OVERVIEW OF THE AMI INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI 3-6 DIPLOMA COURSE CURRICULUM

Montessori Vietnam Education (MVEC) is a center authorized by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) to provide authentic AMI training programs. (Link: https://montessori-ami.org/training-programmes/training-centres)

With the desire to spread the authentic Montessori educational philosophy and to accompany those who love children on their journey to becoming professional Montessori educators, we are pleased to announce the admission for the International Montessori Teacher Training Course, certified by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).

This is a valuable opportunity for you to acquire profound knowledge, refined pedagogical skills, and especially love and respect for children, in the true Montessori spirit. The course will equip you with a solid foundation to create an inspiring educational environment where every child is free to explore, develop holistically, and unleash their full potential.

I. Discovering the Children's House (Casa dei Bambini) – The Environment for Children Aged 3-6

The period from three to six years of age is a wondrous stage of development, and Dr. Maria Montessori called the environment specifically designed for this age group the Casa dei Bambini – the Children's House. This is not merely a classroom, but a meticulously prepared space where children, having formed the initial foundations of their personalities, can freely develop and perfect their latent abilities.

In the Children's House, children learn and develop optimally through:

• Practical Life Activities: Everyday, purposeful work that helps children build independence, self-confidence, and self-care skills.
• Manipulation of Sensorial Materials: Direct engagement with scientifically designed materials provides children with concrete sensorial experiences, helping them to construct a clear and logical understanding of the world.
• Open-ended Exploration: Children are free to choose their activities and pursue personal interests, thereby refining their movements, enriching their sensory perceptions, developing articulate language, and cultivating their intellect.

Within this small community of three to six-year-olds, each child's individual pace of development is respected. They are encouraged to develop their capacity for concentration, imagination, reasoning abilities, and social skills. The materials and activities are designed to spark curiosity and support children's self-directed discovery and learning, encompassing areas such as:

• Practical Life: The foundation for independence and social skills.
• Sensorial: Refinement of the senses, sharpening powers of observation and discrimination.
• Language: Holistic development from spoken language to the natural acquisition of reading and writing skills.
• Mathematics: Building a foundation for mathematical thinking from concrete concepts.
• Cultural Subjects: Broadening understanding of the world through Geography, History, Science (Biology, Botany, Zoology), Art, and Music.

The adult (Montessori Guide/Teacher) in this environment acts as a dedicated guide, a link between the child and the environment, helping children to become self-directed, well-balanced, and well-adapted individuals, ready to make a positive contribution to society.

II. The AMI International Montessori Teacher Training Course (3-6 Years): A Profound Transformative Journey

The AMI International Montessori Teacher Training Course for the 3-6 age level is not simply an academic program; it is a profound transformative journey that helps students understand the essence of Montessori education and become true companions to the child. The course content is comprehensively designed, based on the scientific foundation and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori:

The Foundation of Montessori Philosophy and Child Psychology:

• • In-depth study of Dr. Maria Montessori's philosophical legacy, which serves as a guiding principle for all educational practice.
  • Exploration of the specific developmental stages of children aged 3-6: their psycho-physiological needs, sensitive periods – windows of opportunity for learning, and the wondrous power of the "absorbent mind."
  • Understanding the dynamic balance between freedom and discipline, the foundation for developing an autonomous and responsible personality.

Creating The Prepared Environment:

• • Principles and practice of designing and maintaining a standard Montessori learning environment – an inviting, aesthetic, orderly space that fully meets the developmental needs of children.
  • Understanding the role of the environment as a "second teacher," supporting the child's independence, deep concentration, and process of self-construction.

Practical Life:

• • Discovering the profound purpose and significance of activities related to care of the self, care of the environment, grace and courtesy, and control of movement.
  • Mastering the techniques for presenting these activities attractively, helping children develop refined motor coordination, independence, concentration, a sense of order, and self-esteem.

Sensorial Development:

• • Understanding how unique sensorial materials aid the child in refining each sense, thereby building a solid foundation for logical thinking and intellectual development.
  • Practicing the presentation and guidance for children to explore attributes of the world (such as dimension, shape, color, texture, etc.) through scientifically designed sets of materials.

Language Development:

• • Closely following the natural and robust language development of children during the 3-6 period.
  • Acquiring methods and materials to support the enrichment of spoken language, storytelling, and poetry.
  • A comprehensive and scientific approach to teaching reading and writing according to the Montessori progression: from phonetic awareness, familiarization with written symbols (e.g., sandpaper letters, moveable alphabet), to blending sounds, reading comprehension, and the free expression of ideas.

Exploration of Mathematics:

• • Learning to introduce abstract mathematical concepts concretely and visually through specific materials, helping children to truly understand the nature of numbers and operations.
  • Mastering the logical sequence of mathematical lessons, from basic concepts of quantity and the decimal system, to operations, preparing for more complex concepts, and nurturing the child's natural "mathematical mind."

Broadening Understanding through Cultural Subjects:

• • Geography: Awakening curiosity about the world, from familiar elements to exploration of the globe, maps, continents, countries, and the diversity of nature and culture.
  • History: Helping children sense the flow of time, connecting past, present, and future through stories and concrete representations of time.
  • Science (Biology, Botany, Zoology): Cultivating a love and respect for nature through observation, hands-on care, and learning about the living world.
  • Art and Music: Providing space for children's free creative expression and appreciation of beauty through diverse artistic and musical activities.

The Transformative Role of the Adult/Montessori Directress (Guide):

• • Developing into a keen observer, a dedicated guide, and a strong link between the child and the rich learning environment.
  • Cultivating the skill of presenting lessons with precision, attraction, and timeliness, respecting the individual needs and pace of each child.
  • Building relationships based on respect, trust, and affection with each child.
  • Practicing the art of "knowing when and when not to intervene," thereby maximizing opportunities for children to explore, self-correct, and construct their own knowledge.

The Art of Observation:

• • Regarding observation as a scientific tool and a fundamental skill for profoundly understanding each child, thereby providing appropriate and timely support for their optimal development.
  • Learning methods for objective observation, recording, and scientific analysis of information.

In-depth Practice and Material Making:

• • Engaging in extensive hands-on practice with the complete system of standard AMI Montessori materials.
  • Guidance on preparing some supplementary materials according to true Montessori principles and standards, further enriching the learning environment.

Partnering with Parents and Community Building:

• • Acquiring the knowledge and skills to communicate, share information, and collaborate effectively with parents, helping them to better understand the Montessori philosophy and their child's development, thus creating a strong circle of support for the child.

The AMI 3-6 International Montessori Teacher Training Course aims not only to impart the highest pedagogical knowledge and skills but also to be a paradigm shift in perception, a spiritual preparation, empowering each student to truly embody the Montessori philosophy. This enables them to become trustworthy companions, supporting the holistic, natural, and radiant development of every child.

          Sincerely, 

MONTESSORI VIETNAM EDUCATION (MVEC)