Primary Teacher Training
Ages 3 to 6
This three-summer format requires six weeks attendance the first summer, eight weeks the second summer and four weeks attendance the third summer. Students do classroom observation and student teaching during the interim winter periods and attend two mid-winter seminars. With the successful passing of comprehensive oral and written examinations, the course culminates in graduation and the awarding of the coveted 3-6 AMI diploma.
During the course, students are introduced to all the materials, the classroom strategies for guiding young children, the educational philosophy, and the developmental psychology of Dr. Maria Montessori. Along with presentations and practice with Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, and Mathematics materials, you will learn effective and interesting materials and methods for introducing all aspects of culture (geography, biology, history, art, music, etc.) in age-appropriate ways.
AMI Diploma Requirements:
90 Hours of classroom observation
120 Hours of student teaching
90% Attendance for lectures and presentations (300 hours) and supervised practice (200 hours)
Pass on albums
Pass on written exams
Pass on oral exams
Some handmade materials are required
Students should budget between $300.00 and $400.00 for books, supplies, and material making supplies for the Primary training course.
Director of Training, 3 to 6
Lakshmi Shekhar is the Trainer for Primary courses at the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis. She is AMI certified at both primary and elementary environments and has more than 18 years of classroom experience in private and charter schools. Lakshmi is the founding guide of
the Children's House at the Montessori Lab School at Grand Center. She holds a Master's degree in English Literature.
**New, hybrid two-summer course beginning Summer 2022
— dates and details will be announced soon**
Current Course Dates
Summer 2020: July 6 to August 14, 2020
Summer 2021: June 7 to July 30, 2021
Summer 2022: June 6 to July 1, 2022
The Montessori Training Center of St. Louis is MACTE Certified for Primary (3-6).
“These very children reveal to us the most vital need of their development, saying:
’Help me to do it alone!’”