Learn about the real experience in an authentic Montessori education.
Imagine watching your child happily choosing an activity from a room filled with interesting activities and excitedly taking it to a table to explore. They gleefully continue their findings, and then content, replace it back on the shelf. They seek a friend and the teacher, and together they embark on a new discovery. As a parent, one’s heart fills with the unmistakable joy of watching your child blossom.
This scenario is the everyday magic of Montessori. It happens within authentic Montessori environments, containing special Montessori materials, overseen by Montessori credentialed teachers. “Partly Montessori” does not exist. The many parts are intertwined to work together to become Montessori.
The method is based on a special respect for the child and their natural creation of themselves through their experiences. The Montessori teacher’s respect for the child is reflected in the children’s secure engagement with each other, the activities and the classroom community environment.
Montessori is a specialized method, not a franchise. Authentic Montessori programs have MACTE/AMS or AMI credentialed Montessori teachers. This requires rigorous academic training and a full year of internship specializing in this Montessori art and science of guiding young children. Montessori teachers are further trained to create an enriched classroom community while also mentoring individual children. Progress is documented and shared regularly with parents as part of the parent-school partnership.
Montessori teachers are dedicated professionals having a positive impact on children’s futures. Classrooms have favorable teacher ratios with groups of multi-aged children. This allows children to have teacher consistency over time. This also provides opportunities for leadership as the older children who have been with the class become role models for the younger children.
Research shows that Montessori children develop strong character, executive function, respect for others, effective learning skills, self-confidence and a lifelong love of learning — just some of the numerous benefits of being enrolled as a child in an authentic Montessori program.
How to Find an Authentic Montessori Program
Montessori is a method of education created by Dr. Maria Montessori through scientific observation and working with children. While it is now practiced worldwide, it is not a franchise or large chain. When choosing a school, visit in the mid-morning when all children should be busy in their classrooms. Children should move about the classroom freely and there should be happily engaged teachers. Be sure to ask the director questions. Look for these credentials: MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education), AMS (American Montessori Society) and AMI (Association Montessori International). Full credentials require a bachelor’s degree.
Cheryll Ruszat is the program director for the AMS/MACTE Accredited University Montessori Teacher Education Program at UC Irvine and has been training Montessori teachers across Southern California since 1991. She and her husband, Richard, are also the owners and founders of the Montessori Schools of Irvine, now celebrating 50 years as a family-owned and operated program.
