Teacher Preparation
GENERAL INFORMATION
Montessori Phoenix Projects courses and workshops can be individualized to accommodate local, state, and national educational objectives. In addition to providing grassroots Montessori teacher training, workshops, seminars, and courses Montessori Phoenix Projects also offers tailored programs in the following areas: special education, reinvigorating endangered languages; increasing literacy and numeracy; child-centered parenting and discipline; child-centered pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care; child-centered learning program development and implementation; and child-centered care-giving.
Continuing and Remedial Education Opportunity
Courses are open to individuals of all ages and skill level, regardless of prior educational experience or accomplishment. All MPP courses provide remedial learning opportunities in the following areas: literacy, numeracy, computer usage, research, interpersonal communication, program development and management, conflict resolution, social services, psychology, strategic planning, and counseling.
Montessori Teacher Education
Assistants to Infancy - This certificate course is Montessori Phoenix Projects' shortest Montessori teacher course and can be completed within three workshops. In addition to learning how to create and run the Nido and an Infant Community (Montessori environments for the birth-to-three-years-old), participants learn to support and educate parents-to-be and parents of birth-to-three-year-olds. Participants are encouraged to teach the course to others.
Primary (3-6-year-olds) - This certificate course is the longest Montessori Phoenix Projects course, with 18 segments that can be delivered in approximately 23 five-day workshops. Participants earn an internationally recognized Montessori teaching credential for the three-six-year-old classroom. No pre-requisites. No age limit. This course is designed specifically for opportunity-deprived and resource-limited communities where, in reality, formal education is unobtainable. In addition to learning how to create and run a classroom for 3-6-year-olds, participants learn how to make educational activities, learn how to work with parents and community members to maximize local available resources for educational purposes, and learn how to teach the course to others.
Elementary (6-12-year-olds) - This course requires several visits. Pre-requisite is successful completion of Primary course.
Secondary (12-18 year-olds) – The Secondary Course is not currently being offered. Instead, Montessori Phoenix Projects invites the 12 – 18 year-old age group to participate in all MPP teacher education programs.
Optimal Learning Environments
The Optimal Learning Environments is a series of workshops for both Montessori and non-Montessori teachers and parents. Montessori teachers deepen their ability to “Follow the Child” by engaging in the personal transformation processes. Non-Montessori teachers and parents, in addition to undergoing personal transformation resulting in improved ability to relate with others and accomplish goals, learn how to turn activities, games, and toys into more interactive, self-teaching processes that encourage the development of self-discipline, logical thinking, and a lifelong joy in learning.
Participants of all OLE workshops will be able to do the following:
- Identify the principles of learner-centered environment. - Explain how the learner-centered environment fosters auto-education, peaceful conflict resolution, and self-discipline.
- Explain why this type of environment is important
- Evaluate the importance of trust, respect, and collaborative relationships between and amongst: children, teachers, caregivers, family, community, and environment
- Develop classroom, home, and childcare facility activities using the learner-centered approach and "concrete to abstract" principles.
Nature of Nurture
The Nature of Nurture course offers direct access to transformation of the adult. Course topics and dialoge is tailored to suit participant interest. The Nature of Nurture course has been delivered to
- High school teachers transitioning from teacher-centered to learner-centered instruction;
- In-home childcare providers;
- Special education teachers
- Orphanage managers
- Orphanage workers
- Private and public school staff and faculty
- Parents
- Montessori Guides and Assistants
Participants report an increased sense of belonging, an increased sense of purpose, a heightened feeling of being loved, and are better able to provide more compassionate guidance toward a path of emotional, physical, and spiritual healing toward their students and other people in their lives.
Courses are given in 3-hour segments; maximum three per day. Cost varies; see side panel to calculate approximate cost for your situation.
Level I - Practitioner: A 48-hour introduction to Montessori Phoenix Projects’ learner-centered processes. Participants learn how to analyze classroom, orphanage, home, and/or office environments from within the learner-centered paradigm.
Level II - Administrator: A 48-hour course leaving participants skillful at creating nurturing and meaningful learning environments. Prerequisite: successful completion of Level I.
Level III - Course Leader: A 48-hour course for individuals desiring to lead the Nature of Nurture course series. Participants learn to initiate and deliver the Nature of Nurture course. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Level’s I and II.
