Can You Spot a FAKE Montessori School? How to Find and Choose a True Montessori School!
Рет қаралды 5,531
Күн бұрынYou've decided Montessori education is right for you, but how do you find a true Montessori school in a sea of fake or "Montessori Inspired" preschools and how can you be sure it is the right Montessori school for your family? What do you need to ask and look for when you're visiting the Montessori school? What exactly is AMS and AMI accreditations, and why is it not all there is to finding a school? what credentials should teachers have? Is a private Montessori school vs a non-profit Montessori school an important factor?
Welcome back, everyone! Today I'm coming to you as not only a parent that implements Montessori at Home, but also someone who has been on the other side. If you're new, my mom directs a Montessori school, and that is how I came to know and love the Montessori method. Having been in the Montessori classroom, it was a lot simpler for me to approach the search for a Montessori preschool when the time came. In preparing this video, I also interviewed my mom, who is an AMS certified director of a Montessori school, which gives us a varied perspective, covering everything you need to know on how to choose a Montessori school for your family.
We will cover common advice and why you should take it with caution, how to find schools that are contenders in your search, questions to ask the schools you're interested in, and what to look for once you're touring the school. While the advice in this video is mainly geared at the search for a Montessori preschool, your search for a Montessori Infant/Toddler program, Elementary and beyond will be very similar. Get your notebooks ready! This one is filled with useful tips!
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Chapters:
0:00 - Accreditation is not everything?
0:12 - Who am I and why listen to my perspective?
01:06 - Do you know these Montessori basics?
01:45 - Education on accreditation
04:30 - Does ownership matter?
06:12 - What else to ask the school?
08:53 - What to look for when touring the school?
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AMS School Search: amshq.org/Families/Find-A-School
AMI School Search (USA): amiusa.org/school-locator/
AMI School Search (Canada): www.ami-canada.com/findaschoo...
For AMI Schools in other countries, please search for the affiliates society for your country, which may have a database or list of schools.
About AMS: amshq.org/About-AMS
About AMI: montessori-ami.org/about-ami
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If you're interested in learning more about the Montessori method, baby basics, or motherhood tips, check out my playlists below.
See how to Make Your Own Montessori Inspired Playkits: vsit.site/gbiwk
Baby Basics series on my channel: vsit.site/4cjn8
Motherhood Tips series on my channel: tinyurl.com/47n76pak
See Stella's Playroom Tour here: • Realistic Montessori I...
and her Nursery Tour here: • The Only Nursery Tour ...
See Stella's Playroom Tour here: • Realistic Montessori I...
📸Follow me on Instagram @MariaAndMontessori to see daily tidbits of our life as I transition to being a stay at home mom in 2021 and introduce Montessori to Stella!
🎥New videos coming every Sunday! Tune in Next Week for a new Montessori video!
Music: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
#MontessoriFAQs #MontessoriSchool #MontessoriAtHome #MontessoriParenting #FindingMontessoriSchool
@ingridbooksbilingues6169 2 жыл бұрын
You were spot on on all the points. I got to work on a Montessori nursery that wasn't Montessori at all and I actually learnt a lot from that experience... Now I am a Montessori guide myself and I know what is loyal to Maria's legacy and what's not. Thanks for sharing this, more people needs to know about this!!
@MariaandMontessori 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I'm so glad you were able to find a true Montessori school and continue your work as a guide there. I've seen too many guides turn away from Montessori completely after the fake schools gave them the wrong impression of what this methodology is all about 😞
@sueschneider6136 2 жыл бұрын
I just started as a Montessori teaching assistant. I have no previous experience with Montessori. While there are so many great things about the school, I find that there are so many rules which are strictly adhered to. A child can hardly do anything without having to start over, "do it right this time", "make good choices", "find work now!" A child might be reprimanded about taking too much of the food, not pushing in their chair right after getting up, so much more. The teacher does model respect, loving-kindness, and a peaceful environment but she is constantly bombarded with questions, hardly available to answer questions a new hire like me might have. The woman who runs the school and her second-in-command get easily upset when things are not done exactly right. I have seen some very unkind, abrasive, corrections on their part that make me feel very bad for the child receiving them. It reminds me of what a military school might look like, and these children are 3-5 years old! As a helper, my job is the see the problems and correct them. I'm not sure if this is one of the 'fake' Montessori schools you mention. There are three helpers with only one that is reading some material in house (red flag?) to be able to help with lessons. I feel like a lifeguard without the pool or whistle, only occasionally giving real help. What do I do? Live with it? Make up for the terse corrections by finding small ways to be loving and kind to the children (and probably getting in trouble for it? Make a run for it? Any advice? Thank you!
@MariaandMontessori 2 жыл бұрын
Oh gosh there's a lot going on here! I'd never want to assume the worst about any school, especially during these times because I know a lot of schools (especially Montessori schools) are struggling to stay afloat. Very many in our area have shut their doors. I do wonder if the pandemic restrictions and staff shortages have really affected them and what was once a true Montessori school has essentially lost sight while working to keep up? Here's what I CAN tell you. There is no "right" way a child should be forced to do a work. There is a right way for a guide to present the material and an expected way the child eventually masters the material. But if a child is doing it differently, that is not wrong and should not be discouraged or stopped by any means if theyre not hurting themselves, not disrupting others, and not destroying the material. They're either making their own discoveries, exploring other options with the material, or simply did not fully catch on to the presentation (if they even received one!). A guide may offer to show the child how to use the material during this or simply make a note to redo the presentation next time. But it should never be a matter of stopping the child to point out they're wrong and start over. Even something like pushing in their chair. Yes, this needs to be done for their own safety and the safety of others, not to mention care of their environment. If a child starts to walk away and doesn't push the chair in, a guide or assistant would note something along the lines of "Bobby, seems you're done with the chair?" And see if that is enough of a reminder for thw child to realize they forgot. If not, that conversation would continue in a leading manner to let the child notice "oh the chair is still out! I should push that in before a friend trips" rather than "put the chair back now!" As for the director of the school, I can certainly understand and sympathize with what may be a worst case scenario in a well intentioned environment and getting upset at herself and even the staff, though that wouldn't make it right. But there shouldn't be that directed at the kids. Strict. Firm. Holding boundaries. But not disrespectful, loud, or abrasive by any means. A Montessori school always felt like grandma's house to me-warm, kind, respectful, and loving but with boundaries that were firm and respected by all. Without getting too far into the specifics, there's a certain number of fully trained guides that should be present per class..who may certainly reference their albums time to time, but they would be familiar enough with the materials to spend the day working with them and not just reading about them. I have the AMS and AMI websites linked in the description box, where you could check if and what affiliation they have with either to get a better understanding of whether this has ever been or is a real Montessori school. I'm always an advocate of communication. I'd raise your concerns of what you're seeing and how it differs from what you understand Montessori to be and seek some insight into what is actually happening. I think that, plus whatever you find regarding their status with AMS or AMI will give you a better idea of what the right decision is for you.
@sueschneider6136 2 жыл бұрын
@@MariaandMontessori thank you so much for your perspective! I will look at the credentials and speak to them about my concerns but I am absolutely loving to be around the children! Thanks again!
@Kwinton24 2 жыл бұрын
This was extremely helpful. Thank you for taking the time and effort to do this so professionally.
@MariaandMontessori 2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely! I'm so happy to hear it was helpful!
@Soldbynel 5 ай бұрын
I’m glad I found this video. I’m going to implement everything while searching for a school . Thank you ❤❤
@ChrystalPaull 3 жыл бұрын
Lots of great information! Honestly needed this video. Thank you so much 💙
@MariaandMontessori 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Chrystal! Glad to hear you found it useful!! 🤗
@TaraWilloughby 3 жыл бұрын
Love all of your tips! Thanks for sharing!
@MariaandMontessori 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you Tara!
@logantate3269 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I learned a lot from this, and I think you're a great speaker
@MariaandMontessori 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much! 😊 Really happy to know this was helpful and hope tour search goes smoothly!
@sophiacathie6173 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, very informative. Super helpful, can’t thank you enough 🙏❤️!
@MariaandMontessori 3 жыл бұрын
I'm so happy to hear the video was helpful for you! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know 🤗💖
@Vivie17 Жыл бұрын
Thank you. I’m starting my touring itinerary of the season. Having the list of pointers and questions to ask makes it a lot less overwhelming. I’ll let you know how it goes!
@MariaandMontessori Жыл бұрын
What an exciting time! Yes, please do let me know how it goes 🥰🥰
@duggieduckie Жыл бұрын
Please don't forget about IMC accreditation and teacher certification! Thank you for creating such helpful content :)
@cabanaho 7 ай бұрын
She covers this…
@khinhlaphyu2117 2 жыл бұрын
Very informative. Thank you very much
@MariaandMontessori 2 жыл бұрын
So glad to know it was helpful!
@alenkab2007 3 жыл бұрын
So many great tips for parents who are looking for a unique learning environment for their kids. Thank you for your time and hard work. 💖
@MariaandMontessori 3 жыл бұрын
I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the video! I think a lot of people are looking into Montessori schools after taking education into their own hands during the shutdown, and it's important to be fully educated before making that final decision
@emilygardner-hill3919 3 ай бұрын
Do you have recommendations on how to spot a true montessori elementary class? Like 1st thru 3rd?
@pilarcintron3925 6 ай бұрын
Hello Maria, do you happen to know if Guidepost Montessori schools are AMI accredited?
@MariaandMontessori 6 ай бұрын
I'd check the individual school against the AMI reference page and ask the school to provide their accreditation / teacher certification details! I've heard very mixed opinions on Guidepost honestly
@constitutionalcarrot3720 Жыл бұрын
How about brightness of the classroom? Is that a factor? I visited a prospective Montessori school and it exhibited all the features you mentioned to look for, and I was impressed with all the kids sitting quietly and working independently, but I saw the classrooms were dimly lit and so it gave me a somewhat boring impression. Is that normal?
@MariaandMontessori Жыл бұрын
I think one of the best ways to describe a Montessori class is "homey". And if we take into account the fact that Montessori places the child's play to be at the same importance as an adult's work, then a Montessori class would be more similar to what you'd expect from a home office vs a corporate office. Natural light (hopefully), a cozy atmosphere, a preference for desk lamps over overhead lighting or maybe a mix, color but not overly stimulating clashing colors that detract from the child's work, plants, maybe even a class pet, space to relax and space to focus. So lighting should obviously be enough that kids can see well and are not straining their eyes, but yes, you would very well see a more "home style" lighting set up vs incredibly bright, office like lighting that (at least from personal experience) is more common in traditional settings. It would always be great to reach out to the school with that question and hear their take on it too! 🥰
@vesnastihovic7014 Жыл бұрын
I think I applied for a fake one 🤔 😂
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