What is the role of the Montessori teacher?
The Montessori Teacher is sometimes called a “Directress” because she facilitates the classroom activity. She carefully plans the environment in the interests of the children and she helps the children progress from one activity to the next. She is trained to deal with each child individually, allowing him to choose from many activities within his range of ability. She stands back while a child is working and allows him the satisfaction of his own discovery.
The Montessori teacher is called a Directress because she facilitates the classroom activity. She carefully plans the environment in the interests of the children and she helps the children progress from one activity to the next. She is trained to deal with each child individually, allowing the child to choose from many activities with his/her range of ability. She stands back while a child is working and allows the child the satisfaction of discovery.
Montessori teachers observe the children for concentration, repetition, work habits and choices of work. Through the teacher’s observation, knowledge and experience the teacher is aware of the lessons which each child needs. This allows the child to work through the curriculum according to their own abilities. The goal of a Montessori teacher is to encourage good work habits in the children. This includes the ability to work independently, problem solve, choose work and finish assignments. In a well run Montessori classroom the teacher should not be the centre of attention but instead should act as a guide by connecting the children to the work and to awakening the child’s spirit and imagination.
In a Montessori classroom there is no front of the room and no teacher’s desk as a focal point of attention because the stimulation for learning comes from the total environment. Dr. Montessori always referred to the teacher as a “directress, or director,” and her role differs considerably from that of a traditional teacher. She is, first of all, a very keen observer of the individual interests and needs of each child, and her daily work proceeds from her observations rather than from a prepared curriculum. The Directress works with each child individually, allowing her to choose from many activities within her range of ability. The teacher stands back while a child is working, and allows her the satisfaction of her own discovery.
Since Montessori believes that children learn best through their own efforts, the role of the Montessori teacher (sometimes called Directress) is that of an “objective observer.” The teacher not only serves as a resource person in the classroom, but also acts in a supportive role by preparing the classroom, evaluating the children, and providing them with new materials as they indicate their need and readiness, and then by stepping into the background and allowing the children to assume more and more responsibility.
