Elementary Level I Teacher Credential Information
Elementary Level I
Teacher Credential Course Information
The Montessori Elementary Level I Teacher Credential Course has comprised of 408 academic hours in-residence and a minimum of 1080 practicum/student teaching hours over a nine-month practicum teaching. The American Montessori Society Elementary Level I Teacher Credential is awarded to the graduate.
The sequence of seven (7) course-components comprises the academic knowledge and rationale regarding the philosophy and curriculum.
The final course components (EI.08 - EI.15) are taken at the practicum seminars during the practicum teaching:
- EI.01 Mathematics Curriculum, 70 Hours, 6 Units
- EI.02 Geometry Curriculum, 35 Hours, 3 Units
- EI.03 Language Curriculum, 70 Hours, 6 Units
- EI.04 Geography Curriculum, 42 Hours, 3 Units
- EI.05 History Curriculum, 14 Hours, 2 Units
- EI.06 Biology (Botany & Zoology) Curriculum, 35 Hours, 3 Units
- EI.07 Physical Science Curriculum, 7 Hours, 1 Unit
- EI.08 Curriculum Design, 32 Hours, 2 Units
- EI.09 Classroom Leadership, 8 Hours, 1 Unit
- EI.10 Montessori Philosophy Curriculum, 47 Hours, 3 Units
- EI.11 Child Development, 16 Hours, 1 Unit
- EI.12 Practical Life Curriculum, 16 Hours, 1 Unit
- EI.13 Movement & Physical Education, 3 Hours, 0.2 Units
- EI.14 Art Curriculum, 8 Hours, 0.5 Units
- EI.15 Music Curriculum, 3 Hours, 0.3 Units
- EI.16 Practicum Teaching / Student Teaching, 540 Hours, 18 Units
- EI.17 Practicum Seminars, 80 Hours – hours included in above courses
- EI.18 Year-long Project, 4 Hours
The Adult Learner develops the knowledge required of the Montessori Elementary Level I Curriculum Course Components in Montessori Philosophy, Montessori Elementary Curricula, Curriculum Design, and Child Development courses. The Adult Learner develops the rationale for why and how the curriculum is implemented through Child Development and Classroom Leadership courses.
The knowledge and rationale gained in the course components are applied and deepened through the experience of the nine-month practicum/student teaching.
Elementary Level I Course Component Descriptions
EI.01 Mathematics Curriculum, 77 Hours, 6 Units
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of mathematics to include the study of the concept of number and quantitative relationships, base ten systems, four fundamental operations, laws of arithmetic. Measurement (time, space, weight, money), ratio, and proportion (fractions, percentage, decimals), problem-solving, exponential notation. Preparation for algebra (concept of unknown, equations in the concrete), probability, and statistics (data collection and methods of data display).
EI.02 Geometry Curriculum, 28 Hours, 3 Units
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of geometry to include the study of three-dimensional and two-dimensional geometric shapes, nomenclature of geometric concepts, relationships, and shapes, equivalence, congruence and similarity, and area and volume.
EI.03 Language Curriculum, 70 Hours, 6 Units
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of language arts to include the study of expressive and receptive language to include oral language of speaking and listening, writing and reading, grammar functions, and structural grammar (analysis), in addition to word study and mechanics. Literature, library reference, and research skills.
EI.04 Geography Curriculum, Functional Geography, 42 Hours, 3 Units
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of geography to include the study of physical geography, political geography with globes, maps, landforms, and flags. The student’s place in the world, vertical and horizontal knowledge of the earth, geological and climatological phenomena of the earth, economic and ethnological geography, and astronomy.
EI.05 History Curriculum, 21 Hours, 2 Units
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of history to include the study of the great lessons of history and fundamental needs of humans, time concepts, introduction to the cosmos (formation of the earth), a timeline of life, timeline of humans (cultural, philosophical, technological, and artistic development), and history of the country and state or province.
EI.06 Biology Curriculum (Botany & Zoology), 35 Hours, 3 Units
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of biology to include the study of the criteria for classifying living and non-living, the five kingdoms. In zoology, the first level includes classification, main characteristics, external parts, and habitat. The second level includes classification and internal parts, and vegetative functions. Botany includes nomenclature and classification, characteristics, external parts, habitat, internal parts, and functions, the study of the prokaryote, eukaryote, and fungi kingdoms, human anatomy, and ecology.
EI.07 Physical Science Curriculum, 7 Hours, 1 Unit
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of the physical and life sciences, and including botany and zoology, earth elements, and physical science.
EI.08 Curriculum Design, 24 Hours, 2 Units
Theories of curriculum development are studied in addition to the creation of original material and reconfiguration of current learning materials.
EI.09 Classroom Leadership, 12 Hours, 1 Unit
Starting a new class in addition to the study of the preparation of the physical environment, development of a schedule, and the spiritual and psychological conditions of the environment, the role of the teacher as initiator, observer, group leader, and keeper of records. Introducing the Adult Learner new to Montessori in the classroom, developing a partnership with families, and respecting cultural differences and diversity.
EI.10 Montessori Philosophy Curriculum, 48 Hours, 3 Units
Montessori’s view of child development with four planes of development to include the study of the development of intelligence, the development of language, moral development, social development, cognitive and logical-mathematical development. Characteristics of the child from six to twelve and their implication for design of the Montessori elementary curriculum, current theories, and research, and the child’s developmental processes to include physical, social and personality, cognitive and logical-mathematical, learning styles, multiple intelligence, giftedness, learning challenges and the child’s relationship to the culture, and peace education.
EI.11Child Development Curriculum, 16 Hours, 1 Unit
Theories of development and stages of development are examined in the Physical, Cognitive, Emotional, and Social areas. Current theories and research are examined.
EI.12 Practical Life Curriculum, 16 Hours, 1 Unit
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of practical life, ground rules, grace and courtesy, development and refinement of movement, care of the person, care of the environment, food preparation, and nutrition.
EI.13. Movement and Physical Education, 3 Hours, 0.2 Unit
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of movement and physical education to include the study of laterality, time-space relationships, position in space, balance, coordination (muscular, eye-hand, hand-hand, hand-leg), body image, integrative activities, and group games.
EI.14. Art Curriculum, 8 Hours, 0.5 Unit
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of art to include the study of materials that aid development of art concepts and skills in two-dimensional art activities (easel or table), three-dimensional art activities, art appreciation, and art history.
EI.15. Music Curriculum, 5 Hours, 0.3 Unit
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of music to include the study of materials that aid in the development of music concepts and skills, singing skills, instrumental skills, music appreciation, and music history.
EI.16 Practicum Teaching, 1080 Hours Minimum - 18 Units
The function of the Practicum is to provide the Adult Learner with a supervised teaching and learning experience and a period of observation, internalization, and further study, to bring together the theory and practice of Montessori education. The practicum is for nine consecutive months, five days per week, six hours per day.
EI.17 Practicum Seminars - hours included in above course components
- EI.08 Curriculum Design, 16 Hours
- EI.09 Classroom Leadership, 8 Hours
- EI.10 Montessori Philosophy Curriculum, 8 Hours
- EI.11 Practical Life Curriculum, 16 Hours
- EI.12 Child Development Curriculum, 16 Hours
- EI.13 Movement & Physical Education, 3 Hours
- EI.14 Art Curriculum, 8 Hours
- EI.15 Music Curriculum, 5 Hours
Total hours in practicum seminars: 80 Hours
Second Summer Course components (hours included in above course components)
- EI.04 Geography (Functional) Curriculum, 28 Hours
- EI.06 Physical Science Curriculum, 7 Hours
- EI.08 Curriculum Design, 16 Hours
- EI.10 Montessori Philosophy Curriculum, 5 Hours
EI.18 Year-long Project, 4 Hours