There are some basic things that all students need to learn in school. Subjects like reading, math, and science should be present in any quality educational program. The differences that you will notice when you compare different programs – such as public school and Montessori school – is how the teachers approach the process of teaching those and other subjects. Montessori teachers receive training that differs in many ways from the training that public school teachers receive. Their training is dissimilar because the underlying philosophy of Montessori education is not the same as the underlying philosophy of public education. The goals for education as well as the approach to education look very different between the two programs. These differences impact the way that the teachers are trained.

The underlying philosophy of Montessori education versus public education

The Montessori Philosophy of education is focused on long-term results. The goal of education is to prepare students for success in life. Public schools have a shorter view of education because they have a lot of pressure to perform well on standardized testing. Public teachers often have to teach in a way that is aimed at improving student test scores. Since the goal of education differs between the two programs, that means the role of the teacher differs as well. The Montessori teacher focuses on the needs of the individual student and provides learning opportunities that will help the student become an independent learner. Public school teachers are tasked with the job of making sure each student receives the same level of education so everyone does well on standardized testing. Montessori teachers are trained in a program that is specific to the Montessori Method of education. This specific type of training allows the teacher to dive deep into the Montessori Method and come out of training with a true understanding of the underlying philosophy.

The role of the teacher in the classroom

Teachers in the Montessori classroom spend time creating individualized learning plans for each student. These plans are centered around the individual needs and interests of each student. This design helps students dive deeply into topics of interest and spend time in focused learning. Montessori teachers often take on the role of an observer in order to learn what each student needs. Public school teachers do not often have the luxury of interacting individually with students. Lesson plans are typically created to reach the average student. The vastly different roles of the teachers in these two types of programs highlight the need for Montessori teachers to receive different training than public school teachers.

Teachers in the Montessori classroom go through a training program designed with the Montessori Method. If you are interested in learning more about the training that Montessori teachers receive, organizations such as the American Montessori Society and the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education go in depth about Montessori teacher training.