The Teacher

The Montessori method sees the child as teacher of self. Montessori believed firmly that a child is his own best teacher, that there is in each child an innate drive to learn about the world around them and acquire skills as they progress through their "sensitive periods" for learning.

Within certain limits your child can choose work that appeals to his own needs and interests. Have you ever noticed a child deeply absorbed in some simple action such as pouring water? Not only is the action soothing, but muscular and eye-hand coordination is being developed and the child achieves great satisfaction by the exercise. If water is spilled, a sponge easily mops up the mess.

The Montessori environment is your child's teacher in the sense that all of the materials are self-correcting. The teacher's role is to show the work to the child, not inform him of errors. If the child makes a mistake, he will see it for himself and be able to correct it.

The teacher is available for repeat lessons. She observes unobtrusively how the children in her classroom are interacting with each other and the materials. She records these records and reviews them frequently. During her training, she was immersed in Montessori philosophy and the very materials your child is working with.

The teacher sets the tone and the ground rules in the classroom. She interferes only when necessary. The cardinal rule for a Montessori teacher is to "help me do it by myself." The Montessori classroom is not teacher centered but child centered. Montessori did not like the term teacher, instead preferred the term "directress."