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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Leaving Montessori...but.....need advice.

by J.J

Apr 28, 2011

I have taught Montessori Primary & Elementary for 7 years & left it last June after the elementary program didn't continue due to lack of enrollment. I have basically taken this yr off & plan to get back into teaching in fall.

The thing is - I want to do something different in education (admin, curriculum, etc) rather than be in a class & I just don't feel excited about the thought of a working as a lead again in a class. I LOVE education but I just want to do something different.

Is it wrong of me to feel this way?

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Nadine Parkes On 4/28/11, J.J wrote: > I have taught Montessori Primary & Elementary for 7 years & > left it last June after the elementary program didn't > continue due to lack of enrollment. I have basically taken > this yr off & plan to get back into teaching in fall. > > The thing is - I want to do something different in > ed...See More

Apr 28, 2011

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maureen On 4/28/11, J.J wrote: > I have taught Montessori Primary & Elementary for 7 years & > left it last June after the elementary program didn't > continue due to lack of enrollment. I have basically taken > this yr off & plan to get back into teaching in fall. > > The thing is - I want to do something different in > ed...See MoreOn 4/28/11, J.J wrote: > I have taught Montessori Primary & Elementary for 7 years & > left it last June after the elementary program didn't > continue due to lack of enrollment. I have basically taken > this yr off & plan to get back into teaching in fall. > > The thing is - I want to do something different in > education (admin, curriculum, etc) rather than be in a > class & I just don't feel excited about the thought of a > working as a lead again in a class. I LOVE education but I > just want to do something different. > > Is it wrong of me to feel this way?

No, I don't think it is wrong for you to feel that way. One should never be wrong for having feelings! You have had a year off to reflect on your previous experiences teaching. To me, if you had felt a passion for teaching, you would be itching to get right back into it. Follow your inner self and look for a career that utilizes the skills and training you had for the teaching job and when you find it, it will make sense to you.

I have been in Montessori for almost 30 years and plan on leaving the field very soon. I feel at peace with myself. I am ready. I am playing around with ideas as to what road I want to travel next, but school related is not it right now. I have to let you know that Montessori was my third career and this is the longest I have stayed in anything. None of my three careers seem related to each other, but when I found Montessori, it all seemed to fall together. I am a bit surprised at how easily I am ready to give up this career as I had planned on sticking with it until I dropped.

I am curious, are you in your early 30's? I know that was the age I was at when I felt restless and ready for something different. That was when I found Montessori which was totally unknown to me before then. Maybe you are just in that phase where after searching for yourself and what you want to do with your life in your 20's, then you have assimilated yourself and have a yearning for a different plan. Just wondering, you don't have to answer that one.

I am playing around with the idea of working either in the mental health field or with the elderly. I can see where my expertise and experience can fit into either. Good luck with your choices. Just don't feel bad to want something different.

Apr 28, 2011

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Nadine Parkes On 4/28/11, maureen wrote: > On 4/28/11, J.J wrote: >> I have taught Montessori Primary & Elementary for 7 years & >> left it last June after the elementary program didn't >> continue due to lack of enrollment. I have basically taken >> this yr off & plan to get back into teaching in fall. >> >> Th...See MoreOn 4/28/11, maureen wrote: > On 4/28/11, J.J wrote: >> I have taught Montessori Primary & Elementary for 7 years & >> left it last June after the elementary program didn't >> continue due to lack of enrollment. I have basically taken >> this yr off & plan to get back into teaching in fall. >> >> The thing is - I want to do something different in >> education (admin, curriculum, etc) rather than be in a >> class & I just don't feel excited about the thought of a >> working as a lead again in a class. I LOVE education but I >> just want to do something different. >> >> Is it wrong of me to feel this way? > > > No, I don't think it is wrong for you to feel that way. One > should never be wrong for having feelings! You have had a > year off to reflect on your previous experiences teaching. To > me, if you had felt a passion for teaching, you would be > itching to get right back into it. Follow your inner self and > look for a career that utilizes the skills and training you > had for the teaching job and when you find it, it will make > sense to you. > > I have been in Montessori for almost 30 years and plan on > leaving the field very soon. I feel at peace with myself. I > am ready. I am playing around with ideas as to what road I > want to travel next, but school related is not it right now. > I have to let you know that Montessori was my third career > and this is the longest I have stayed in anything. None of my > three careers seem related to each other, but when I found > Montessori, it all seemed to fall together. I am a bit > surprised at how easily I am ready to give up this career as > I had planned on sticking with it until I dropped. > > I am curious, are you in your early 30's? I know that was > the age I was at when I felt restless and ready for something > different. That was when I found Montessori which was totally > unknown to me before then. Maybe you are just in that phase > where after searching for yourself and what you want to do > with your life in your 20's, then you have assimilated > yourself and have a yearning for a different plan. Just > wondering, you don't have to answer that one. > > I am playing around with the idea of working either in the > mental health field or with the elderly. I can see where my > expertise and experience can fit into either. Good luck with > your choices. Just don't feel bad to want something > different.

I agree with Maureen follow your heart. I can relate to JJ so well. I have been teaching Montessori for 19 years. I taught 17 years in the Caribbean and two years since I have migrated to the US. I have always been a lead teacher. I asked the director not make me the lead teacher. I just wanted to be a Montessori teacher without all the fuss. I realized that I was still not happy with the classroom and going to work the same time everyday had become so mundane for me. I finally resigned two weeks ago and will start to home school this Monday. I am so excited about my new job. I got burnt out from going in the classroom for 19 years. So I have purchased Montessori materials especially I found our that there is a high demand for Montessori teachers for home school purpose. I feel so relieved and renewed. There are time in this journey of life that we need to re-invent our self.

Apr 28, 2011

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J.J Thank you so much for your candid responses!

19 & 30 years??? WOW! Such dedication. But you both hit the nail on the head for me.

I am actually in my late 30s & my 1st career was as a software trainer for a year which paved the way into teaching, though my second was in software programming for 6 years. This is my 3rd ca...See More

Apr 28, 2011

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nadine parkes On 4/28/11, maureen wrote: > On 4/28/11, J.J wrote: >> I have taught Montessori Primary & Elementary for 7 years & >> left it last June after the elementary program didn't >> continue due to lack of enrollment. I have basically taken >> this yr off & plan to get back into teaching in fall. >> >> Th...See MoreOn 4/28/11, maureen wrote: > On 4/28/11, J.J wrote: >> I have taught Montessori Primary & Elementary for 7 years & >> left it last June after the elementary program didn't >> continue due to lack of enrollment. I have basically taken >> this yr off & plan to get back into teaching in fall. >> >> The thing is - I want to do something different in >> education (admin, curriculum, etc) rather than be in a >> class & I just don't feel excited about the thought of a >> working as a lead again in a class. I LOVE education but I >> just want to do something different. >> >> Is it wrong of me to feel this way? > > > No, I don't think it is wrong for you to feel that way. One > should never be wrong for having feelings! You have had a > year off to reflect on your previous experiences teaching. To > me, if you had felt a passion for teaching, you would be > itching to get right back into it. Follow your inner self and > look for a career that utilizes the skills and training you > had for the teaching job and when you find it, it will make > sense to you. > > I have been in Montessori for almost 30 years and plan on > leaving the field very soon. I feel at peace with myself. I > am ready. I am playing around with ideas as to what road I > want to travel next, but school related is not it right now. > I have to let you know that Montessori was my third career > and this is the longest I have stayed in anything. None of my > three careers seem related to each other, but when I found > Montessori, it all seemed to fall together. I am a bit > surprised at how easily I am ready to give up this career as > I had planned on sticking with it until I dropped. > > I am curious, are you in your early 30's? I know that was > the age I was at when I felt restless and ready for something > different. That was when I found Montessori which was totally > unknown to me before then. Maybe you are just in that phase > where after searching for yourself and what you want to do > with your life in your 20's, then you have assimilated > yourself and have a yearning for a different plan. Just > wondering, you don't have to answer that one. > > I am playing around with the idea of working either in the > mental health field or with the elderly. I can see where my > expertise and experience can fit into either. Good luck with > your choices. Just don't feel bad to want something > different. Hi Maureen, My approach to home school would be very similar to how I would approach a child in the classroom. As you know we follow the child's lead and plan lessons based on the child's readiness. I will be working with a little boy. CJ is five years old he needs help in very area. He does not know how to write, read or do math. At first I plan to do a lot of Practical life and Sensorial to harness the skills that I will need for academics. To promote fine motors skill for writing I will introduce push pin and metal inset.

In terms of payment it depends on your parent. I have been on montessorijobs.com and I seen parents offering as much as $20-$30 per hour. Maureen more are becoming more familiar with the Montessori approach and is quite willing to pay for their child's education. In my case I will be working less hours than I did when I was in the class room. I will also payed a little more. When I think about it I will be payed more for working with one child in comparison to working with many children. Home schooling can be very feasible especially if you are able to work in more than one home for a day. I hope I was able to answer some of your questions.

Apr 29, 2011

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