I see reviews today, so here I am to google you girls the information I was interested in and had researched on. My 4 year old has been going to this Montessori school and she obsolutely loves it. The "toys" are so much fun. They called them sensurials
This is the official American Montessori Society website. If you dont have time to read the whole thing, I excerpted it for you:
Montessori teaching differs from traditional teaching because it's student-led. Like traditional teachers, Montessori teachers must become certified in the area they want to work. Teachers can be certified to teach infants, primary and elementary. The infant certification also certifies anyone wishing to be an assistant in the Montessori classroom. Primary certification is for ages 3-6 and elementary certification is for ages 6-12. The Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) is recognized worldwide as the accrediting agency for Montessori training programs.
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1. Graduate college with a bachelor's degree. While most programs don't specify an undergraduate degree subject, majoring in education, communication arts, English, math or science would be beneficial. Montessori training centers do like to emphasize that students come from a variety of educational backgrounds, and will train students with degrees in art, nursing, anthropology and architecture. The important thing is to have a degree.
2. Research accredited Montessori training centers at the AMI website at www.montessori-ami.org/ to find out how to become a Montessori teacher and the application requirements for each school. Schools differ, but most want you to submit personal references, transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, an essay and work history.
3. Apply for the primary diploma first, even if you're goal is to teach elementary. AMI schools require that students hold the primary diploma, which certifies you to teach children 3-6 years old, before admittance to the elementary program. The only way to forfeit the primary diploma is to take an intensive summer foundational course that covers all of the material of a primary diploma in one summer.
4. Choose an academic schedule that meets your needs. Many of the Montessori schools schedule classes over 3 summer sessions, meaning it will take 3 years to get your first diploma. If you want to graduate in one year, look for a school that offers a single academic year schedule, rather than the summer sessions.
5. Complete the Montessori training program.
- Plan to take approximately 1,200 hours of instruction, divided up by units. Lectures compromise most of the units.
- Demonstrate your ability to create Montessori materials for all subjects.
- Participate in classroom observations and supervised teaching.
- Complete a teaching practicum in the last semester.
6. Earn your diploma only after completing both oral and written exams given by your training center. The exams will cover the training education and prove that you are competent in the interdisciplinary methods of Montessori teaching.
7. Search for a job by speaking with local Montessori schools or looking through AMI's online listings. Schools needing teachers will list the type of teacher needed, along with the educational requirements of the job.
