Infant/Toddler Program Components 

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Philosophy (min 24 hours)

This workshop will provide an overview of the basic philosophical ideas of Montessori, her principles and ideas.  It will cover Montessori's view of the child and the child's place in society, with emphasis on the child from birth to three. Included will be the scientific analysis of how to nurture and assist the unfolding of the human personality and positive communication with emphasis on personal development of the adult learner based on Montessori's view of the child.

 

Pedagogy (min 24 hours)

This workshop will provide an understanding of the care of physical and psychological needs of the child from birth to three.  It will discuss the importance of daily routines as curriculum, including strategies for assistance, interactional techniques, early intervention, developmental assessment and record keeping.

 

Environmental Design (min 32 hours)

This workshop will focus on meeting the sensitive periods and needs of the individual child in the various curricular areas. In the Montessori Infant and Toddler classroom, the young children are introduced to Practical Life Exercises, Sensorial, Language Arts, Culture and Music. This workshop will support the understanding of the design of the environment, the materials and space needed for the various subject areas, aesthetics and age grouping.  It will demonstrate how the Practical Life materials develop concepts in young children such as independence, responsibility, a sense of order, self confidence, eye-hand coordination, concentration and analytical skills. The Sensorial Exercises help the children develop their senses – visual, tactile, auditory, gustatory and olfactory. Language arts exercises help the children develop the foundation of verbal and non-verbal communication as well as social skills. The Language Arts area also incorporates aspects of culture – Botany, Zoology and History for the Infant-Toddler program.

 

Child, Family, and Community (min 16 hours)

The Montessori environment is a community which incorporates the students, the educators, the administration, and the parents. Developing the knowledge base regarding Montessori philosophy and encouraging home implementation will support the connection between the home and the classroom and develop mutual cooperation and support.  This workshop will cover these components, which are especially important for the very young child.

 

Observation (min 16 hours + 8 practicum observation)

This workshop offers techniques and guided practice in the following concepts, terms and topics: techniques of observation (4 hours), guided observation of children, classrooms, and teachers (12 hours); and four practicum observations (16 hours).

 

Personal Growth & Development (min 16 hours)

This workshop will focus on the role and conduct of personal and professional attributes. The workshop will provide an overview of practice skills, decision making skills, integrity and honesty, positive attitude and motivation with peers, child, family and community. This course will help the adult learner develop self-awareness and self- consciousness, emotions, thoughts and motives reflecting the behavior of the adult and child. The adult is introduced to the connection of Montessori philosophy in reflecting the social, emotional and spiritual aspects of a child. It focuses on Montessori peace education in underpinning the spiritual growth in an adult and child.

 

Program Leadership (min 18 hours)

Maria Montessori believed that the classroom was a prepared environment conducive to the development of the whole child. This workshop will support the importance of utilizing classroom leadership skills in the classroom in order to develop the environment, appropriate communication and problem solving techniques, professional relationships, and best practices. It will cover the importance of understanding human needs, multi-culture and diversity, and the use of evaluation.

 

Child Development (min 48 hours)

The Child Development workshop will look at Montessori’s view of child development and the views of other theorists during her time and since.  It will discuss prenatal development, childbirth, and the social, emotional, psychological, cognitive, physiological, and spiritual development of the child from birth to three.  

 

Infant/Toddler Practicum Teaching (540 hours)

The function of the practicum phase is to provide the adult learner with a supervised teaching/learning experience and a period of observation, internalization, and further study to bring together the theory and practice of Montessori education.  Adult learners will participate in Infant/Toddler practicum, which will last a full academic year, with the adult learner working in a Montessori Infant/Toddler environment at the practicum site for a minimum of 3.25 hours a day, five days a week, for nine consecutive months. 

 

Practicum Seminars (min 16 hours)

The Practicum Seminars will be an opportunity for Adult Learners to meet with the instructor to discuss the independent observations and ways to apply the knowledge into their current classrooms. They will consider environmental design, Montessori philosophy, and pedagogy in order to grow and benefit from their practicum observation.  

 

Practicum Observation (min 8 hours not included in academic hours)

This workshop is the practicum observation section of the observation course.  It requires 4 practicum observations done in Infant and Toddler classrooms with each observation having a different focus