The Center for Guided Montessori Studies

Professional Development: Elementary Level
2022-09-12, 2022-10-17, 2023-03-27, 2023-06-12, 2023-08-14, 2023-10-16, 2024-01-15
After much anticipation, CGMS has launched our new Elementary Fundamentals professional development course. This 10 week program is designed to introduce the wonders of Montessori at the elementary level to assistant teachers, support staff, and Montessori administrators who are new to Montessori or Montessori for the elementary years.
Topics will include:

Key Montessori principles
Classroom leadership for elementary classrooms
Classroom roles and supporting the work of the elementary child
Positive Discipline
An introduction to the Montessori Elementary Curriculum for children 6-12 with a focus on the Cosmic Curriculum as the heart of the classroom.

Those who complete the entire 10 weeks and all assignments will be awarded a CGMS Professional Development Certificate.
To register for a course, please complete the online application. For questions about our professional development program, or to inquire about group discounts, please contact us.

Professional Development: Special Needs
2022-10-17, 2023-03-27, 2023-06-12, 2023-09-18, 2024-01-15
Most of us have asked and been asked this question many times: Is Montessori for every child? In this 5 week course we will explore that topic while we look at practical ideas for how to adapt to, and meet the needs of children with challenges. The course will survey a variety of issues in special education including emotional and behavioral, academic, developmental, speech and language challenges, and children with multiple concerns. Video lectures and discussion forums will explore characteristics of children with learning differences with an emphasis on how to more effectively guide them to success. Topics also include school policies to address issues of children with special needs, communicating with parents, and working in partnership with specialists.
Participants will receive two manuals, one on Supporting Children with Special Needs in the Montessori Environment and another focusing on Movement and Motor Development. This manual is filled with activities to help active children with attention and motor challenges. Many of the ideas and movement activities presented in this course and the manual are also great for typically developing children and provide many opportunities to support the growth and development of the whole child. Participants who complete the entire 5 weeks and all assignments will be awarded a CGMS Professional Development Certificate.
To register for a course, please complete the online application. For questions about our professional development program, or to inquire about group discounts, please contact us.

Professional Development: Early Childhood Level
2022-10-17, 2023-02-13, 2023-03-27, 2023-06-12, 2023-09-18, 2023-10-16, 2024-01-15
This program is designed for Montessori assistants, volunteers, substitutes and support staff, plus it makes a reinvigorating refresher for an experienced certified teacher. Combining our extremely popular Classroom Leadership course with our new Early Childhood Overview course, the combined 10 week course includes:

An introduction to Montessori philosophy and key concepts
Qualities of the Prepared Environment
How to start the school year
Positive discipline
Classroom roles
An introduction to each Early Childhood curriculum area (Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, Cultural and Science) with video lectures about the purpose of the area, best practices, and many lesson videos

Course content includes: an introduction to Montessori key philosophical concepts, classroom roles and working in partnership with co-workers, designing and maintaining the prepared environment, establishing daily routines, lesson strategies, as well as techniques for positive discipline and problem solving in implementing effective classroom strategies. This course primarily focuses on 3-6 classrooms, but many of the topics relate to all age groups.
Those who complete the entire 10 weeks and all assignments will be awarded a CGMS Professional Development Certificate.
To register for a course, please complete the online application. For questions about our professional development program, or to inquire about group discounts, please contact us.

Professional Development: Infant-Toddler Level
2022-10-17, 2023-02-13, 2023-03-27, 2023-06-12, 2023-09-18, 2023-10-16, 2024-01-15
Montessori Beginnings is an introduction to supporting development during the earliest years of life. This course will provide information that can be useful to assistants, administrators, parents, and anyone interested in learning about how to apply Montessori philosophy, principles, and practices to caring for the youngest members of our human family.
Topics will include:

Montessori Principles and Practices at the Infant Toddler Level
Caregiving the Montessori way
Child is the Curriculum
The Importance of Responsive Care (Empathetic Gestures and Nonverbal Communication)
Supporting Transitions
Creating Healthy Rhythms and Routines
Matching the Timeline of Development with Environmental Design and Supports
Preparing Ourselves to Work With Young Children
Being Part of a Montessori Faculty

Those who complete the entire 10 weeks and all assignments will be awarded a CGMS Professional Development Certificate.
To register for a course, please complete the online application. For questions about our professional development program, or to inquire about group discounts, please contact us.
