The Montessori Elementary training program provided me with an ability to:

1.        Demonstrate knowledge of human development and education:

     1)  Interpret child development and early education concepts to other staff, parents, a community.

    2)  Plan for continuity of learning experiences for children in the age range of certification.

2.        Demonstrate   knowledge,   application,   and   analysis   of   thetheoretical/ philosophical  base upon which Montessori education   programs   have   been   and   currently   are   being developed. This includes awareness of the growth of the child's spirit and moral development.    

3.        Plan programs that meet the individual needs and interests of children appropriate to their development, sociocultural background, and experience level:

                1) Demonstrate ability to diagnose                        children's  learning needs through a variety of vehicles (i.e. observation, case studies, tests, developmental scales, classroom products).

2)       Develop suitable match between diagnosis and learning activities provided.

3)        Demonstrate knowledge of Montessori principles on Cosmic Education, which integrates the teaching of history, geography, the sciences, creative arts, and movement.

4)        Demonstrate knowledge of the teaching of language arts.

5)        Demonstrate knowledge of the teaching of mathematics.

6)        Demonstrate knowledge of varied learning styles.

7) Demonstrate knowledge of environmental design and preparation.

8)        Provide opportunities for choice, problem-solving, decision-making, and responsibility for learning on the part of the children.

9)         Demonstrate a broad repertoire of teaching strategies (i.e structuring environment; using manipulative materials for exploration, demonstration, and concrete models, modeling behavior, using verbal strategies such as inquiry, explanation, imitation, illustration and dramatization.

10)      Demonstrate ability to plan and implement group activities.

11) Develop organizational and classroom anagement procedures to facilitate growth and learning.

12)      Demonstrate knowledge of teaching of practical life skills.

13)      Demonstrate an understanding of Montessori philosophy and  practice and its continuity.

Description of the Elementary Level I Teacher Certificate Course:

The Montessori Elementary Level I Teacher Certificate Course is comprised of 400 instructional clock hours and 1080 practicum hours which when successfully completed is awarded the American Montessori Society Elementary Level I Teacher Credential. Instruction includes Montessori Philosophy and Child Development/ Management in an Elementary Classroom, Curriculum Design and Strategies, Mathematics Curriculum, Geometry Curriculum, Language Arts Curriculum, Geography Curriculum, History Curriculum, Biological Sciences Curriculum, Movement and Physical Education,, Visual Arts and Crafts, Music with Practical Life and Technology integrated in the curriculum areas, and Practicum. ••

Description of Course Components

for the Montessori Elementary Level I Teacher Certificate Course:

6.3.1    Montessori Philosophy and Child Development 50 Hours

Montessori's view of child development with four planes of development to include the study of the development of intelligence, the development of language, moral development, social development, cognitive and logico-mathematical development. Characteristics of the child from six to twelve and their implication for -design of the Montessori elementary curriculum, current theories and research, and the child's relationship to the culture.

6.3.2    Management in an Elementary Classroom     6 Hours

Starting a new class in addition to the study of the preparation of the physical environment, preparation of a schedule, and the spiritual and psychological conditions of the environment. The role of the teacher as initiator, observer, group leader, and keeper of records.

6.3.3    Curriculum Design and Strategies     60 Hours

Theories of curriculum development are studied in addition to the creation of original material and reconfiguration of current learning materials.

6.3.4    Mathematics Curriculum 77 Hours

Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of mathematics to include the study of the concept of number and quantitative relationships, base ten systems, four fundamental operations, laws of arithmetic. Measurement (time, space, weight, money), ratio and proportion (fractions, percentage, decimals), problem-solving, exponential notation. Preparation for algebra (concept of unknown, equations in the concrete) and probability and statistics (data collection and methods of data display).

6.3.5    Geometry Curriculum     28 Hours

Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of geometry to include the study of three dimensional and two dimensional geometric shapes, nomenclature of geometric concepts, relationships and shapes, equivalence, congruence and similarity, and area and volume.

6.3.6    Language Arts Curriculum     70 Hours

Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of language arts to include the study of expressive and receptive language to include speaking and listening, writing and reading, grammar functions, and structural grammar (analysis). Literature and library reference and research skills.

6.3.7    Geography Curriculum    35 Hours

Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of geography to include the study of physical geography, political geography, the child's place in the world, vertical and horizontal knowledge of the earth, geological and climatological phenomena of the earth, economic and ethnological geography.

6.3.8    History Curriculum     21 Hours

Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of history to include the study of the great lessons of history and fundamental needs of humans, time concepts, introduction to the cosmos (formation of the earth), timeline of life, time line of humans (cultural, philosophical, technological, and artistic development) and history of the country and state or province.

6.3.9   Biological Sciences    35 Hours

Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of biology to include the study of the criteria for classifying living and non-living, the five kingdoms, animal and plant kingdom with classification, characteristics, external parts, habitat, internal parts, and functions, study of the prokaryote, protoctista and fungi kingdoms, human anatomy and ecology.

6.3.10   Movement and Physical Education     6 Hours

Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of movement and physical education to include the study of laterality, time-space relationships, position in space, balance, coordination (muscular, eye-hand, hand-hand, hand-leg), body image, integrative activities, and group games.

6.3.11     Visual Arts and Crafts     6 Hours

Philosophy and rational of the curriculum area of art to include the study of materials that aid development of art concepts and skills in two-dimensional art activities (easel or table), three-dimensional art activities, art appreciation and art history.

6.3.12   Music     6 Hours

Philosophy and rational of the curriculum area of music to include

The study of materials that aid in the development of music concepts and skills, singing skills, instrumental skills, music appreciation and music history.

6.3.14   Externship/Practicum      1080 Hours minimum

The function of the Externship is to provide for the student a supervised teaching and learning experience and a period of observation, internalization, and further study, to bring together the theory and practice of Montessori education. The externship is for nine consecutive months, five days per week, six hours per day.