Where's the Teacher?

"What is the greatest sign of success for a teacher transformed? It is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."" - Maria Montessori

It is truly amazing when you walk into a Montessori classroom filled with 3-6 year old children and you can't find the teacher. There isn't chaos, screaming, crying or yelling as you might imagine. The children are working independently and making unbelievable discoveries. If my children don't need me during the class, I have done a fine job of preparing the environment for them. It is nice to be needed, but as a Montessorian, I must desert that need for the good of the children's development. This week, I will focus of every detail of my classroom before class and prepare it to meet all of the children's needs. I will try to "disappear" into the woodwork and simply observe the children at work, using the observations, and making any necessary adjustments to the environment. My goal is for the children to work independently, for self satisfaction, and grow as thinkers and learners.