1. Who should enroll?
People who are interested in earning their international
Montessori teaching diploma in a convenient, user-friendly,
and cost effective manner.
2. How do I
benefit from this program?
FLEXIBILITY
NAMC Montessori distance learning programs are designed
to help you acquire your Montessori teaching diploma
without compromising your precious family time.
AFFORDABILITY
Without question, the quality and prices we offer are
unparalleled in the Montessori training industry. Our
programs include full-color curriculum manuals, training
videos, blackline masters/curriculum support materials,
unlimited tutorial assistance, and air delivery right
to your door at no extra cost. Our program prices are
fully inclusive - there are no additional fees.
QUALITY
Our Montessori training curriculum manuals are the most
comprehensive, user-friendly and visually attractive
ever produced. Our training videos are also the most
detailed and professional available today. NAMC’s
blackline masters and curriculum support materials save
Montessori teachers thousands of hours of tedious busy
work. Our NAMC tutors are all experienced, engaging
professionals. Their sole responsibility is to help
you succeed.
SUCCESS
North American Montessori Center (NAMC) has graduates
living and working in 100 countries worldwide. Please
click here read what our graduates say about us
and their NAMC training experience!
3. How do I
know if your graduates are satisfied with their NAMC
training?
How our graduates feel about NAMC is the best indicator
of how you will feel about NAMC. Please visit our
Student Testimonials to see what our graduates have
to say about us. We are also happy to put you in touch
with a graduate in your area – just contact us!.
4. From start
to finish, how exactly do your international diploma
programs unfold?
The day we receive your registration form we will courier
your curriculum materials and assignments directly to
your door. Delivery time is typically two business days.
Shortly after you enroll you will receive a welcome
letter with contact information from your tutor. You
are free to call your tutor toll-free (if you live in
Canada or the USA) or email anytime for unlimited assistance.
If you devote three hours to your studies each week
you will comfortably complete our Infant/Toddler or
Preschool/Kindergarten programs in 7 months, and either
our Lower Elementary or Upper Elementary programs in
9 months. Students may accelerate their schedule if
they desire.
You are welcome to either email or mail us your assignments
for marking. After we have marked your assignments we
will email you feedback; and if you live in Canada or
the United States we will also call you.
After your tutor marks your first assignment, NAMC
will courier your second assignment to you, and so on
until you have completed your third and final component.
Students receive their international Montessori teaching
diploma within three weeks of successfully completing
their final set of assignments.
5. Upon graduation,
how will my diploma look, and read?
To view a sample diploma, select the program of your choice
below:
6. What do your
assignments involve and how are they graded?
At NAMC we focus on helping our students develop a thorough
understanding of the various aspects necessary to succeed
as a Montessori teacher. Although we feel grammar and
composition skills are important, they are not the subject
of this course of study and we do not assign university-level
critiques and research papers.
For the most part, students are required to answer
comprehensive and objective questions. Answers typically
take the form of short sentence answers and summaries.
Our grading procedure is unique and we are proud of
it; it is one of the reasons motivated learners do not
fail. When we grade a student’s assignment, if
they have provided an incorrect answer we do not simply
mark it wrong. Instead we make a note of the question
and review it with the student to ensure that they thoroughly
understand both the question and the correct answer.
Our goal is more than simply ensuring that each assignment
is completed in full, our mandate is to ensure our students
understand their program and succeed!
Examinations are not part of our assessment process.
Evaluation is based on the timely and successful completion
of all assignments. Although our tutors are wonderfully
supportive, disinterested students do fail. In true
Montessori fashion, NAMC is proud of the fact that dedicated,
motivated learners have never failed.
7.
What do your programs cost?
We are proud that our tuition fees are the lowest available.
And now, students choosing to pay for their entire
program in one payment will save an additional
$100.00 off their Total Program Fees.
To view program fees, please click the program you
are interested in below:
8. How do I enroll?
Select the appropriate quick link provided below:
9. How many
graduates successfully acquire employment?
The number of Montessori schools has doubled in the last
ten years, so it is a wonderful time to be a Montessori
teacher in what is widely considered a “recession
proof” career. Quite simply, Montessori teachers
are in greater demand today than they have ever been.
We receive calls all the time from schools requesting
teachers, and we never hear from teachers seeking jobs!
Regulated Montessori training centers are not permitted
to promise students employment upon graduation, but
we can assure you that Montessori teacher demand has
never been higher and NAMC graduates are embraced all
around the world!
10. What is
your refund policy?
NAMC offers the most generous refund policy available.
Enrolled students have seven days to look through their
materials, change their minds, and receive a 100% tuition
refund. If a student does withdraw from a program after
the seven-day perusal period, NAMC does not require
any future payments.
11. How long
will it take to complete my program?
Our Infant/Toddler and Preschool/Kindergarten programs
are completed within seven months and our Lower Elementary
and Upper Elementary programs are completed within nine
months. Time permitting, students are welcome to accelerate
their schedules.
12. How much study
time do I need to devote to my program?
Please plan to study 3 hours per week.
For a convenient overview, please click one of the links
below:
13. What if
I can’t complete my assignments by the scheduled
date?
It is important that our students adhere to the timelines
of our three consecutive terms. However, we understand that
sometimes extenuating circumstances, such as situations of
emergency or duress, can disrupt study commitments. In these
cases, we are willing to review and grant assignment extensions
upon written request detailing the circumstances. All extension
requests are considered on an individual basis.
14. What are
the academic prerequisites to enroll?
To streamline our enrollment process, we have adopted
the same academic prerequisite as your local college
or university. NAMC requires candidates to have a Grade
12 (or equivalent) education. Of course, as Montessorians
we do realize that having a grade 12 diploma is a far
from perfect endorsement that an interested candidate
will, or will not be able to work well with children.
Please
contact us if you have any questions.
15. Am I able
to teach with just this diploma?
It depends on where you live. The answer is “yes”
in some areas, and “no” in others. It can
depend on a variety of factors, such as class size,
whether you want to start off working on your own in
a classroom or in your home, educational background,
prior experience, etc.
If this is a concern, we recommend that individuals interested
in teaching infant/toddler and preschool aged children
contact either someone in the industry that they know,
or their local government agency responsible for childcare
licensing. People interested in teaching elementary aged
children are also advised to contact someone they know
or their government office responsible for elementary
education. Private, independent or charter schools are
often much more flexible with their educational requirements.
16. Is the
NAMC diploma recognized internationally?
Yes, like all Montessori Diplomas, NAMC’s diploma
is recognized internationally.
NAMC does not offer an upgraded "International
Diploma" for an additional fee, because our original
program (the one you will be taking) covers all of the
information required for international certification.
Wherever you teach, either you know the method and
curriculum or you do not. A Montessori program in Dubai
should look and feel just like one in New York. And,
except for the language spoken, which may be different,
the teachers should be interchangeable.
17. You have
several programs. Which ones include curriculum manuals,
training videos and blackline masters/curriculum support
materials?
Our Infant/Toddler (0-3) program includes:
- Seven full-color curriculum manuals (total 1,266
pages)
- Click here for more Infant/Toddler details:
Program Overview
Our Preschool/Kindergarten (3-6) program includes:
- Six full-color curriculum manuals (total 1,241 pages)
- Beautifully designed and illustrated blackline masters
provided on CD (475 pages)
- Professionally produced teacher training
videos that follow the curriculum manuals (over five
hours total). Online format is included with our diploma
program. DVD format is also available for sale.
Click here to view samples.
- Click here for more Preschool/Kindergarten details:
Program Overview
Our Lower Elementary (6-9) program includes:
- 14 full-color curriculum manuals (total 2,920 pages)
- Beautifully designed and illustrated blackline masters
provided on CD
- NEW at November 1st, 2009 - Mastery Checklists
customized to complement each area of NAMC's curriculum. These
checklists are a valuable record-keeping resource used to keep
track of and evaluate your students' progress.
- Click here for more Lower Elementary (6-9) details:
Program Overview
Our Upper Elementary (9-12) program includes:
- 16 full-color curriculum manuals (over 4,000 pages)
- Beautifully designed and illustrated curriculum
support material provided on CD
- NEW at September 1st, 2009 - Mastery Checklists
customized to complement each area of NAMC's curriculum. These
checklists are a valuable record-keeping resource used to keep
track of and evaluate your students' progress.
- Click here for more Upper Elementary (9-12) details:
Program Overview
18. What are the
Preschool/Kindergarten Program training videos?
NAMC has developed over five hours of beautiful video
demonstrations that follow many of the activities set
out in our comprehensive curriculum manuals. Together,
the NAMC manuals, videos and blackline masters offer invaluable
lifetime teacher resources for the Montessori teacher.
To view samples of our superior videos
click here.
19. What are
the blackline masters/curriculum support materials?
NAMC offers a comprehensive collection of reproducible
blackline masters (many of which are actually full color
printables), and templates that provide activities,
teacher support, self-testing worksheets, nomenclature
materials and mastery checklists that correspond to
the related curriculum manuals. Blackline masters are
included with the Preschool/Kindergarten and Lower Elementary
(6-9) diploma programs; curriculum support material
is included with the Upper Elementary (9-12) diploma
program. Created by professional designers and artists,
they include beautiful visuals that are a pleasure to
work with. The blackline masters and curriculum support
materials equip the Montessori educator with high-quality,
exceptional tools for student learning activities, and
can be purchased separately.
To view samples and prices, please click the appropriate link below:
20. Does NAMC
offer program is any other languages?
Although we do not currently offer programs in other
languages, we do offer translations of our Preschool/Kindergarten
manuals in both simplified and traditional Chinese.
These value-added tools have been developed to assist
our Chinese-language students with their studies. If
you are enrolling in our Preschool/Kindergarten (3-6)
diploma program and are interested in these resources,
please
contact us for more information.
21. Who is
NAMC registered or affiliated with?
We are members of the National Association of Career
Colleges (NACC), the Canadian Association of Young Children
(CAYC), the International Montessori Council (IMC),
the Pacific Northwest Montessori Association (PNMA),
the British Columbia Montessori Association (BCMA),
the International Association of Montessori Educators
(IAME), and the BC Career Colleges Association.
The International Montessori Council |
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22. Are NAMC,
AMS, AMI and MACTE interchangeable?
No, we are not. To better understand these organizations,
please read the following:
AMS
AMS training programs require that students spend a
minimum of 840 hours (or six months) in their programs
to graduate. AMS does not offer distance learning options.
NAMC graduates are welcome to join AMS as general members:
View AMS General Membership Information.
To apply to join AMS as a NAMC graduate, simply download
an application form from the following link:
AMS General Membership Application. Complete the
form, including the necessary information about your
NAMC training, and either fax or mail in your application
directly to AMS. Do not forget to include a copy of
your NAMC diploma with your application.
*As a NAMC graduate, your school is certainly welcome
to join AMS. As a new school, you will apply to join
the Initiate category. Click on the link below to download
your application form:
AMS School Membership Application.
AMI
AMI training programs are typically one full year in
duration and require full-time classroom attendance.
It is probable that out of the approximately 6,000 Montessori
schools in the USA, the 189
AMI-accredited schools will choose to hire their own
graduates first. Naturally, the other 5,811 schools
almost all hire teachers who have been trained outside
the AMI realm. Canada only has three (3) AMI accredited
schools.
If you would like to join AMI, you are welcome do so.
To become an AMI member, simply follow this quick link:
AMI Membership Application.
MACTE
To qualify for MACTE accreditation, training centers
must require that students spend a minimum of 200 hours
in the classroom with an instructor, and a minimum of
400 hours as an intern in a MACTE-accredited classroom.
Unfortunately, MACTE does not accredit distance learning
programs. When MACTE does start accrediting distance-based
Montessori training centers, we will examine their guidelines
and decide whether it is in our members’ best
interest to join.
OUR VIEW
We feel that MACTE accredits quality Montessori Teacher
Education programs, and we know that our training programs
offer candidates a very positive alternative for acquiring
their Montessori training and Diploma when financial,
time and travel commitments for MACTE centers are prohibitive.
Click here
to see how our graduates feel about their training experience.
23. Will the
lack of association with the above bodies affect my
career prospects?
It is possible for any Montessori-trained teacher to
encounter a biased teacher or administrator. Every Montessori
teacher, regardless of their training background is
exposed to this risk. But the most recent research available
conducted by NAMTA (AMI) in 2005 found that "Few
schools explicitly cited either an AMI or an AMS diploma
as a prerequisite (for employment). In addition, there
was no significant difference in salary among individuals
with Montessori credentials from various associations."
We certainly agree with this statement because we know
that the teacher holding the diploma is far more important
than the diploma itself, and as we mentioned earlier,
NAMC graduates are every bit as successful at acquiring
employment and starting their own Montessori schools
and daycares as alternatively trained Montessori teachers.
24. If a specific
Montessori diploma isn't the most important aspect for
my Montessori career, what is?
Without question, the most important predictors of Montessori
career success are the inherent personal qualities that
you bring to the profession. Consequently, now more
than ever administrators hire candidates who present
themselves as child-oriented, knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Most administrators also agree that although parents
expect teachers to have Montessori training, few are
interested in its source. In fact, most parents have
never heard of AMI, AMS, NAMC, MACTE, etc.
Parents are, however, vitally and legitimately concerned
with answers to these questions:
- Is this a teacher with whom I am comfortable entrusting
my child?
- Are the children in this environment happy?
- Are the children being intellectually challenged?
- Will my child experience secure emotional growth,
and develop to his or her full potential in this
environment?
Most Importantly:
- In my opinion, is this the most impressive Montessori
environment available for my child to attend?
Quite simply the letters on a Montessori teacher’s
diploma are at the bottom of parental priorities. Parents
are only truly interested in the observable quality of
the individual school or classroom. Montessori owners
and administrators realize this, and to prosper, they
hire accordingly.
As far as securing a teaching position, a Montessori
diploma from one training center might help you at some
schools, and depending on the school’s philosophy,
hinder you at others. One thing we do know…schools
with an exclusionary hiring policy (i.e. AMI and AMS
schools) definitely bear the brunt of today’s
Montessori teacher shortage. They are simply not free
to hire the best teachers available from the deepest
pool of candidates. In this regard, independent Montessori
schools enjoy a tremendous staffing quality advantage.
It is no wonder that independent Montessori schools
are growing much faster than program affiliated schools.
25. Will I
be able to teach at any Montessori school with my NAMC
diploma?
Even though AMI, AMS and MACTE oriented schools routinely
hire our graduates, we cannot promise you positions
at any school. Of course, neither can AMI, AMS, or MACTE.
We can assure you that independent (unaffiliated) Montessori
schools vastly outnumber affiliated schools (in the
USA, Canada and around the world), and this trend is
increasing. All Montessori schools are realizing the
tremendous advantages that independent schools enjoy;
the long-term benefits of being able to hire the best
teachers for their school, regardless of affiliation,
is simply beyond dispute.
26. Is an internship
or practicum required?
No. If we required an internship it would eliminate
many wonderful candidates who depend on their employment
income to live.
27. Is an internship
or practicum important?
The answer is partially “yes”, but mainly
“no”. Yes, because prospective employers
appreciate seeing initiative on the part of the student.
They want to be assured that an applicant is enthusiastic
about working in a Montessori environment. If students
have the time, we recommend that they offer their services
as a volunteer teacher to a local Montessori school(s)
in the final component of their NAMC Montessori training
program.
No, because the reality is that very few schools (if
any) will hire a teacher straight out of any Montessori
training program to manage one of their classes. Virtually
all Montessori administrators feel that first-year graduates
require at least one year of on-the-job training with
an experienced teacher before they assume leadership
of a Montessori classroom. To these schools, an internship
is unimportant as they know that anyone they hire will
be spending a year with one of their experienced Montessori
teachers. Schools are looking for enthusiastic, child-oriented
graduates to join their team and embrace their ideals.
28. What salary
can I expect to earn?
Salaries vary both across the country and within communities.
The best answer to this question is to ask someone you
know.
For reference purposes, the most recent salary survey
we are aware of was conducted by NAMTA (AMI) in 2005.
The median salary a newly trained Montessori graduate
could expect to be offered then was:
Infant/Toddler: $24,960.00
Preschool/Kindergarten: $26,556.00
Lower Elementary: $33,280.00
Upper Elementary $35,773.00
Salaries are higher today, and the majority of the schools also
include benefits.
29. Does NAMC
offer financial aid including student loans, scholarships
or bursaries?
We are sorry, but we just can't. If we offer student
loans, scholarships or bursaries to some students, then
our fees would have to rise for the rest of our student
body which would defeat our mandate to offer everyone
the lowest price possible.
If you simply cannot make the three equal payments,
we would be happy to discuss a monthly payment plan
with you. Please contact our center for details:
Toll-free (USA & Canada): 1.877.531.6665
International Callers: 604.531.6665
Email: info@montessoritraining.net
30. How do I enroll?
Select the appropriate quick link provided below:
31. I have more questions.
How can I contact NAMC?
Email:
info@montessoritraining.net
Telephone:
Toll-free (USA & Canada): 1.877.531.6665
International callers: 604.531.6665
Fax: 604.531.6698
Mail:
NAMC
13469-27th Avenue
Surrey, BC V4P 1Z1
Canada |
