Job Description for a Montessori Teacher
Dr. Maria Montessori founded Montessori education in the early 1900s. Dr. Montessori---Italy's first female doctor---gave up medicine to work with a group of poor children in Rome. From her observations, she determined that children learn by observing and manipulating the objects in their environment. She developed materials to be used independently by children, and saw teachers more as observers than leaders. According to the North American Montessori Teachers' Association (NAMTA), there are more than 4,000 Montessori schools and more than 200 public schools with a Montessori flavor in the United States.
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Teacher Training
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Even with a bachelor's degree in early childhood or elementary education, prospective teachers will need coursework specific to Montessori theory and practices. According to NAMTA, there are three typical levels of training for Montessori teachers: infant/toddler, primary and elementary. There are also middle and senior high school teaching paths, but they are less common.
A bachelor's degree is a prerequisite for most teaching programs, according to NAMTA, and some coursework may qualify for graduate credit. Students study child development, psychology and Montessori methods. A full-time program can be completed in nine months; students can also attend part time over a few summers or pursue online coursework.
Teacher training is typically followed by an internship or student teaching, which may lead to a job offer for successful students. The NAMTA website states that Montessori teachers make between $21,000 and $31,000 per year, with higher salaries found in public schools because teachers possess state teaching credentials. Jobs are easy to find for qualified teachers; some 200 teaching positions in Montessori schools go unfilled each year, according to NAMTA.
Educators as Guides
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The role of the teacher in a Montessori classroom, typically called a "Children's House," is unlike any other. Teachers are guides that maintain the calm and productiveness of the group. The Association Montessori International/USA (AMI) says a successful Montessori teacher is "adept at leading from behind." A teacher will present a new concept or lesson to the students, demonstrating the proper method for completing the task, then step back and let the children do it. According to the AMI, 80 percent of the classroom activity is student-directed.
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Observation
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The Montessori Foundation (TMF) notes that its teachers are "constantly experimenting (and) modifying the environment" to meet the needs of their students. Ideally, students are in the same classroom with the same teacher for three years, giving the teacher greater insight into each student's strengths and weaknesses. This style of teaching requires a paradigm shift for teachers used to classrooms where the teacher is the star.
Communication
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Calm and measured speech is the hallmark of a Montessori classroom. The lessons, presented before any new materials are given to students, include precise language and a clear path to follow. A first lesson is short and to the point, TMF says, to hook the children and draw them to the new activity. Students repeat the activity over days, weeks or longer, until they have achieved mastery.
Communication with parents is also crucial, so they understand the deeper meaning behind the theory and why the teacher's goal is to let students proceed at their own pace. Class sizes, TMF notes, are larger than normal, in the belief that children teach one another in multi-age classrooms. The simplicity of the lessons---naming the materials used, showing where they go in the classroom, outlining the safety rules and showing what the materials are used for---belies the greater goal of student independence.
Other Responsibilities
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Montessori teachers perform many of the same administrative tasks other teachers do, such as maintaining clean and safe classrooms, taking attendance and tracking student achievement. The latter looks different, TMF says, as standardized tests and letter grades are typically not part of the curriculum in the younger grades. Montessori teachers must attend staff meetings, complete annual teacher training, and follow all applicable state licensing laws in their classrooms. Teachers in private schools may be required to participate in fund-raising activities as well.
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