Spirituality and Montessori Teacher Teams: The Path of the Heart
Abstract
Maria Montessori based her educational approach on a profound understanding of the spiritual nature of the child, on the spiritual preparation of the teacher, and on the teacher-child relationship. However, she did not elaborate on the nature of teacher teams, nor on the spiritual aspect of teamwork. Though most Montessori early childhood classrooms have two or more teachers who teach together as a team, very little research has been conducted on how these teams work together, nor on how spirituality influences their work. The purpose of this research was to examine the role that spirituality played in the perceptions and understandings that Montessori teachers brought to their interactions in classroom teams. The methodology taken was a basic interpretive study. The purposeful sample consisted of five Montessori early childhood teachers teaching on three different teams of three teachers, in the same Montessori school in Western Canada. The data collection method included a short questionnaire, an observation of the teacher in the classroom with her team, her selection of an artifact representing spirituality and teamwork, two semi-structured interviews, and a member check. The analysis and interpretation of the findings were organized according to three categories arising from the data and from the theoretical framework: 1) the relationship that the teacher had with her spiritual self, 2) the teacher-child relationship, and 3) the teacher-teacher relationship. This study revealed that the spiritual self of the teacher was important in the development of the teacher-child relationship, and with the team. The Montessori concept of the inner teacher was examined in light of these findings. All the participants stated that spirituality played a role in their team interactions, and that there was congruence between how they related with the children and with each other. Peace was the overriding goal of the teachers for the classroom and with each other. Moreover, love for the child undergirded everything that they did. Recommendations are offered for Montessori teams, and teams in other areas of work, as well as future research in this area.
Description
Keywords
Education--Adult and Continuing, Education--Early Childhood
Citation
Lapierre, C. (2017). Spirituality and Montessori Teacher Teams: The Path of the Heart (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27855