Friday, 17 June 2016

A Montessori Teacher is a Keen Observer of Children's Activities

A Montessori teacher’s role is not just teaching but work as a keen observer of child’s activities leading to overall growth and development.  The Montessori teachers are the prime driving factor in the classroom. Initially they prepare and organize learning materials to involve the children in those activities and then observing those and guiding them in the learning process. 
 

Working as a facilitator and a guide, the Montessori teacher prepares a Montessori environment and an atmosphere that mostly designed to move students out of their comfort zone into one activity to another.  Now the teacher steps back a little allowing the students to learn from their own discoveries and draw their own conclusions. The teacher would initiate their thinking by asking them critical questions like how they would solve a problem, and thus enhance their thinking skills or process. It is likely that students learn from the surrounding environment and their peers than directly from the teacher. Thus while planning daily lesson; Montessori teacher must be alert to the changing moods, behaviour, interest and progress of each child.
Read More: Montessori Classrooms Should Be Buzzing With Activity
Montessori teachers are scientific observers of children.  They must avoid rewarding and punishing for good or poor work. They never criticize or intervene in a child’s work or discovery. It is in this trusting environment that a child’s personality grows. Children therefore must have the freedom to choose their own activities and learn to behave without any form of restrictions.
Thus the role of a Montessori teacher can be explained in the following points:-
1.    Montessori teachers are the connecting link between children and the learning environment.
2.    They systematically observe the children and interpret those recorded observations to understand their needs.
3.    They are constantly modifying or experimenting with the environment to meet their perceptions of children’s need and interest.
4.    While preparing the environment they should facilitate the independence of children wherein they freely select work that they find appealing and interesting and adding to it or removing materials that are not needed.
5.    They observe carefully each child’s individual progress.
6.    The Montessori teacher respects and protects the student’s independence. Must be aware when to step in and set limits or lending a helping hand, and when to step back and not to interfere all for the child’s best interest.
7.    They are supportive offering a form of warmth, security and stability to each child.
8.    They facilitate communication among themselves and help them learn to communicate their thoughts to adults.
9.    They present clear, relevant and interesting lessons to the children. They attempt to engage the child’s interest and then note their observations which are helpful in generating an atmosphere effective for learning.
10.    They are educators who keep calm and peace consistently while working to with children.
11.    They are diagnosticians who can interpret pattern of growth, development and behaviours for proper understanding of children and make necessary referrals and suggestions to their parents.
Read More: How to Teach Kids to Write
Certificate in young learners could be the best way out for Montessori teachers to adequately guide them into the process of learning. They tend to lose interest and often divert from learning. They are so engrossed in themselves that they hardly engage in activities and communicate with others. The Montessori teacher training courses are ultimate saviour for the teachers. They learn the above mentioned methods or techniques in inspiring students and educating them in the due process. As the keen observer of children activities they know how much they are gaining and progressing. And based on their observation they build an environment of trust and absolutely favourable atmosphere to engage and involve students.

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