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 Elementary I Teacher Education
(ages 6 – 9)

Education For The Second Plane Of Development

Dr. Montessori spoke of 4 Planes of Development: birth to 6; 6 to 12; 12 to 18; and 18 to 24. Education for the Second Plane is not a direct continuation of the Montessori Program offered for the First Plane; new sensitive periods and changing psychological characteristics must be considered in formulating a meaningful and successful educational program for the 6 to 12 year old.

Two sensitive periods during the Second Plane were discussed by Dr. Montessori: imagination and abstraction. Cosmic Education, the unifying study of this Plane, utilizes both imagination and abstraction. The child is presented with the intimate relationship which exists among all forms of life. This study sparks the child’s interest , engages the imagination,  and helps with the understanding of  the cosmic task of each element and of each force in the cosmos including our human society.

During the First Plane the child incarnates the immediate environment; during the Second Plane, the child uses his creative imagination based on reality in order to psychologically conquer the world.

At six years of age all aspects of culture are received enthusiastically; later these seeds will expand and grow. The child is presented with vast fields of knowledge which he/she is eager to explore. The Montessori Elementary teacher works in the service of the complete human being who is able to exercise in freedom a self-disciplined will and judgment, and who will be able to function effectively in these expansive times.

Classified Nomenclature for botany, zoology, geography and geometry; impressionistic charts in botany and geography; language extensions; concrete math and geometry; classification charts of the plant and animal kingdoms; and time lines of life and of humans – all are a part of the Montessori lessons used during the Second Plane to strike the imagination and to provide beautiful and clear presentations. The use of all of these materials is presented during the academic component.

Early Childhood Overview

The Early Childhood Overview is required for those who do not have an Early Childhood Credential. This is a one week course held during the first week of the summer courses. It provides the elementary adult learner with the foundation of early childhood materials and philosophy. An understanding of this foundation is essential to the adult learner in the elementary courses. While it is desirable to take the Early Childhood Overview prior to the Elementary I Course, it may be taken in a previous or subsequent summer.

 

The basic format of the Elementary Teacher Education course consists of 3 Sections:

Academic Component (8 weeks during the summer months)

Montessori materials used in the Elementary program for children ages 6-9 and other topics for this age are presented.    Subjects covered include:

Art
Botany
Classroom Leadership
Computers
Geography
Geometry
History

Language
Math
Montessori Philosophy
Music
Physical Education
Practical Life
Zoology

Notes on the presentations of each exercise will be distributed to the participants. These printed notes, along with personal notes and illustrations the Adult Learner may wish to include, will constitute the Teacher’s Resource Manuals.

Much of the Elementary materials must be teacher-made, so some time will be spent on making materials during each daily session. Many paper materials (such as drawings, labels, illustrations for charts, time lines and classified nomenclatures) will be distributed at no additional charge. Participants should plan on spending between $200-$800 on paper for mounting, duplicating copies, lamination, colored pencils, etc., according to the needs of each individual participant.

Workshop Sessions are held from 8:30-5:00 daily.

Four additional hours per week are required in evening sessions for directed practice and supervised material making. Some Saturday sessions will also be required. The 8 weeks may be taken in two summers: Four weeks for ages 6-7; four weeks for ages 8-9.

During the Workshop, materials and philosophy covered in the Early Childhood Montessori Course will not be repeated; therefore, participants who wish to obtain the Elementary Credential must either attend an Early Childhood Montessori Education Course or complete selected 3-6 content in an Early Childhood Overview held the week before the Elementary Course.

9 Month Practicum

While the Academic component may be taken before receiving a Bachelor’s degree, the Practicum may not be started until the adult learner has received a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university.

Practicum requirements:

  • Monthly reports on the implementation of the Elementary Program in an actual classroom. (Teachers secure their own classroom in which to teach the Elementary Montessori Program.)
  • Preparation of assigned teacher-made materials.
  • Compilation of the Teacher Resource Manuals using notes received in the Workshop and additional personal notes.
  • 3 observations by a member of the Teacher Education Staff. Adult learners must cover transportation and housing costs.
  • Writing of an original curriculum development project.

A 16-hour Seminar will be held during the practicum year. Exact dates will be announced.

1 Week Final Assessment

  • Presentation of assigned exercises to classmates as a general review, under the direction and supervision of a staff member.
  • Presentation to classmates of: Teacher Resource Manuals, teacher-made materials, the practicum experience and,year’s project;
  • Written exams on Philosophy and Materials

Prerequisites for the Elementary Credential

  1. A four year college degree from an accredited college or university.
  2. Successful Completion of all Elementary Course Requirements
  3. Montessori Early Childhood (for ages 3-6): either a 3-6 Credential or completion of the Early Childhood Overview.

If Adult Learners do not wish to take the entire credential program, they may elect to participate solely in the academic component. The minimum requirement for attending the academic component is 60 credits from a regionally accredited college/university and permission of the Course Director. The minimum requirement for participating in the Practicum Phase is a 4 year college degree from a regionally accredited college/university.

Montessori Center for Teacher Education welcomes diversity in our student body, faculty and staff. We adhere to a policy of non-discrimination in regard to race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity.