The word Montessori is not patented and any can use it to promote a school program; therefore the use of Montessori is no assurance of the quality of the program. When searching for a Montessori school to enroll your child it is important that you know what a Montessori school should look like and observe the children and staff working where you are considering applying.
In a good Montessori program there will be:
· Certified Montessori-trained adult (the teacher and preferably a Montessori trained administrator). The administrator/director traditionally is not giving lessons in class, however you ill know that they will be implementing the progress of each child through individual lessons and record keeping. Learn what you can about certifications of schools by your state and by the variety of Montessori organizations as the word “certified” is tricky.
· Observe for a full range of proven Montessori materials in a clean, elegant, uncluttered environment.
· Observe the children working. Happy, kind children, busy on self-chosen, and uninterrupted work.
Montessori schools are found in tiny church halls, large public school building, even homes. The physical environment is secondary to the natural ability, and the training of the teachers.
There are many different kinds of Montessori teacher certification courses in the world today. Some schools are certified by a particular organization and only have teachers with that certification. Some schools have been known to call themselves Montessori schools even though they have no certified teachers. Parents must look carefully into this question.
DO YOUR RESEARCH — EARLY: It is important for parents to learn all they can about Montessori so they can assess a school they may be interested in for their child. Many good Montessori schools have a long waiting list so do not put of this search till it is too late. Choose carefully; your child will be entering a second family.
Specific School Searches:
Specific School Searches:
Although this are some pointers for finding a good Montessori school for your child, this is not a substitute for the research you can do in your own community. First you could check with the following resources. If this doesn't help you, learn all you can about what a Montessori class should be like, check in your local telephone book and phone the schools. Have their literature sent and make an a appointment for an observation of a class during a normal day with the children there. Do not select a school solely upon someone else's recommendation, but only after you visit. You may have to apply when your child is very young, as many good schools have waiting lists.
AMI (Association Montessori International): http://www.amiusa.org/index
AMS (American Montessori Society): http://www.amshq.org/School%20Resources/Find%20a%20School.aspx
NAMTA (North American Montessori Teachers Association ) School Directory list, with certification and class levels listed - USA and International. www.montessori-namta.org/NAMTA/NAMServs/dirgateway.html
PNMA (Pacific Northwest Montessori Association… for Washington state) http://pnma.org/
http://www.montessori.edu/refs.html
http://www.montessori.edu/refs.html
