Theresa

Posted on 9/27/09

Hello to all!

This September was my first year as a head teacher for a
Montessori classroom. I worked as an assistant for another
Montessori teacher for about 2 years before I was given a
classroom to start.
I have been very excited to begin my own classroom and have
kept myself busy preparing over the summer hoping to give
the children a good environment. The past 2 weeks went well
especially with the new kids but my major challenge was
those who have been there for about 2 years already. They
have been presented with the materials before but somehow,
some of them chatter endlessly, roam around the room not
interested in doing an kind of work besides playing house
and talking at the top of their voices.
The newer kids seem to start getting influenced with the
energy and some play tag around the room. I had a 3 day
chaos last week and I don't want it to happen again.
The teacher before me had a very tough/loud voice and I on
the other hand have this softer tone. I may have that
"motherly" tone but I am firm and consistent with letting
the kids go to a thinking spot or lose a few minutes in
playtime when they get out of hand. What am I doing wrong?
My assistant (also her 1st year) also has the same
temperament and naturally gentle voice and we both believe
in positive discipline but when the director commented that
our class was quite unruly, I was discouraged. We both have
been working hard to create a calm, respectful, orderly
environment but it seems that some the kids don't respond
well to this. I don't want to lose my identity as teacher
and I don't want to resort to a big voice but I'm also
pressured to keep the "gangs" working separately and keep
their feet walking instead of hopping on steps. Help! How
else should I present Grace and Courtesy...Do I do it with
all kids present in circle or individually? I prefer the
former. Any suggestions?

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