Does anybody have information about being a Montessori teacher?

Question

I have checked out the official website and a bunch of schools in my area, but I wanted to hear some personal experiences. How was the Montessori training course? Do you feel like you earn a competetive salary? Do you enjoy your job? How do you deal with students who do not adapt to the Montessori style (i.e. are not self-motivating)? Do most teachers stick around for a long time or is there a high turn-over?

Any other info you can offer would be terrific!

Answer 1

I have to say that I believe in Montessori education 100% when it is done correctly. I say correctly because some people do not understand Montessori education, usually because they haven’t been trained or they only took part of the training, and therefore can’t implement the method completely. Yet when one is completely trained at a reputable training center the results are amazing.

To begin with, there are many different training programs. You will have to look into the different programs and find the one that matches your personality and work situation the best. The two main ones are AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) and AMS (American Montessori Society), but there are others. AMI training is usually considered to stay true to Maria’s original beliefs and materials, most AMI schools will not accept non AMI trained individuals to be head teachers, but nothing is written in stone, some do. AMS trainings are considered to be more “progressive” using materials that Maria and Mario didn’t invent. Like I said, you will have to evaluate your own personality and teaching situation to see which training would be best for you. Yet, my main suggestion is that you do not take a mail order or on-line course since they usually focus on material presentations and most people who take these courses have a hard time setting up and running a classroom.

As far as salary goes, not that I believe that anyone should be in education for the money, but in general private Montessori pays less. When I was directing a private Montessori schools I made less than aides do at my public school. People who own private schools talk about how paying their teachers less means that they get people who are dedicated to the teaching profession, but as a single woman, I needed a paycheck that I could live off of. At the moment I work in a PUBLIC MONTESSORI and make a very good salary. I am VERY happy with the money I make as well as the benefits I receive such as health and dental insurance and paid sick days.

I LOVE TEACHING IN A MONTESSORI CLASSROOM!!!! In fact I could/would never teach in a traditional classroom ever again. I love working with children of different ages. I love being able to identify my students abilities, interests and learning styles and being able to teach to their needs instead of to a scripted program. I love being able to take all that is happening in the world around them and all of their interests and relating it to education so that they see learning not as something that they are forced to do, but something that they want to do.

As far as a child not being self motivated or needing added “structure” (How I hate that term! My classroom has more “structure” than most traditional classrooms, it is just not overtly obvious.), Montessori education helps to make children self motivated, independent learners. If they are naturally that way, great, but if they are not, it doesn’t mean that Montessori is not for them, it just means that that is something they will learn in a good Montessori environment. Montessori teachers work with the needs of their students. They will find activities that spark the imagination of a “non-motivated child” or will set up a internalized structure that will help the child focus.

Answer 2

There are many Montessori teacher training courses. Montessori method was invented by Dr. Montessori. The method was based on child psychology and child developments.
Most of Montessori training centers are not offering child psychology course because they insist that the teacher should learn how to handle material the way Dr. Montessori directed. If you join a course only to handle material, it is very dull and teacher will not find it interesting. There are modern Montessori institutions that they teach child psychology extensively. The teacher understand the method better than the traditional courses. Teaching will become interesting for the teachers who receive training based on child psychology.
There are schools who can pay good salaries. Montessori schools fees are higher than other private schools. So that those schools can pay well.