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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Record keeping for lower elementary Montessori

by CM

Feb 27, 2012

Does any one have a record keeping worksheets that can be shared. Thanks a lot

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Montessori Teacher Training: About School Sponsorships?

by Katherine

Feb 28, 2012

Hello All,

I hope I find you people doing well. I am currently a student majoring in child development at my local college. I am also subbing at a center. I am interested in learning more about Montessori and how I can be trained. I looked at some schools in my area as well as outside of my area. I am astounded at the expensive tuition the...See More

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maureen Katherine: I think the most common way schools sponsor a student for training is when that person works as an assistant in the school for at least one year. That way the school can assess how the assistant seems right for the training. Also, the student can see if the school and/or Montessori seems right to him or her.

I worked as an assi...See MoreKatherine: I think the most common way schools sponsor a student for training is when that person works as an assistant in the school for at least one year. That way the school can assess how the assistant seems right for the training. Also, the student can see if the school and/or Montessori seems right to him or her.

I worked as an assistant in a 3-6 classroom my first year in Montessori. I had been an active parent volunteer in the school the year before. Then when some openings for assistants came up, I applied. My work ethic is what stood out for the school and I got the job. I was an eager learner and learned a lot that year. The woman I worked under was so - so but I still learned a lot. I also observed the other classrooms in the observation windows often. At the end of the school year, the school asked me to get my training and they would pay for all of it. It did not fit in with our family situation at the time and I left the school since I did not live in that city.

I started my own school and six years later when a new training center opened at a university within a short drive, I paid for my own training.

WHen I had another school in another city, I offered a couple different teachers the training. Two chose not to due to finding that Montessori was not right for them for entirely different reasons. Another took us up on the offer and sure enough her husband got transferred by the end of her internship year. She paid us back the agreed amount. In our case and in a lot of schools, the school pays for the training in full with a contract signed that the teacher was to work for the school for at least 3 years.

So, I would suggest finding a school that seems to feel right to you and apply for an assistant's position. If the school is in a real need to build up its teacher pool, they might even offer to pay for your training that first year that you work as an assistant and use it as your internship. Each school has its own way of doing this.

I highly recommend working that year as an assistant before you get your training. I found that having my work experience under my belt gave me an insight and understanding that I think someone with no experience in the classroom would not have. just visiting schools is not really the same. Working day to day in the classroom and preferably under an outstanding directress can give you the best start of a very demanding yet totally fulfilling career.

I hope this works out for you. I know I never regretted my journey. maureen

Feb 28, 2012

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Your school director...

by CS

Mar 6, 2012

How does he or she execute duties? I started in a school last Sept after 7 years working for a different school. I am not seeing too much involvement of the director & it shows in the quality of the school/parents/ staff.

What do you think makes a good director? Thanks for sharing.

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MF On 3/06/12, CS wrote: > How does he or she execute duties? I started in a school > last Sept after 7 years working for a different school. I > am not seeing too much involvement of the director & it > shows in the quality of the school/parents/ staff. > > What do you think makes a good director? Thanks for > sharing.
...See More

Mar 14, 2013

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montessori books and math materials

by Linda Doherty

Mar 15, 2012

All required reading for Montessori certification program. Laminated and cut out math works on problem solving and math calculation.

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Walking on the line / Silence game

by Lily

Mar 24, 2012

Do you do walking on the line every day as a group or it's just a work that children are free to choose? For the latter one, how many children are allowed to walk on the line? We are using the latter one, and 3 children can walk on the line at a time.

I know in some classrooms, walking on the line is a routine work that starts the day, ev...See More

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Lily On 3/25/12, maureen wrote: > On 3/24/12, Lily wrote: >> Do you do walking on the line every day as a group or it's >> just a work that children are free to choose? For the latter >> one, how many children are allowed to walk on the line? We >> are using the latter one, and 3 children can walk on the >> line at a tim...See More

Mar 26, 2012

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Lily Thanks, Maureen & MM for sharing your experience!

On 3/26/12, Lily wrote: > On 3/25/12, maureen wrote: >> On 3/24/12, Lily wrote: >>> Do you do walking on the line every day as a group or it's >>> just a work that children are free to choose? For the latter >>> one, how many children are allowed to w...See More

Mar 26, 2012

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Definition books: flower, leaf, root;animals

by LZ

Mar 24, 2012

Deall all,

Any one would like to share the content of your definition book about flower, leaf, root as well as various animals? Just need the definitions. Thanks a lot !

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Montessori and My Children

by MM

Mar 25, 2012

Hello Friends, I own a small Montessori preschool and I have three daughters. They've enjoyed being with me over time, but the older two are currently in the lower years of a traditional Catholic school. Our area has no option of higher Montessori education. There are really no other options other than public or Catholic. There are more issues than...See More

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maureen Oh, I hear you, MM! I was in your place many years ago when my eldest was in the early grades of parochial school. How many times I wanted to pull her out and homeschool her but my dh was not for that. Now she is an adult and I am totally convinced that we did not do what was right for her by keeping her in traditional school. She disliked school f...See MoreOh, I hear you, MM! I was in your place many years ago when my eldest was in the early grades of parochial school. How many times I wanted to pull her out and homeschool her but my dh was not for that. Now she is an adult and I am totally convinced that we did not do what was right for her by keeping her in traditional school. She disliked school from first grade through high school. It was so hard to watch that spark and bubbly personality turn to resignation. We didn't have to deal with the bullying until years later. We did take her out of the parochial school after third grade and it was much better for her after that. At that time, we also had little choice. There was a Montessori elementary an hour away but we lacked the time and money to do so.

Now that my grandchildren have been through my school, the eldest we held back a year before putting her into public school full day K. She was six. It was a disaster and we ended up pulling her out and she was "homeschooled" at my small Montessori in the spring months. We were at a loss as to what to do as there was no way that I was going to watch her dislike school for 12 years like her mother. We lucked out as the town we live in now has a nice little charter school that follows the Progressive model and she got into that for first grade. It is not Montessori and I know what she is missing from not attending an authentic Montessori elementary. There are two in our city that go through 3rd. I felt it was more important that she stay in the same school environment that she is happy with for the 6 to 8 years. She is very happy there and is learning. Her brother will join her this August. I realize how fortunate that we are that we have this option. I remember so well the helplessness you are feeling by not having the choices.

There are a LOT of Montessori homeschooling groups on yahoo groups where you could get your support and advice on actually homeschooling your children during the elementary years. I don't know if your area is big on homeschooling but ours has at least three or four homeschooling organizations where they have sports, meet for field trips and other organized activities that allow the homeschooled child to be with other children.

I know the lady in town who had a one room preschool added an elementary with almost all K and first grade ages, but she started with just one third grader. So, I know it can be done. She also doesn't charge enough tuition to cover the costs, but she wants a good program. Her preschool is supporting the elementary.

It depends a lot on your circumstances. I was shocked at my first dd's experience in parochial school. I thought with it being a smaller school, she would have transitioned easier into it. Instead, she stepped up to the doorway the first day, quickly looked over the environment, turned around and said "I don't want to go there". It didn't get better. Instead of finding a warm, welcoming environment, it turned out to have a lot of behavior problems, little to no enrichment and a staff with a very low morale. After we took our children out, they finally changed the principal and the school finally became the gem it should have been all along.

One thing I do believe strongly in though, is that should you choose to homeschool, you HAVE to have your spouse on the same page. It won't be easy. I would not be concerned about your girls not feeling like they fit in at your school. My children always thoroughly loved coming during the spring breaks or other breaks and summer when they didn't have their school. I loved having them there, too, as did the students.

You have a big decision to make. Hopefully you can learn from my personal experience. maureen

Mar 25, 2012

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MM Thank you for your response, Maureen. I really think my husband trusts what I have to say about our daughters' education, so I think he would be on board if I go this route. My girls absolutely LOVE spending time in the classroom on breaks and during summer camp, but I'm looking down the road when they're in 5th or 6th grade and still going to scho...See MoreThank you for your response, Maureen. I really think my husband trusts what I have to say about our daughters' education, so I think he would be on board if I go this route. My girls absolutely LOVE spending time in the classroom on breaks and during summer camp, but I'm looking down the road when they're in 5th or 6th grade and still going to school with 3 year olds. Is that healthy? I would really like to start the Montessori lower or upper el, but again, that will take them only so far because I have absolutely no interest in going up through middle/high school. I guess it will just take some more reflection...and prayer! Thanks again for taking the time to share your experiences.

On 3/25/12, maureen wrote: > Oh, I hear you, MM! I was in your place many years ago when my > eldest was in the early grades of parochial school. How many > times I wanted to pull her out and homeschool her but my dh > was not for that. Now she is an adult and I am totally > convinced that we did not do what was right for her by keeping > her in traditional school. She disliked school from first > grade through high school. It was so hard to watch that spark > and bubbly personality turn to resignation. We didn't have to > deal with the bullying until years later. We did take her out > of the parochial school after third grade and it was much > better for her after that. At that time, we also had little > choice. There was a Montessori elementary an hour away but we > lacked the time and money to do so. > > Now that my grandchildren have been through my school, the > eldest we held back a year before putting her into public > school full day K. She was six. It was a disaster and we ended > up pulling her out and she was "homeschooled" at my small > Montessori in the spring months. We were at a loss as to what > to do as there was no way that I was going to watch her > dislike school for 12 years like her mother. We lucked out as > the town we live in now has a nice little charter school that > follows the Progressive model and she got into that for first > grade. It is not Montessori and I know what she is missing > from not attending an authentic Montessori elementary. There > are two in our city that go through 3rd. I felt it was more > important that she stay in the same school environment that > she is happy with for the 6 to 8 years. She is very happy > there and is learning. Her brother will join her this August. > I realize how fortunate that we are that we have this option. > I remember so well the helplessness you are feeling by not > having the choices. > > There are a LOT of Montessori homeschooling groups on yahoo > groups where you could get your support and advice on actually > homeschooling your children during the elementary years. I > don't know if your area is big on homeschooling but ours has > at least three or four homeschooling organizations where they > have sports, meet for field trips and other organized > activities that allow the homeschooled child to be with other > children. > > I know the lady in town who had a one room preschool added an > elementary with almost all K and first grade ages, but she > started with just one third grader. So, I know it can be done. > She also doesn't charge enough tuition to cover the costs, but > she wants a good program. Her preschool is supporting the > elementary. > > It depends a lot on your circumstances. I was shocked at my > first dd's experience in parochial school. I thought with it > being a smaller school, she would have transitioned easier > into it. Instead, she stepped up to the doorway the first day, > quickly looked over the environment, turned around and said "I > don't want to go there". It didn't get better. Instead of > finding a warm, welcoming environment, it turned out to have a > lot of behavior problems, little to no enrichment and a staff > with a very low morale. After we took our children out, they > finally changed the principal and the school finally became > the gem it should have been all along. > > One thing I do believe strongly in though, is that should you > choose to homeschool, you HAVE to have your spouse on the same > page. It won't be easy. I would not be concerned about your > girls not feeling like they fit in at your school. My children > always thoroughly loved coming during the spring breaks or > other breaks and summer when they didn't have their school. I > loved having them there, too, as did the students. > > You have a big decision to make. Hopefully you can learn from > my personal experience. maureen

Mar 28, 2012

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