NAMC Summer Studies – Montessori Teacher Training is in High Gear!

Ahhhh….Summertime. Thoughts of time spent at the pool, catching fireflies, sipping lemonade, and studying. Yes, you heard me right, I said studying. It seems as if our NAMC students are using this time away from their own students and classrooms to concentrate on their own studies! Summertime, for NAMC tutors is one the busiest times of the year. Our mailboxes and inboxes are continually filling with Montessori assignments that need to be read and marked and our phones are ringing off the hook with student questions. It is exciting to witness the enthusiasm of our students as they ready themselves for the start of a new school year.

Because many of us at NAMC are certified Montessori teachers with Montessori classroom experience, we know how busy you are both inside and outside your classroom. Many of our students work full-time during the school year while they study to acquire their Montessori Teaching Diploma in their spare time. Students can successfully complete a Diploma Program with a half-hour study time per day, five days per week. Summers and holiday breaks give extended opportunities to concentrate greater periods of time on the NAMC Montessori course of study. In fact, some of my students have even told me about taking their manuals on vacation with them!

NAMC Montessori Teacher Training: Who Would Have Thought You Would Love Your Summer Studies?

The enthusiasm is contagious! Students are asking questions such as how to set up shelves, what materials to order or make, which workplan format works best, what lessons to present during the first week, along with what to do on the first day. There is such joy and excitement in their voices! Some are first time Montessori teachers, eagerly awaiting their first Montessori classroom. Others are returning to complete their credential or obtain one for a different age level. One thing they have in common is their commitment to bringing quality Montessori education to the children in their lives.

As one of my students recently told me, “I have to say that this has been a very interesting and growing experience for me. I have learned so much and have figured out why the Montessori Method of teaching is a great way to learn. I have learned so much, I cannot wait to start school and teach my students all that I have learned. The teachers around me have commented on the fact that they can see the change in me.” (Samantha K., NAMC graduate, Upper Elementary)

Those of you who spent your summer studying and preparing for your Montessori credential may have missed a trip to the beach or spent a few more afternoons inside rather than at the pool, but I guarantee you will reap the rewards this fall as you continue to touch the lives of children. For those of you who are thinking that a career as a Montessori guide and teacher may be for you, please contact NAMC for more information. You’ll be glad you did!

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.
© North American Montessori Center - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on Friday, August 7, 2009.