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The Prepared Adult

The dynamic link between the children and the environment is the prepared adult. Usually there is one trained adult and one assistant in a classroom of around 30 children. If there are more adults, the children will be less independent.

The adult serves as a model, plans and maintains record keeping, phases - in, observes and presents, establishes guidelines, protects freedom and rights of children.

The prepared adult through observations guides the child in his/her development, provides discipline to lead to self-discipline, has awareness and knowledge of the child’s unconscious powers, tendencies, and sensitive periods.

The Montessori adult should be prepared holistically – she should undergo emotional, spiritual, physical and technical preparation. “The first step an intending Montessori teacher must take is to prepare herself. For one thing, she must keep her imagination alive; for whilst, in the traditional schools, the teacher sees the immediate behavior of her pupils, knowing that she must look after them and what she has to teach, the Montessori teacher is constantly looking for a child who is not yet there. This is the main point of difference. The teacher, when she begins work in our schools, must have a kind of faith that the child will reveal himself through work.” (Montessori, M. The Absorbent Mind)