A detailed introduction to Montessori pedagogy and the development of children from six to twelve years, as well as the interdisciplinary Montessori approach known as Cosmic Education.
“When I was at primary school, I was always wondering about the universe. I was thinking whether human beings on the earth were the experiments of aliens from another planet. I was curious to know where human beings came from. I kept wondering why I am me and why I could be conscious of myself. My father bought me a series of books called called, 'Answers to 100,000 Questions'. It gave me some of the answers, but not all of them. These questions haunted me for years. As I grew up, I've been pulled into the circumstances of the time and my own life. However, those questions are still there; they have never been addressed.
Cosmic Education is a great method to link the child to the whole universe, to let him or her set a firm foundation of the big picture of the universe, human beings and creatures on the earth.”
Sixty hours at the Centre, and nine (9) additional hours of observation in an primary class led by an AMI trained teacher. The observations are to be done either immediately after the course or parallel to the course.
|To enrol, all applicants are required to:|
|complete a course application form|
|comply with any other local application requirements|
Submission of three papers (500 words each) on topics set by the course, to be submitted by a date stipulated by the course director. At least one of these topics should be on a theory topic. In order to obtain the Elementary Assistants Course Certificate a minimum of 90% attendance is required for the lectures. 100% of observation hours must be fulfilled.
Completion of the specified course units is required for award of this qualification.
It is recommended that selected reading from the three books below be assigned during the course to prepare the assistants for continuing their study after the course.
To Educate the Human Potential
The Formation of Man
Education and Peace
Other readings may be included.
Biography of Dr Montessori and an introduction to the concept of education as an aid to life.
|Needs and tendencies|
|Four planes of development|
|Characteristics of child in second plane|
|The elementary teacher|
|Other adults (assistant, experts)|
|The pedagogical techniques (examples of lessons may be included)|
|Role of teacher (transmitter of knowledge, inspiration)|
|Class composition (mixed ages, sufficient children)|
|Story telling/oral introductions (Great Stories/other stories)|
|Content knowledge (key lessons)|
|Sensorial/imaginative presentations, leading to abstraction|
|Develop imagination, leading to creativity|
|Awareness of necessity for social/moral development|
|Going Out (implementing the child’s self construction)|
|Other adults (there is more outside the classroom)|
|Freedom as applied to child in elementary environment|
|Responsibility as applied to child in elementary environment|
|Manner of speaking to a child|
|Appropriate direction for a child|
|Manner of redirecting child|
|Have regular meetings with the teacher|
|Observation of the children that supports the work of the teacher/child|
|Maintenance of the environment|
|Accompanying children on Going Outs|
|Role Model for appropriate classroom behaviours (language, movement, activity)|