Together in One Spirit: The Effects of a Montessori Classroom Team’s Spiritual Preparation on Classroom Harmony

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the spiritual preparation process of a classroom team and its effects on the adults and children in the classroom. It aimed to identify traits and behaviors of leaders and colleagues which support healthy spirituality necessary for a harmonious classroom. The researcher collected data through instruments used by the members of the classroom team, including pre/post surveys, an interactive video journal application called Marco Polo, classroom observations, and a photo journal curated by the members of the team. The researcher then tracked themes throughout the data to identify patterns of behavior which did or did not support adults’ connections to each other, the children and families in their care, and/or the environment of the classroom. It was found that connection to each of these elements was increased through intentional communication both in times of ease and flow, as well as times of challenge. Acceptance of these cycles of joyful and difficult moments as “normal” was also an important factor in the classroom team’s development of shared spirituality.