Montessori learners are beginning to understand the grace and courtesy associated with a handshake. At our morning group gathering, we go around the circle turning to our neighbor to offer our right hand (mostly) as a way to acknowledge each person’s presence with consciousness and compassion. They achieve a grip, make eye contact, and often smile before saying “good morning."

The Montessori learners are excited to explore different artists as well as different types of art. The learners focused on the French artist Henri Matisse, who was best known for his paintings and a new form of art he developed using paper and scissors when he was too ill to paint. 

One of the unique features of Acton’s learning environment is self-governance. Guides don’t fix all the problems that arise in the studio. Guides often step back and wait for learners to raise the issue. Leaders emerge to do something about it. Then, guides will offer frameworks, tools, and choices. In this way, guides push governance of the studio back to the learners to solve problems themselves. 

Towards the end of the first session, Elementary guides introduced the practice of giving and receiving feedback. This can be hard—not just for learners but for adults too!

With many families working with home, Acton is providing free resources to the community. Check out our daily resources, subscribe to our email list, and learn more what Acton is all about. 

In every hero’s journey, there is a “final showdown.”

In our professional lives as adults, a final showdown may require us to file a legal brief, host a big event, deliver an analysis, ship a product, give a speech, submit a research paper, or close a big customer. 

At Acton, the learners host an exhibition as a final showdown at the end of every session. Learners showcase their work to parents and guests, but also develop the agenda, design programs, prepare and decorate the studio, welcome guests, and moderate the event. 

During the exhibition week the guides focus on three things to help learners prepare. Guides inspire, equip, and connect.