Teacher
Joanne’s passion is children and education. She holds both a Bachelor of Science and Education degree from the University of Alberta. She has her lower Elementary training from NAMC and is an Alberta certified teacher. She has taught in Montessori classrooms for a variety of age groups ranging from Preschool to Grade Six.
She enjoys working in a Montessori classroom because she loves to see the students develop their sense of independence as the year progresses. The child’s personal satisfaction at the mastery of a challenging Montessori material is also a source of professional gratification for her. In particular, Joanne enjoys introducing her students to the beautiful and educational Montessori materials. Through these timeless materials, she has been able to help students attain a deeper understanding of a wide variety of topics across the curriculum such as Math, Language, Science Practical Life, Sensorial, Science and Culture. She believes in the Montessori method and enjoys the role of the teacher in the Montessori classroom. In her experience in teaching, children are the happiest in an environment that is fully prepared for their learning. It is the role of the teacher to foster an environment where students feel free to pursue their interests and challenge their sense of curiosity about the word. In the words of Maria Montessori, “our aim is not only to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his innermost core.”
Joanne’s personal teaching philosophy is very much aligned with the Montessori philosophy. It is Joanne’s mission to nurture, inspire and empower children to develop a passion for life-long learning.