Montessori Guide

**Early Childhood Guide/Teacher/Collaborator for Nature-Based Montessori School in Almonte**

The Almonte Learning Garden is seeking a lead or assistant to fulfill the role of guide/teacher and creative collaborator for nature-based Montessori school in the heart of Almonte. This is a great opportunity if you have ever wanted to work with autonomy or would like to support the evolution of an intimate/small scale community-based education facility. You would be working alongside Adriane, the owner and guide at the ALG with 20+ years of Montessori and early childhood experience. Adriane is preparing to slowly move away from a full-time lead role and do what she does best growing life-long learners. She is now ready to receive a dedicated Montessori educated guide or an ECE with a strong interest in Montessori principles to help slowly expand the current school from 6 students to 12 and prepare for the future.

**Description/Responsibilities**:

- Deliver high-quality Montessori based lessons and programming to the children
- Work closely with co-teacher to plan and prepare activities and projects that use natural materials that are locally sourced or foraged and are environmentally responsible
- Maintain a sense of wonder and integrate inquiry-based strategies that will support the students’ interests
- Create and maintain a well-prepared and clean environment
- Ensure the safety of all children at all times
- Calmly observe the children, noting, and documenting the children’s play, behaviours, and learning developments
- Maintain, and if necessary develop, Montessori materials that can help with the children’s development
- Respond appropriately to the varying needs of children and using strategies that are age appropriate, with an emphasis on compassion and respect
- Build communicative relationships with parents and caregivers
- Keep a warm and open communication with other staff members about the children, the prepared environment, and the environment as a workspace for adults

**Additionally you will likely be asked to**:

- Help with planning, organizing and promoting annual Open House and Fundraising events
- Support the growth of the school by researching and determining the legislative requirements that will help the school align with the future vision. Also, help develop steps towards this goal
- Do some administrative tasks
- Assets: Taking the lead with creating and updating social media accounts, student registration and school handbook.

**Qualifications**:

- You have a calm yet inspiring presence with the students, love children, and are passionate about education.
- You will have either a Montessori Teaching Diploma (MACTE or AMI ) or accreditation in early childhood care or education, with knowledge or interest in social constructivist philosophies such as Montessori or Reggio Emilia approach.
- You are environmentally conscious and interested in the natural world.
- Current First Aid with level C CPR (or able to complete prior to start date)
- Clear criminal record check, including vulnerable sector
- Able to provide medical documents required for working in the ECE sector
- You have knowledge of developmentally appropriate curricular planning.
- You are prepared to play active games with the children, lift/carry children or move outdoor furniture or materials when needed
- Willing to spend time outdoors in most weathers
- Understanding of the benefits of child-led learning and nature-based education
- Ability to exercise patience during the growing process
- Assets: Everyone has a unique gift and quality to offer to those around them. If you have any personal skills, hobbies or interests, we would love to incorporate that into the program. For example, experience in the Forest/Nature School approach to early childhood education, familiarity with the local flora and fauna, expertise in a specific area of study such as math, art, music, French, yoga or other.

**EXTRA NOTES**:
**Location**: The Almonte Learning Garden (ALG) location and program is a living and dynamic project and is as unique as the children and families who join. It is an intriguing, peaceful and welcoming private school and home surrounded by gardens, expansive green space and steps away from Gemmill Park in the centre of Almonte.

**About the school**: The ALG applies the guiding principles of Montessori education to promote the love of learning and connect children through the natural world. We have a dual goal of promoting whole-child development and environmental literacy. While fully embracing Montessori philosophies and principles we are unafraid of incorporating other philosophies that will encourage the children to become strong environmental stewards, compassionate people and self-led learners. We have created an indoor/outdoor facility where the child has the freedom to choose and to learn in multiple environments. The adults are responsible for imparting Montessori techniques of observation, experimentatio