Narrative and Movement Building
In a recent podcast discussion with Lucy Recio, the Senior Advisor for Narrative and Movement Building at NAEYC, we were reminded of the critical work of transforming the education system through increased investment in early childhood education. This includes community organizing, advocacy, and policy to empower educators and create a unified profession.
In her role, Lucy advances NAEYC's vision for an equitable, diverse, well-prepared, and well-compensated early childhood education profession by providing strategic and operational leadership that integrates the voices, stories, and experiences of early childhood education professionals in NAEYC’s programs, services, and impact.
Recio spoke passionately with Elizabeth Slade, PMAI Executive Director, about the role of relationships and language in fostering community and emphasized the need for intentionality in advocacy efforts. This led to a wonderful discussion about PMAI’s emphasis on creating a powerful, shared language that allows all members of the community—children, families, and school-based adults—to feel respected and valued through its Language of Reverence model.
Recio firmly believes in building a world worth fighting for through alternative narratives, which speaks to the power of words in creating inclusive realities and building community. Words shape our reality and create meaning in life. This idea is echoed in Montessori pedagogy as it centers mindful use of language to model affirming messages and center values like grace, courtesy, empathy, and kindness. Recio encourages us to take purposeful pauses as a tool to manage stress and respond thoughtfully, which creates space for more intentional responses, rather than reactive ones.
Slade and Recio unpacked the significance of imagination activism, a term coined by Phoebe Tickell, which invites people to exercise and stretch their imaginations to create new possibilities and new action. This rich conversation uplifted the importance of unity and intentionality in pursuing such change.
While there is much work to be done in both public and private learning environments, Recio reminds us that purposeful pauses can help us manage stress and respond intentionally.
This connects with PMAI’s emphasis on observation as an essential part of the Montessori method. Our ability to create space to notice learners in the prepared environment also helps us to manage stress and offer thoughtful responses to children.
A Call to Inquiry & Reflective Practice
What would it mean to divest from inequality in your Montessori practice?
How are we broadly leading with curiosity in Public Montessori? In what ways could we challenge ourselves?
What role does advocacy play in your teaching, learning and leadership? What are the pain points? Where are there opportunities?