When compared to a traditional education, Montessori offers a very different experience for the student and the teacher.Montessori teachers must become certified to be able to bill themselves as Montessori professionals.Not counting an undergraduate education, the training for a Montessori teacher can involve a year of study followed by an additional supervised practicum to become fully certified.See Step 1 for the beginning of the path to your first Montessori job.
Step 1: For the greatest range of opportunities, complete a college education.
College education is a very smart idea for Montessori teachers.Many states in the U.S. require college education for Montessori teachers.If you don't have a college degree, you may be able to become certified only for assistant-level positions.A college degree can expand the range of Montessori opportunities available to you.Montessori teachers-in-training don't have to major in education or a related field in college.Montessori teachers studied in fields as diverse as law, engineering, or the humanities.
Step 2: Pick a center that is accredited.
Montessori certification training can cost thousands of dollars and take a year or more to complete, though it will give you valuable skills and credentials.Because of this, it's very important to be sure that the training center you enroll at is fully accredited by a recognized Montessori accreditation agency.Most legitimate training centers will let you know their accreditation status.This can be a huge waste of time and money if you enroll in a training center that doesn't have the proper credentials.There is a directory of certified training centers on the website of Association Montessori Internationale.The Montessori Foundation has more than one training location.The American Montessori Society has an online training center locator.In the United States, accreditation from the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) is seen as the definitive sign of a training program's legitimacy.
Step 3: You can choose an area of certification.
Montessori is more than just a style of teaching for preschool-aged children.In rare instances, it's used for children up to their teenage years.Most people who want to become a Montessori teacher need to specialize in one or more educational age ranges because the techniques and skills used to teach different ages of children can vary substantially.Early Childhood: 2.5 - 6 years is one of the most popular areas of certification.
Step 4: You can enroll in a training program.
You will want to enroll in the next available training session if you've found a fully accredited training center near you.Depending on the training agency you use, the start and end dates of your training period can be different.Pick a training schedule that works for you.You should expect to spend several thousand dollars on Montessori training programs.Some Infant/Toddler training programs cost about $2,000.
Step 5: You need to complete your course.
In general, people training to become Montessori teachers attend classroom lectures, complete written coursework, and practice hands-on training.The mixture of abstract and practical work offered by most Montessori programs is designed to produce a graduate who is comfortable and experienced working in a Montessori classroom setting and who understands the principles of Montessori teaching well enough to adapt to any situation.Montessori teachers-in-training should complete approximately 1,200 hours of instruction.There is an ability to create Montessori teaching materials.Take part in approximately 90 hours of classroom observations.You have to complete an on-site teaching internship.
Step 6: There is a Montessori classroom near you.
Thank you!You are now certified to lead a Montessori classroom after completing your Montessori training.Montessori teachers get their first job when they make connections during their on-site training.If you don't, Montessori credentials can be used for other purposes, like for certifications earned through distance learning.People who have just received their Montessori credentials will want to apply for jobs at local schools with open positions for teaching children of the age range for which they are certified to teach.Using an online Montessori job finder is an even easier way to find open positions.The American Montessori Society's online job search utility allows you to quickly find Montessori openings in your area.
Step 7: Apply for multiple jobs.
When you're looking to become a Montessori teacher, you will want to apply for more than one position.If you apply to a range of positions, you will have the best chance of getting a job since you have less teaching experience than some of the other candidates.Public schools in the U.S. pay their teachers higher salaries than private schools.For some teachers, private schools offer a freer, easier teaching environment with no bureaucracy of the public school system.
Step 8: You should show your commitment to Montessori values.
Most Montessori teachers go through an interview before being hired.It is possible that you will be required to provide a resume, proof of your certification, and/or personal references.You will want to show your potential employer that you understand the principles of Montessori teaching and can put them into action in a classroom setting if you get the job.The main principles of Montessori education are one of the things you may want to talk about.
Step 9: You should be able to negotiate in terms of your job opportunities.
It's possible that you won't get your ideal teaching position immediately as a first-time teacher.Like any other job, the profession of teaching values experience and seniority.In addition to making you a better teacher, by teaching in positions that are not ideal to you, you'll gain valuable skills and experience that will make you an attractive job candidate in the future.When it comes to getting preferred jobs, more experience is always a good thing.
Step 10: Give your children freedom.
Montessori classrooms are mostly student-led.Students have a lot of freedom in choosing when and how they complete their assignments.The Montessori style of teaching is based on this principle.Children who lead their own educational experience learn independence and are more motivated to learn because of the freedom they have.It's not uncommon for the teacher to act as a guide rather than an instructor in Montessori classrooms.She guides the children to their hands-on activities and sits down and helps them if needed, but she allows them to interact with their environment.She doesn't force them to sit in rows of desks.
Step 11: Allow your children to learn.
Montessori classrooms are more hands-on than traditional classrooms.Montessori teachers look for opportunities for students to learn by manipulating hands-on objects like blocks, beads, and specially-designed Montessori teaching materials, while some Montessori coursework may involve writing, spelling, drawing and other activities that are done at a desk or table with pencil and paper.Children don't learn best by sitting and listening to lectures, they learn by teaching themselves and each other how to interact with their environment.Montessori classrooms may use hands-on materials like sliding beads to teach the same concept as a traditional classroom.
Step 12: Allow students to move around in the classroom.
Children are free to come and go as they please in Montessori classrooms.While there may be some periods of quiet, organized instruction, most of the time, children are allowed to move throughout the classroom from activity to activity.In a Montessori preschool classroom, teaching materials will usually be arranged on low, open shelves and the chairs, tables and work stations will all be appropriate for young children.
Step 13: Children should be given continuous learning opportunities.
While Montessori teachers are always available to offer their help to children who need them, often they make an effort to step back and monitor the children as they learn, stepping in only as needed.Montessori teachers give their students opportunities to interact with their educational materials and each other with a minimum of interruption for hours at a time.This approach allows children to learn at their own pace without the interference of a rigidly structured schedule which can present unnecessary barriers to learning.In a Montessori classroom, the teacher may tell her children that they need to complete three educational tasks by the end of the day.During the day, the teacher will walk through the classroom, interacting with the children, monitoring their behavior, and offering help to those who need it, but she won't assign specific time deadlines for them to complete their various tasks.
Step 14: Mixed-age interactions should be encouraged.
Children of different ages can be included in Montessori classrooms.The older, more experienced children are encouraged to teach the younger ones, which benefits both students, because the young children receive instruction from their peers and the older children demonstrate mastery of the coursework by teaching it themselves.Children taught in a mixed-age environment become more patient and comfortable interacting with others of differing learning ability.