Overview
Have you ever wondered what Montessori is? Many of us have heard the name "Montessori" but do not know what Montessori teaches. For over 100 years the Montessori Method, based on the scientific observations of Maria Montessori, the first female physician in Italy, has universally educated pre-schoolers in Practical Life Skills, Sensorial Awareness, Language Development, Art, Music, Science, and Mathematics. It is a natural way of learning through modeling, freedom of choice, and self-discovery with the aid of manipulatives and trained guides to facilitate absorbent minds in becoming life-long learners and innovators. Famous Montessorians include author Anne Frank, chef Julia Child, and the founders of Google.
The Montessori Mystery Unveiled website and literature hopes to educate parents and grandparents about the Montessori Method so they can make an informed choice for their children. Contemporary literature about Montessori is limited. Montessori for You and Your Child: Frequently Asked Questions of Parents and Grandparents Considering AMI Primary Montessori Education for Three to Six Year Olds is a practical question and answer format book that takes the mystery out of Montessori.
The Montessori Mystery Unveiled website and literature hopes to educate parents and grandparents about the Montessori Method so they can make an informed choice for their children. Contemporary literature about Montessori is limited. Montessori for You and Your Child: Frequently Asked Questions of Parents and Grandparents Considering AMI Primary Montessori Education for Three to Six Year Olds is a practical question and answer format book that takes the mystery out of Montessori.
Book Excerpts
From the book:
Montessori for You and Your Child: Frequently Asked Questions of Parents and Grandparents Considering AMI Primary Montessori Education for Three to Six Year Olds Mary Da Prato
Part I
Background Information
... Q: What are AMI and AMS?
A: AMI is an acronym for, "Association Montessori Internationale." It is the original Montessori training program founded by Maria Montessori in Berlin, Germany in 1929 to transfer her method and philosophy via oral tradition to teachers around the world. Montessori started the program to clear up any discrepancies and misconceptions about her pedagogy. During WWII, the headquarters was moved to Amsterdam where it remains to this day. AMI certified teacher training courses are still taught internationally.7 Graduates from these courses receive an AMI diploma that qualifies them to instruct children in the original Montessori Method at an AMI certified school or run an in-home Montessori school.8
AMS stands for, "American Montessori Society." Individuals enrolled in an AMS Course receive an AMS Diploma rather than an AMI Diploma. Both AMI and AMS Diploma holders are qualified to work as teachers in Montessori schools but differ on some of the finer points of Montessori philosophy.9 Other training courses also exist but this booklet will focus on the original AMI philosophy as set forth by Maria Montessori herself.
7 Sackett, Ginni. "Montessori Education- An Historical Perspective." MINW Course 33 Lecture. Montessori Institute Northwest, Portland. 9 Sept. 2009. Lecture.
8 Sackett, Ginni. "Relationships in School Communities Part I." MINW Course 33 Lecture. Montessori Institute Northwest, Portland. 15 Dec. 2009. Lecture.
9 Sackett, Ginni. "Introduction to Sensorial." MINW Course 33 Lecture. Montessori Institute Nortwest, Portland. 16 Nov. 2009. Lecture.
Part II
Montessori Schools Today
...Q: What is a charter Montessori school?
A: Like public schools, charter schools are funded through taxpayer dollars but admission is based on a lottery system. Charter schools, however, do not accept all students in the district due to limited space. Any parents who are interested in sending their child to a charter school must enter a lottery, based on their home address.11
11 Sackett, Ginni. "Relationships in School Communities Part I." MINW Course 33 Lecture. Montessori Institute Northwest, Portland. 15 Dec. 2009. Lecture.
Part III
Montessori and My Child
...Q: Does Montessori accept children who are not potty trained?
A: Generally, it is required that children are potty trained prior to attending a Montessori school but each school has its own policies.
Q: Why is my four year old "too old" to attend Montessori?
A: No child is too old to benefit from Montessori education but many Montessori schools do not accept new students over three years of age because it can be a disruption to the curriculum. Since Montessori Primary schools are a three year program, a child who enters at age four will already have missed a third of what the environment has to offer. This creates a strain on the teacher, the child, and other children in the environment.
This book is now available for purchase! Click on the "Purchase Books" tab of this website to order. Montessori for You and Your Child is also available on www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.powells.com.
Now available on Kindle and Nookbook for electronic download at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble online.
Thank you for your interest and support.
Montessori for You and Your Child: Frequently Asked Questions of Parents and Grandparents Considering AMI Primary Montessori Education for Three to Six Year Olds Mary Da Prato
Part I
Background Information
... Q: What are AMI and AMS?
A: AMI is an acronym for, "Association Montessori Internationale." It is the original Montessori training program founded by Maria Montessori in Berlin, Germany in 1929 to transfer her method and philosophy via oral tradition to teachers around the world. Montessori started the program to clear up any discrepancies and misconceptions about her pedagogy. During WWII, the headquarters was moved to Amsterdam where it remains to this day. AMI certified teacher training courses are still taught internationally.7 Graduates from these courses receive an AMI diploma that qualifies them to instruct children in the original Montessori Method at an AMI certified school or run an in-home Montessori school.8
AMS stands for, "American Montessori Society." Individuals enrolled in an AMS Course receive an AMS Diploma rather than an AMI Diploma. Both AMI and AMS Diploma holders are qualified to work as teachers in Montessori schools but differ on some of the finer points of Montessori philosophy.9 Other training courses also exist but this booklet will focus on the original AMI philosophy as set forth by Maria Montessori herself.
7 Sackett, Ginni. "Montessori Education- An Historical Perspective." MINW Course 33 Lecture. Montessori Institute Northwest, Portland. 9 Sept. 2009. Lecture.
8 Sackett, Ginni. "Relationships in School Communities Part I." MINW Course 33 Lecture. Montessori Institute Northwest, Portland. 15 Dec. 2009. Lecture.
9 Sackett, Ginni. "Introduction to Sensorial." MINW Course 33 Lecture. Montessori Institute Nortwest, Portland. 16 Nov. 2009. Lecture.
Part II
Montessori Schools Today
...Q: What is a charter Montessori school?
A: Like public schools, charter schools are funded through taxpayer dollars but admission is based on a lottery system. Charter schools, however, do not accept all students in the district due to limited space. Any parents who are interested in sending their child to a charter school must enter a lottery, based on their home address.11
11 Sackett, Ginni. "Relationships in School Communities Part I." MINW Course 33 Lecture. Montessori Institute Northwest, Portland. 15 Dec. 2009. Lecture.
Part III
Montessori and My Child
...Q: Does Montessori accept children who are not potty trained?
A: Generally, it is required that children are potty trained prior to attending a Montessori school but each school has its own policies.
Q: Why is my four year old "too old" to attend Montessori?
A: No child is too old to benefit from Montessori education but many Montessori schools do not accept new students over three years of age because it can be a disruption to the curriculum. Since Montessori Primary schools are a three year program, a child who enters at age four will already have missed a third of what the environment has to offer. This creates a strain on the teacher, the child, and other children in the environment.
This book is now available for purchase! Click on the "Purchase Books" tab of this website to order. Montessori for You and Your Child is also available on www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.powells.com.
Now available on Kindle and Nookbook for electronic download at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble online.
Thank you for your interest and support.
© copyright 2011 by Mary Da Prato
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise.
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