My Personal Rule of Six - Step 5

Only for today, I will have confidence in my children's academic and behavioral abilities; which I will gain knowledge of through thoughtful observation.

If there's anything I've learned from my days of reading Maria Montessori, it's about the importance of observing our children -- standing back and really *seeing* what they are doing and why.

Not that I do it half often enough.

I also tend to expect the worst when that is typical behavior of said child. I jump to conclusions, "Oh that eyeroll is going to turn in to a full blown argument, I just know it!" or "How many times do I need to tell her the same thing, she NEVER listens or remembers!"

Realistic I must be, however, since there are true special needs to deal with. None severe, but they need some accomodating just the same.

Here are my bullet points for this step:

*Build some observation time for EACH child into my routine. I tend to be guilty of lumping them all together, but that really doesn't work when you need to observe their individual needs!

*Find some kind of observation form to help my scattered mind (any suggestions, readers? I think with a form I'll better understand what I'm supposed to be looking for!).

*Not expecting the worst. Treating each moment as fresh and new, not "typical of this child" so that I don't punish for the sins of the past.