Based on the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori, Montessori Teaching provides an enriching environment for young learners to grow and thrive. Vancouver Career College's Montessori Teaching Certificate program trains students in the fundamental elements of Montessori learning. This program expands upon students' prior Early Childhood Education knowledge. Prospective students should already have an ECE certificate or diploma before enrolling in this program.
Students train in the major areas of Montessori learning: sensorial, cultural, language, math, and practical life. The program builds on the students' ability to develop learning activities that support childhood development and teach observation skills. As part of this program, students put their training into practice in a three-week practicum placement at a Montessori childcare centre.
"Not all students learn in the same style. By providing a variety of instructor-led activities, students are more likely to be successful with the material.” - Hilda P., Vancouver Career College Instructor
This program is 19 weeks in length.
Job Opportunities
- Daycare Centres
- Montessori Schools
- Preschools
- Nursery Schools
- Family Service Centres
Program Courses
The program outline below is for British Columbia.
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| SSSE |
Student Success Strategies |
25 |
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- Students will gain a better understanding of themselves through an exploration of their personal attributes, transferable skills and learning styles. This course will introduce techniques for time, conflict, and stress management and develop interpersonal communication skills. Fundamental study and motivation skills will be covered, preparing students to excel in their program of choice. Students will also prepare a professional resume and learn how to write effective cover letters.
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| ITCE |
Introduction to Computers |
50 |
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- This course presents an introductory look at Windows 7 and its interface, tools and features. You will learn about the fundamentals of navigating and personalizing the interface, organizing files and folders, using media devices, and searching for information. This course relies heavily on practical hands-on activities that allow you to learn the concepts by practicing them on a regular basis.
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| MOT1100 |
Introduction to Montessori History and Philosophy |
50 |
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- This course touches on the educational method for children based on theories of child development founded by Italian educator, Maria Montessori in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. The student will learn how Montessori started as well as the emphasis on self-directed activity on the part of the child and clinical observation on the part of the teacher. Students will review Montessori training adaptations in British Columbia and BC Montessori training associations.
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| MOT1200 |
Sensorial Development |
50 |
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- This course teaches the student the sensorial aspect of the Montessori classroom. Students learn how to help children refine, develop and explore their sensory abilities ranging from taste to touch and sight to sound. Being an active learner, a child learns to discriminate, appreciate and understand his/her world. The student will learn how to implement sensory activities in the classroom so that he/she can guide the children in the formation of their senses as related to their intellect.
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| MOT1300 |
Montessori Language Art |
50 |
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- Language and art in the Montessori classroom encompasses all the aspect of language as in traditional classrooms: reading, handwriting, spelling, grammar, creative and research writing, and oral presentation. Unlike the traditional approach, Maria Montessori developed her curriculum by noticing when children are hungry developmentally for each aspect of language arts. Montessori children are taught when they have the greatest urge for various aspects of language acquisition.
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| MOT1400 |
Montessori Math |
50 |
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- Montessori math is approached through a gradual building up of math components into discovery. Montessori believed in the introduction of math to young children as "materialized abstractions." This is accomplished with hands-on apparatus for math and introduction to math manipulatives during the sensitive period between 3 and 6 years of age. Montessori believes that a strong foundation of math at a young age contributes to children being successful in math subjects in their elementary and high school years.
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| MOT1500 |
Montessori Culture, Science and Geography |
75 |
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- This course teaches the student how to help the child to acquire knowledge in Biology, Geography and Science through well-planned and individual activities like puzzle maps of the world, sandpaper globe, air/land/water boxes, etc. The aim of this course is to help the child develop his/her own personality, adapt to his/her own culture and become an independent, useful member of society.
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| MOT1600 |
Montessori Practical Life |
50 |
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- Practical life activities have a high value in the Montessori world due to their importance in teaching children useful life skills. Students will gain knowledge on practical life activities that will help them demonstrate correct and responsible use of activities. Montessori children will have strong, fine motor abilities, which are valuable in not only encouraging children's fine motor development, but also their cognitive capabilities.
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- This course requires three weeks (or 75 hours minimum) of field experience and four seminars with a Practicum Instructor. The purpose of this experience is to provide the student with supervised learning experience and to bring together the theory and practice of his/her Montessori training from the classroom into actuality within the practicum site as directed by her practicum instructor and sponsor Montessori site.