Montessori Training

I was living in Vancouver at the time, when I first looked into getting Montessori training. There are a variety of different options for Montessori training. Some are full time one year programs others are 2 year programs split over two summers with a 1 year teaching practicum and distance education component.

The first training centre that I contacted I didn't get such a good feeling from so I searched around a bit and I found the VTI Montessori Training program. Run by a very dedicated Montessorian. She assembled a team of some the best Montessori educators in the world from all different training backgrounds and she even had some University professors on board. We were exposed to a variety of different ideas and ways of thinking.

Here is the link if you are interested in the program

http://www.vsb.bc.ca/vsbstudents/adultstudents/montessori/default.htm

Montessori training is like boot camp. I studied Electronics and Computers in University which are no bird majors but I must say that Montessori training is a lot of work. You have to spend hours, making materials, practicing the presentations over and over again, creating your Montessori teaching manuals. I repeat it is a lot of work, one must be prepared both mentally and physically to survive. They don't just give you a diploma for showing up you gotta work for it.


I also looked into doing an online program but I realized that the disadvantage of such a programs are that they do not give the student sufficient time to practice with the materials. If you are already working in a Montessori classroom or do have access to a training centre then that maybe be the best way to go.

The really good Montessori Teachers that I have met live and breathe Montessori.They hone their teaching skills by studying the philosophy, comparing it to other forms of education and keep an open mind to different possibilities.

Montessori Elementary Classroom Video

What is Montessori Education anyway?

When I meet people and tell them that I teach in a Montessori classroom they have no clue, to what is it that I actually teach. I usually hear something like "Montessori" what's that or if they've heard of Montessori education they usually think of it is as some type of religious school because it sounds so similar to the word Monastery.

First of all, the vast majority of Montessori schools are secular. They follow no religious philosophy or religious curriculum. In a Montessori classroom, there are children from all different religious backgrounds and nationalities who work and learn together in harmony. The focus of a Montessori education is to expose children to a wide variety of different cultures and help them to develop tolerance for people of all nationalities and religious backgrounds.

I have also heard people mention that isn't Montessori that kind of school where the children are allowed to run wild and do whatever they want. This is a misconception about Montessori education.

Children in a Montessori classroom can choose activities from a wide range of learning materials. This is a key element of the Montessori philosophy, in an ideal classroom environment children come to school with their own academic plan. The teachers job is to guide them towards it and still maintain academic standards.

At the elementary level students hold short individual conferences with their teacher to plan the work they will accomplish for the day, week or month. In some classrooms, they use a checklist or work journal to record what they have accomplished or plan to accomplish.

It is truly amazing to see six and seven year old students come to school and say here is my plan for today. I am going to work independently on Math, Music, Language, world history after that I will read a novel and then I will work on a science or research project with a group of friends.

What I have observed from teaching in a Montessori classroom is that the children can and are learning to think for themselves. They come to school with an idea of what they would like to accomplish.

I hope more people are exposed to Montessori education and the benefits it offers.

10 Great things about Montessori Education

1. As Montessori Teachers we educate the whole child: not just academic achievement
2. Each child is seen as an individual with unique talents and ways of learning
3. Our children learn through using all of the 5 senses
4. Our goal as Montessori teachers is not give all the answers but to light the spark within the child
5. We observe and then follow the child, our children's interests drive the curriculum
6. Children in a Montessori classroom learn from each other,the teacher is partner in learning
7. The classroom environment is prepared for the developmental needs of each age group
8. Mistakes are encouraged and are seen as part of the learning process.
9. It is a proven method of education with a 100 year history
10. Mixed age groupings promote co-operation not competition

How I became a Montessori Teacher

After graduating college, I worked for a Management Consulting Company in Toronto, Canada. Working in the corporate world was very challenging and interesting but there was a something missing from my life. One day, I was browsing through a night school course calender and the school was offering Japanese lessons. I said to myself....Why study Japanese in Canada, why not go to Japan to study. The next day, I gave my notice and decided to quit my job and somehow find a way to make it to Japan. I found a a program that offered the opportunity to work in a Japanese Jr. High School so I jumped at the opportunity and bought a plane ticket headed to Tokyo, Japan.
I worked at 4 Jr. High Schools teaching ESL in Japan, it was an amazing job, I learned alot about myself and Japanese culture. I also met my lovely wife in Japan. My grandfather got sick so I had to return to Canada for a year. I was going to enroll in the Bachelor of Education program and become a Public school teacher but came across a childrens book about Maria Montessori. I was so inspired that I decided to enrol in the AMS Montessori Elementary program and become a Elementary Montessori teacher.