The Center for Guided Montessori Studies

Fighting Our Biases on the Daily: Spiritual Preparation for the New Age
2023-03-07 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Come with us on a journey deeper into your sense of self. We are hard-wired to hold biases. Early humans needed a sense of “other” to ensure their survival. Why do we still hold onto our unconscious belief systems when we no longer need them? We will be going deeper to examine our own biases, accept their existence, and work to move beyond them. We will give you tools for self-examination of your biases, and tools to move through them for the greater good.
General registration, $45. Register HERE.
CGMS Alumni and Faculty, $35. Register HERE.

About Stephanie Lapine
Stephanie brings her unique perspective to the work of Disrupting Implicit Bias. She has dedicated much of her career to dismantling systemic and strategic biases, prejudice and racism in education. Stephanie is currently a Lower Elementary guide, an Instructional Guide for CGMS, and a proud mother of 4. She lives in Pittsburgh with her teenage sons and her assorted array of pets.

Deadline for Training Program Registration
2023-03-13
The Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS) is currently accepting applications to our teacher training programs.
All applications must be submitted by October 10th for enrollment consideration. Infant/Toddler (0-3), Early Childhood (3-6), Elementary (6-12), Secondary (12-18) and Leadership cohorts will all begin on March 20.
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

Teacher Training Programs Begin!
2023-03-20, 2023-06-05
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.

Professional Development: Special Needs
2023-03-27, 2023-06-12
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.

Early Childhood Assistant Training
2023-03-27, 2023-06-12, 2023-08-14
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.

Professional Development: Early Childhood Level
2023-03-27, 2023-06-12
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
2023-03-27, 2023-06-12
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.

Professional Development: Elementary Level
2023-03-27, 2023-06-12, 2023-08-14
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.

Virtual Information Session: Certification Programs
2023-04-27 20:00 - 21:00, 2023-05-04 13:00 - 14:00, 2023-05-09 20:00 - 21:00, 2023-05-16 13:00 - 14:00, 2023-05-18 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

Virtual Information Session: Secondary (12-18) Program
2023-05-09 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
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/91666364386?pwd=[REDACTED]

Virtual Information Session: Leadership Program
2023-05-11 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
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

Deadline for Training Program Registration
2023-05-22
The Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS) is currently accepting applications to our teacher training programs.
All applications must be submitted by October 10th for enrollment consideration. Infant/Toddler (0-3), Early Childhood (3-6), Elementary (6-12), Secondary (12-18) and Leadership cohorts will all begin on June 5.
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

Setting and Maintaining Limits in the Montessori Classroom
2023-06-03 18:00 - 20:15 (Asia/Kolkata)
CGMS and Royal Oaks International Montessori School in Nashik, India will sponsor a special webinar to help kick off the start of the Indian school year. Chip DeLorenzo, co-author of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom will present the webinar titled, “Setting and Maintaining Limits in the Montessori Classroom.” This two hour webinar will help teachers learn how to create classroom limits and guidelines for their children and then maintain those limits in a way that promotes cooperation, mutual respect, and leadership.

**Please note the time listed (6pm – 8:15pm) is in Indian Standard Time. This is 8:30am – 10:45am Eastern Time.**
CGMS Alumni/Faculty or Group (3 or more from same school) registration is $55. To register, click HERE.
General registration is $65. To register, click HERE.

About Chip DeLorenzo Chip DeLorenzo has been a Montessori educator since 1995. He is the former Head of School of the Damariscotta Montessori School, where he spent 20 years as a teacher and administrator. Chip is the co-author, with Jane Nelsen, of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom. As a teacher trainer and school consultant, Chip has worked with thousands of Montessori teachers and parents in teaching the principles and practices of Positive Discipline through various workshops and lectures. He holds Early Childhood, Lower and Upper Elementary AMS certifications, and has worked extensively with Montessori Adolescent students. Chip is the father of five Montessori children, and he and his wife, Kathy, live in Jefferson, Maine.

The Second Plane Three Period Lesson: A Montessori Principal and Its Application in the Elementary Environment
2023-07-18 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Find out more about how the role of the adult in the Montessori environment is different from that of a conventional teacher, and why this matters if one wants to help children develop beyond low level skills and rote memorization. The second plane three period lesson applies the three stage structure of the classic Montessori Language Lesson to the second plane context, in order to clearly limit the work of the adult and protect and expand the work of the child.
General registration, $45. Register HERE.
CGMS Alumni and Faculty, $35. Register HERE.

About Sharon Caldwell
Sharon Caldwell is the lead consultant at Real Learning, with nearly 40 years of experience in education generally, over half of which are in Montessori and Democratic School contexts. She founded and headed a Montessori School and worked as a consultant and course instructor for the Montessori Foundation. She supported schools internationally and co-taught on their ground-breaking online programme Building a World-Class Montessori School. She holds an LMC Certificate (3-6), an AMI/NAMTA Adolescent Orientation Certificate and an AMI International Diploma for 6 – 12.

What Does Meaningful Work Look Like in a Montessori Elementary Classroom?
2023-07-20 19:00 (America/New_York)
“In Montessori Education, we often speak of the importance of, “Meaningful Work.” But what does this mean and look like in the classroom? Does it just mean that children are all quietly working on their assignments and materials, or does it have to do with absorption and concentration in the work? Does it extend into the social, emotional, and spiritual work? What about play, exploration, and collaboration? Join me for this in-depth discussion of what “Meaningful Work” looks like in a Montessori classroom, how to observe it, and nurture it in your classroom environment.”
General registration, $45. Register HERE.
CGMS Alumni and Faculty, $35. Register HERE.

About Greg Hicks
Greg first came to Montessori education while teaching 4th grade in a public school. He was looking for a different type of education for his son and was fortunate to connect with the director of a local Montessori schoolhouse. This ignited a passionate study, career, and love of Montessori education. Greg has now been a guide in an Upper Elementary classroom for 12 years. He’s worked in both the public charter sector and is currently in a private Montessori school in Tampa, Florida. Greg received his Montessori training from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and is now an instructor there. Greg has been a part of the Center for Guided Montessori Studies for 9 years and is an instructional guide, field consultant and residency instructor. Along with education, Greg’s passions include meditation, music, reading, and nature.

Reclaiming Self-Regulation in the Montessori Classroom - How to prepare the environment and the adults to develop and support self-regulation in students
2023-07-27 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
One of the greatest setbacks Montessori teachers have experienced in the last three years is the loss of self-regulation in their students. Erratic attendance, school closures, time off from school, staff turnover, loss of social skills, and many other factors have contributed to a decrease in the ability of students to self-regulate. In this workshop, participants will uncover the causes of this developmental setback, and how to help rebuild self-regulation in their students and classroom communities.
In this workshop, participants will work together to uncover some of the driving factors behind the reduced self-regulation in students in the post-COVID Montessori Classroom. We will review the importance of observation of the social-emotional environment to identify the needs of the students and identify specific tools that teachers can employ to begin rebuilding self-regulation within their students. Tools include teacher/adult communication models, direct teaching needed social-emotional skills, developing consistent adult responses to behavior, and creating a predictable environment where students “anticipate what’s coming next” in adults, the routine, and the environment, in order to develop self-regulation and independence.
Participants will learn to: 1. Create a social/emotional environment that will increase self-regulation, reduce misbehavior, and foster normalization; 2. Develop clear and consistent practices amongst the adults in their classrooms to meet behavioral challenges respectfully and effectively.
General registration, $45. Register HERE.
CGMS Alumni and Faculty, $35. Register HERE.
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About Chip DeLorenzo
Chip DeLorenzo has been a Montessori educator since 1995. He is the former Head of School of the Damariscotta Montessori School, where he spent 20 years as a teacher and administrator. Chip is the co-author, with Jane Nelsen, of Positive Discipline in the Montessori Classroom. As a teacher trainer and school consultant, Chip has worked with thousands of Montessori teachers and parents in teaching the principles and practices of Positive Discipline through various workshops and lectures. He holds Early Childhood, Lower and Upper Elementary AMS certifications, and has worked extensively with Montessori Adolescent students. Chip is the father of five Montessori children, and he and his wife, Kathy, live in Jefferson, Maine.

Preparing the Physical and Emotional Environment at the Toddler Level: The Importance of Trust
2023-08-01 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
You can prepare a perfect environment. You can equip it with beautiful materials. You can understand child development inside and out. And you can develop your knowledge of Montessori philosophy to a T.
BUT . . . . You will never be successful without establishing TRUST. You will not be able to guide the child. You may even be an obstacle to the development of the child. You will not be able to manage your classroom. You will be unsuccessful in your attempts to partner with the parents.
This webinar will cover some important tools for developing trust with parents and students.
General registration, $45. Register HERE.
CGMS Alumni and Faculty, $35. Register HERE.

About Susan Kennedy:
After working in the financial industry for 10 years, I experienced the paradigm shift of becoming a mother. Which led me to Montessori, which resulted in a change of careers to one that is truly my bliss. I have been working with toddlers and their parents for almost 30 years now. I am currently a toddler guide at Mountaintop Montessori School in Charlottesville, Virginia, and have been an Instructional Guide with CGMS since 2019 (ah, the pre-pandemic days!) I am the mother of two adult daughters, Wesley and Jamie, and the grandmother of 2-year-old Inara and 8 mo. old Milo.

It's Not About the Shelves! The Journey of a Well-Prepared Montessori Environment
2023-08-15 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
My early days in Montessori were spent making sure that the room arrangement and shelves were set up perfectly…at least in my mind! But after a few years of challenging beginnings, and chances to observe those activities that truly engaged my students, I changed my mindset about the beginning of the year. This workshop will offer you ideas to consider, a few simple materials, and guidance for the kind of strong start that lasts the whole year through.
General registration, $45. Register HERE.
CGMS Alumni and Faculty, $35. Register HERE.

About Claudia Mann
Claudia Mann, MEd has been enchanted with Montessori education since 1976. Certified Elementary I, II and Secondary I, Ms. Mann guided children and adults in classrooms and schools for more than 25 years before founding the Chaffee County Montessori School, always encouraging them to be passionate learners while sustaining Cosmic Education as the heart of the Montessori vision. Ms. Mann currently coaches teachers and school leaders both onsite and online through www.claudiamann.org and www.fossilicious.com.
