NAMC - North American Montessori Center

Posted on 10/09/09

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Dear Deb,

Connecting with the larger Montessori community can be a
rewarding experience, especially when it leads to a positive
exchange of ideas, experiences, and reflections: or, in other
words, learning. Dr. Montessori was one of the first
advocates for lifelong learning, and you can look forward to
continuing to learn throughout your entire career – from your
mentors, students, colleagues, and school administrators. We
are sure that many of your fellow Montessorians will offer
practical and valuable guidance via this social network, and
we are pleased to continue to support you by respectfully
offering our suggestions to your posted queries.

Every Montessori school has its own philosophy, usually
guided by core Montessori principles, as well as the school’s
mission statement, objectives, and directives of its
administration. We believe the qualities of a good school are
as follows: First and foremost, meeting the individual needs
of every student, and then, in no particular order,
respecting each member of the school community, embracing
challenges and diversity with grace and courtesy, fostering
an atmosphere of inclusivity, collaboration, and mentorship,
to name only a few. An interview is an excellent opportunity
for both the prospective employer and employee to get to know
one another. Whether applying for a paid or volunteer
position, the internship and employment documentation and CD
resources we include with our 6-12 Classroom Guide manual
will be very helpful to you.

As discussed in our Classroom Guide, after morning greeting
and housekeeping rituals, it is customary for elementary
students to immediately commence the morning work period,
eager to start the day’s work by choosing their own
activities. The students will convene before lunch for a
short time, referred to as group time, for collective
discussions, organizing tasks, showing student work, or a
group presentation. Of course, there can be much variation
from class to class, school to school, with no rights or
wrongs, only what is best for your students.

If given an opportunity to visit a Montessori classroom or
volunteer in one, you will be amazed at how much you will
learn through the simple act of observation – especially
since this will become one of the most important
responsibilities you will have as a Montessori teacher.
Possibly more valuable at this point than reviewing the
teacher’s daily/weekly/monthly plans, notes, records, mastery
checklists, etc. is observing the students work with the
material and each other, and scanning the individual entries
of their subject and/or daily journals.

We hope this is helpful, Deb - wishing you all the best!

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