Why Do Montessorians Use the Word ‘Guide’ Instead of ‘Teacher’?
“The guide has two tasks: to lead the children to concentration and to help them in their development afterwards. The fundamental help in development, especially with little children of three years of age, is not to interfere. Interference stops activity and stops concentration."
Dr. Maria Montessori
'The Child, Society and the World: Unpublished Speeches and Writings'
Conventional Teachers
In a conventional classroom, the teacher is the source of knowledge and ideas. They use an array of different approaches to communicate their understanding of a concept to the children in the classroom. Usually they will use lectures, books, games, or other activities to relay these concepts to the students. Methods may vary, but the central idea is that the teacher acts like a shepherd to a group of children through a scheduled and pre-determined curriculum.
A Key Difference
A key difference between a conventional classroom and a Montessori environment is found in the scientifically designed materials. The knowledge and concepts the child will learn are no longer to be found only through the adult. They are accessed through the materials in the environment. Children are able to move independently, interact with materials (after a lesson), and learn without direct involvement of the adult. In this structure, everyone is liberated. The child is free to follow their interests, and the adult is free to guide each individual child as needed.
So What Do Guides Do?
Guides prepare the classroom environment so that it is suitable for learning to take place
Guides prepare materials to ensure developmentally appropriate activities are available to everyone
Guides greet the children each morning as they enter the classroom
Guides present materials to children who show that they are interested and ready
Guides observe and move around the environment as needed in order to inspire learning, never staying too long with any individual or group
Guides know that their purpose is not to teach, but to connect children with meaningful work that will impart knowledge through its correct use
Guides gracefully defuse conflicts