Some of the main course components include

• Montessori Philosophy and the Second Plane of Development: grounding Elementary education in Montessori philosophy with a focus on the reasoning mind, moral development, and the unique characteristics and needs of children ages 6–12  
• Cosmic Education as the Foundation of the Elementary Curriculum: presenting Montessori’s integrated vision of history, geography, biology, and the physical sciences to help children understand the interdependence of life, their place in the universe, and their cosmic task
• Observation Theory and Practice: developing skilled observation to understand children’s academic, social, and emotional needs and to guide instructional decisions
• Classroom Leadership and the Prepared Environment: preparing guides to design and lead effective Montessori elementary classrooms, including curriculum planning, daily routines, and record keeping
• Language Arts: supporting reading, writing, grammar, sentence analysis, and word study through a carefully sequenced, material-based Montessori approach
• Mathematics and Geometry: guiding children from concrete materials to abstraction through place value, memorization, arithmetic operations, fractions, as well as algebraic and geometric concepts such as equivalence, area, perimeter, and spatial relationships

We currently offer

• Elementary I Specialization (6–9) (Full certification program is affiliated with the IMC and is MACTE accredited.)
• Elementary II Specialization (9-12) (Full certification program is affiliated with the IMC and is MACTE accredited.)
• Elementary I-II (6–12) (Full Certification Program is affiliated with the IMC and is MACTE accredited.)

IMC Montessori Certification for teaching ages 6-12. (Full Certification is MACTE Accredited.)

The Elementary I (6-9) is completed in 19 months (plus the 5-week EC Overview for those who do not have a Montessori EC Credential).

The Elementary II (9-12) is completed in 19 months  ( Includes Early Childhood and Elementary I Overview—100 hours). The EL II Specialization program includes an online 5-week course that is incorporated in the curriculum (this is not a prerequisite), followed by a week each of EL 1 Math, Language, Class Leadership, Geometry, and Biology.

The Elementary I-II (6–12) is completed in 26 months.

Adult learners who do not have a Montessori Early Childhood/Primary Certificate from a MACTE-accredited Teacher Education Program must also complete an online 5-week Early Childhood Overview that is incorporated in the curriculum. This is not a prerequisite.

Adult learners who do not have any prior Montessori experience from a MACTE-accredited Teacher Education Program must also complete an online 5-week course that is incorporated in the curriculum (this is not a prerequisite), followed by a week each of EL 1 Math, Language, Class Leadership, Geometry and Biology.

The online phase is comprised of learning modules with a one-week break approximately every 7-9 weeks and a two-week winter and summer break. New cohorts (groups) of adult learners begin several times a year. Adult learners follow a specific schedule of course curriculum, working with fellow students and Instructional Guides on a weekly basis. Adult learners should plan 10-15 hours per week, which can be scheduled at their own convenience, to view course video lectures and presentations, complete a variety of assignments, and participate in course discussions. Once a week, students participate in a one-hour scheduled live chat session. During this phase students will need access to a Montessori Elementary classroom for observation assignments, lesson practice, and the 9-month practicum/internship.

The EL I Full Certification Program requires one 80-hour residency

The EL II Standalone Program requires one 80-hour residency

The  ELI-II Full Certification Program requires attendance at a two-week residential session, which is 80 hours per week.

The first residential session, EL-I, introduces students to each curriculum area with a focus on the curriculum for 6-9-year-old children.

The second summer (El –II) focuses on curriculum that overlaps both the 6-9 and 9-12 levels and then introduces the advanced work for 9-12.

Both summer sessions provide opportunities for supervised lesson practice and material making. The emphasis on classroom leadership skills helps prepare students for the practicum phase so they are successful in translating Montessori theory and methods into daily classroom practice.

 To see currently scheduled residential locations,  click here.  

Adult learners are required to complete a 9-month, full-day, full-school-year practicum/internship in an approved Montessori Elementary classroom. This intern-teaching phase may take place in a Montessori Lower Elementary (typically 6-9 year olds) or Upper Elementary classroom (typically 9-12 year olds). Exceptions may be made for an alternative age grouping, at the discretion of the Director of Education, but a minimum of a 2-year grouping within these ranges is required. Classrooms must be well equipped with the Montessori elementary curriculum materials for the level served and Montessori best practices must be followed.

Adult learners will be assigned a Field Consultant who will visit the student in the practicum classroom to provide feedback and support and to evaluate the student’s growth and progress as a Montessori Guide. CGMS makes an effort to find and contract certified Montessori consultants within reasonable driving distance of the adult learner to serve as the field consultant. When this is not possible, the adult learner or sponsoring school will be responsible for the additional travel cost for the practicum evaluation visits.

The ideal practicum experience takes place in a classroom with a certified and experienced Montessori Elementary Guide. In this situation the student serves as an assistant intern working under the guidance of the Supervising Teacher. This enables the student to observe and learn from the mentor teacher while increasingly developing knowledge and skill in all areas of the curriculum and in the duties of a lead Montessori Guide.

In some circumstances students may need to complete a Self-Directed Internship. This occurs when a qualified Supervising Teacher is unavailable to work directly with the student as the lead teacher in the practicum classroom on a daily basis. Under these circumstances the student serves as the lead teacher in the classroom while in training. A Self-Directed Internship must be approved by the CGMS Director of Education or Elementary Coordinator. A Self- Directed Support Plan must be submitted to assure that the student has the additional guidance needed for success. All self-directed interns are assessed a fee of a minimum of $700 to cover the expense of this additional support and additional evaluations that are required by the accrediting agency.

CGMS offers two tiers of training. Full Certificate students attend a two-week training program in addition to their Montessori distance learning component.

CGMS Associate Certificate students can, either during their course of study or for up to five years after, upgrade to the Full Certificate by attending the summer sessions. This unique feature of the CGMS program means that you can begin your training now, when you can’t leave home, and then upgrade to the Full Certificate when your schedule improves.