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Education should no longer be mostly imparting knowledge but must take a new path seeking the release of human potential —Maria Montessori I started my Montessori school because I wanted to create an environment that was enriching, engaging, and encouraging for children. I wanted to build a school that implements the work and research of Maria Montessori because I believe in her philosophy so strongly. It is a very rewarding experience to see the students’ joy as they embrace a love for learning and truly appreciate their schooling experience. Montessori education, especially in the early years, provides a strong and significant foundation that students carry with them throughout their schooling experience. Owning and Running a Montessori School - A Teacher's Perspective The Montessori teacher does not just educate the child on curricular objectives; she cultivates the development of the whole child. I believe in setting high expectations for students and helping them reach their f...

Going on a job interview can be very stressful. In fact, changing to a different line of work ranks 18 out of 43 on the Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory. (Holmes & Rahe) Whether you are a new Montessori teacher going on your first Montessori interview or a seasoned veteran looking for a new opportunity, knowing what to expect in an interview will help reduce your stress ahead of time. In general, employers want to know about you. They want to what your strengths are (they will understand that you have weaknesses, too) and how you will fit with their Montessori family. They also want to know that you are articulate and able to communicate with both students and adults. Montessori Interview Preparation Tips Here are a few questions that you can expect to be asked at your job interview. Consider these questions and practice your answers ahead of time. Being prepared will help reduce your stress and will make the interview process go far more smoothly. General Questions 1. What are your pe...

Every year, school administrators and teachers sit down and plan professional development opportunities to benefit teachers and students alike. But when you consider your professional development, do you also consider the stage you or other teachers are at? Is the information and format best suited to your needs? In short, are we delivering professional development in ways that reflect our Montessori teaching practices. It has long been the standard to deliver straightforward information in a workshop format. This type of presentation is reminiscent of conventional education whereby the speaker lectures or tells the audience the information. The majority of audience participation is passive listening. Rather than a test, the assessment in professional development is how well the information is transferred and implemented in classroom practice. Professional Development for Montessori Teachers: Following the Learner Teachers, for the most part, are active learners who take an interest in...

Whoever touches the life of the child touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs toward the infinite future. —Maria Montessori     There are many things that need to be done to prepare for the new school year. Because I am a Montessori school owner as well as a teacher, I have responsibilities for the building, the classroom, the staff, and the families to ensure they are ready for a successful school year. Preparing for the New Year in a Montessori School: A School Owner's Perspective Each year the building needs inspections to ensure it is up to code for health and safety and fire regulations. Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers must be inspected and serviced. Our school puts aside some money annually to maintain the building and keep it looking well cared for. The repairs and upgrades we do each year vary from replacing windows or flooring to painting. The outdoor space also needs to be maintained. We invite our f...

As I was driving through my neighborhood this week, I noticed small signs scattered about town that advertised the local Montessori school. All that was written on the signs was the name of the school and the phone number. I don’t think there are many parents who would pull off the road to stop and copy the phone number down. However, these types of signs are meant to call attention rather than give information. If the school is lucky, parents will remember the name and Google it when they get home. If the school has planned well, they will have a strong online presence to satisfy curious parents. Increasing Montessori Enrollments with Online Marketing Why online, you ask? Why wouldn’t just a simple phone number work? Today’s parents are anything but simple. Eighty percent of all births can be attributed to Millennial Generation parents, people born between 1981 and 2000, and these parents are “wired.” (Murray, 2014) A 2012 eMarketer.com survey says that of the 86 million Millenials: 9...