The Center for Guided Montessori Studies

Virtual Information Session: Certification Programs
2022-08-30 20:00 - 21:00, 2022-05-17 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-05-10 20:00 - 21:00, 2022-05-03 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-04-26 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Want to learn more about how CGMS teacher certification programs work? Join us for a Virtual Information Session about our CGMS Teacher Education Programs.
Find out about:

How our interactive online course structure provides more opportunity for reflection and deep discussion of Montessori theory and practice.
The advantage of continual online study during the practicum phase, enabling learners to observe and practice course topics and lessons as they learn them and then get quick feedback from instructors and fellow learners in weekly live video classes.
Our commitment to continuous support for adult learners and schools to assure success.
Our unique approach to our residential seminars with an emphasis on providing a Montessori Experience for adult learners and preparing them for their practicum classrooms.

This will take place on our Zoom video conference platform. Email info@cgms.edu for a reservation and the link or save the link: https://zoom.us/j/4227351717

Interrelating Art in the Montessori Classroom
2022-08-24 19:00 - 20:30
“Art is an understanding of the beauty around us. What we strive to achieve is the development of a better audience, giving the child the skills to appreciate art surrounding them at all times, and utilizing the classroom to create this appreciation. “
In this Webinar you will be exploring many ways to interrelate the art curriculum in the other areas in the classroom. You will be receiving many ideas and resources to help you create an art shelf, shelf work, and art based books.
CGMS Alumni and Faculty registration is $35. To register, click HERE.
General registration is $45. To register, click HERE.

About Lisa Goldfarb
What Lisa loves about CGMS is how the program instills skills in communication, listening, collaboration, adaptability, empathy, and patience. Other characteristics of effective teaching include an engaging classroom presence, value in real-world learning, exchange of best practices, and a lifelong love of learning.
Lisa been involved in Montessori for 39 years in the classroom and 11 with CGMS. Lisa taught at Undercroft Montessori School for 35 years. She has a BFA in Art Education from Oklahoma University, received her 3-6 Training at CMTE in New Rochelle, NY, and 6-9 at Houston Montessori Center. She joined the CGMS faculty with the roles of IG, Practicum Supervisor, Field Consultant, Summer Residencies, and school consultant.

The Teacher’s Toolbox - Starting the Year With the Tools You Need
2022-08-16 19:00 - 20:30
Join Martha Zimmerman and Ann Winkler, veteran Montessori educators, to discuss your toolbox for a successful start to the school year. These tips can be applied to any level. Be prepared to share and expand ideas in small breakout groups that are level specific. We all have something to offer each other in our work of preparation for the school year.
CGMS Alumni and Faculty registration is $35. To register, click HERE.
General registration is $45. To register, click HERE.

About the Presenters
Ann Winkler has been a Montessori Guide for over 40 years, She is certified form 3-12 and has taught all levels with most of her experience in elementary. She also assisted Middle Schoolers in exploring history and science. Ann served as the Educational Director of Beach Park School in Tampa, FL., and is the Senior Elementary Level Director for the Center for Guided Montessori Studies.
Martha Zimmerman started her Montessori journey as a parent where she began working in her daughters’ Montessori schools – first as a volunteer, then as an assistant, and finally as a guide. Martha is certified in Early Childhood and Elementary levels and worked as an Upper Elementary guide before she began work as a Trainer. She later spent several years teaching at the Middle School level, in addition to being an adjunct professor at a local community college where she taught Child Guidance and Montessori History and Philosophy courses. Martha has been involved with Montessori education for thirty-seven years and still finds it as exciting as ever.

Professional Development: Infant-Toddler Level
2022-08-15, 2022-07-18, 2022-06-13, 2022-05-09
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 download our application file and email it to us. For questions about our professional development program, or to inquire about group discounts, please contact us.

Professional Development: Early Childhood Level
2022-08-15, 2022-07-18, 2022-06-13, 2022-05-09
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.

Preparing Your Environment for Success: Using marketing strategies to organize your Montessori Classroom
2022-08-11 19:00 - 20:30
Following Maria’s lead, who gave education a scientific approach, this workshop will connect marketing and education. Stores and businesses commonly use marketing strategies to prepare their environment and to better serve their customers. This workshop will approach these tools to our classroom and help us build the right classroom for our students. It will be an interactive workshop full of examples and will use accessible language.
During the workshop we will create our marketing plan following these steps:

Know your business: Who are your students? How can I get information about them (observation, surveys, heat maps, anecdotal records…)?
Determine Target Market: What are the values that you want your students to have? (grace and courtesy, peace education, imagination, creativity…)
Analyze Competitors: Don’t reinvent the wheel, invest your time in observing other Montessori classrooms. Learn how other teachers have solved the same situations you encounter in your classroom.
Set Goals: What do you want your classroom to be? (long and short term goals, academics, personal growth.) Be creative, be ambitious.
Outline Strategies: How to define your classroom’s culture? How to communicate the classroom’s message to students/parents/administration? Define an independent strategy for each one of the goals you defined.

We will also talk about commonly used marketing/merchandising tools:

Linear setups: Make your shelves more attractive to students: Popular strategies followed by supermarkets and big stores that will help you model your classroom environment (hot cold spots – diamond rule – head of linear…)
Music: How music can alter the rhythm in the classroom and how to use it to create the right environment.
Light / Illumination: Create different atmospheres in the classroom.

CGMS Alumni and Faculty registration is $35. To register, click HERE.
General registration is $45. To register, click HERE.

About Jorge Haro
I was born in Zaragoza, Spain and graduated with Bachelor’s of Arts in Economy (1998) and Sociology (2000). I worked in market research for 10 years directing my own company and participating as a guest teacher in several colleges in Madrid, Spain. In 2008, I moved to Lakeland, Florida and decided to pursue my career as an educator and received my Florida Teaching Certificate for K-6 and Spanish (k-12) in 2010.
I have been a Montessori educator since 2010, first as an assistant and later co-teacher in the lower elementary classroom. I’ve always worked in charter public schools. I received my CGMS Montessori Elementary Certification (6-12) in 2014.
I am married to my wife Raquel since 2001 and have two children. Miguel is 14 and will start high school this year. He was in my classroom for three years and wants to become a professional guitar player. Cristina is 10 and is moving to fifth grade next year. She loves animals and wants to be a vet.
I love to travel, read (mostly history) and music (I love to attend to concerts and festivals). I am looking forward to working and learning with you!

Making History Come Alive
2022-08-02 19:00 - 20:30
In this workshop, we will discuss activities to make the history curriculum “Come Alive” through an integrated curriculum experience. We will explore ideas for creating a whole class and even school-wide activities and celebrations. Join us to get excited about using art, music, reading, and writing and to create an enthusiastic learning community.
CGMS Alumni and Faculty registration is $35. To register, click HERE.
General registration is $45. To register, click HERE.

About Ann Winkler
Ann has been a Montessori Guide for over 40 years, She is certified form 3-12 and has taught all levels with most of her experience in elementary. She also assisted Middle Schoolers in exploring history and science. Ann served as the Educational Director of Beach Park School in Tampa, FL., and is the Senior Elementary Level Director for the Center for Guided Montessori Studies.

From Peace to Equity Part 3
2022-07-27 19:00 - 20:30
We’re excited to announce a new webinar titled “From Peace to Equity” led and developed by Sarah Stephens! Over three weeks (July 13, 20, 27), we will explore expanding our view of peace education placing equity at the center, diving deeper into our identity by examining how our past, present, and future experiences shape our spiritual development, and examining how identity intersects with community.
CGMS Alumni and Faculty registration is $70 for all three sessions. To register, click HERE.
General registration is $120 for all three sessions. To register, click HERE.

Session 1: From Peace to Equity: An Introduction
(July 13 at 7pm EDT)

It’s no coincidence that, in the 21st century, we hold dear to our hearts Dr. Montessori’s work with peace, which
any true Montessori environment reflects—safety, pristinely ordered aesthetics, and a culture of kindness. But
is it enough to create peaceful environments? In this first session of a three-part webinar, we will work on
expanding our view of peace education, placing EQUITY at the center. We will examine how EQUITY enables
us to see the whole child and surrounding world conjointly as a mechanism to the child’s success. Beginning
with a review of our roots in Dr. Montessori’s original work, focusing on the demographics of her students and
why she chose them, we will bring it into the forefront of our work with today’s global child. As we evolve our
ideal from peace to equity, we will reflect on how bias shapes our interaction and consider the impact of
inclusion and exclusion. We will look at passive and active sympathy and explore ways to maintain our beliefs
while adjusting our behaviors toward humankind.
Session 2: From Peace to Equity: Global Citizenship
(July 20 at 7pm EDT)

“We must revise our concepts, our attitudes, our educational systems if we wish to help man to become more
cultured, more disciplined, more open to abstract ideas; if our aim is indeed to help him grow to become a
citizen of the world. ”- Dr. Maria Montessori.
Most Montessori adults were not educated as citizens of the world,yet we are tasked to model it. In session
two, we will dive deeper into our identity by examining how our past, present, and future experiences shape
our spiritual development. We will work on constructing interpersonal skills based on global relationships; and
learn actionable steps to embrace ourselves and our identities as a worthy citizen of the world. Only then can
the Montessori adult prepare themself to guide the future citizen of the world (the child).
Session 3: From Peace to Equity: Global Communication for the Montessori Community
(July 27 at 7pm EDT)
Building on our work in the previous session, we will further examine how identity intersects with community.
Who we are affects whether we react or respond and how we relate to others. We learn and grow in
relationships. It is through these relationships that we construct our school culture which contributes to the
development or deconstruction of the global child and their community. Participants will discover ways to
connect with the whole child by expanding the definition of the prepared adult, based on relationship and
communication. We will examine the correlation of our own personalities with the Montessori Triad and learn
tools to meaningfully establish the educator/family relationship while daily engaging with families based on
efficacy.
About Sarah Stephens
Sarah’s quest for education equity started long before she was born, having a family of multiple professors and
educators. After completing a Bachelors of Arts in Spanish Literature and a Masters in Elementary Education,
she met her true passion of Montessori in 2008, and the rest was history! She received her Pan American
Montessori Society (MACTE) Early Childhood credential in 2013 and PAMS Trainer certificate in 2017. After
more than a decade of teaching and school administration, she continues to pursue her passion of Montessori
education by means of the whole, global child with her company, Move Mountains with Montessori. Founded in
2021, 3M seeks to deliver Montessori to ALL rather than a small group of individuals who can afford it. Of
course, however, her greatest treasures are her faith, husband and three beautiful children!

From Peace to Equity Part 2
2022-07-20 19:00 - 20:30

Professional Development: Elementary Level
2022-07-18, 2022-05-09
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.

Professional Development: Special Needs
2022-07-18, 2022-05-09
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.

From Peace to Equity Part 1
2022-07-13 19:00 - 20:30

Virtual Information Session: Leadership Program
2022-06-21 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-05-12 13:00 - 14:00
This Leadership Virtual Question and Answer Session is designed for those interested in the School Leadership Certification Program and is hosted by our Director of Education, Kitty Bravo and Leadership Course Director, Martha Carver! During this information session, you will learn about the training program for school administrators, which is designed to give school heads everything they need to manage successful, authentic, and long-lived Montessori schools. As with our other programs, the Leadership Credential is a blend of the best of online learning with a single, short on-site residency.
The Leadership program is taught by leading Montessorians with decades of experience in Montessori school administration, teaching, finance, marketing, community building, and more. For more information on the leadership faculty, click here.
This session will take place on our Zoom video conference platform. Email info@cgms.edu for a reservation and the link, or save the link: https://zoom.us/j/4227351717

Teacher Training Programs Begin!
2022-06-06
CGMS Montessori certification prepares you to work with every age, from infants through adolescents.
You can download our combined short brochure or click below on the program you are interested in for more information. You can also view samples of some of our videos.
Each program is offered in two tiers, either a Full Certificate or an Associate Certificate program. These are essentially the same programs, except that the Full Certificate program includes either one or two short residencies in addition to the online component. The Associate Certificate is not generally made available to North American Elementary adult learners because of the increasing requirement of schools to have teachers with certificates from MACTE-accredited programs.
For more information on our programs, click here.

Deadline for Training Program Registration
2022-05-27
The Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS) is currently accepting applications to our teacher training programs.
All applications must be submitted by May 27th for enrollment consideration. Infant/Toddler (0-3), Early Childhood (3-6), Elementary (6-12), and Secondary (12-18) cohorts will all begin on June 6th.
For more information, read on below:

Montessori Training Enrollment and Application
Training Center Information
Admissions Process
Tuition
Frequently Asked Questions

If you are interested in more information, send us an email at: admissions@cgms.edu

Virtual Information Session: Secondary (12-18) Program
2022-05-19 20:00 - 21:00
Interested in the Secondary I-II Certification Program?
Becoming a Montessori Secondary Guide is a transformation, not just a certification. It means you are on a Montessori journey, an ongoing voyage where you are ever-growing as a practicing Montessori Secondary Guide. CGMS invites you to take this journey with us.
This session is specifically for those interested in the Secondary Certification Program and will take place on our Zoom video conference platform.
Email info@cgms.edu for a reservation and the link or save the link: https://zoom.us/j/4227351717

EC Assistant Training Begin!
2022-05-09
By successfully completing this 12-week course, you will earn an IMC Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Credential for supporting teachers and children in a 3-6 years old classroom.
What to expect:
Approximately 8 hours of coursework each week including video viewing of Montessori lectures and lessons, online discussion forums, observation and or other practical assignments to put what you are learning in practice, journaling, and a 1 hour live video class in zoom each week.
Instructors:
Your course will be led by one of our experienced CGMS Instructional Guides. Video instructors include: Kitty Bravo, Tim Seldin, Cathie Perolman, Jana Morgan Herman, and Lorna McGrath.
Tuition: $650
If you have previously completed the Montessori Fundamentals Professional Development Course with CGMS, please contact admissions@cgms.edu for a payment link that will provide a discounted rate.
For more information on our programs, click here.
