Assistant
Since I have only a handful of kids for the morning preschool. I can pretty much handle them all by myself. I hired an assistant for emergency or if I ever decide to have a few days off at places like Tuscany villa rentals. Who will send their children to a school that runs by one person and not wondering what will happen if she has diarrhea?
It’s almost impossible to hire an assistant who is Montessori trained and near impossible to hire an assistant who wants to be trained. I have hired and fired half of dozen of assistants in the last two years.
Instead, I spent a lot of effort preventing the assistants from “helping” me to teach. Whenever I walked out for a few minutes, they would start disturbing the children and turn the class into a bazaar. Most of them also thought they would help me to “teach” since I didn’t do that too often.
Since my father commented that it has much co-relation with how much I paid them. Then, I paid them better, 50% more than the going rate in my area, with a promise of sponsored training if they stay on. Things have not changed much. Most of the assistants would disturb a concentrating child to show that they are actively working. If I told them not to, they will sit there and stared blank, didn’t know what to do. I tried to explain to them about being actively passive until attention needed and the important of being alert and observant. I tried to discuss things that I observed about certain child to help her along. I also encouraged them to read, giving them articles or small booklets to start with. Well, most of them don’t read at all. I think when you weren’t particularly interested in the children nor their education, they are “inconveniences”, and that reflected in the way you talked to them. Children were quick to pick that up !!
I do not have an assistant right now, but a SPM school leaver to help to watch kids and I am letting her go by the end of this week. I found an older woman who is interested to help. She is a nyonya and speaks good English, hope things will work out for better.
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4 Responses to “Assistant”
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If I’m around your area, I certainly love to be your assitant…even without pay. Just love observing them working… it’s truly a joy.
Yeah, a mother who is interested in Montessori education like you will be the best choice of teacher/assistant. In fact, in the States, many mothers start that way. Many schools in the States also started by mothers who were frustrated she couldn’t find an authetic Montessori school. (hint, hint,…:-))
In Malaysia, I think one of reasons there is no true “Montessori” school is also because when you started a school as a commercial venture, you have the pressure to rake in profit and catering to the needs of parents. Frankly, the pre-school is an over grown hobby for me, it’s not profitable enough to pay bills.:-)
My hubby did suggest the same thing, if Christian would go to a playschool, I could also volunteer to be there as an assistant.. and also give me the opportunity to observe lil children. hmm.. not sure if mom & son be in the same school is healthy for the child development..
Celine: it depends, on the child and you. Some have done it and worked well, some just disastrous.
My own experience: having my nephew in my class was disastrous, but my niece truned out fine.