“The greatest sign of success for a teacher… is to be able to say, “The children are now working as if I did not exist.”” – Maria Montessori
The primary tasks of a Montessori guide are to:
Awaken the child’s spirit and imagination
Encourage the child’s natural desire for indpendence
Help the child develop the kindness, courtesy and self-discipline that will allow her to become a full member of society
Model for the child how to observe, question and explore ideas independently
To achieve these goals, the guide must first prepare a beautiful, orderly environment that provides the necessary variety of purposeful activities for the child. The guide then will observe the children to know their individual needs and interests and directs the children toward work appropriate for them. Knowing how to observe constructively and when, and how much, to intervene, is one of the most important talents the Montessori guide.
