Latest / The Grammar of Classical Education / Week 136: The Joy of Wildflowers | Small Shifts - Lasting Formation #13

Transcript

Week 136: The Joy of Wildflowers | Small Shifts - Lasting Formation #13 · The Grammar of Classical Education

• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Grammar of Classical Education,
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: a podcast that examines the philosophical foundations of classical education,
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: and then seeks to help classically minded educators bring those ideas to life
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: in their classroom, co-op, or homeschool settings.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host,
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: Dr. Darlene Gomes from Leading to Wonder, and I am so glad you've joined us today.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome back, or welcome if you're joining us for the first time.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: If you are new here,
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: this summer we have spent the past 12 weeks looking at the beautiful gardens we get
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: the chance to cultivate with our students.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: We've examined what the gardener, the teacher, needs to consider.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: The structures for the climbing roses,
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: the liturgies of light for our sweet sunflowers,
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: and the contemplation encouraged by the lavender.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: We've been reminded that we need patience while waiting for the hidden growth of our peonies.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: And we've seen the hallmark of classically minded education with
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: the beautifully rugged olive tree.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: We've thought about the interconnectedness of teachers in the beautiful ferns
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: that protect the growing plants of the woodland area.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: We've also looked briefly at the learners, how,
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: like hydrangeas, our students reflect the soil of our classrooms and kitchen tables.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: Like orchids, they need to be handled wisely.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: As in the case of all gardens, we have to be mindful of the weeds that can so easily creep in.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: But the weeds aren't the only things that creep.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: Even good things, the minty delights need to be kept in check.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: Today we are moving to a really sweet area of our garden.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe one of my favorites.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: Not exactly sure why, but it just looks fun or some might say relaxed.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: It is our beautiful wildflower garden.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Now, it may be easy to assume that a wildflower garden would demonstrate the fact
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: that we need to be relaxed in our teaching.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: You know,
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: allow things to just be open and flexible,
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: letting those little wildflower students just grow wherever
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: and however they see fit.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: That's what wildflower gardens do, right?
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: Well, wrong.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: Wildflower gardens, also known as scattered meadows, aren't really random.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: The gardener still chooses the seed mix and has to prepare the soil.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: This planning and preparation is a very classical method,
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: or as Charlotte Mason refers to it as the atmosphere of teaching,
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: reminding us that education is,
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: quote, an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life, end quote.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_00: While Charlotte Mason isn't synonymous with classical education,
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: she often makes very valid points that align with the classical mindset.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: You see, even in the joyful display of the scatter meadow, planning and care are needed.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: Teachers, you do provide that atmosphere.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_00: The beautiful books,
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: the meaningful conversations, good habits, rich questions, and worthy ideas.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_00: But with all of your planning and providing the rich atmosphere for learning,
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_00: you really can't script every outcome.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: That is the true beauty of a scattered wildflower meadow.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: Gardeners prepare the area and plan.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: They live with the understanding though that formation happens when living in
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: a rich environment.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_00: Do you want a scattered meadow of beautiful wildflowers?
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_00: Well, cultivate the environment.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Care for what is in your control,
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: but realize that each little flower will grow differently,
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: and that isn't always under your control.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_00: With wildflowers, there needs to be opportunities and space for wonder and growth.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: In a classroom,
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: You do have to have the moments of unplanned,
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: deep discussions,
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_00: the opportunities for unexpected discovery,
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: and even the silly little giggles that burst forth in blooms of joy.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: But in a truly beautiful garden,
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: wildflowers shouldn't be limited to just the open spaces of the scattered meadow.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_00: Wildflowers can flourish just as beautifully along the borders of the garden.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: They bring a bit of joy into what could otherwise be seen as a constraint.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: You see, formal gardens aren't normally constructed as a free-for-all.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: Quite to the contrary.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: They are intentional.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: They have pathways.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: Their layout guides the movement through the garden.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: Why not place wildflowers in some of those borders?
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: Do you need procedures, routines, memory work, and clear expectations?
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely!
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: Do they need to be dull and boring and monotonous?
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely not!
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_00: But here's the thing to remember with wildflower boarders.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_00: They show restraint.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_00: But they don't need to become brick wall barriers.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_00: Consider how you handle transitions.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: I've mentioned before my morning song, Musette in D Major by Bach.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_00: My students knew that when they heard that song,
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: they needed to prepare for pledge, prayer, and Bible.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_00: Was it a huge wildflower garden?
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: No.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: In fact,
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: after a while,
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: it just became a little border that helped them move to the next thing without
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_00: a large brick wall or a loud voice.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_00: You see,
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: you could have your students trained to do transitions methodically and mechanically
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: with absolutely no thought and often no joy.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_00: Or...
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: You could have meaningful transitions worked in for a subject or two.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe as they prepare for math, they say a multiplication family.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: Or as they transition into grammar, they sing a grammar jingle.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: Transitions are just one example though.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: Ask yourself, How do you begin and end your day?
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_00: Is it a brick wall barrier that guides them in and out of your class?
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_00: Or is it a joyful wildflower border?
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: Wildflower gardens offer two very sweet reminders.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_00: First of all, little moments of joy.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: Can be part of the rhythm of your class.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: And secondly, students flourish when freedom exists within good boundaries.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_00: And those boundaries don't always have to be brick walls.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_00: So take a moment and consider your garden,
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: whether in a classroom, a co-op, or a homeschool setting.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_00: I certainly hope you have a sweet little area planned and prepared
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: for your wildflowers to grow in their joyful scattered meadow.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_00: A place where joyful blooms of all kinds seem to magically appear,
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_00: knowing full well that it isn't magic at all.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: It is done by careful planning and preparation from a wise and joyful gardener.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: But are you also allowing wildflowers to serve as borders,
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: marking pathways and movements and bringing joy to the guidance and direction
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: of your educational space?
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: Or are all your procedures,
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_00: liturgies,
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_00: routines,
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_00: and expectations standing like brick walls,
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_00: definitely establishing boundaries, but missing the joy of the wildflower borders?
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: And while we're considering the overall appearance of a garden,
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_00: remember, Your garden isn't going to look like any other garden.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_00: Your educational setting is yours and should display your planning and preparation and your joy.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for joining us today.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_00: I trust that whatever your teaching situation is,
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_00: Whether it's in a classroom or co-op or homeschooling,
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_00: that you have found these ideas not only encouraging but challenging as well.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_00: You can listen to all of the episodes of The Grammar of Classical Education
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_00: on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.com.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: I also have available a weekly teacher's newsletter that includes some teacher tips
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: and freebies.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_00: You can sign up for that at the Leading to Wonder newsletter found at darlenegomes.substack.com.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_00: To learn more about me and Leading to Wonder, please visit the website leading2wonder.com.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: No spaces.
• 12:37
  SPEAKER_00: I encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or if you're interested
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: the virtual or in-person workshops that I offer for schools,
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_00: co-ops, homeschool educators, and parent groups.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: Again, my name is Darlene Gomes and thank you for joining us.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: Until next week, remember, as E.B.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: White said, Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.