Bruce Robertson is a teacher and educational leader. Mr. Robertson draws from more than two decades of experience and examines how teaching in schools can be transformed from good. In his book, The Delusion of Teaching: Power Up Your Pedagogy, (Power Up Your Pedagogy) Bruce Robertson boldly urges us to refresh our thinking about our usage and approaches to Montessori. It’s the same message delivered from the outset by Dr. Maria Montessori when she called upon us to “transform” ourselves for “the teacher’s task is not a small easy one.” Such powerful invitations cultivate excitement and perhaps a sense of trepidation. How then does the Montessori teacher qualify themself for such a critical undertaking as honest and frank evaluation and reevaluation of our pedagogy? There are many paths to the same destination. This piece examines, in particular, a professional book club as a means for lifelong learning.
A true Montessori teacher stands “committed to a lifetime of learning.” (Kripalani, Montessori in Practice). Teaching is not an easy job, and few comprehend just how difficult it is. Montessori called upon us to “stimulate life, leaving it, then, free to develop, to unfold. Herein lies the first task of the teacher.”
In my opinion, teaching needs to be looked upon as a process of sharing knowledge and opening doors for continuous learning. In my own experience—20 years of teaching Montessori in a public education setting—my teacher training was simply the beginning of a long, perhaps infinite, road towards an understanding of the child, Montessori’s ideas, and the pragmatic approach towards a beautiful teacher practice. To be a Montessori teacher is a gift, yet simultaneously a task—worthy of continuous discovery, a revolution in our thinking and a willingness to learn and transform ourselves.
Covid-19 brought with it many cliches that became everyday language such as “unprecedented times,” “a new normal,” and “in these difficult times.” We also heard, all too often, that “every cloud has a silver lining.” A silver lining for me was the idea and the impetus to create a professional book club for those interested in the Montessori Method. I missed the classroom experience and the interactions with the children and my colleagues. I yearned for connections regarding the pedagogy that felt lost during the time of virtual living.
I live in an area of Northern California that is geographically vast, and often riddled with traffic. Social gatherings and in-person commitments pose many challenges due to such conditions. Nonetheless, I’d always wanted to be a member of a professional book club in the world of Montessori.
The opinions expressed in Montessori Life are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of AMS.