This is the next Album-Building Course in the sequence that cycles every fourteen months to complete the full range of junior elementary curriculum & content studies.

If you are a Pre-Paid Passholder and wish to enroll, please let me know as I will have to do it internally to circumvent the PayPal Checkout:  lori.director@usamontessori.org  If you wish to apply for a work-study position in lieu of tuition and have already completed at least one prerequisite (Peace or Philosophy) please also contact me via email.

Next Start Date:  TBA

This course will provide the student with a working knowledge of the subject matter, presentation, nomenclature and accompanying classroom projects/experiments associated with Botany and Zoology in a Montessori elementary classroom.

This Album-Building course may be taken concurrently with Peace and Philosophy pre-reqs with prior permission of  instructor.

Sorry--Scholarships do not apply to Album-Building courses.  Please ask about a TA or work-study program for financial assistance.  Opportunities are first-come/first-served.  Inquire early.

NEXT START DATE:  May 14, 2008

Peace Education I takes a look at Maria Montessori's vision of peace and how we can begin to achieve a peaceful existence for ourselves and the children that we parent or teach.  This course offers such information as Power Point presentations in conflict resolution, audio downloads featuring peace-promoting song, inspirational and thought-provoking links, as well as .pdf files that can be used as peace-promoting tools in a classroom or homeschooling environment.  Best of all, the discussion board within the course site promotes frank and introspective discussion regarding peace and spirituality in education that results in a warm sense of community and peer support.

Peace Education I may be taken concurrently with Album-Building courses for diploma-seeking students.  Peace education covers such topics as Maria Montessori and her vision of peace and harmony; the preparation of the teacher as part of a peaceful, prepared environment; creating harmony in the classroom; helping children find their peace; teaching children conflict resolution skills; and spreading peace among your adult colleagues.

The Course Textbook which is utilized for Peace I is:  Maria Montessori:  Her Life and Work  by E. M. Standing and is provided with your enrolment.

CONCLUDING

NEXT START DATE:  May 28, 2008

Peace Education II opens the Montessori educator to a much wider view of the concept of peace education in the face of global political instability; rivalry inside a multicultural society; violence amongst and against youth; and most importantly, the impact these issues are having on elementary-age children.  Peace Ed II analyzes the concept of peace education within a holistic framework, and prepares the Montessori educator to address some of the tough issues they may be called upon to address in an post-primary classroom.  This course may be taken without the completion of Peace I, as it is offered independent of the Peace I curriculum.

NEXT START DATE:  MAY 14th, 2008

Do you remember all the reasons why you fell in love with Montessori education?  Fall in love all over again in this course as you re-visit the key concepts of Montessori and discuss them with your peers in-depth.  Select works of Dr. Maria Montessori will be discussed for their scientific basis and modern educational application.  Paperback texts authored by well-known progressive Montessorians will also be reviewed.

The primary textbook for this class is The Montessori Method by Dr. Maria Montessori and is provided with course enrolment.

CONCLUDING

Currently enrolling for next term which starts May 28, 2008

Philosophy--Great Minds of Montessori is a course consisting of six concepts offered on a weekly basis:

• Multiculturalism--Celebrating Ethnic Differences
• The Global Community & Modeling Compassion for Humankind
• The Ten Ways to "Fight" Hate
• Responding to Hate & Intolerance in the Classroom/School
• "I Am An Instrument of Peace"
• Individualized Study--"Project Peace"

The course text book that will be utilized and provided in .pdf form free with enrolment in this course is Maria Montessori:  Her Life and Work by E. M. Standing.  Course is also supplemented with Power Point presentation, .pdf documents and other forms of muti-media educational materials.

Next Start Date:  TBA

What could be closer to the source than Dr. Montessori's own work, The Montessori Method--Scientific Pedagogy as Applied to Child Education in "The Children's Houses" With Additions and Revisions by the Author, when understanding the philosophy that is every bit alive as its inception over 100 years ago?  This course takes a look at the ingenuity and brave new methodology of Dr. Maria Montessori as she constructed her philosophy of early childhood education for the "Children's Houses" of the Italian slum.  With a basis in liberty, scientific pedagogy, spirituality and medicine, this new educational philosophy was about to take the intellectual world by storm.

Online Mentorship for Diploma-Seeking Students provides the context for one-on-one communication with the participant's assigned mentor.  OLM is divided into parts I and II beginning with a gentle and early intro to the practical aspects of managing a classroom and ending with mastery of the presenting of lessons.