Infant & Toddler Course Information
Infant and Toddler
Teacher Credential Course Information
The Montessori Infant & Toddler Teacher Credential Course is comprised of 232 academic hours in-residence and a minimum of 540 practicum/student teaching hours over a nine-month practicum. The American Montessori Society Infant & Toddler Teacher Credential is awarded to the graduate.
The sequence of eight (8) course-components comprises the academic knowledge and rationale regarding the philosophy and curriculum.
The final course components (IT.09 & IT.10) are taken during the nine-month practicum teaching:
- IT.01.A & BMontessori Philosophy I & II, 33 Hours, 2 Units
- IT.02.A & B Montessori Pedagogy I & II, 25 Hours, 2 Units
- IT.03.A & B Environmental Design I & II, 46 Hours, 2 Units
- IT.04 Child, Family, and Community, 16 Hours, 3 Units
- IT.05 Observation, 16 Hours & 32 hours practicum, 2 Unit
- IT.06 Personal Growth and Development, 16 Hours, 1 Unit
- IT.07 Program Leadership, 32 Hours, 1 unit
- IT.08 Child Development: Prenatal to Three, 48 Hours, 3 Units
- IT.09 Practicum Teaching / Field Experience, 540 Hours, 18 Units
- IT.10 Practicum Seminars - hours included in above course components
The Adult learner develops the knowledge required of the Montessori Infant & Toddler teacher through Montessori Philosophy, Montessori Pedagogy, Environmental Design, and Child, Family, Community courses. The Adult Learner develops the rationale for why and how the curriculum is implemented through Observation, Personal Growth & Development, and Program Leadership courses in addition to Child Development.
The knowledge and rationale gained in the course components are applied and deepened through the experience of the nine-month practicum/student teaching.
Infant & Toddler Description of Course Components
IT.01.A & B Montessori Philosophy I & II, 33 Hours, 2 Units
Montessori, from a historical perspective, is examined. Philosophy specific to the method, such as auto-education, absorbent mind, sensitive periods, normalization, development of the will, spontaneous repetition, logical-mathematical mind, spiritual and moral development of the child, planes of development, cosmic education, etc. is examined. How the philosophy relates to the child, materials, teacher, and environment is discussed. Peace education is the natural result of the Montessori philosophy.
IT.02.A & B Montessori Pedagogy I & II, 25 Hours, 2 Units
Montessori’s principles and ideas, her view of the nature of the child and the child’s place in society, with emphasis on Montessori’s concept of the child from birth to three (3) years of age is explored.Scientific analysis of how to nurture and assist the unfolding of the human personality; care of physical and psychological needs; daily routines as curriculum; strategies for assistance; interaction techniques with children; positive communication, with emphasis on the personal development of the adultcaregiver and the qualities of the adult based on Montessori’s view of the child; developmental assessment and record-keeping.
IT.03.A & B Environmental Design I & II, 46 Hours, 2 Units
The aesthetics and practicality of the environment for the very young child is explored along with the rationale. Age groupings and the flow of the age groupings are examined. Issues of numbers of childrenin the groupings and the ratio of adults to children are reviewed against the community and licensing expectations/requirements. The sensitive periods for the very young child in terms of movement/coordination, language, and temporal order are a particular focus. The exploration of the senses, practical lifeexperiences, order of the environment, concentration are reflected in the schedule of activities, the design of the space, and the selection of materials within the context of safety and legislation. Two sessions are offered (session I and session II) which divide the content by age. Session A has the curriculum focus of birth to eighteen months; session B has the curriculum focus of eighteen months to three (3) years.
IT.04 Child, Family, and Community, 16 Hours, 3 Units
Develop mutual cooperation and support among the family members and the center: understanding the psychology of parenthood, translating to the home the center child-rearing practices, locating community and professional resources, teacher-parent conferencing and dialogue skills, parent involvement and education, health and nutrition, supporting cultural differences are some of the many topics covered. The Child,Family and Community course is eligible for transfer from a college or university. Submit a copy yourtranscript with this course highlighted.
IT.05 Observation in Child Development, 16 Hours,1 Unit
Observation includes techniques of observation and of observations of infants and toddlers in various settings.
IT.06 Personal Growth and Development, 16 Hours, 1 Unit
Professionalism, introspection, the continued spiritual growth of the adult, and ethical behavior are topics explored in this highly personal course.
IT.07 Program Leadership, 32 Hours, 1 unit
The rationale for scheduling for the staff as well as the schedule for the child’s day; an introduction to administrative issues, including financial, budgetary fee factors, funding, and proposal writing, personnel matters, legislation, and standards; identification of criteria for defining Montessori child care; historical foundations rooted in Montessori; human needs and requirements (children, families, and staff) specific to all-day care, are some of the many topics covered in this course.
IT.08 Child Development: Prenatal to Three, 48 Hours, 3 Units
Montessori’s theories of the Planes of Development and the nature of the child, current child development perspectives including major contemporary theorists including Social and Emotional, Cognitive, Physiological (physical, neurological, nutritional), prenatal development and childbirth are examined. Child Growth and Development/Psychology course are not eligible for transfer from a college or university.
IT.09 Practicum Teaching / Field Experience, 540 Hours, 18 Units
Practicum I & II
The practicum provides the Adult Learner with supervised teaching and learning experience, and a period of observation, internalization, and further study, in order to bring together the theory and
practice of Montessori education. The Adult Learner participates in all facets of the Infant and Toddler curriculum and development, as well as parent and community interactions.
IT.10 Practicum Seminars - hours included in above course components
- IT.02 Montessori Philosophy (Toddler)/Peace Education, 8 Hours
- IT.03 Environmental Design/Art & Music(Toddler), 8 Hours
- IT.03 Environmental Design/Children’s Literature, 8 Hours
- IT.04 Child, Family & Community, 16 Hours
- IT.07 Program Leadership/Orientation to the Practicum, 8 Hours
- IT.07 Program Leadership/Learning Differences, 8 Hours
- IT.07 Program Leadership/Positive Discipline, 16 Hours
- IT.08 Child Development, 8 Hours
Total hours in practicum seminars: 80