Elementary Teacher Certification

150 Hours – $2,750 + Shipping

MS of E’s Montessori Elementary Teacher Certification Program prepares you to be a knowledgeable and compassionate Montessori teacher. Working with our excellent curriculum materials and resources will give you a solid foundation of Montessori philosophy and methodology as they apply to children aged six to twelve. This MS of E course prepares you to confidently guide and improve the lives of children in Montessori elementary settings. Elementary Teacher candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited postsecondary institution, college or university.

Upon enrollment, you will receive access to the online resources and assignments on Canvas, a full set of instructional manuals from Montessori Research and Development, and copies of “Children of the Universe” by Michael and D’Neil Duffy, “Children Who Are Not Yet Peaceful” by Donna Bryant Goertz, and “The Fully-Alive Child” by Jamie Watts. This program takes 150 hours, including two 75-hour modules – theory and curriculum. It may be completed in as many as twelve months. There are two payment options: one payment of $2,150 + shipping or 2 payments of $1,375 + shipping.

Apply Now

Theory

Assignment 1 - The Montessori Movement

In this assignment, you will learn about the history of the Montessori movement from its beginnings until today, the five core components of Montessori education, and an overview of the Montessori approach to Elementary education.

Assignment 2 - Child Development

You will learn the “big picture” concepts that guide Montessori pedagogy. These include human tendencies, planes of development, imagination, trauma-informed practice, and Montessori’s vision for Elementary education.

Assignment 3 - The Role of the Adult

You will learn the special part that adults play in the Montessori community: building relationships, presenting lessons, recordkeeping, observing, supporting, and more. Being a Montessori teacher is quite different from being a teacher in a traditional classroom.

Assignment 4 - Classroom Management

In this assignment, you will explore the prepared environment, cultivating a culture of work, freedom and responsibility, and systems and rituals that will help your class run smoothly. You will also read excerpts from “Children Who Are Not Yet Peaceful.”

Assignment 5- Montessori Philosophy

For this assignment, you will read passages from Dr. Montessori’s books “To Educate the Human Potential” and “The Formation of Man.” Then, you will answer two essay questions related to the readings.

Assignment 6-8 - Curriculum Theory

In these assignments, you will cover the pedagogy and strategies behind the various subjects taught in the classroom: Practical Life, Language, Math, and Cosmic Education. Understanding why the lessons are designed the way they are is a crucial part of being an effective teacher because it allows you to competently adapt the presentations and materials to suit children of all abilities. Each assignment concludes with a short, reflective writing assignment.

Assignment 9 - Communication

This assignment focuses on effectively and compassionately communicating with families, students, and coworkers. It includes emails, conferences, progress reports, helping students express themselves in prosocial ways, paralanguage, and nonverbal communication. At the end, you compose responses to ten fictitious parent emails, addressing concerns related to the topics discussed in the course.

Assignment 10 - Practical Career Skills

You will conclude your studies by learning the practical skills necessary to succeed in the private school industry. These skills include helping students process big feelings, adapting to meet the needs of students with learning differences, record-keeping systems, diversity, and more. This assignment concludes with a Glossary of Terms test and recording a “Montessori Elevator Speech.”

Curriculum

This module will teach you the hows and whys of Montessori lesson materials and presentations, allowing you to confidently offer any lesson in an effective “Montessori” style. You will review the manuals and learn to analyze Lesson Presentations.
Apply Now

Additional Courses to Consider