Skip to main content

Policy: University Partnership


April 22, 2013

Dr. William F. Tate
Department of Education
Washington University in St. Louis
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899

Good morning, Dr. Tate:

I'm writing to recommend that the Washington University's Department of Education create a dual degree program with the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis.  The program could allow students to earn their Master's of Arts in Education with a specialization in Montessori Education while completing their AMI Primary training with Montessori Training Center of St. Louis.  Similar partnerships already exist between the University of San Diego and The Montessori Institute of San Diego, the University of Hartford and the Montessori Training Institute of New England, and Loyola University Maryland and the Washington Montessori Institute.

Montessori is a comprehensive, time-tested philosophy of education that is all but entirely backed up by modern psychological research (see Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Lillard).  Given the geographic proximity of your schools, timeliness regarding the President's focus on early childhood education, and the momentum of the research-supported Montessori movement, you are in position to lead at a pivotal time.  For more information on the Montessori philosophy, see this video.  As [intro to self], I am also happy to answer any of your questions.  Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
[Name]
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Home: "How We Montessori" Blog

I have long enjoyed the comprehensive, aesthetically beautiful, and philosophically on-point how we montessori blog.  Written by Kylie, mother of Caspar and Otis, the blog chronicles how this Canberra - based family implements the Montessori philosophy at home. In addition to providing home practices, the blog shares other families' Montessori stories, endorses high-quality Montessori products, and generates funds for the spread of education and the Montessori philosophy worldwide.  Sponsorship dollars received by "how we montessori" are donated to A Girl & Her World - a foundation that supports education for girls in Fiji.  Kylie also co-authored a book called Kids in the Kitchen: Simple Recipes that Build Independence and Confidence the Montessori Way , proceeds of which go to Montessori For All and their progress toward building free, public Montessori schools in Texas.  This blog is not to be missed.
Post a Comment
Read more

Training: Movement Activities

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend an AMI training session for Assistants with sessions on movement and transitions in the classroom.  Jennifer Shields, the Primary Teacher Trainer, who presented on movement emphasized its importance in childhood development and the Montessori environment. Movement is one of the major acquisitions during the first plane of development, which stretches from birth to age six.  During this time, "neurons that fire together wire together," and a substantial amount of brain development must occur.  In the Montessori environment, children's work is intrinsically tied to movement.  Whether children are walking in the classroom (control within group), walking the line (whole body coordination), carrying materials (order), or using materials (hand-eye coordination; absorb concrete concepts); their movement serves not only as a means to an end, but as a primary vehicle for absorbing new ideas.  Montessori dire...
Post a Comment
Read more

Classroom: Becoming a Directress

To create a Montessori classroom, you need a prepared environment with specially designed materials tailored to the sensitive periods and characteristics of children in the particular plane of development.   You need a prepared directress to connect the children to the prepared environment.   And you need the children.   Many adults who study Montessori feel strongly that it is the best way to educate children.   Some of these adults go on to become Montessori directresses. These directresses-in-training learn the history of Montessori education and the facets of its theory.   They learn precise purposes and extensions of materials and the ways to present them.   They study details such as how to walk across a classroom, how to position one’s body when talking to a child, how to use encouragement instead of praise, and the list goes on.   Through observation, these directresses learn to follow the child. Some directress training happens in lectu...
Post a Comment
Read more