The role of Montessori preschool teacher in individual childˇs development

Izniman doprinos shvaćanju djeteta i odgojno-obrazovnog pristupa prema istom u povijesti reformne pedagogije pripada Marii Montessori. Pedagogija koja njeguje dječju osobnost, neizravno potiče zanimanje za različita područja, a učenje pretvara u igru, nesumnjivo je potakla na novo viđenje djeteta koje u sebi nosi tajnu djetinjstva. Predškolsko razdoblje i njegova obilježja kao i uloga odgojitelja u razvoju djeteta tema su ovog rada kojim se pojašnjavaju razvojne faze djeteta i načela u Montessori pedagogiji kao i uloga Montessori odgojitelja u cjelokupnom razvoju djeteta. U istraživačkom dijelu rada cilj je bio istražiti ulogu Montessori odgojitelja i Montessori pedagogije u cjelokupnom razvoju djeteta i različitost u shvaćanju uloge Montessori odgojitelja i Montessori pedagogije. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 24 odgojitelja, od kojih 12 Montessori odgojitelja s iskustvom rada u redovnom i Montessori programu i 12 odgojitelja u redovnom programu. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju statistički značajne razlike u procjeni Montessori odgojitelja i odgojitelja u redovnom programa prema procjenama određenih elemenata Montessori pedagogije. Isto tako, Montessori odgojitelji daju veće procjene elemenata Montessori pedagogije nego odgojitelji u redovnom programu, a vezane su uz sam rad prema Montessori metodi.Exceptional contribution to understanding a child and educational approach towards the same in the history of reform pedagogy belongs to Maria Montessori. Pedagogy that nurtures children's personality, indirectly encourages interests for different areas, and learning turns into a game, undoubtedly encourages a new vision of the child who carries a vision of the childhood in himself. Pre-school period and its characteristics and also a role of educator in a development of a child are topics of this thesis in which are explained developmental stages of a child and principals in Montessori pedagogy and also a role of a Montessori educator in an overall child development. In the research part of this thesis the main objective was to explore the role of a Montessori educator and Montessori pedagogy in an overall child development and also diversity in understanding the role of a Montessori educator and Montessori pedagogy. 24 educators participated in the study, 12 of them are Montessori educators with work experience in regular program and also in Montessori program and the rest 12 educators with work experience in regular program. The results are showing significant statistical differences in the assessment of Montessori educators and educators in the regular program according to assessments of certain elements of Montessori pedagogy. Likewise, Montessori educators are giving greater assessment of elements of Montessori pedagogy than educators in the regular programs and it is related to the work towards the Montessori Method