7 Steps to become a Montessori Teacher

With thousands of Montessori schools located worldwide, certified Montessori teachers who have completed Montessori teachers training are in great demand. Montessori is a child centered and humanistic method of educating infants. Montessori teaching discards any control by the adult but provides an environment where the physical and psychological needs of the children are fulfilled and they are always brimming over with joy and satisfaction. It is not the quality of the environment that determines the success of the Montessori Method but the preparation of the teacher. Becoming a Montessori teacher needs extraordinary preparations along with requisite qualifications which vary from country to country. This could be surmised from the 7 steps mentioned below-

1. A good Montessori teacher has to be a keen observer and should have the power to connect with the child making him/her empowered and desirable to learning. The teacher must learn the skill of observation slowly understanding the unique developmental process of each child. Instead of teaching young learners the teacher needs to observe their needs in order to get a new perspective on the children.

2. Another very potent technique to be a good Montessori teacher is the use of educational manipulative materials which are objects that are meant to be physically touched by the students. Manipulative materials are also very stimulating and the physical activity involves the learners in an active playful learning activity.

3. A Montessori classroom should always be humming with various activities like one could hear children’s voices along with sounds of music and chimes, clacking of blocks and clinking of bells. The children are not confined to their desks but continuously move around engrossed in their own activities. The teacher has to follow each student by record keeping and slowly guiding each child’s research and exploration about a subject.

4. Montessori Method of teaching encourages teachers to be “guide on the side” and not the “sage on the stage”. So as a Montessori teacher one needs to be a constant guide for children and cultivate the qualities of reticence and restraint.

5. Objectivity remains one of the chief characteristics of Montessori teaching. The teaching should be presented in such a way that the personality of the teacher pushes to the background and only the object to which the teacher wants to attract the attention of the children remains.

6. Another important trait that Montessori teachers should have is the adaptability. A Montessori teacher should be able to adapt to the children’s personalities, levels, differences and needs.

7. Finally like her students, the teacher has to be an active and curious learner deriving delight in continual growth.

Technology is ruling the modern time and its existence is noticeable in every sphere of life. Health, teaching, personal well being etc is just a click away. Hence bringing up a kid in this technologically advanced age can be confusing to a certain extent, because they already know the World Wide Web. Thus, to raise a child's emotional and behavioural competences in a healthier way, early education is obligatory that helps a kid to grow with intellect and empathy rather than a mechanical being.

The teacher plays the most significant role in shaping a child. As Montessori education provides unique learning opportunities, a Montessori teacher must be well familiar with the ideologies and methods of the system. Thus, training of the teachers is a significant aspect. A Montessori teacher should know the difference between memorization and exploring one's own ideas and capabilities and preparing her pupils to think critically, work collaboratively towards constructing a better world. A well trained Montessori teacher will bring out the best in a child.

By : Anindita Das