WHICH AGE GROUP?
SEE ALSO DOWNLOADABLE VERSION OF THIS PAGE (MONTESSORI TRAINING)
See Montessori Method/Children to find out about the method for each age group
See also Curriculum and Learning Methodology to find out more about what is studied in each module and each programme
See also Study Options. Study what is included in the Stepping Stone units for each age group to get more details.
CHOOSE WHICH AGE GROUP YOU WILL STUDY choosing age group
0-3 Infant Toddler 3-6 Pre-School 6-9 Lower School 9-12 Middle School 12+ Adolescent (Upper School)
INFANT TODDLER 0-3 years back to top
In this programme you will study the Montessori theory behind the very youngest children and you will be referred to the wide knowledge on child development that has been discovered in recent decades. You will also study birth and pregnancy conditions, activities and environments for infants and for toddlers, child development from Montessori compared to other perspectives, observation and general skills for running a day care centre for children up to 6 years. Education of parents is an important part of the study. You will be challenged to become aware of your personal attitudes and habits, seeking to recognise how they affect the small children you will work with.
Montessori Method/Children
PRE SCHOOL 3-6 years back to top
In this programme you will study the theory of how Montessori approached the 3-6 year old. She started her method with this age group and here you will find the basics of the whole philosophy. You will also study practical life activities, sensorial, early reading and early mathemetics, practical culture activities and the Montesssori approach to arts, crafts, drama and music. You will be challenged to learn to move and work with precision, in a way that pre-school children can easily understand. You will learn to use a beautiful array of Montessori materials that help the children to learn independently.
Montessori Method/Children
LOWER SCHOOL 6-9 years back to top
You start this programme with an overview of 3-6 years materials and theory. Then you will study the Montessori theory behind the child 6-12 years as the characteristics of the child do not change greatly between 6 and 12 years. A large part of your study will be about Cosmic Education which means that children learn all subjects in an inter-connected way. You will also study a very wide array of Montessori materials for mathematics, language, history, geography and natural sciences. In the 6-9 programme there are more materials than in any other age group but they are not very difficult to learn and you will enjoy using them.
Montessori Method/Children
MIDDLE SCHOOL 9-12 years back to top
You start this programme with an overview of 6-9 materials and theory. Then you will study the Montessori theory behind the child 6-12 years as the characteristics of the child do not change greatly between 6 and 12 years. If you have studied theory 6-12 years before while doing 6-9, there is no need to repeat this module. A large part of your study will again be about Cosmic Education but at this age there is more emphasis on children working with projects. There is also a section that examines how to use school text books in a Montessori way. You will study Montessori materials for mathematics, language, history, geography and natural science that follow on those in 6-9. There are not as many materials as in 6-9 programme but in 9-12 you will meet some very interesting and mentally challenging materials that you should enjoy.
Montessori Method/Children
ADOLESCENT 12+ years back to top
This is our newest programme and is a joint delivery between SMI in Sweden and Waterpark in Norway. It includes an overview of 6-12 years materials and special observations of younger children. You will study Montessori's theory about adolescents and examine other approaches to students of this age. Erdkinder was Montessori's plan for adolescents but she did not have time in her life to work out the details. Time is spent examining Erdkinder and analysing how the principles might be applied in modern situations. Teachers at Adolescent level will probably be subject specialists but the programme will help them to apply the methodology to how they present subjects to their students. Cosmic education adapted for adolescents is studied and a great emphasis is placed on co-operation with other teachers. Individual intellectual stimulation using Montessori materials, motivation in learning, practical life skills such as study planning and curriculum are all covered in this programme. The challenge will be to thoroughly examine current practice in schools for this age and to try to find creative ways of applying Montessori methodology.
The Adolescent programme for Montessori has not been fully developed anywhere in the world although a core research group in USA promise a curriculum in 2012. Training programmes (including Waterpark) are based on adapting the Montessori core principles, including Erdkinder, to the demands of a modern day school and curriculum for this age group.
Montessori Method/Children
CHOOSING WHICH AGE GROUP TO STUDY back to top
Waterpark Montessori offers a variety of study programmes and training options. The Montessori method uses mixed age group classes of about 3 years span. Waterpark programmes are designed around these age groups. Here are some points to keep in mind when making a choice.
· QUALIFICATION: It is not necessary to be a teacher or pre-school teacher to study Montessori but these qualifications may be required to work in a school in your country. Before you study Montessori, a qualification in any area is useful but not essential. General knowledge, an interest in children and a good basic education are what you will need.
· CHOOSING A STUDY PROGRAMME: Waterpark Montessori offers a variety of training options. If a student, for some reason, is not ready to commit to training for a full diploma, then, individual Modules or Stepping Stones may be an option. The student can build towards a Montessori diploma.
· CHOOSE THE AGE YOU ENJOY WORKING WITH but of course within a school or pre-school there will be other factors to take into consideration. If you cannot decide between two age groups, choose the younger age as Montessori activities are possible to use beyond the recommended age.
· TEACHERS IN SAME SCHOOL OR PRE-SCHOOL: It is useful that a school or pre-school tries to get people qualified in a variety of ages so they can share responsibilities.
· 3-6 FOR NON-READING CHILDREN IN SCHOOL: If you will work with 6-7 year olds starting school and many of them have not been to Montessori kindergarten, we advise you to take full Diploma 6-9 plus 3-6 Practical Module B (which includes the materials to help children to learn to read and write)
· 6-9 AND 9-12 =TWO PROGRAMMES: Many Montessori colleges teach 6-12 years as a single study programme but Waterpark has divided this into 6-9 and 9-12 because of the volume of work involved. There is only one theory programme for 6-12 years.
· ADOLESCENT = 12-19 YEARS: The Adolescent programme covers children 12+ and is suitable for those working in schools up to 18 or 19 years.
· ADOLESCENT IF NO PREVIOUS MONTESSORI: If you are studying Adolescent and have never studied Montessori before, we advise you to take full Diploma Adolescent plus 9-12 Practical Modules A & B (which will give you a thorough knowledge of the materials that will be useful to adapt in a Montessori 12+ years classroom)
(Note: The Adolescent programme for Montessori has not been fully developed anywhere in the world although a core research group in USA promise a curriculum in 2012. Training programmes (including Waterpark) are based on adapting the Montessori core principles, including Erdkinder, to the demands of a modern day school and curriculum for this age group. )