Ever wondered what it takes to be a Montessori teacher? There's a chance to find out this month when Montessori Centre International (MCI), one of the movement's London-based training centres, and a host of Montessori establishments around the country throw open their doors to the public.
The move, according to MCI's chief executive, Barbara Isaacs, has been prompted by an unprecedented level of interest, spurred by new Government pre-school policy initiatives. Student numbers at the centre have increased by 25 per cent in the past two years and there are now around 1,750 registered with the Centre.
There is now an acknowledgement of how important early years education is, backed up by funding,' she says. It can be no coincidence that demand for Montessori school places and for teacher training has never been higher. We want to give everyone access to the Montessori approach.'
The approach was pioneered by Dr Maria Montessori in the early twentieth century. It places emphasis on the individual and on developing the whole child the intellectual, social, physical, emotional and spiritual.
Special materials are used within the nursery, but the aim is to build upon a child's desire to learn by directing the child, rather than imposing information, and so allow a process of self-education. The children are taught life skills and independence from an early age and are left to experiment with equipment and take things at their own pace. Montessori children, says MCI, will believe they have taught themselves.
For those wanting to train as Montessori teachers, age, qualifications, experience and even personal circumstances appear to pose no barriers. MCI claims there are students from a wide variety of backgrounds on its books, whether straight out of school or mature students looking for a career switch. You can train full time, part-time or through distance learning. There are options to defer or take time out, and payment options to help with fees. Training is offered to four basic levels: you can take a foundation theory course which will not give you a qualification but will help you understand the Montessori method, or you can train to assistant, teacher or manager level.
Part-time choice
Lara Jarbour, aged 27, a part-time student with MCI, says she is extremely happy' with her new career path, having originally started training as a doctor. She abandoned that when she was expecting her first child in her final year of medical school. This would not have prevented her from completing her Montessori training one aspect of MCI's approach to its students that Lara finds refreshing.
The academic and the administrative staff are accommodating, accessible and approachable and the courses are so flexible, fitting them around family commitments is no problem,' she says. You have a choice on when to start, which college days to attend and when to fit in exams or your teaching practice. I am thoroughly enjoying the training and have no regrets about not qualifying as a doctor.'
Lara is now nearing the end of the one-year Early Childhood Teaching Course. She's been spending every Saturday in college, with set course work and study carried out from home. She intends to take the end-of-term exams and to carry out her stipulated 420 hours teaching practice, over the coming year both of which are only compulsory if you want to gain the diploma and qualify as a Montessori teacher. That was one thing which impressed me about MCI,' she says. You can tailor most courses to whatever level you want.'
The course is modular and concentrates on the age range of two-and-a- half to six years. It includes Montessori philosophy and elements such as child development as well as literacy and numeracy and health and safety. There is back-up from tutors, along with optional workshops and every opportunity to see the special Montessori nursery materials in use.
Lara says, I've found college staff are open to different ideas and they are not dogmatic or arrogant if you disagree with any aspects, you are encouraged to say so, and they listen.'
Full-time option
Nineteen-year-old Sarober Vatcha is doing the same course as Lara, but full-time, including teaching practice. I found the full-time option suited me as I'd just finished school and wasn't sure what I wanted to do, apart from working with children,' says Sarober. A Montessori-trained family friend got me interested and when I looked at the literature, I found I agreed very much with what they said about how children should be taught.
The course is very well structured, the modules are well written and doing it full-time, you get the chance to immediately see the theory in action. I've been doing my training practice in a local Montessori nursery and I loved it from the minute I started. I was very impressed by seeing two-and- a-half-year-olds doing up their own coat buttons and the joy on the children's faces when they'd worked out a particular activity for themselves.
The course is hard work though it isn't an easy option. But it is very rewarding and the career opportunities are endless, as they qualify you to work anywhere in the world, in whatever capacity you choose.'
Distance learning
Mary Fitzgerald is a 50-year-old mother of six and pre-school head who is about to embark on a Nursery Foundation distance learning course. Formerly a secondary school teacher, she has been running her own nursery in County Galway, Ireland, for six years. I've long been interested in Montessori methods since having the chance to see the materials some time ago,' she said. I wanted to learn more about how they are used with a view to incorporating some of the methods into my own nursery or even turning it into a Montessori eventually.
It's wonderful having the distance learning option as I can fit it in as I like around my family and professional commitments and you have between two and five years to complete it, depending on what level you take it to. I've not started the course yet, so can't say what I think of it, but it's certainly a much more relaxed way of doing it.'
Any reassurance she might need on what lies ahead comes from Lara Jarbour. She won't be disappointed in the course,' she says. The back-up from the college is excellent. For anyone doing any course, I'd say the most important thing is to be committed, take it seriously and try to keep up. But I've found that if you have any problems, the college staff do listen and respond positively.' NW
