Montessori Teacher Training

Montessori Teacher Training

Winfield Children’s House is home to the Maine Montessori Institute (MMI), a teacher preparation program for Early Childhood Montessori education. MMI is accredited by MACTE, the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. Teachers who successfully complete the program are eligible to receive an American Montessori Society certification for teaching children ages 3-6. MMI is also affiliated with the University of Southern Maine. MMI offers a M. S. Ed. in Teaching and Learning with a specialty in Montessori Education through the USM School of Education and Human Development. Teachers completing the Master’s Degree program are also eligible to take the Praxis II exam to earn a teacher certification from the State of Maine for ages birth-five. MMI offers wonderful benefits for Winfield Children’s House. First, it attracts wonderful teachers. Our preschool classrooms often hosts intern teachers who are completing their year-long practicum and internship through MMI. The MMI program draws teachers with a variety of backgrounds and experiences who enrich our classrooms. MMI also allows us to incorporate the latest innovations and requirements for teacher training into our curriculum, ensuring that the quality of Montessori education experienced by children at Winfield is of a national caliber.  Finally, MMI allows the teachers to model the kind of inquiry that we wish to instill in our young learners. The teachers and staff are learning and teaching one another and seek to know more through the training program. The children are aware of the intern teachers who arrive from other schools each Tuesday night for classes and know that their own classroom teachers assist in the set-up and teacher training. Winfield Children’s House is a richer place because of the Maine Montessori Institute. To learn more about the teacher training programs and the partnership with the University of Southern Maine, visit the Maine Montessori Institute...

Read More

Motor Activities for the Long Winter

Motor Activities for the Long Winter

Winter in Maine seems to last longer than one season! Here are some resources for ideas for gross and fine motor activities that could be just the right indoor activities for your toddler or preschooler. Also, some background on the importance of gross and fine motor activities for young children. The ability to write is a cognitive and physical achievement. The brain has to learn the minute differences between 26 similar letters and direct the body to form the lines of each letter. The trunk muscles help the body sit upright, ready at the paper. One shoulder, arm and hand steady the paper with just the right pressure. Then, the opposite shoulder, upper and lower arm, wrist, palm and fingers work together to push and pull the pencil in the precise sequence to form a letter. Phew! So much of writing readiness comes down to physical readiness. It is surprising how much of the body is involved in writing. Trunk strength in the core and shoulders is just as crucial for writing as hand strength. I like to visualize this as the larger muscles groups setting up a foundation for the hand muscles to grasp the pencil and make the precise movements for writing. Developing trunk strength involves coordination and balance. When the trunk is strong, it is easier for the hand to lightly grasp the pencil in that tripod finger grasp that allows for easy writing. The best way to prepare a child to write with ease is through motor activity! In the Montessori classroom, we incorporate gross and fine motor activities throughout the child’s day. The Practical Life area features fine motor activities like pouring and using tools like tweezers and scoops. The Language area includes activities like using chalk and pin punches. Gross motor movement takes place with music at circle time and during work time with care of the environment activities like dishes washing and sweeping. Here are some great online resources for fine and gross motor activities to try at home. There are many ideas at each website, enough to get you through the long winter! Let us know how it goes and if your child has a favorite activity. Gross Motor Activities OT Mom Learning Activities Offers movement game ideas for increasing hand-eye coordination, core strength, shoulder strength and bilateral coordination. The Inspired Treehouse Offers fun movement activites to increase core strength and balance. Fine Motor Activities Pre-Kinders Fine Motor Skills Ideas – photo rich and short descriptions of activities Imagination Tree 40 Fine Motor Activities for Children – great if you enjoy photos for...

Read More