Montessori Early Childhood Overview

For all applicants who do not hold an accredited Montessori Early Childhood Certificate a 45-hour overview of the Montessori Philosophy and major areas of the Early Childhood curriculum: Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language, and cultural subjects is required. This overview is offered in conjunction with the Elementary I training.

Montessori Philosophy /Child Development
Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy for educating children to their potential and the stages of child development are explored. It includes historical background on Maria Montessori, the four planes of development and how the principles of Montessori’s philosophy effect the environment, the child and the role of the teacher.

Observation, Curriculum Design & Management
Dr. Maria Montessori’s process of scientific observation is studied in relation to the physical environment, the daily routines, social interactions, and the community of the classroom and how these work together in Montessori environment. This course looks at the role of the teacher as initiator, role model, designer, presenter, group leader and record keeper. It also looks in-depth at the structuring of Montessori lessons and activities to understand the learning process involved. The sequencing of materials and curriculums, the interdisciplinary approach and integration of curriculum areas is explored.

Montessori Language Arts and Reading
Course includes: initial sound activities, phonograms, non-phonetic sight words, simple nomenclature, exercises for correct expression, spelling, word study (compounds, roots and affixes, antonyms, synonyms, etc.), comprehension exercises, punctuation, grammar, oral games and activities, reading and writing, grammar, and literature.

Montessori Biology (Biology & Zoology)
Topics include: five kingdoms, nomenclature, classification, characteristics, external parts, and habitat for both botany and zoology.

Montessori Geography and History
The History component includes: Fundamental Needs of Humans, Time concepts, Introduction to the cosmos, History of the country and state or province. The Geography component includes study of the five themes of geography, location, place, human-environment interactions, movement, and regions.

Montessori Geometry
Topics include: shapes, geometric nomenclature, relationship between shapes, solids, fractional parts, and working with fractions.

Movement, Art, Music, Peace & Practical Life
Topics include: the principles of art, artists and their work, making art, the principles of music, singing, kinds and ways of moving, group games, practical life skills for the elementary child and role of peace lessons in the classroom. These curriculum activities are presented so they integrate with other Montessori Curriculum areas.

Montessori Mathematics
Topics include: concept of number and quantitative relationships, the four operations, the laws of arithmetic, measurement and problem solving.

Note: In all curriculum courses the materials are presented so the students gain an understanding of and skill in using the materials. These courses also discuss the aims of the materials, their sequence, orderly arrangement on the shelves, and relevance to the student’s home school’s course of study.

“The teacher’s task is not to talk, but to prepare and arrange a series of motives for cultural activity in a special environment made for the child.” - Maria Montessori