MIND: Identifying Weakness

This week in school we spent a little time with a personality test, Enneagram test.  I took the free online version of the test and I scored high (6 out of 8) in types called Peacemaker and Loyalist but most high (7 out of 8) as Achiever.  I can definitely see myself in some aspects of the descriptions of all three  personality types.  I hate reading the down side of each as I know they are true in regard to me (certainly for Peacemaker, not as much for Achiever).  The trait I am most concerned with is that of the Peacemaker who at their worst often denies problems and doesn't speak up until they are at their breaking point.  I really have to be vigilant of this.  I don't want to over look a problem a child might be having for the sake of keeping the peace.  I also don't want to interrupt or discourage a child's exploration process if they aren't disturbing anyone else.

An interesting situation arose today.  Our assignment was to role play teacher/student.  We were given scenarios with children having less than good behavior somehow misusing the materials.  We were supposed to talk to our partner about ways to handle the situation using positive statements.  My partner and I did not have much time to do so.  The conversation should include (1) an observational statement: "I see you have some cylinders knobs down," (2) a statement of choices: "You may make all the cylinders match by yourself or I can help you," (3) Positive Acknowledgement: "Thank you for putting your work away."  Well, that's at least how I thought it was going to go.  My partner had a different interpretation of the scenario as in she thought this was all taking place on the work rug (rather than at the shelf where the child would be returning the work for the next person).  This small detail made a big difference in how I would respond (or at least I thought so).  I was completely caught off guard in front of the whole class!  I am still learning and have NO experience in the classroom.  Its hard for me to redirect since I'm still learning about all the materials myself.  More importantly I'm still not clear on when to intervene which is a REALLY BIG one.  Montessori believes in this magical concentration time which allows the child to internalize the order of a task or skill.  I certainly don't want to interrupt that and a kid checking out the cylinders upside down is certainly OK.  But I have to remember I am the creator and protector of the environment - Be gentle with the knob cylinders we don't want the knobs to break.