Hi,
I've read several books about Montessori for infants and toddlers, but I'd like to get a more thorough and detailed understanding of the method, in order to do a better job of applying it with my own children (and possibly also in a small homeschool co-op setting). I'm reasonably familiar with the theory, so I'm mainly looking for practical advice, i.e. the "how," "what," and "when" of introducing various activities.
While I'd love to do the AMI Assistants to Infancy training, and get some classroom experience, this isn't feasible for our family right now. I've already done the 3-6 training through NAMC, and I'm willing to consider using them again, despite my misgivings about their approach (as discussed in the Montessori Training Differences thread), since their manuals seem to provide the sort of thing I'm looking for. It's pricey for what you get, though: $850 for the manuals alone, or $1650 for the whole course. So I'm wondering if there are any other distance learning programs, or sources for infant/toddler albums.
Some people have recommended Montessori Foundation for primary and elementary albums, but they don't seem to have a complete 0-3 program. It's hard to figure out exactly what their books cover, based on the descriptions. I wouldn't mind some sort of abridged album -- the infant/toddler equivalent of Montessori on a Limited Budget or Montessori Matters -- if such a thing exists. As long as it's not just something brief, vague, and idealized, like Montessori From the Start, which gives a taste of the method, but IMO falls very short in explaining the practical aspects of working with real-life babies and toddlers.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
(BTW, for those who are interested in learning the theory, here's the required reading list for the AMI Assistants to Infancy:
Montanaro, Silvana Quattrocchi, M.D.
Understanding the Human Being
Medical Text (spiral-bound, given out in class)
Montessori, Maria, M.D.
Education for a New World
The Absorbent Mind
The Child in the Family
The Discovery of the Child
The Formation of Man
The Secret of Childhood
Standing, E.M.
Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work )
I've read several books about Montessori for infants and toddlers, but I'd like to get a more thorough and detailed understanding of the method, in order to do a better job of applying it with my own children (and possibly also in a small homeschool co-op setting). I'm reasonably familiar with the theory, so I'm mainly looking for practical advice, i.e. the "how," "what," and "when" of introducing various activities.
While I'd love to do the AMI Assistants to Infancy training, and get some classroom experience, this isn't feasible for our family right now. I've already done the 3-6 training through NAMC, and I'm willing to consider using them again, despite my misgivings about their approach (as discussed in the Montessori Training Differences thread), since their manuals seem to provide the sort of thing I'm looking for. It's pricey for what you get, though: $850 for the manuals alone, or $1650 for the whole course. So I'm wondering if there are any other distance learning programs, or sources for infant/toddler albums.
Some people have recommended Montessori Foundation for primary and elementary albums, but they don't seem to have a complete 0-3 program. It's hard to figure out exactly what their books cover, based on the descriptions. I wouldn't mind some sort of abridged album -- the infant/toddler equivalent of Montessori on a Limited Budget or Montessori Matters -- if such a thing exists. As long as it's not just something brief, vague, and idealized, like Montessori From the Start, which gives a taste of the method, but IMO falls very short in explaining the practical aspects of working with real-life babies and toddlers.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
(BTW, for those who are interested in learning the theory, here's the required reading list for the AMI Assistants to Infancy:
Montanaro, Silvana Quattrocchi, M.D.
Understanding the Human Being
Medical Text (spiral-bound, given out in class)
Montessori, Maria, M.D.
Education for a New World
The Absorbent Mind
The Child in the Family
The Discovery of the Child
The Formation of Man
The Secret of Childhood
Standing, E.M.
Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work )
