To watch over a classroom environment means to carefully observe all of its aspects and contents with a critical eye. The teacher should be constantly monitoring the individual development and progress of each child  and using this information to assess student learning, provide support or challenges. The teacher should be observing not only the child’s verbal interactions with other children but also their non-verbal interaction with the materials in the environment; it is the teacher’s task to consciously make note of significant changes in development or behaviour and decide on the appropriate response to these changes.

The teacher is also responsible for watching over the materials and functionality of the classroom by taking mental note of the activities which are being used successfully and those that should be changed to meet the needs of the children and peak their interest in the material. By viewing the environment the teacher should be able to discern when aspects of its order or layout are not providing an environment capable of optimising the child’s ability to independently access and thus flourish within the environment.

• classroom
• environment
• independance
• Montessori Inspired
• observation
• teacher