Our Guests: Lydia Farmer & Kalai Ramanathan
Show Notes
Lydia Farmer and Kalai Ramanathan join the podcast to talk about preparing inclusive holiday celebrations in the classroom.
While some educators choose to avoid all holidays for fear of leaving anyone out, Lydia and Kalai feel that this misses a valuable opportunity to create a sense of belonging for the children. Instead, Lydia and Kalai celebrate a multitude of holidays and celebrations from around the world throughout the year. This allows every child to see themselves reflected in the classroom community and exposes the children to new perspectives. By inviting guests in to speak about their traditions, reading books, listening to music, tasting new foods, and playing games, they model curiosity about holidays and celebrations that are new to them.
Once a year, Lydia and Kalai invite all of the families into the classroom for one large community celebration. They center this around the solstice, because it is inclusive of all. There is seating for every single member of the community, and while adults stay seated, the children serve the meal.
Lydia and Kalai describe how they prepare for special celebrations by building the components into the daily work cycle. Students learn to brew tea, serve from a tray, and pass a basket of bread. They include cooking and baking in the morning workcycle by providing a fully stocked kitchen, recipe book, and opportunity for two students each day to contribute an element of the day’s lunch. The solstice celebration is a culmination of all of these Practical Life and Grace and Courtesy lessons.
About our Guests
Lydia Farmer
Primary Lead Guide & Level Leader, Greenspring Montessori School
Lydia earned her Primary credential from the Maryland Center for Montessori Studies and is now in her 17th year of teaching. She also serves as the Primary Level Leader here at Greenspring. She has been a life-long Montessorian, attending a Montessori school as a child.
Lydia has shown her artwork in various local shows, in venues like The Brewer’s Art in Baltimore and MOCA DC in Georgetown. She has also been a vocalist with The Jezic Ensemble. Lydia loves art, yoga, gardening, and spending time outdoors with her family. Her husband, Sam, is an English teacher, and her sons are students in our Children’s House and Lower Elementary classrooms here at Greenspring.
Kalai Eamanathan
Primary Lead Guide, Greenspring Montessori School
Kalai began her Montessori journey as a child in a Montessori school in the south of India. Kalai has been an educator for 7 years, earning her Primary credential from the Washington Montessori Institute in 2022.
Kalai loves doing art projects with children, as well as gardening and cooking fresh produce that she grew herself. Kalai’s daughter is also a student in our Upper Elementary classroom.
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