Last November, the Lower Elementary classes had one of our most exciting evenings of the year: Candlelight Cafe! This is an evening that the children really look forward to. It's full of poetry, songs, cookies, cocoa, tea, and community.
In the weeks leading up to the Cafe, the children are presented with lessons about many types of poetry. We start with Acrostic, journey into Haiku, try out Two Voice Poems, and talk about 5 Senses Poems. The children are often amazed to hear that poetry doesn't have to rhyme! This opens up the possibilities and the children really get excited to try writing their own poems. Maria Montessori believed that children are natural poets, and poems that emerge from the observation of nature and of their own senses are very accessible to young elementary children.
"The love shown by children for poetry,
their exquisite sensitivities to rhythm,
led me to suspect that the native roots of poetry
might be present in little children."
- Maria Montessori
Poetry is a large part of our classroom culture. Every day before lunch, a child reads a poem aloud to the group. We spend a lot of time exploring rhythm and rhyme, and our transition time is often filled with rhyming games. Once a new type of poetry is introduced, there is often a flurry of writing throughout the room. Children love to teach each other the poetry lessons, so it spreads like wildfire!
As the evening of the Cafe approaches, we begin practicing reading our poems in front of each other. Some children who have the loudest voices during recess may have the quietest voices when they stand in front of a group. We encourage them to use their voice while still supporting them in a place that can be scary: speaking in front of a group! While some children choose a partner to help them through, others choose to go it alone.
There's a lot of behind the scenes, non-poetry preparation involved in this special event as well. Children work together to make the program. We spend much of the day of working on place cards, candles, and preparing the food. Families give their time to bake cookies which we then serve at the event.
Everyone had a special job to help prepare for the event. Some arranged flowers, others made fruit kabobs, and there was a team working on plating the cheese and crackers. As I worked with a group of children to set up the drink station, I was able to observe as they worked out who would carry the heavy table, who would hold the doors, where the best place was going to be to set it up, and what to do when the table didn't work the way we thought it would. As the children completed one job, they were eager to take on another. This event is such a thing of pride for them, and they want to make it the best they can!
Finally, it's time for the performances! Families pile into our cozy, candlelit classrooms and find their place cards. The tables are arranged with chairs for all and snacks waiting. This year, the candles were adorned with pressed leaves that the children collected on a walk in the woods. The excitement is in the air and the poetry flies off their lips.
To me, one of the most wonderful things about this evening is the pride and enthusiasm that the children have for it. Special events like these, supported by family and friends, do wonders to build a sense of confidence in the children. It's been amazing to watch them grow and shake off their nerves. A child who could barely whisper in front of the class as a first year Lower Elementary student now has the confidence to stand up and clearly recite a poem they wrote or sing a song that they love. It's a reminder of why we are all here...as we weave together and give space to grow so that the children can find themselves and follow their own paths.