The Montessori method of teaching was developed in the early 1900’s by a licensed medical doctor and teacher, Maria Montessori, and focuses on educating the whole personality and emphasizes the social interactions of students.  Even though most public schools have been hesitant about using the Montessori methods in the classroom, there’s no question it is one of the most reliable methods of teaching available today.

Job Description

As a Montessori teacher, your classroom structure and teaching format will be different from conventional public school methods.  Children in your classroom will be able to choose what they want to learn, as well as how they want to learn it.  While this may seem haphazard, it’s important to realize that there are dozens of ways to present the same exact information.  As a result, when you’re a Montessori teacher, you’ll have a much wider range of tools available to teach each student.

However, Montessori teachers face many of the same challenges as their public school counterparts.  Teachers in any setting are responsible for maintaining order in their classrooms, so the ability to manage conflicts among children and hand out discipline as necessary are extremely important skills to have.  Montessori teachers must also be able to communicate effectively with the school’s administrators and with their students’ parents.  Finally, they must be willing to put in the extra hours necessary to plan lessons and correct any homework assignments they give out.

Educational Background

If you want to be certified as a Montessori teacher, you must go for special training provided by two organizations, the American Montessori Society (AMS) and the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).  In order to apply for Montessori programs, you must already hold a bachelor’s degree – preferably in education or early childhood development.  Even though public schools are beginning to adopt these methods, you may still have to complete additional training in conventional teaching methods before you can qualify to teach in a public school.

Career Opportunities

If you’re looking for a teaching career that will allow you to grow in an enormous number of directions, becoming a Montessori teacher is an ideal choice.  Once you complete your training, you’ll be eligible to work in thousands of private schools.  Or, with some extra training, you’ll also be able to work in public schools that sponsor Montessori programs.  Regardless of whether you want to work with normal children, developmentally disabled children, or the most gifted minds of tomorrow, chances are you’ll be able to find private schools dedicated to the specific students you want to work with. 

Aside from teaching in established programs, many Montessori teachers go on to build their own private schools.  Once you’ve built your school, you’ll need to be accredited through the AMS or the AMI.  Your other big challenge will be finding families in your neighborhood who are interested in enrolling their children in your school.  However, given the falling standards of public schools in some areas and the inability of many families to find the specialized education their children need, private school attendance is bound to skyrocket.