The Canadian Montessori Teacher Education Institute
THE TWELVE COMMANDEMENTS OF THE MONTESSORI TEACHER
I. Take meticulous and constant care of the environment.
II. Show the child where everything belongs; show clearly and precisely the use of the material and stop firmly any misuse with mild words and loving presence.
III. Be active when you put the child in constructive relationship with the environment;
be seemingly passive when the contact is established.
IV. Observe the children constantly in order to notice the one who ne ...view middle of the document...
IX. Respect the one who is resting or who is observing the ones who are working or who is pondering over what he himself has done or will do; don't disturb him and don't force him to other forms of activity.
X. Be untiring in repeating presentations to the one who has refused them earlier, to
the one who has not yet learned how to do it and to the one who has not yet overcome imperfections.
XI. Make your ready presence felt to the one who is searching and be invisible to the
one who has found.
XII. Reveal the best of yourself to the one who has completed his work through his own effort; give him silently and "spiritually" your approval.
A Dodecalogue
(Compiled from A. Paolini 's lectures) Centro Internazionale Montessori (Perugia)
In July/August 1909, Maria Montessori gave the first training in Citta da Castello, close to Arezzo, North of Perugia, Italy. To the people gathered around her, she coined 12 commandments for teachers who are devoted to children.
1) If you have to summarize in 5 words her 12 commandments, what words would you choose? 2) Which words is she repeating on and on? 3) What is her main message through these 12 commandments? 4) Does her message make sense today? Is it feasible? 5) What kind of qualities she mentions each teacher-guide shall develop?
