Delivery, Enrollment, and Facilitation
This is a mastery-based course with no discussion forums. The course will be delivered in a fully online format. This course is non-facilitated, and is designed to be completed independently. It is self-paced, with an enrollment period of 70 days, which begins immediately upon confirmation of registration. A Help Forum is included in the course that will be carefully monitored by an online facilitator.
Description
Montessori Basics for Educators provides participants with a foundational introduction to the Montessori method, covering its history, philosophy, materials, and classroom practices. Special focus is given to the role of observation in supporting student learning, creating a supportive learning environment, and classroom management. Participants will create a practical observation tool to help guide instructional decisions and provide meaningful feedback to colleagues. By the end of the course, participants will be prepared to deepen their understanding of Montessori pedagogy and apply key principles.
Course Outline
Session 1: Student Orientation
Session 2: Montessori History and Philosophy
Session 3: Core Components of Montessori
Session 4: The Learning Environment: Montessori Curriculum and the Use of Materials
Session 5: Assessment of Learning
Session 6: Observation-The Cornerstone of Montessori’s Scientific Pedagogy
Session 7: Building a Montessori Community
Prerequisites
This is an intermediate level course for teachers, literacy coaches, curriculum specialists, professional development specialists, or other school personnel. Participants are expected to have regular access to computers with Internet access. In addition, participants should be proficient with browsing the Internet, uploading and downloading content, navigating to computer files, and with using word processing software, email, and attachments.
Required Materials
The required text for this course is Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius, 3rd Edition, by Angeline Stoll Lillard. All materials in this course are the property of the South Carolina Department of Education Office of VirtualSC PD. All course materials needed/required for the workshop, other than the book listed above, are available online.