Description of the course:   This training course in “Montessori Educational Method” aims to develop in students professional competences as future teachers of the Montessori Method to children with disabilities. Students will learn more about Montessori, approaches to providing a Montessori inspired learning environment and how to use her methods and techniques.  This course includes practical lessons, seminars, field works, thinking tools, cultural visits, technical visits, conferences with experts. Many practical tools and materials both for trainers and trainees will be supplied and at the end certificates will be delivered, as requested in Erasmus Plus Programme.

Objectives

• To give participants an adequate grounding in the Montessori principle and philosophy;
• To understand basically different kinds of disabilities;
• To value the teaching aids developed by Maria Montessori;
• To learn the Montessori environment and the role of a Montessori director;
• To stimulate moral and ethical education.

Methodology:   In the framework of Erasmus Plus Programme, we are going to develop our courses based in both formal and informal education methodologies. We’ll start with an introduction of the new methodology and also with a theoretical approach. In order to stimulate the active participation of them we will use dynamic activities, like:

• Study cases,
• Conferences with responsible staff of enterprises;
• Discussions in the classroom with directors of private institutes;
• Role-plays;
• Guidelines,
• Technical visits in private companies for job shadowing and workshops.

Programme 

1^st Day: Transfer from the airport to accommodation and room allocation. Welcome Meeting. Rules applicable in Italy, information about the city and general information about the Programme. Managing pupil’s expectations about the “Montessori Educational Method” course.

2^nd Day: Presentation of the Italian educational system and of Montessori principles and philosophy. Studying the steps of Maria Montessori biography and the development of this educational method. Some specific cases in Italy, video conference with expert educators.

3^rd Day:  lesson: Specific Lesson with an expert on disabilities who will talk about the different kinds of disabilities and how to approach to the world of disability.

4^th Day: Visit to a center for disabled people, visit laboratories, meeting with therapists and time for discussion with the director of the center. Question and answer time.

5^th Day: Visit a public school, meeting with disabled children, introduction to the programs carried out by the children. Meeting with the assistant teachers who will speak about the training undertaken with disabled children and how to deal with different kinds of disabilities

6^th Day: Free time and cultural activities.

7^th Day: Free time and cultural activities.

8^th Day:  lesson: Theoretical Lesson about History of Methods – Montessori and Major Early Childhood Theorists. Two internship hours under the direction and guidance of an experienced Montessori certified teacher with whom the participant observes, assists and joins in all aspects of the educational and management process in the host school.

9^th Day: Lesson:  Full Day of technical and schools visits. Meeting with the directors of some schools where is active the Montessori Method on disabilities. Question Time with students and staff. Two hours Workshop about “Sensorial Education”.

10^th Day: lesson: Examples of a typical Montessori lessons. How to develop teaching activities and materials from real life. Workshop and team work.

11^th Day:  lesson: Put into practice the concepts learned! Participants apply the Montessori method, in an Italian school.

12^th Day: Lesson and Evaluation of the Training Course. Certificate Ceremony and overall evaluation meeting with the host organization and the beneficiaries.

13^th Day: Free time and cultural activities.

14^th Day: Preparing for departure.