Assistants to Infancy Course,
Summer 2014 and 2015
Director of Training: Nancy Lechner-Wallner
Class schedule: Classes are held Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Summer 2014: Monday, June 16 - Friday, August 15
Summer 2015: Monday, June 15 - Friday, August 14
Please note: Admission to the 2012-2013 course is now closed. We are currently accepting applications for the 2014-2015 course.
The Assistants to Infancy Course offers an in-depth exploration of Montessori theory and practice with emphasis on children from birth to three years old. During 675 hours of instruction and child observation, this course prepares students to work with families in home environments as well as Montessori toddler classrooms.
This course offers a detailed examination of child development, particularly sensory-motor and language development. Other topics examined include school and classroom design, creation of toys and activities, parent support and consultation, and affiliated fields, such as obstetrics. For individuals trained in other levels of Montessori education, the information offered in the Assistants to Infancy course will support and augment their previous training. Most significantly, this course is practical; it will enhance any study of, or career in, early childhood education, and will benefit any future parent.
Students in the Assistants to Infancy training course produce seven comprehensive albums to support their ongoing work with children:
- Montessori Psychopedagogy Album – Student’s own synthesis of lecture notes on Montessori’s pedagogical theories
- Medical Text Album – Provides background information on Obstetrics, Nutrition, Hygiene, and Anatomy and Physiology
- Psycho-Sensory-Motor Development Album - Includes descriptions of the activities and materials used for sensory stimulation, motor development and the stereognostic sense
- Home Environment Album - Provides practical information on how to create a simple, inexpensive, effective environment for the child at home
- Infant Community Environment – Provides practical guidance and principles on how to start an infant community environment
- Child Neuropsychiatry - provides the student with comprehensive information on the child’s personality development and child neuropsychiatry
- Observation Album - Observation is at the core of the Montessori guide’s work. This album represents the compilation of 250 observation hours of children of different ages
Students will also undertake written and oral examinations at the end of the second summer.
Skills and Procedures:
- Working with Parents – One of our most important jobs is to support and work with parents. This course offers practical advice for communicating effectively with parents.
- Assessing the different stages of development according to natural development of movement, language and personality development
- How and when to present different materials and activities
- How to make many activities for this age group
A typical day in the Assistants to Infancy course:
Lectures on both Montessori theory and use of the materials are presented in the morning. After a one-hour lunch break, students are instructed in the creation of materials including mobiles, clothing and manipulative activities. Afternoons may also include working with and observing infants and toddlers in the model classroom.
View a detailed description of the Assistants to Infancy course [PDF]
View answers to frequently asked questions, please click here [PDF]
Download our Book Order Form [PDF]
