To learn when these classes are available, please refer to our schedule.
Montessori Philosophy
(33 hours, 3 units)
Instructors: Maryanna Heginbottom and/or Mary Cooper
Description: This class will provide an in-depth look at Dr. Montessori's life and work, including an overview of the Montessori movement. Other topics will include preparation of the teacher, setting up an environment, observation, discipline versus discipleship, and parent education. Two two-hour focused observations will be required.
Practical Life
(35.75 hours, 3 units)
Instructors: Maryanna Heginbottom and/or Elizabeth Peek
This course will give detailed examples and activities for the philosophy and rationale of practical life, ground rules, grace and courtesy, control of movement, developing the hand, care of self, care of environment, and food preparation and nutrition. Two two-hour focused observations will be required.
Sensorial (35.75 hours, 3 units)
Instructors: Maryanna Heginbottom and/or Mary Cooper
Description: This class will provide the philosophy and rationale for the sensorial materials, giving a comprehensive view of the materials aiding the development and refinement of the senses. These will include (1) sense of sight, discriminating dimension and form, color, or shape; (2) auditory sense, including the silence game; (3) olfactory sense; (4) baric sense; (5) tactile sense; and (6) stereognostic sense. Two two-hour observations will be required.
Art and Earth Sciences (33 hours, 3 units)
Instructors: Maryanna Heginbottom and/or Mary Cooper
Description: Art will introduce the student to art history, art appreciation, and the art media. Exploration and creation of art activities will be included. Earth sciences will cover geology, geography, and ecology, including Montessori materials such as globes, maps, and land and water forms, emphasizing multicultural and environmental awareness. History for the early childhood curriculum includes time, calendar, seasons, and personal history. Two two-hour focused observations will be required.
Language (35.75 hours, 3 units)
Instructors: Maryanna Heginbottom and/or Mary Cooper
Description: This class will give the philosophy and rationale of the language curriculum. Included will be an overview of receptive and expressive language experiences, visual and auditory perceptual experiences, and vocabulary development and enrichment. The basic language materials such as sandpaper letters, movable alphabet, and metal insets, as well as writing, reading, and grammar, will be covered. Two two-hour focused observations will be required.
Arithmetic: Methods and Materials
(35.75 hours, 3 units)
Instructors: Maryanna Heginbottom and/or Mary Cooper
Description: This class will provide the philosophy and rationale for arithmetic in the early childhood curriculum. Materials covered will include those aiding the development of these concepts and skills: (1) introduction to numeration; (2) the decimal system, and the functions of the decimal system; (3) linear and skip counting; (4) operations and memorization of facts; and (5) fractions. Two two-hour focused observations will be required.
Physical and Biological Sciences
(33 hours)(3 units)
Instructors: Maryanna Heginbottom and/or Mary Cooper
Description: Botany and zoology will provide the philosophy and rationale for these subjects in the early childhood curriculum, with an overview of the sequence, method, and materials for these subjects. The physical sciences will cover the philosophy, rationale, methods, and materials for astronomy, meteorology, and physics. Two two-hour focused observations will be required.
Practicum: Internship Component (minimum 540 hours)
Instructors: Maryanna Heginbottom
Description: No part of the practicum may precede the beginning of the academic phase of the program, and student teaching must be preceded by sufficient and appropriate coursework to prepare the student for a successful experience. Students must have a B average and meet a written English standard to enroll in the honors practicum classes. This internship consists of a supervised student teaching in an early childhood classroom under the direction of a master teacher. (See Practicum Standards and Responsibilities, pages 18–20.) The internship provides in-depth, hands-on experience working directly with children in a prepared environment. The student teacher will prepare lesson plans, make materials, record observations of children, and prepare parent conference forms under the guidance of the master teacher. The student teacher will be responsible for assisting with preparing the environment and classroom management. The student will keep a journal and a practice log and do six hours of outside observations. The master teacher will prepare monthly evaluations of the student teacher's progress. The supervising teacher will conduct a minimum of three on-site observations and evaluations of the student.
Practicum: Seminar Component (40 hours, 6 units)
Instructors: Maryanna Heginbottom
Description: The student will register for two quarters—Fall and Spring. These classes will provide the philosophy and rationale of student teaching. Included are in-depth overviews of classroom management and leadership, parent education and conferencing, professionalism, and problem solving. In addition, each student will prepare a comprehensive child study based on a minimum of 18 hours of direct observation. A synthesis project, demonstrating the students' ability to develop a unit of study for the classroom that includes preparing materials in all subject areas, will be required.
Music and Movement Workshop (Included in the practicum seminar component—no units)
Instructors: Maryanna Heginbottom and TBD
Description: These workshops will cover the philosophy and rationale for these important parts of the curriculum. The music seminar will include singing, rhythmic and instrumental skills, movement and body awareness, line activities, music history and appreciation, composers, and the bell materials. The movement portion of the seminar will also cover movement and body awareness, as well as locomotor, stationary, and game skills.
