and in Ms. Wendy's case she also had to type up the paperwork to complete her work.  Can you imagine?  She typed and she confessed to us that it took her forever because she wasn't much of a typist!

It was important to me to have Ms. Wendy share her binder with us.  I wanted our teachers to see what was expected back then and see also that although some things have become modernized all the basic fundamentals and foundation is still the same.  I think Maria Montessori would be happy to know we still do it her way and nothing has really changed.  If anything, I would say we have a deeper more profound respect for what we do.

PS, if you haven't ever gone to Taproot Farms and you think you might enjoy a farm stay or being a part of their CSA check them out at:
www.taprootfarms.ca