Early Childhood Foundation Information
Early Childhood Foundation Courses Information
The Montessori Early Childhood Foundation Courses are comprised of four (4) courses for a total of twelve (12) units required by Community Care Licensing (CCL) in order to be a fully qualified teacher and to work in the State of California licensed facility with children from 2 to 6 years old. The transcript attesting to this required coursework is awarded upon completion of the courses.
- EC.00.A Early Childhood Assistant and Curriculum, 6 Units Montessori Philosophy, 4 Hours
- EC.09 Observation in Child Development, 10 Hours, 1 Unit
- EC.10 Child Growth and Development/Psychology, 30 Hours, 2 Units
- EC.12 Parent Involvement-Child, Family and Community, 16 Hours, 3 Units 16 hours lecture
The Adult Learner develops the knowledge required of the Montessori Early Childhood 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 in Child Development and Child Development.
The knowledge and rationale gained in the course components are applied and deepened through the experience of the practicum hours/student teaching at your own school.
Early Childhood Foundation Courses Description
EC.00.A Early Childhood Assistant and Curriculum, 6 Units Montessori Philosophy, 4 Hours
Montessori Key Concepts, 4 Hours
Montessori Key Concepts includes Auto=-education, Sensitive Periods, Absorbent Mind, Spontaneous Repetition, Exercise of the Will, Normalization, and Maria Montessori's biography. The practical application of the key concepts to classroom practice is emphasized with attention to ground rules, routines and procedures. Peace education is the natural result of the Montessori philosophy.
Practical Life Curriculum, 4 Hours
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.
Sensorial Curriculum, 4 Hours
Philosophy, and rationale of the curriculum area of sensorial, materials aiding in the development and refinement of the senses.
Language Curriculum, 5 Hours
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of language arts, materials aiding in the development of language arts skills and concepts: receptive and expressive language experiences, visual and auditory perceptual experiences, vocabulary development and enrichment, penmanship from the metal insets, to the sandpaper letters to the chalkboards and lined paper, reading from the sandpaper letters, moveable alphabet and the classic pink, blue, and 16-letter green series, grammar (function of words), children’s literature, and drama.
Mathematics Curriculum, 5 Hours
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of mathematics, materials aiding in the development of mathematical concepts/skills: introduction to numeration, linear counting, the decimal system, and their functions, memorization of the facts, fractions, money, and time.
Botany, Zoology & Science Curriculum, 5 Hours
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of the physical and life sciences, and including botany and zoology, earth elements, and physical science.
History & Geography Curriculum, 5 Hours
Philosophy and rationale of the curriculum area of social studies which includes geography; land and water forms, globes, maps, flags, multicultural awareness, and history to include time, calendar, seasons, personal family history.
EC.09 Observation in Child Development, 10 Hours, 1 Unit
Lecture and documented observation, some of which is done during the externship/practicum phase, is designed to bridge the academic coursework and the externship/practicum phase. Systematic observation and the subsequent recording of the observations takes the classic forms of anecdotal records and running records, checklist and rating scales, structured observation, and visual documentation. Observing and recording the young child’s behavior deepens understanding of each unique child.
EC.10 Child Growth and Development/Psychology, 30 Hours, 2 Units
Theories of development and stages of development are examined. Physical development and sequence of fine motor and gross motor skills are examined and paralleled to the Montessori activities and materials. Cognitive development includes the examination of memory, problem solving, logical thinking/reasoning, and theories of the mind. Social development includes brain development as a foundation for attachment, emotional regulation, empathy and social competency. Emotional development is inextricably linked to brain development as well. Temperament, emotions, emotional understanding and competency segues into sense of self. Language is a further domain in the area of child development modes of language and literacy.
EC.12 Parent Involvement-Child, Family and Community, 16 Hours, 3 Units 16 hours lecture
30 hours practicum in your own school.
Philosophy and rationale for parent involvement and education, raising the level of awareness, developing a knowledge base, providing options for collaboration, creating strategies for collaboration, and application and implementation of strategies. The child within the context of the family and the community is the emphasis with a sensitivity to multiculturalism as related to child-rearing practices, and familial and community expectations. The adult learners examine their explicit and implicit biases in the areas of Asian, Race, Weight, Religion, Gender-Career, Arab-Muslim, Sexuality, Disability, Age, Gender-Science, Skin-tone, Weapons, Presidents, Native American.