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TEACHING MONTESSORIMontessori Organizations, Teacher-Training Courses, & Details of Montessori Teaching Methods
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TRAINING COURSE RECOMMENDATIONS: We highly recommend that you check with a school where you hope to teach to see if the kind of Montessori training you are pursuing would be accepted. Standards for teacher training vary widely by school, state, and country. Please read this page carefully and compare quality of training and costs before making your decision. We cannot make personal recommendations or direct individuals to specific training courses. MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS & TEACHER TRAINING COURSES - WORLD WIDE The following organizations and teacher-training centers are members of www.montessori.edu. They are permanent centers that have agreed to open their doors to anyone interested in Montessori education for children or adults. The details of training courses listed -- such as admission requirements, lecture time with the teacher trainer, tuition, and type of Montessori certification and college or graduate school credit granted -- help a prospective teacher make the best decision for his or her particular situation. NORTH AMERICA - Montessori Organizations & Training Courses (http://www.montessori.edu/northamerica.html) EUROPE - Montessori Organizations & Training Courses (http://www.montessori.edu/europe.html) ASIA - Montessori Organizations & Training Courses (http://www.montessori.edu/asia.html) AFRICA - Montessori Organizations & Training Courses (http://www.montessori.edu/africa.html) AUSTRALASIA - Montessori Organizations & Training Courses (http://www.montessori.edu/australia.html) SOUTH AMERICA - Montessori Organizations & Training Courses (http://www.montessori.edu/southamerica.html) CHOOSING A MONTESSORI TEACHER TRAINING COURSE: Certification
for becoming a teacher is different in each state, province, or country.
Any prospective teacher should check on the local acceptance of any
course being considered. After this is researched we recommend
comparing the training-certification of teacher trainers, the affiliation
of the course, the time spent with the trainer during training, and
tuition. Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel. - Socrates I never teach
my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions SOME SPECIFIC DETAILS
OF THE MONTESSORI METHOD : The schedule: "The Three-hour Work Period". In the three-six class there is one (sometimes two if it is a full-day schedule) 3-hour, uninterrupted, work period each day not interrupted by group activity. The "3-hour Work Period" is vital to the success of Montessori education and often misunderstood. It means that children have three hours to choose and carry out their own work. It does NOT include any required outside play, group story time "circle time," music, or any other activities which take time away from the child's own choice of activity. During this time adults and children alike respect a child's concentration and do not interrupt one who is busy at a task. All of the traditional group activities spontaneously arise according to the interest of the child or a group of children during the day, or are occasionally called by the teacher if necessary. Note: For more information on the "three-hour work period" see the chapter "My Contribution to Experimental Science" from The Advanced Montessori Method, Volume I, by Dr. Maria Montessori, or contact the Michael Olaf Montessori Company at michaelola@aol.com for reprint GB850
THE OUTCOME OF THE METHOD When the environment meets all of the needs of children they become, without any manipulation by the adult, physically healthy, mentally and psychologically fulfilled, extremely well-educated, and brimming over with joy and kindness toward each other. In the following quote Dr. Montessori, speaks of the first Casa dei Bambini (Children's House) in Rome, illustrating the important discovery, and the core of all Montessori work today: When the children had completed an absorbing bit of work, they appeared rested and deeply pleased. It almost seemed as if a road had opened up within their souls that led to all their latent powers, revealing the better part of themselves. They exhibited a great affability to everyone, put themselves out to help others and seemed full of good will. Today there are research projects of all kinds being carried out on the results of a Montessori education. As children progress through true (as opposed to those schools who use the name, but have no certified Montessori teachers) Montessori preschools (3-6), elementary (k-6), middle, and high schools, they become progressively more independent and responsible in action and thought. They carry out original research of all kinds and quickly outgrow a teacher's expertise in many areas. They move out into society and become thoughtful and responsible citizens much earlier than we previously thought possible, arranging field trips, social and ecological projects and movements, and apprenticeships. They develop such excellent study habits that they far surpass the level of the curriculum of traditional schools. Return to top
The adult in charge of these environments requires unique preparation. The traditional Montessori training is a full year of graduate work for each of the following three age levels, and stages of development, of children: Birth to three years Three years to six years Six years to twelve years. The Montessori middle and high school teacher ideally has taken all three training courses plus graduate work in an academic area or areas. Out of a spirit of enthusiasm for following Dr. Montessori's ideas there is a wide variety of teacher preparation. Some have taken intensive, yearlong graduate courses, studying under experienced master teachers who have themselves undergone an exacting teacher-training certification program of several years duration. These Montessori teacher-trainees have earned their certification by passing rigorous practical, written, and oral exams. Others have simply read one of Dr. Montessori's books and applied some of her ideas in a daycare environment. Between these two extremes there are many other examples and no official check on the use of the word "Montessori." Due to the wide variation of the preparation of adult there is a corresponding variety in the success and quality of schools. We know that allowing for the work of the inner guide is the hardest part of working in the classroom. It is easy to emphasize our own agenda; to weigh the academics disproportionately, to push for the quick solution, to substitute our will for the child's. It is so difficult to keep from over-directing, to observe without judgment, to wait for the child to reveal herself. Yet, over and over again, when we do honor that inner guide, the personality unfolds in a way that surprises - that goes beyond what we could direct or predict. - Dr. Sharon Dubble, Ph.D., Professor, Loyola College in Maryland Montessori education has worked all over the world, with all kinds of children (wealthy, poor, gifted, normal, learning disabled, blind, etc.) and environments (from refugee camps and slums, to elegant schools in beautiful private homes). It is not the richness of the environment that determines the success of the Montessori method, but the preparation of the teacher. Dr. Montessori learned early in her work that the education of teachers who are able to kindle flames rather than just fill vessels is not so easy. The Montessori method is philosophically and practically different from other educational methods, and also very different from the personal educational experience of most adults who become Montessori teachers. The words "directress" or "guide" is sometimes used rather than "teacher" because of the different role of the adult in relating to the child - directing him to find the best way to learn from the environment rather than from the adult. Good Montessori teachers come from varied backgrounds, from artists to scientists, mountain climbers and dancers, to grandmothers! What qualities are needed to become a Montessori Directress/Director? A commitment to the full development of the child -- to helping the child's personality unfold. Someone who therefore seeks tirelessly to gain the interest of each child -- ready to enthuse him but also able to stand back and take a supporting role when the child has become engaged in his own work. Also patience, a sense of humor, and a wide variety of interests which will help to bring perspective to their work and enhance the children's lives. - Jethryn Hall, MMI, The Maria Montessori Institute, London, UK (previously MMTO) MONTESSORI TEACHING POSITIONS
- JOB OFFERS, from our member Montessori organizations: AMI current job openings: www.amiusa.org/jobs AMS current job openings: http://www.amshq.org/Teacher%20Resources/Find%20Employment.aspx NAMTA current job openings: http://www.montessori-namta.org/Advertising MONTESSORI ORGANIZATIONS and
TRAINING COURSE MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Copyright 2012
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