Inside Escuela: Work Share

One of the Montessori classroom’s most compelling elements is that it is interest-driven. The classroom is carefully prepared, so it is primed to meet the students’ intellectual curiosity, wherever it may lead. Miraculous discoveries happen daily; however, as parents of these fortunate students, we rarely witness these moments. The most dedicated parents (even those who are Montessori teachers!) can feel frustrated after endless days of asking, “What did you do today?” and hearing only about lunch or the playground. Much of the learning is experiential, meaning that our children have multi-sensory, transformative learning moments, leaving little or no physical evidence for us to see.

It is, therefore, no surprise that Escuela’s Work Share event is one of the year’s most anticipated and popular opportunities for parent engagement. It offers a window into the mystery of the Montessori classroom and its innovative materials. Work Share is an opportunity for children to show their parents the space where they work each day and some of the activities they love. It is a chance for children to offer parents a tiny glimpse of what they do each day in the space that belongs to them.

So, what can you expect from Work Share? Expect that your child will be excited and want to show you interesting elements of their day. Along with their Guides, they will plan what to share with you, so be a good guest and let them take the lead. It can be helpful to remember that this is your child’s workplace.

Remember that the work they show you will be a small slice of what they do and should not be taken as a demonstration of their ability in any subject. They may choose work that they feel confident about and enjoy doing but doesn’t represent the most challenging things they are learning. Resist the urge to point out mistakes if your child makes one – this can happen when we are excited or nervous to share what we know! You may find yourself curious about other work going on or find that the work your child shows you provokes more questions about classroom routines, curriculum, or materials. It is a great idea to write these ideas down when you leave – Parent/Teacher conferences are right around the corner! Please resist the urge to ask teachers questions in the moment, as they will be busy helping students execute their plans for the evening, and your child will be treasuring your attention.

Our upcoming Work Share is for Primary and Elementary classrooms. Our Junior High students share their work differently, as a culmination of different projects in which they are involved. This component of our adolescent community meets their critical developmental need for creative expression – more information coming soon!

Tips for a Great Work Share