Montessori College - Course Content

For the young child there is something special about tasks, which an adult considers ordinary, such as washing dishes and polishing shoes. They are exciting to the child because they allow him/her to imitate adults and gain his/her independence. These exercises are the foundation for all further learning and life.

The Sensorial Area

A young child meets the world through the constant use of all his/her senses. Dr. Montessori felt that this was the ideal time to give the child equipment which would enable him/her to understand the many impressions the child receives through them. The Sensorial materials in the Montessori classroom help the child to become aware of detail by offering him/her, at first, strongly contrasting sensations slowly becoming more subtle. Each of the Sensorial materials isolates one defining quality such as dimension, colour, weight, shape, texture, size or sound.

The Language Area

A child's language is crucial for all areas of his/her development. Dr. Montessori believed that the child's language needed to be constantly supported from entry into nursery. The Montessori materials lay solid foundations for reading, writing, increased vocabulary and listening skills. The materials of Practical Life and Sensorial prepare the child for the use of the language materials. The phonic approach to reading and writing is used initially. Through the non-competitive and individual approach the child gains a real enthusiasm for language in all its forms.

The Mathematics Area

Dr. Montessori demonstrated that if a child has access to mathematical equipment in his/her early years he/she can easily and joyfully assimilate many facts and skills. She designed materials to represent all types of quantities that the child can touch, handle and put in order.

Later, by combining this equipment, sharing it, counting it and comparing it, the child can perform the basic operations of arithmetic. This activity gives him/her the satisfaction of learning by discovery rather than being taught. He/she therefore maintains an early enthusiasm and a positive feeling for the world of numbers.

The Culture Extensions Area

Dr. Montessori believed that through culture we become thoroughly educated. She described the cultural curriculum as a seed, planted at an early age. The child can classify and clarify the world around him/her and can adapt himself/herself to his/her place in society.

"There are many who hold, as I do, that the most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to age of 6. For it is the time when man's intelligence itself, his greatest implement is being formed." Dr Maria Montessori

Your Future In Montessori

The Montessori College courses aim to provide students with a complete knowledge and understanding of Dr. Montessori's philosophy and practice and also current legislation. These courses are of interest to people of all ages who wish to find out about the Montessori Method. Past students have become Montessori teachers; started Montessori schools of their own; gone abroad to teach; gone abroad to nanny; become nannies in the UK; have volunteered in third world countries or put their Montessori knowledge to good use in their chosen profession.

A graduate writes:

"I believe that the Montessori philosophy is not only a wonderful way of helping a child to learn and fulfil themselves, but also it gives the adult the opportunity to re-evaluate his or her life. I was told 'this course has the ability to change the direction of your life.' I never knew how true that would be!

We are taught that observation of the child, in the Montessori environment, is one of the most important areas. By this we are also learning ourselves to become more open to new ideas and it gives us time to look at ourselves objectively. I have gained so much from the Diploma course; I have learned a huge amount about my strengths, weaknesses and myself, such an important part of the Montessori philosophy. The course, like the Montessori classroom has a mixed age group, mixed backgrounds, ideas and upbringings. All of these can, and need to be learned from and we should always be open to new ideas and learning.

My Montessori Diploma has allowed me to travel internationally. I was lucky enough to have the help of the Montessori College to organise one of my placements in Brisbane, Australia, and am now working in India - what a distant dream that was. The local school that I am teaching in has no equipment and very little money to buy anything. All I have is improvisation and an open mind. I have also had the opportunity to visit the Tibetan Children's Village. The Montessori philosophy has been practiced here since the 1970's, as it was decided that this was the most effective way to educate the children and ensure that their emotional and spiritual needs were also met. My next port of call is New Zealand, another country where Montessori is prolific."

Vanessa Lott, Montessori Diploma Graduate