Early Childhood

For teaching children from ages 2½ to 6

We offer Early Childhood programs in two locations:

• at our summer institute in New Rochelle, New York (below)
• during the academic year in Westfield, New Jersey

The Montessori approach is not just a method – it is a response to life.  The Early Childhood Montessori experience provides an environment enriched with materials to meet the breadth of children’s developmental needs.  In specially designed classrooms, children learn at their own rates as they pursue their desires to work and master their own bodies.

At CMTE/NY, we believe that the task of the adult is not to amuse or entertain the child but rather to prepare the environment, guide the child to it and assist in the unfolding of the child’s being.  Students in our teacher education program learn the skills to help children develop personal responsibility and strong self-esteem.

Academic phase

Curriculum includes:

• Montessori philosophy and pedagogy
• Child development, including analytical, cognitive, emotional and language development
• Observation techniques
• Classroom management
• Teaching strategies
• Supervised practice with Montessori materials for everyday living and sensorial activities, language development, mathematics, geography, history, art, music and natural sciences.

 See the detailed course descriptions

 

Practicum phase

After successfully completing the academic coursework, students enter the practicum phase in which they do a nine-month internship in a classroom with a minimum of 12 children.  The student teacher works in the classroom under the supervision of a certified Early Childhood Montessori teacher who is in at least his or her second year of post-internship teaching.    The student teacher observes and helps nurture the growth and development of the children in the class while learning classroom management strategies and techniques from the supervising teacher.

During the practicum phase, a representative from CMTE/NY will visit the student for three on-site consultations.   Additional fees apply for consultations outside the U.S. or beyond a 100 mile radius of the nearest field consultant as well as for additional consultations deemed necessary.

While self-directed practicums are not the norm for this program, we recognize that circumstances may warrant this exception.   With this option, a field consultant works with the student teacher in his or her own class at an approved Montessori school over the course of two years.  To be eligible for this self-directed internship, the student needs to have had previous Montessori classroom experience.  An additional fee, which includes additional consultation visits, applies for those who are approved for the self-directed practicum.

 

Schedule

The following information applies to Summer 2010 classes at the College of New Rochelle in New York.   Beginning in the Fall 2010, we will also offer an Early Childhood program at Christopher Academy in Westfield, New Jersey.

• Classes meet Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Required practice labs may be scheduled during the day or evening hours after class.
• Two evening sessions will be held on dates to be announced from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• A special all-level evening session will be held on July 20, 2010.

The course is designed to take place in one summer with the option to take it over the course of two summers:

• 1 summer – 7 weeks
• 2 summers -- 4 weeks each