Full Time Position
Summary of Position
Waterdown Montessori School teacher is responsible for providing a Montessori classroom/instructional program that supports the individual needs of the children in accordance with the School’s mission and vision. The Waterdown Montessori teacher creates a well-prepared environment and an atmosphere of learning and inquisitiveness designed to move students from one activity and level to the next. You will step back while the children are working, allowing them to learn from their own discoveries and draw their own conclusions. Rather than supplying children with answers, you will ask them how they would solve the problem, actively engaging children in the learning process and enhancing critical thinking skills.
Dr. Montessori believed that the teacher should focus on the child as a person rather than on the daily lesson plans. Although our Montessori teachers plan daily lessons for each child, s/he must be alert to changes in the child’s interest, progress, mood, and behavior.
Subjects are interwoven and you must have a general understanding of history, art, music, math, astronomy, chemistry, physical geography, language, physics, geometry, and practical life works. As one of our teachers, you will give one-on-one or small group lessons and spend little time giving large group lessons. Lessons are brief and precise, meant to intrigue the minds of children so that they come back to learn more on their own. Montessori lessons center around the most basic information necessary for the children to do the work: the name of the materials, where it can be found in the classroom and on the shelf, how to use the materials, and what can be done with them.
Teachers at Waterdown Montessori School are scientific observers of children. They avoid using rewards and punishments for good or poor work. You will never criticize or interfere in a child’s work and we recognize that it is only in a trusting atmosphere that a child’s personality has room to grow. Children must have the freedom to choose their own activities and learn to behave without restriction.
Essential Job Function
- Develops lesson plans and manages the learning experiences for students to ensure the needs of the groups and individual students are met.
- Assists students toward self-directed learning and normalization.
- Maintains a neat, well organized, and attractive prepared environment consistent with Montessori pedagogy.
- Participates in professional activities designated by the Head of School, which may include workshops, curriculum retreats, meetings, grade reporting, planning, and other professional pursuits.
- Attends all pre-announced staff meetings and professional sessions, including staff, level, committee and, evening parent meetings.
- Works to develop close and effective relationships with parents, including opportunities to discuss and understand the child’s individual progress; encourages them to bond with both the class and the larger school community; provides individualized tracking of student progress.
- Participates in the admissions process, speaking from time to time with prospective families-at the request of the Head of School.
- Follows the school’s policies and procedures for student evaluation and record keeping, meeting all due dates as required.
Weekly Tasks
- Double check all learning materials
- Remove all items that need repair replacement or cleaning and disinfecting
- Rotate books
- Note needed janitorial services, work orders
- Restructure classroom routine as needed
- Plan how to use volunteers, parents or “special resource people” for next week
- Update personal notes
- Meet with co-workers and Head of School to share ideas, plan and problem solve
- Participate in staff meetings
- Participate in parent education
- Participate in professional meetings outside of school
- Prepare for school’s community activities such as open houses, observation and all general meetings or special events
Related Duties
- The teacher completes and maintains all records, reports, evaluations, and inventories of student records in a timely manner as may be required by the school.
- The teacher is responsible for reading and adhering to the guidelines as established in the employee handbook and adhering to all school policies.
- The teacher who works with assistants is responsible for the training and supervision of the assistant. The teacher is responsible for completing evaluations of assistants in accordance with school policy.
If you are AMI or MACTE certified and are interested in exploring a teaching opportunity with Waterdown Montessori School, then we encourage you to submit your resume.
Work Location: In person
Expected start date: 2024-01-08
