In 2004 the Montessori teacher trainer, Shannon Helfrich was approached by an Australian/Thai couple who wanted to bring Montessori to the children of Thailand. Finally, in April, 2006 the first AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) 3-6 training, for Thai teachers, began.
The picture to the right shows Omo, the daughter of a Bhutanese student in the Thailand course, giving a lesson on adjectives to Jim Stephenson of the Michael Olaf Montessori Company.
FIRST AMI 3-6 COURSE IN THAILAND: There are over 50 students, including several principals and superintendents. They represent both private and public schools in Thailand and schools in Bhutan and Singapore. The course is held in Nakhon Pathom west of Bangkok.
COURSE SCHEDULE
(1st session) April, 2006: lectures and practicals
on campus
May, 2006 - March, 2007: work at home, including observations, material
making, applying principles in present school positions, other homework
(2nd session) April, 2007: lectures and practicals
on campus
May, 2007-September, 2007: work at home
(3rd session) October, 2007: lectures and
practicals - on campus
November, 2007-March, 2008: work at home
(4th session) April 2008: lectures and practicals
on campus
April, 2008: oral and written exams,
and diploma granting.
The picture above is from an oil painting done from photographs of a visit to the Asoka Buddhist community. The Montessori course staff was hosted by one of the students who lives at the commune. For more information about the painting see Portraits of Children
(Above) Some of the 80 homemade "sandpaper" Thai letters.
(Above) Language games in Western Countries are given with "the farm" but the adaptation for children in Thailand is "the Thai house", with a miniature Thai housing compound, including foods, utensils, animals, and vehicles of traditional life in Thailand.
Michael Olaf and the Thailand Montessori Project: In the fall of 2005 Susan Stephenson of the Michael Olaf company gave a series of lectures on a variety of Montessori subjects to teachers, principles, and government officials interested in Montessori training in Thailand. She is happy to see this project brought to fruition, and to be part of the teaching staff. (Susan is in pink in the picture at the right.)
