Montessori Professional Development Courses
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The Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS) offers continuing education for Montessori teachers and assistants. Our next Professional Development courses will begin October 4th, 2010. To register for a course, please download our application file and email it to us. For questions about our professional development program, or to inquire about group discounts, please contact us.
All of our professional development courses are conducted online using our renowned e-learning system. Participants will work with a cohort of students and instructional guide. Each week there will be about 2 hours of videos to view, as well as questions for the cohort to discuss online. There will also be some simple assignments related to the course topics. Participants can expect to spend approximately 5 hours a week, longer if they choose to participate more in discussions. Participants will need to have high speed internet access in order to be able to watch the video lectures and presentations. For more information on the technology used in this program, please visit our technology section where you will also learn the technological requirements for using our site.Adventure in the Arts
$310/person
This 6 week course has two separate components.-
Visual Arts in the Montessori Early Childhood Environment
Children love art and a well planned art area can bring joy and enrichment to any classroom. This 4 week course will give participants the tools they need to design and prepare an art environment that that will promote creative expression and develop art appreciation. Through video lectures and demonstrations, as well as assignments that encourage hands-on experience, participants will learn the value of art education and how to present art activities from a variety of media and styles. Participants will learn how to present art units that expose children to artists and styles of art including the classical masters and cultural art. All participants will receive an Art Album filled with activities and resources to enhance art in their classrooms.
Making Music with Children through Song and The Montessori Bells
This fun 2 week course will bring music to life with videos of Frank Leto singing with children. Frank presents many songs and rhythm activities, and also provides video lectures with instructions for how to prepare and present a music curriculum for young children. Participants will also view videos by Kitty Bravo presenting step-by step instruction on the Montessori bells. From the first Sensorial lessons in matching the bells to playing and composing music, young children can master these activities and so can you! This course is designed for everyone. If you are a musician it will be a fun introduction to the Montessori approach to music, if you are not musically inclined, this will be a life saver and give you what you need to make music a vibrant part of your classroom.
Participants in the Adventure in the Arts program will receive a fabulous art album which they can download and print as well as a song book and a mini album containing the presentations for the Montessori bells. It will be a fun course with a wealth of activities to incorporate in the classroom. Those who complete the entire 6 weeks and all assignments will be awarded a CGMS Professional Development Certificate.
Classroom Leadership
$310/person
6 Week CourseThis 6 week course is for Montessori assistant teachers, specialty teachers, substitute teachers, and parent volunteers. The purpose of the Classroom Leadership course is to provide an introduction to Montessori philosophy and to the principles of effective classroom leadership. Certified and experienced teachers seeking a refresher in the basics of classroom leadership will also benefit from this program.
Course content includes: an introduction to Montessori key philosophical concepts, classroom roles and working in partnership with co-workers, designing and maintaining the prepared environment, establishing daily routines, lesson strategies, as well as techniques for positive discipline and problem solving in implementing effective classroom strategies. This course primarily focuses on 3-6 classrooms, but most of the topics relate to all age groups.
Math Refresher Course
$345/person
7 week course for Certified Montessori Early Childhood TeachersRefresh your knowledge, renew your passion, and rediscover the genius of the Montessori math area! This 7 week math journey will present video presentations of Montessori math materials from early numeration to advanced lessons. You will also view lectures that expound on topics designed to help you better understand how to meet the needs of children and support the development of their mathematical minds.
But you won’t do this all alone! You will be studying with a cohort of other Montessori teachers, exploring the math area at a whole new level; discussing theory and practice, extensions and variations, and broadening your perspectives in our online discussion forums. Each cohort will be facilitated by one of our very experienced Montessori Instructional Guides who will be able to answer your questions and lead the discussions based on many years of classroom experience. Each participant will be able to download many resources including our beautiful Math Album filled with color photos demonstrating the various complex steps of the math presentations.
This course is only open to individuals who have already received their Montessori certificates. Participants who complete the entire 7 weeks and all assignments will be awarded a CGMS Montessori Math Refresher Certificate.Special Needs
$270/person
5 Week courseMost of us have asked and been asked this question many times: Is Montessori for every child? In this 5 week course we will explore that topic while we look at practical ideas for how to adapt to, and meet the needs of children with challenges. The course will survey a variety of issues in special education including emotional and behavioral, academic, developmental, speech and language challenges, and children with multiple concerns. Video lectures and discussion forums will explore characteristics of children with learning differences with an emphasis on how to more effectively guide them to success. Topics also include school policies to address issues of children with special needs, communicating with parents, and working in partnership with specialists.
Participants will receive two manuals, one on Supporting Children with Special Needs in the Montessori Environment and another focusing on Movement and Motor Development. This manual is filled with activities to help active children with attention and motor challenges. Many of the ideas and movement activities presented in this course and the manual are also great for typically developing children and provide many opportunities to support the growth and development of the whole child. Participants who complete the entire 5 weeks and all assignments will be awarded a CGMS Professional Development Certificate.