Education & Training Courses at IMTC-Chennai
“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind”…… Dr. Maria Montessori
The education and training imparted to the students at IMTC-Chennai, provides an insight into the true nature of the child. It helps the student-teachers develop their observation skills and the ability to understand each child as a unique person with his or her own learning pace and rhythm. The course enables the students to look at the holistic development of the child and they become creative and innovative in the classroom, thus enriching the learning environment.
The course contents include child psychology, theory of the Montessori method, practical demonstration lectures and practical work with the educational apparatus. The programme is comprehensive enough to meet the needs of all students who have the necessary qualifications but who come with or without prior experience in teaching, administration or other fields.
Primary Montessori Course
“To aid life, leaving it free, however, to unfold itself, that is the basic task of the educator”…..Dr. Maria Montessori
The Primary Montessori Diploma qualifies the holder to apply the Montessori method of education to children between the age of 2½ and 6 years. This intense course consists of theory classes and ‘learning by doing’ practical classes.
The Weekday course (Monday to Friday) commences in July every year and gets completed by March of the following year. The Weekend course commences in September every year and is completed by August of the next year. The weekend classes are conducted on Fridays & Saturdays, with special continuous classes during Summer. The Primary Montessori course is of 570 to 600 hours duration and the medium of instruction is English. IMTC-Chennai has also developed the capability to deliver this course in Tamil.
Primary Curriculum
The curriculum includes the Theory of the Montessori method, Developmental Psychology and practical demonstration lectures in Exercises of Practical Life, Sensorial Activities, Language and Arithmetic. Other topics include Geometry, Botany, Geography, Zoology and Science. As a part of the course work, students attend “observation sessions” in Montessori schools, for about 30 hours.
Evaluation process – Primary
The students undergo periodic assessments; there are two theory papers and one practical examination at the end of the course The students are required to prepare files around all the topics addressed in the class and prepare materials as required during the course. The student needs to have 90% attendance for the theory classes and 100% for the practical sessions, to be eligible to sit for the final examinations.
On satisfactory completion of all course requirements and passing the final examinations, the student is awarded a Diploma issued by the Indian Montessori Centre, Bangalore.
Eligibility – Primary
For the Primary Montessori course, the candidate seeking admission should have completed 21 years of age and passed Std. XII (Plus Two) – however, graduates in any discipline, are given preference. Fluency in English is a pre-requisite for this course. Candidates who have limited fluency in English and have a good command over Tamil maybe permitted to do their course work and examinations in Tamil and may be provided additional support.
Elementary Montessori Course
“Character formation cannot be taught. It comes from experience and not from explanation”……Dr. Maria Montessori”
The Elementary Montessori Diploma qualifies the holder to apply the Montessori method of education to children between the age of 6 years and 12 years (Std II to Std VII). This advanced one-year course consists of theory classes and ‘learning by doing’ practical classes.
The Elementary course commences in March every year and is completed by February of the following year. The classes are conducted on Fridays & Saturdays, with special continuous classes during Summer. The Elementary Montessori course is of 750 hours duration and the medium of instruction is English.
Elementary Course Curriculum
The curriculum includes the Theory of the Montessori method and approach, Developmental Psychology, Moral and Social Formation of the second plane child and Social and Practical Life Activities. Other topics include the Development of Language and Development of the “Mathematical mind” leading to Arithmetic, Geometry and Algebra.
Practical demonstration lectures are held around the following disciplines of study such as Geography, Geology, Chemistry, Biology, Physics and History. The course includes Elementary Classroom observations and practice teaching done over two modules.
Evaluation process – Elementary
The students undergo periodic assessments; there are two theory papers and one practical examination at the end of the course The students are required to prepare files around all the topics addressed in the class and prepare materials as required during the course.
The student needs to have 90% attendance for the theory classes and 100% for the practical sessions, to be eligible to sit for the final examinations. On satisfactory completion of all course requirements and passing the final examinations, the student is awarded a Diploma issued by the Indian Montessori Centre, Bangalore.
Eligibility – Elementary
For the Elementary Montessori course, the candidate seeking admission should have completed 21 years of age and be a Graduate in any discipline. Fluency in English is a pre-requisite for this course.
“All these disciplines are developed in relation to one another and within the context of a cosmic vision”
