Founded by Dr Maria Montessori

The Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), founded in 1929 by Dr Maria Montessori, is a global community which continues today to protect the integrity of her work.

A Guarantee of Quality

The Association Montessori Internationale accredits training centres throughout the world. These centres offer AMI diploma courses which are internationally recognised for their high standard and authenticity. The training is essentially the same in each centre. Training centres accredited by AMI remain under the constant supervision of AMI, are staffed by AMI Teacher Trainers and each course is examined by an external examiner appointed by AMI.

Knowledgeable Trainers Make the Difference

Every AMI course is conducted by an AMI trainer. These dedicated trainers have extensive teaching experience, an academic background, have participated in a rigorous Training of Trainers Program and possess in-depth knowledge and understanding of Montessori principles and applications.

AMI Diploma Provides Opportunities

• AMI trained teachers have abundant career prospects and are in demand in New Zealand
• The AMI diploma is recognised worldwide
• AMI is a truly international organisation
• An experienced AMI trained teacher might consider becoming a head teacher, administrator, consultant, teacher-trainer, or the owner of a school
• AMI also offers further programmes for diploma holders including annual Refresher Courses and the Educateurs san Frontières programme (Educators without Borders) which aims to champion the cause of all children and to revisit Montessori principles and practices from the perspective of society at large.

The Montessori approach offers a broad vision of education as an aid to life. It is designed to help children with their task of inner construction as they grow from childhood to maturity. It succeeds because it draws its principles from the natural development of the child. Its flexibility provides a matrix within which each individual child’s inner directives freely guide the child toward wholesome growth.

The preparation of the adult about to undertake work with young children demands a high degree of self-discipline and commitment, and a professional attitude. This preparation can only be achieved through immersion in the Montessori theory under the supervision of experienced lecturers. Furthermore, the special materials to be used with the children in a Montessori class require individual training and supervised practice—as each piece of apparatus has a function in the total scheme of the Montessori Prepared Environment.

These fundamental aspects cannot be covered in sufficient depth by distance learning.

Montessori training is a process of re-orientation where students begin to discover for themselves the profound truths underlying the Montessori approach.

Courses are full-time and are offered over an academic year or several summers. The course programme includes lectures, seminars and demonstrations on Montessori philosophy, child development and the Montessori materials. Each course also includes significant components of observation, supervised practice with the materials, material making and teaching practice. Students prepare an album which details the purpose, use and presentation of each piece of material. In the words of Dr Montessori the teacher ‘must give her lesson, plant the seed and then disappear; observing and waiting’ (The Call of Education, Vol. 11, no. IV, December, 1925). This apparently simple proverb continues to be a piece of worthwhile advice and a source of inspiration. It is at the core of the role of the Montessori teacher.