Home Study Program
In addition to the workshop courses, diploma students are required to take a 9 month Home Study Program that allows flexibility to study at your own pace, up to a full two year term. This Home Study program includes:
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Montessori theory, philosophy, and science.
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It also covers a discussion of practice and includes a digital copy of the Student Handbook Study Guide.
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A code to access video recordings of Margaret Homfray's presentations and demonstrations that were part of the workshops she conducted. Margaret Homfray was authorized by Dr. Montessori to provide Montessori training and sign Montessori Diplomas.
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An experienced mentor/tutor assigned to answer your questions and provide personalized feedback on assignments for deeper understanding.
The Home Study Program is designed to allow students to study Montessori education philosophy and theory of child development through a self-directed tutorial program. This program provides the services of an experienced Montessori teacher with whom students correspond by mail, email, or another agreed upon form, a study guide with assignments, and step-by-step clearly illustrated manuals.
Recommended Sequence of Study
Since there is so much information available about Maria Montessori's work, it would be natural to ask where to begin. It may be tempting to start by looking at specific lessons or subjects. However, since lessons build upon each other, and to be effective, lessons need to be presented with an understanding of their developmental nature, and the nature of children, they are best studied in sequence as part of the whole. In order for the whole to have meaning, it is necessary to understand the process, the sequence, the techniques, the needs of the children being addressed, and the wisdom of how to most effectively facilitate children's learning and development. You have to have an understanding of this whole in order to understand and use any of the lessons effectively.
For effective independent study, the Institute recommends use of the following sequence of resources: Pre-Primary Level (ages 2.5 to 5) then Primary Level (ages 4-7). If you are interested in the Montessori approach for working with older children, the Primary material (ages 2.5 to 7) provides an essential foundation upon which the work with older children is built. So, the Pre-Primary and Primary material is an important part of the overall sequence which should not be missed, and is foundational to Elementary Level study.