My decision to become a teacher came after art college and having children. I trained as a “traditional” teacher, gaining a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate of Education). I taught in state primary schools in the Brighton area for 17 years. I chose to teach in disadvantaged areas as I felt that was where I could make the biggest difference. I taught many children whose hardships seemed overwhelming but for whom school was their sanctuary. I did a Masters in Education to further my understanding of child development and education and that is how Maria Montessori’s philosophy caught my attention.
My observations of children in mainstream education throughout my teaching career had made me realise that there was a dissonance between how children were taught and how children actually learned. I attended a seminar about Montessori Elementary (6-12) Education given by Baiba Grazzini and it all made sense and I decided Montessori education was the path for me.
In 2007 I re-trained over three summers at the Maria Montessori Institute. The actual course was like nothing I’d ever experienced before and certainly challenging. What brought it alive were the discussions with our course leader and my fellow students. I made the most wonderful group of friends during the training, and 15 years on we are still in touch.
