Details | |
---|---|
Start date | 3rd of July 2023 |
End date | 1st of August 2025 |
The course is organized by the Foundation of the University of Girona and the Montessori International Research and Training Center in Girona MIRTC. He is awarded the Montessori Guide Master's Degree from 6 to 12 years old by the University Foundation and the official diploma of the International Montessori Association AMI. It is an own and professional master's degree consisting of 90 ECTS credits. It is designed to help the student achieve a good knowledge of the theory and practice of the Montessori proposal in Primary, with the aim of helping children in their development and adaptation to society. The training includes all the curricular areas (which with the Montessori pedagogy are many more than those with traditional education approaches) and covers both philosophy and psychology, as well as content, materials and teaching-learning activities. The methodology of the course includes theory classes, observations and practices.
This is an international course in Spanish, English and Russian. Classes will be taught eminently in Spanish but there will be professional and simultaneous translation into Russian and English. There will be the necessary adaptations at the level of language and culture and the materials in all three languages will be available in the prepared environment for practice. The organization reserves the right to cancel any of these three language options if a minimum number of students is not reached.
The Montessori Primary Foundation course, a prerequisite for individuals who do not hold an AMI Primary Diploma, is an intensive course designed to give comprehensive knowledge of the Montessori Curriculum for children 3-6 years of age, which forms the basis of and relates to the work of the Elementary Course. In the master's degree this course becomes two subjects that add up to 16 credits in total. These subjects are subject to validation if you can prove the Montessori Guide AMI diploma for 3 to 6 years.
The course of Primary Education combines intense classes of theory, bibliographical study, active exploration and demonstrations of the materials, with sessions of supervised practices, observations and teaching practice.
Theory lectures provided through the course create the foundation for a Montessori teacher’s practical work and are constant points of reference for the students understanding. Lectures offer an overview of Montessori child psychology and child development with special emphasis to the developmental and psychological characteristics particular of children aged 6-12 years. Students consolidate their understanding of key concepts, such as the Planes of Development and the Tendencies of Man.
They also include Montessori Educational Theory and Practice for children in this age group as part of an integrated curriculum: Geography, Biology, History, Language, Math, Geometry, Music, and Art. The majority of class time is dedicated to demonstrations of the materials and stories that constitute the heart and soul of the Montessori elementary education: The Five Great Lessons and Cosmic Education. Accordingly, students learn to appeal to the children’s imagination and ignite their growing reasoning minds through a combination of inspiring stories, hands-on materials and self-directed activities designed to draw Montessori students into exploring all the subjects presented in the course.
Students supplement course content through readings of Montessori published literature. Reading seminars and other group activities are also held throughout the course. During these seminars students also engage in group discussions. Students also participate in material making, by applying Montessori principles to materials they will use in their everyday classroom practice.
Students practice with the Montessori materials during supervised practice. Under AMI staff supervision, and without the presence of children, they refine their technique in presenting materials in Montessori model classrooms.
Observation and practice teaching are essential components of the course and allow students to continue their study of the child in AMI Montessori classrooms. In observation, students observe the children’s interactions with the materials and each other, while in teaching practice they present lessons to children in real Montessori classrooms under the supervision of experienced AMI certified Guides.
The course ends in a final Master’s Thesis that summarizes what has been worked on during the course.
Course duration:
The AMI International Elementary Teacher Training is offered over a three-summer period (2023-2025) with interim work during the academic years, such as classroom observation and teaching practice.
The first five weeks of the first summer, students undertake the Montessori Primary Foundation component of the course, which introduces the Montessori philosophy and pedagogy at the primary level. The Foundations course gives an overview of all the areas of the Montessori curriculum for children ages 3 to 6. This curriculum forms the base on which the work of the Elementary course rests. It includes lectures on Montessori educational theory and practice along with supervised practice sessions with the materials.
This course is a part of the master degree and is a prerequisite for students who wish to undertake the Elementary Teacher Training course and do not hold an AMI Primary Diploma. Prospective students who already hold such Diploma must give advance notice and submit the corresponding AMI qualification. The course is delivered by a highly qualified AMI teacher specialized in primary education.
The next four weeks of the first summer, students further develop their knowledge and understanding of Montessori pedagogy and start working on the different areas of the Montessori curriculum.
During the academic year 2023-2024, students complete three weeks of observation in a Montessori elementary school under the supervision of an AMI certified Montessori Guide.
The second summer, which requires seven weeks of attendance, includes full-time lectures and reading seminars. Students finish off most part of the Montessori curriculum and prepare illustrated course albums for each course area and specified classroom materials.
During the academic year 2024-2025, students complete four weeks of practice teaching in a Montessori elementary school under the supervision of experienced AMI certified Guide.
The third summer consists of consolidation of knowledge, practice, and review for written and oral examinations. The last theory lectures, discussions and reviews take place and students submit their individual albums and materials as required. They undertake more supervised practice sessions and prepare for the written and oral examinations, which take place during the last weeks before a Board of Examiners chaired by an external examiner appointed by AMI. Upon satisfactory completion of the AMI certification requirements, The Master’s Thesis have to be delivered and assessed and finally the qualification award ceremony takes place.
At the beginning of the course, students will be provided with the Student Handbook where course specifications are set out in more detail.
This intensive course is designed to be an introduction to Montessori philosophy and pedagogy at the primary level. It gives an overview of all the areas of the Montessori curriculum for children ages 3 to 6. This curriculum forms the base on which the work of the Elementary course rests. It includes lectures on Montessori educational theory and practice along with supervised practice sessions with the materials.
In the master's degree this course becomes two subjects that add up to 16 credits in total. These subjects are subject to validation if you can prove the Montessori Guide AMI diploma for 3 to 6 years.
Students daily attend theory lectures on Montessori theory and practice with Montessori materials in a specially prepared classroom, equipped with all the necessary infrastructure for the student’s collaborative and individual work.
In order to be eligible to sit for the written and oral examinations a minimum of 90% attendance in the theory lectures is required.
Supervised Practice is scheduled daily throughout the course so that students can practice with the materials and carry out relevant activities. Here is where they accumulate skills and experience working with the Montessori materials in Montessori model classrooms. This is the best time to explore and apply concepts learned during demonstrations and lectures and to carry out collaborative work under AMI qualified staff supervision. Students work with other students, often standing in as children for each other, to refine their technique and deepen understanding of the materials. The supervising staff member is available to clarify points and offer suggestions, so students take full advantage of this practical experience.
In order to be eligible to sit for the written and oral examinations a minimum of number of hours of practice is compulsory. The Montessori practice classroom is designed to support a professional working atmosphere and is fully equipped with Montessori furniture and materials. Whenever possible more hours of practice are recommended and the training center provides full access to the model classroom during the week for students who want to devote more time to this endeavor.
Details | |
---|---|
Start date | 3rd of July 2023 |
End date | 1st of August 2025 |
Director of Training and lead trainer: Dani Cañigueral
Montessori Foundation Course trainer: Claudia Guerrero Álvarez
Trainer in training: Eduard Vilanova
Administrative staff: Ariadna Cahisa (MIRTC), Lídia Ponsetí (Fundación Universidad de Girona)
Students that embark in the extraordinary experience of becoming qualified Montessori guides must be highly motivated adults willing to learn and help children to develop the fullness of their individual human potential as they progress from childhood to maturity and fully adapt to their global environment.
The Elementary Guide must have and in-depth knowledge and be fully familiarized with the Montessori theory, materials and activities relevant to children between 6 and 12 years of age. At this age, children have an insatiable appetite for learning and offer boundless opportunities to build their own acknowledge within a collaborative community. Therefore, the Elementary training course provides students an understanding of all disciplines of science and knowledge that supports their growth as great storytellers and imagination-speakers, so they can provide the child with the keys to explore the whole universe.
Throughout the course, students attend theory lectures and demonstrations of materials, and participate in discussions and reading seminars. They take notes, either on the content given on the course, on the technique of presentations, or on all related information for each demonstrated material. Refinement and completion of this notes form the basis for the student’s albums, which become their teaching manuals for future work with children. Students also document their supervised practice with materials and observations in real Montessori classrooms. All this work entails a lot of commitment on the students’ part if they want to become highly skilled Elementary Montessori Guides. The volume of student’s work is such that students are required to turn in weekly assignments to be assessed by staff and/or other AMI-trained elementary teacher, who offer strategies, feedback, and assistance to help students to maintain good standing in the course.
Albums are teaching manuals and they become an invaluable resource for daily practices in the classroom. In the AMI Elementary training, students create one album for each area: Geography, Biology, History, Language, Math, Geometry, Music, and Art.
The albums are accurate, personal and complete guides that reflect the student’s personal record of their course work. They describe the activities in the elementary classroom and explain how to present them to the children. Notes and sketches taken during the lectures and material demonstrations are used as the basis for these albums.
Students receive introductory handouts for each album describing each area’s basis in Montessori theory, its organization, its relevance to child development and the origins and interrelationships between the materials within it. These handouts and other related materials help students to take relevant notes and produce original and fully illustrated albums. Album work is reviewed and evaluated throughout the course by a staff member and/or AMI trained elementary teacher, who offers feedback and assistance to help students achieve comprehensive yet succinct albums.
Albums must be complete and accepted (after a final album review) prior to the student’s AMI oral examination, which is when they are finally submitted to the Board of Examiners.
The classroom is fully equipped with cameras, a projector and the necessary technology to facilitate note taking during lectures and presentations, as well as the necessary infrastructure so students can use laptops and electronic devices to take notes.
Having the right material and a prepared environment in the classroom is key to Montessori practice. Accordingly, trainers devote time to describe in detail the Montessori material peculiar characteristics and facilitate access to whatever students may need to prepare the materials they will use in their everyday classroom practice. Such materials include charts, timelines and other relevant material routinely used in the Elementary environment. Through the creation of these materials, students are able to apply Montessori principles to materials that they will use in their everyday classroom practice.
The official languages of the course are Russian, English and Spanish and the materials offered will be in these three languages. However the requirements of the course allow delivering the albums and materials in other languages (with the prior approval of the Director of de course and according to the availability of the interpreters). However, all albums and materials must have the scripts and content tables in English, Russian or Spanish.
Students are required to read Dr. Montessori’s books and make use of them for their written work, discussions, essays, practice with materials, teaching practice and examinations. The course reading list includes required and recommended titles.
During the academic year 2023-2024, after the course’s first summer, students complete three weeks (90 hours) of observation in a Montessori elementary school under the supervision of an experienced AMI certified Montessori Guide.
Observations allow students to continue their study in Montessori classrooms, they aid to the discovery of the children reality and ensure the development of habitual, precise and dynamic movements that the students can apply in future practice in their own Montessori classrooms.
During each day of observation, students observe the classroom through the lens of Observation Guidelines. These guidelines or tips are designed to focus the student’s attention on a particular aspect of child development or Montessori theory. They give a detailed description of the tasks the student will undertake during each day of observation. Students record their responses to these daily tasks, which form the basis of their observation reports.
Students choose where to conduct their observations but always in a pre-approved elementary school where there is an AMI certified teacher that applies the Montessori approach in the Montessori elementary classroom prepared environment. Pre-approval is required from the Director of the Master. It will be necessary to sign collaboration agreements with each center. The MIRTC is located in the CCE Montessori Palau Girona, which has 16 classrooms with AMI certified elementary teachers available to host students undertaking observation practices.
During the academic year 2024-2025, after the course second summer, students complete four weeks (120 hours) of teaching practice in a Montessori elementary school under the supervision of an experienced AMI certified Guide.
Practice teaching allows students to directly apply their knowledge of the Montessori materials and child development, and to work with real children in authentic Montessori classrooms. This is the time to put into practice and refine their abilities to make presentations in the various areas of the curriculum, as well as to improve learning on how to manage a Montessori Elementary classroom.
Students choose where to conduct their teaching practice but always in a pre-approved elementary school where there is an AMI certified teacher that applies the Montessori approach in the Montessori Elementary classroom prepared environment. Pre-approval is required from the Director of the Master. It will be necessary to sign collaboration agreements with each center. MIRTC is located in the Montessori Palau Girona, which has 16 classrooms with AMI certified elementary teachers available to host students undertaking teaching practice.
Continuous assessment:
Student work is evaluated throughout the course. Students receive continuous help and feedback in the form of both personal and Moodle communication. During the supervised practice, which is carried out autonomously by the student, the teaching team observes how the student practices with the materials and gives additional help if needed. Trainers offer guidance on how students can improve and refine performance, maintain good standing in the course, and meet requirements.
Examinations:
The third summer students who wish to obtain the AMI Diploma undertake written and oral examinations. Throughout the course, students undertake written activities to orient to the exam experience and trainers offer suggestions and guidance to support study efforts. The written examination is divided in two parts, and it is conducted during two consecutive days, in two sessions of three hours. Students are given seven questions and they choose four to answer. The first day, they answer questions on Montessori theory topics, while the second day, they answer questions on the practical aspects of the different areas of the curriculum. Oral examinations are conducted at the end of the course before a Board of Examiners chaired by an external examiner appointed by AMI. Students take the oral examination individually, presenting lessons from each area. The lessons to be presented are made through blind draw, and students have several minutes to consider their lessons before the examination begins. After each presentation, the examiner and the student start a conversation focusing on the lesson, the materials used, and the relation to child development and to the underlying Montessori principles that support the area. The individual oral examination consists of three sessions of approximately half an hour each, and in each session the student presents lessons from two areas.
Master's Thesis:
The Master's Thesis consists of the presentation of a summary of the course in memory, the final 9 albums and the materials made.
The Diploma of Montessori Internationale Association (AMI) is awarded once the course requirements have been achieved: attendance at lectures, theoretical lessons, supervised practices, observations, teaching practice, presentation of the albums and materials requested, and finally, overcoming the written and practical theoretical examinations, with the minimum qualifications, led by external examiners of AMI. Once these requirements have been met, the final master's thesis must be submitted and if it is approved satisfactorily, the official Master's degree will be received by the University Foundation.
Classes will be taught eminently in Spanish but there will be professional and simultaneous translation into Russian and English. There will be the necessary adaptations at the level of language and culture and the materials in all three languages will be available in the prepared environment for practice. The organization reserves the right to cancel any of these three language options if a minimum number of students is not reached.
The MIRTC welcomes students from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds. This course is specially designed for teachers, educators, psychologists and education professionals who wish to implement all aspects of the Montessori Elementary (6-12) method in a classroom. Training is especially oriented to obtain the AMI Montessori Diploma 6-12. Only auditing the course is not an option.
Course admission requirements:
The three-summer Elementary course is delivered at the Montessori-Palau International Research and Training Center (MIRTC), located at Montessori Palau Girona, which makes all its facilities and services available to the center. All lectures, demonstrations, supervised practice and other activities related to the course take place at the training center.
Classrooms:
Students have a model Montessori classroom fully equipped with Montessori materials for their exclusive use. The classroom for theory lectures and lessons is equipped with a camera and projector, as wells as all the necessary infrastructure to work with comfort and efficiency. There are other spaces for breaks, personal work and lockers for personal belongings.
Meals:
In adjoining classrooms there are designed spaces for breakfast and snacks. The school has its own kitchen and a large lunch room, with daily lunch service.
Other facilities:
The school grounds include a forest, gardens, a farm, a gym and all kinds of facilities that can be used for training activities.
Access and parking:
Free underground parking is available for all students at the center’s site. Every 15 minutes there is a public bus service to and from downtown Girona.