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MONTESSORI SCHOOLS
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FINDING A MONTESSORI SCHOOL Anyone who is interested in finding or starting a Montessori school should be aware of the fact that the word Montessori, is not patented and anyone can use it. Thus, the use of the word Montessori is no assurance of quality. If you want to enroll your child in a Montessori school it is important that you learn what a Montessori school should be like, and then observe children working in the school you are considering. In a good school there will be:
There are many different kinds of Montessori teacher certification courses in the world today. Some schools are certified by a particular organization and only have teachers with that certification. Some schools have been known to call themselves Montessori schools even though they have no certified teachers. Parents must look carefully into this question. Montessori schools are found in tiny church halls, large public school building, even homes. The physical environment is secondary to the natural ability, and the training of the adults. There is a great need for certified Montessori teachers. Because of this shortage many Montessori schools have long waiting lists. Choose carefully; your child will be entering a second family. Preparation at Home - Assistants to Infancy: There is much parents can do at home in the early year to prepare the young child for a balanced life. For information on implementing Montessori philosophy at home, from birth to three, go to: http://www.montessori.edu/AtoI.html Montessori Assistants to Infancy Courses, or www.michaelolaf.net. SPECIFIC SCHOOL SEARCHES: Although we can give you some pointers for finding a good Montessori school for your child, we are not a substitute for the research you can do in your own community. First you could check with the following resources. If this doesn't help you, learn all you can about what a Montessori class should be like, check in your local telephone book and phone the schools. Have their literature sent and make an a appointment for an observation of a class during a normal day with the children there. Do not select a school solely upon someone else's recommendation, but only after you visit. You may have to apply when your child is very young, as many good schools have waiting lists. We offer several school lists from our member groups: AMI (Association Montessori International): www.montessori-ami.org NAMTA (North American Montessori Teachers Association ) School Directory list, with certification and class levels listed - USA and International. www.montessori-namta.org/NAMTA/NAMServs/dirgateway.html STARTING A MONTESSORI SCHOOL Many Montessori schools were begun by parents who were concerned that their own children have a good educational experience. Schools are also begun by innovative school administrators and teachers, as charter or magnet schools. For many years there were only private schools but because of the success of the Montessori method, there are almost 3,000 Montessori teachers teaching in public schools today , and even more teaching in private schools. The most difficult part of this project is usually rearranging one's life to take a good Montessori teacher training course, or finding a certified Montessori teacher as there are never enough to fill the demand. It is common to sponsor a local person to take the Montessori training course. If you are interested in starting a Montessori school in The United States, practical and extensive information on this subject is available from The North American Montessori Teachers' Association. This information will also be of value to interested parties in other countries. Go to: http://www.montessori-namta.org/NAMTA/administrators/startsch.html Copyright 2008
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