Below, you’ll find all the information you’ll need to plan out your journey to become a
Certified Elementary I Montessori Teacher.
Summary
Our Elementary I Montessori Certification Program (EL I) is accredited by MACTE and intended for adults working with students ages 6 to 9. To be considered as an accredited Montessori educator for ages 6 to 9 years, a participant must complete the following:
- The Online Component
- One In-Person Residencies
- One Teaching Practicum at the participant’s home school or in a participating school in the participant’s local area.
Steps to Enroll
- Submit any college level transcripts
- Complete the online application
- Meet all admission requirements
- Provide evidence of ability to practice in a 6-9 age Montessori environment
Elementary I Courses
Required Foundational Courses
- Montessori Foundations of Philosophy (FDN)
- Observation and Child Development (OBS)
Curriculum Courses
- Big Picture of the Universe (CBPU)
- Earth and Human History (CEHS) (prerequisite CPBU)
- Correct Expression, Handwriting, Whole Language (LNCE)
- Phonics, Spelling, and Punctuation (LNPH)
- Numeration and the Decimal System (MTNU)
- Operations with Whole Numbers (+ x) (MTOP) (prerequisite MTNU)
- Operations with Whole Numbers (- /) (MTAO) (prerequisite MTNU & MTOP)
- Geometry Studies (MTGM)
Residency Course (face-to-face and virtual)
- Elementary Residency – (80 hours in-residence) (RESS-ELI)
- Virtual Residency (20 hours self-paced) (RESS ELI-V)
Practicum Course (online and at your location)
- Practicum for Educators (PRED) (Sept-June)
- Teaching Internship (PRED) (Sept-June)
Montessori Live Courses will be offered in rotation throughout the year. Please keep in mind that not all courses are offered simultaneously. Visit our Annual Course Schedule page for the most up-to-date schedule.
Summer Residency
Presentation Topics In-Person
Presentation Topics Virtual
Practicum
A semester-long course with a teaching component.
Educator Teaching Practicum for Educators (PRED) Requires Approval and adds up to 400 clock hours in a 6-9 age environment.
Important Information
- Montessori Live Courses are offered throughout the year (Link to Annual Course Schedule). It is suggested to take the Foundations of Montessori Philosophy course before or concurrently while enrolling in curriculum courses.
- Not all courses will be offered at the same time, refer to the annual schedule.
- To be fully trained as a Montessori educator for ages 6 to 9 years, one must complete the entire Elementary I training program.
- MACTE accredited Montessori Live certification requires an in-person summer residency as well as the teaching practicum.
- You can expect to spend 7 to 10 hours a week per course depending on your experience level.
- Curriculum course components consist of: forum postings, video lectures, live chats, assignments, reading materials, practice lessons, lesson summaries, and observations.
- Textbook and manual requirements vary per course.
If participants wish to receive a MACTE diploma, an application to Montessori Live must be completed. Once officially accepted into the MACTE accreditation program, the Elementary I Program must be completed within three years of the start date of acceptance. A course completion certificate is awarded at the conclusion of each course.
For adult learners that complete the EL I program, a Montessori Live Diploma is awarded with a MACTE seal.
Montessori Live requires payment for each individual course at the time of enrollment to that course. There is no requirement to prepay the entire cost of the program.
Summary
Our Elementary I Montessori Certification Program (EL I) is accredited by MACTE and intended for adults working with students ages 6 to 9.
To be considered as an accredited Montessori educator for ages 6 to 9 years, a participant must complete the following:
- The Online Component
- One In-Person Residencies
- One Teaching Practicum at the participant’s home school or in a participating school in the participant’s local area.
Steps to Enroll
- Submit any college-level transcripts, bachelor’s degree
- Complete the online application
- Meet all admission requirements
- Provide evidence of ability to practice in a 6-9 age Montessori environment.
Elementary I Courses
Required Foundational Courses
- Montessori Foundations of Philosophy (FDN)
- Observation and Child Development (OBS)
Curriculum Courses
- Big Picture of the Universe (CBPU)
- Earth and Human History (CEHS) (prerequisite CPBU)
- Correct Expression, Handwriting, Whole Language (LNCE)
- Phonics, Spelling, and Punctuation (LNPH)
- Numeration and the Decimal System (MTNU)
- Operations with Whole Numbers (+ x) (MTOP) (prerequisite MTNU)
- Operations with Whole Numbers (- /) (MTAO) (prerequisite MTNU & MTOP)
- Geometry Studies (MTGM)
Residency Course (face-to-face and virtual)
- Elementary Residency – (80 hours in-residence) (RESS-ELI)
- Virtual Residency (20 hours self-paced) (RESS ELI-V)
Practicum Course (online and at your location)
- Practicum for Educators (PRED) (Sept-June)
- Teaching Internship (PRED) (Sept-June)
Montessori Live Courses will be offered in rotation throughout the year. Please keep in mind that not all courses are offered simultaneously. Visit our Annual Course Schedule page for the most up-to-date schedule.
Summer Residency
Presentation Topics In-Person
Language Arts: Grammar
Language Arts: Grammar and Sentence Analysis
Whole Number Operations
Zoology
Introduction to Botany
Functional Geography
Geography
Introduction to Geology
Introduction to Physics
Introduction to Chemistry
Introduction to Biology
Science Integration
Material Making
Art Integration
Closing ceremony
Presentation Topics Virtual
Overview of Montessori Philosophy
Overview of Practical Life
Overview of Sensorial Materials
Art Integration, Music and PE
Practicum
A semester-long course with a teaching component.
Educator Teaching Practicum for Educators (PRED) Requires Approval and adds up to 400 clock hours in a 6-9 age environment.
Online Component
The two foundational courses are nine weeks in duration. The foundational courses are generally eight weeks of video presentations, weekly chats, discussion forums, and essay assignments, with one open week scheduled at the end to complete assignments.
Each curriculum course is seven weeks in duration. There are generally five weeks of video presentations, weekly chats, discussion forums, assigned readings, assignments, and practice lessons, with two open weeks scheduled at the end to complete assignments and the observed lesson presentation. The curriculum courses require evidence of the ability to practice in a 6-9 age Montessori environment with the materials. Unless self-directed, the observed lesson presentation is conducted in person by the adult learner’s supervising educator. The curriculum courses are offered during the academic school year so that practice assignments can be completed using the materials with age-appropriate children.
Practicum Component
The teaching internship is a required component of the Educator Practicum online course. MACTE requires adult learners enrolled for Montessori certification to complete a supervised (or self-directed) practicum in their local area. The practicum comprises at least 400 clock hours with 120 hours of student teaching. Montessori Live’s practicum experience is designed to start in September and end in June, providing between 800-1,000 for a full-time employee. For adult learners volunteering at the school site or part-time employees, 400 minimum hours must be completed between September and June, with at least 120 hours of student teaching. The program is designed so a student can complete his or her academic component while completing the Practicum.
Face-to-Face Component
Adult learners must attend 80 clock hours of in-person training for certification programs.
Montessori Learning Environment
To complete the curriculum courses and teaching internship, you must either be employed in a Montessori school or secure a Volunteer Agreement with an approved Montessori school. Special restrictions may apply for self-directed learners; please review the section regarding practicum site requirements and self-directed internships outlined in the Program Handbook.
Supervised vs. Self-Directed
An adult learner can be self-directed or supervised for the entire program. We require a Practicum Site and Supervising Educator Agreement (PSA) to be completed as part of the application process and again at the start of the Practicum. This Agreement allows an adult learner to begin the program either self-directed or supervised and finish differently if one’s work situation changes, etc.
Certification
Montessori Live offers one- and two-year programs for early childhood education. There is no obligation to complete the program within that time frame. Depending on personal circumstances, adult learners can extend their programs for three or more years. All applicants have professional development status until the application is officially approved. There is no guarantee that courses completed for professional development credit will transfer toward an accredited program. Not all courses are open for professional development. To avoid any confusion, late fees, or risk of repeating a class, please submit the supporting documentation at your earliest convenience.
Tuition
Montessori Live requires payment for each course at the time of enrollment to that course. There is no requirement to prepay the entire cost of the program. The program cost varies depending on the level of participation and prior training in Montessori pedagogy. If your employer sponsors your educational expenses, please have the School Sponsor Verification form completed and signed. As a courtesy, we will invoice your employer for your tuition costs.
Required Textbooks/Reference Library
The Educator Practicum (PRED) course requires that you show evidence of a personal reference library. It would help if you began to build your Montessori resource materials, starting with your first course. Be mindful of downloading any weekly lesson plans or manuals, if supplied, along with support documents and other information collected over your experience in the program. The downloadable documents will supplement the required albums. Manuals can be purchased when you enroll in classes.
Most Successful Curriculum Course Sequences
Language Courses
Mathematics Courses
The remainder of the Montessori Live curriculum courses can be taken in any order. Montessori Live Courses will be offered in rotation throughout the year. Not all courses are offered simultaneously. Visit our Annual Course Schedule page for the most up-to-date schedule.
Important Information
- Montessori Live Courses are offered throughout the year (Link to Annual Course Schedule). It is suggested that students take the Foundations of Montessori Philosophy course before or concurrently while enrolling in curriculum courses.
- Not all courses will be offered simultaneously; refer to the annual schedule.
- To be fully trained as a Montessori educator for ages 6 to 9 years, one must complete the entire Elementary I training program.
- MACTE-accredited Montessori Live certification requires an in-person summer residency and a teaching practicum.
- You can expect to spend 7 to 10 hours a week per course, depending on your experience level.
- Curriculum course components include forum postings, video lectures, live chats, assignments, reading materials, practice lessons, lesson summaries, and observations.
- Textbook and manual requirements vary per course.
If participants wish to receive a MACTE diploma, they must complete an application to Montessori Live. Once officially accepted into the MACTE accreditation program, the Elementary I Program must be completed within three years of the start date of acceptance. A course completion certificate is awarded after each course.
For adult learners who complete the EL I program, a Montessori Live Diploma with a MACTE seal is awarded.
Montessori Live requires payment for each course at the time of enrollment to that course. There is no requirement to prepay the entire cost of the program.