I'd like to be a Montessori Preschool teacher where do I start, I've taught at a Montessori part time?

Question

I'd like to be a Montessori Preschool teacher where do I start, I've taught at a Montessori part time?

Answer 1

You need to take a training course. There are many of them out there, but you will find that the certification programs offered by AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) and AMS (American Montessori Society) to be the most widely accepted.

The two programs are different. You will have to decide for yourself which implementation of the method works best with your personality and beliefs. Look into both programs and see which you feel most comfortable with.  Take it from me, don't just take the closest program or the training that the school down the road uses. Working in an environment that  has different beliefs than yours soon becomes very stressful.

What do I mean? Well, here are two quick overviews of AMI and AMS. ...AMI was established by Maria Montessori and her son, Mario in 1929 and has international headquarters in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In AMI schools, Montessori philosophy and curriculum are implemented in a way that is consistent with the original approach of Maria Montessori. The Montessori materials are used precisely in the manner used by Dr. Montessori without deviation or extensions; preserving what proponents of this interpretation believe is the purity of the method.

In AMS schools, the belief is that Maria died in 1952. Since the world has changed greatly since then; new technology, new knowledge, new materials,... the method needs to reflect these changes. AMS teachers bring  the world into the classroom by using outside resources, materials, and ideas to extend and/or supplement the Montessori curriculum. Examples include the use of technology and current events.

Both philosophies are well thought out and valid, but it would be hard for someone who believes in teaching about current events or using a new material to work in an AMI school.  The same goes for a person who believes wholly in the purity of the Montessori Method being asked to use a non-Montessori material.

Additionally, I tell people to stay away from the correspondence courses. They aren't all bad, but personally I believe that a hands on, multi-modality philosophy is really hard to teach through the mail, on line, or with videos. I must not be the only one because correspondence programs in general are not as readily accepted by schools.There are exceptions though. Yet with my experience I have met more people frustrated with either the fact that their certification isn't very marketable  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;... or with working with people who have no true understanding of Montessori since quality control is hard to ensure with correspondence courses. (One of my strongest memories was that of the owner of a Montessori school who's daughter was a certified Montessori teacher. The owner had her daughter write all her papers. Then her daughter moved away. The owner then tried to run the school even though she had no idea of what was happening around her. Because of her lack of Montessori Knowledge she would often make mandates that were the opposite of the Montessori philosophy, frustrating her staff and families. Eventually she lost her school.)

Here are links to AMI and AMS to get you started.

AMI http://www.montessori-ami.org/

AMS http://www.amshq.org/teacherEdPrograms.h...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 2

If you are in Mass state, the best way to start a teaching career is get EEC certification. go to this website and see the requirements. http://www.eec.state.ma.us/docs/TQApplic...

This certification will allow you to work as a teacher in almost  all schools including public school and most montessories and is a neccessary credential for a good start. While you persue this, you can also do an online montessori course. If you can afford timewise, then montessori course from AMI is considered the best and comes highly recommended. They have many locations in mass state.They do not have online courses though. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

you should first get a degree on Montessori Preschool teaching, there are many schools offering that kind of specialization. You just have to locate a good school near your area! good luck!

Answer 4

I have nothing to add to Lysa's answer except to reply to the person about and say to avoid the online Montessori course route.  An online course will not be widely accepted.  You will find some schools that will take it, but you are going to severely limit your options to a handful of schools.

Answer 5

Well, you have just started to be one. All you need to do is to continue by gathering the necessary credentials to be able to teach legally. Your professional growth is just as important pursue your education and pass the tests required.  You're on the right tract, be proud that you are a teacher!