This YouTube site offers short video clips of what occurs in a Montessori classroom, history, pedagogy, etc. These short documentary clips will provide parents with a feel for how the Montessori classroom differs from a traditional preschool.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OM1Gu9KXVkkThis YouTube site is a short news program from Canada about how to tell the difference between a Montessori school and a "Montesomething" school. The name Montessori is NOT copyrighted and ANY school can say it is Montessori even if it does not follow ANY of the pedagogy of Dr. Montessori. Derech Eretz Montessori follows AMI standards and is applying for AMI Accreditation.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JmPlinEUzSoRabbi Jonathan Rietti has developed a Montessori approach to teaching Torah for Elementary children. He provides a training course called "Taryag Teacher Training" which meets during the summer. Zahavah Stilman completed Taryag Teacher Training with Rabbi Rietti in the Summer of 2007. Many of the ideas for teaching Torah, Davening and Hebrew literacy that Zahavah learned from this course can apply to the Primary class as well.
http://www.jewishinspiration.com/about_rabbi_rietti.phpThese links are for Dr. Angeline Lillard whose book, The Science Behind the Genius, is strongly recommend for parents and educators to read. She has done extensive research on Montessori education at the Primary and Elementary levels in her work as a professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. The second link is about some of her research concerning the educational outcomes of Montessori students. The last link is a recent radio interview she gave that would be of great interest to parents.
http://people.virginia.edu/~asl2h/This site will answer many questions about Montessori education and also provide a catalog for toys and games that parents can purchase that are supportive of Montessori principles.
http://www.michaelolaf.netThis is the North American Montessori Teachers Association, of which Zahavah Stilman is also a member. There is information found in their “About Montessori” tab that will answer many questions as well as a tab for parents.
http://www.montessori-namta.org/NAMTA/index.htmlThis site is for The Montessori Institute Northwest. Zahavah Stilman received her training in Primary Montessori Education from Ginni Sackett. Their tab for “What is Montessori” offers valuable information on the history of Dr. Montessori’s work. Their tab for “Teacher Training” will provide you with an overview of the training program. Towards the bottom of the “Teacher Training” page are links that give a thorough explanation of what is expected in the training and further in the Master’s Degree component from Loyola University.
On a personal note, I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in becoming a Montessori teacher to complete their training at MINW. I have a deep respect for Ginni Sackett and found that the entire staff of MINW did their utmost to support the students and provide them with a wonderful and personally enriching educational experience. The weather was terrible and being away from my family for months was a tremendous sacrifice, but Ginni, Sally, Megan, Jennifer and Elise made the experience one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and I am blessed for having known them all.
http://www.montessori-nw.orgThis site is for The Association Montessori Internationale which was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori. It upholds the highest and most rigorous standards of Montessori education. Zahavah Stilman is a member of AMI and Derch Eretz Montessori is currently applying for AMI School Accreditation. This site provides information about what to look for in a school, how teachers are trained, and the history and pedagogy of Montessori education.
http://www.montessori-ami.org/