The Staff
Teachers
in Montessori classrooms hold American Montessori Society (AMS) or
Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) certification, or other
organizations certified by Montessori Accrediting Council for Teacher
Education (MACTE). In Cambridge Public Schools they must also be
certified as teachers by the state of Massachusetts.
Montessori
teachers are taught to observe carefully and how to give just the right
amount of help. They give new lessons when the children are ready for
them. They encourage children to repeat and practice each step as often
as necessary for the individual to truly understand the concept of the
material. They watch to see that the child is working and learning.
Elementary teachers meet with each student to make sure they are
mastering the required CPS grade level skills. The teacher helps the
child learn responsibility, but is aware that ultimately it is the
teacher, as the professional, who is responsible for the child's
learning.
The Families
Parents,
as the primary educators of their children, are an essential part of
the Montessori program. Report cards and parent conferences are one
aspect of the interchange between home and school. Events such as
picnics, potluck dinners and curriculum fairs help to establish a
friendly school community. Parents are also encouraged to participate
through classroom observation, material making and chaperoning school
trips. Throughout the year the schools offer classes on parenting
skills, as well as Montessori topics.