In a Montessori classroom the interrelation between child, parent and teacher is seen as essential to building a dynamic community. Here are a set of “roles” that Jarrow encourages to help guide the building of this community.
Child’s Role
- To respect the rights of the group and the other individuals in the environment
- To experience his/her own life and draw his/her own conclusions
- Through play the child will be led naturally to work. Work being the task of the human being to master the environment and later adapt and transform society
- Through his/her work the child will develop the responsibility that accompanies the freedom to choose his/her own direction
Parent’s Role
- To be sensitive to the needs of the child
- To see the child as having infinite possibilities to learn
- To allow the home environment be a learning environment
- To limit negative and/or excessive stimuli in a child’s life (such as television and video games)
- To provide a healthy nutritious diet limiting empty “sugar” calories
- To agree to communicate with the teacher on a regular basis
- To be involved with and assist the classroom teacher when and wherever possible
- To nurture and encourage your child to be the best person he/she can be
Teacher’s Role
- To follow the child’s interest and needs
- To prepare an environment that is educationally interesting and safe
- To lead the child to discover his/her own truth and develop his/her own abilities
- To observe, analyze and provide materials and activities appropriate for the child’s sensitive periods of learning
- To maintain communications with the parent on a regular basis