There Is Still Time!

Philosophy

The face-to-face early childhood summer residency includes:

• Discussions on Montessori philosophy and practice, an overview of early childhood, the sensitive periods, the prepared environment, and the first day of school
• Discussions on practical life, environmental design, grace and courtesy, self-direction, open-ended activities, spiritual preparation of the educator, and reflections on teaching peace
• Discussions on sensorial to science, development of motor memory, and spatial thinking
• Integrating the arts into the curriculum, such as music, health, physical education, material-making workshops, and practice
• Discussions, demonstrations, and lectures on geography, history, botany, zoology, math, language arts, and cultural studies
• Practicing classroom management strategies and observing the child
• Advice on working successfully with colleagues, record-keeping, and classroom management
  

  Practical Life Discussions

  • Developmental aims: concentration, coordination, order, independence
  • The art of the presentation
  • Practical skills to encourage independence
  • Care of self & environment
  • Food preparation
  • Exploration with practical life activities
  • The development of gross and fine motor skills
  • Foundations for life-long learning
  • The science behind the three-period lesson
  • Introduce (present), remember (practice), know (mastery)

  Sensorial Discussions

  • Sensorial materials – isolate each sense and highlight specific qualities
  • Sensorial – development of “motor memory.”
  • Sensorial – presentation of language
  • Sensorial work is a means for adults to detect deficits in the function of the child’s senses
  • Sensorial as a preparation for geometry and spatial thinking
  • Exploration with sensorial materials to refine senses
  • Language developmental aims – receptive & expressive skills
  • Preparation for handwriting

  Cultural and Language Studies

  • Introduction: land, water, and air
  • Mapping the hand, body, classroom, and community
  • Parts and caring for plants
  • Domains and Classification of the Animal Kingdom
  • Word building and beginning reading
  • Function of words
  • First grammar lessons
  • Creative writing and expressive language
  • Exploration with language materials
  • Art of storytelling

  Group Discussions

  • Open-ended activities
  • Preparation, set-up, and clean up
  • Exploration of creativity, movement, and healthy choices
  • Self-direction and the learning community
  • Flexibility, freedom, and responsibility
  • Role of the teacher
  • Early Childhood prepared environment design
  • Emotional and intellectual environment

Topics Covered

Components Required for Elementary I-II Competency