ELEMENTARY I-II (6-12) CERTIFICATION

2026-27 cohort: Fully online academic sessions on Fridays (began July 24, 2026), plus 10 in-residence Saturday Practicum Weekend Seminars and a July 2027 Practicum Intensive Week in Ormond Beach. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The MGTEI Elementary I-II (6–12) Teacher Certification addresses the second plane of development—the child of the reasoning mind—and is grounded in Cosmic Education as the organizing principle for all learning. Drawing on Dr. Maria Montessori's writings in To Educate the Human Potential and From Childhood to Adolescence, the course prepares adult learners to guide children ages 6–12 through the full Elementary I (6–9) and Elementary II (9–12) curriculum in a multi-age prepared environment.

The course is delivered online through the Moodle learning management system, with required in-residence Practicum Weekend Seminars and a Practicum Intensive Week at MGTEI in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Key features of the program include:

Weekly live online sessions with experienced Elementary instructors
The full Elementary curriculum: Mathematics, Geometry, Language, Physical Science, Biology, Geography, History, Art, Music, Movement/PE, and Practical Life, plus Curriculum Design and Classroom Leadership
Meaningful assignments directly connected to classroom experience, providing opportunities for reflection and practical application
Weekly interaction with instructors and peers, fostering a collaborative, supportive, and intellectually engaging learning community

This certification prepares adult learners to create purposeful, developmentally appropriate Montessori environments that nurture the elementary child's imagination, reasoning, and sense of their place in the universe.

THE ACADEMIC PHASE

Adult learners enrolled in the Elementary I-II Full Certification program complete a total of 1,608 hours, encompassing academic coursework, in-residence training, and a supervised practicum. The course is expected to be completed in 12-14 months.

The academic phase includes 528 academic contact hours, which include:
- 408 hours of live online sessions (Fridays), beginning with the Elementary I and II Overviews
- 120 in-residence hours: 10 Saturday Practicum Weekend Seminars (80 hours) plus a 40-hour Practicum Intensive Week (July 5-9, 2027) in Ormond Beach, FL
The practicum phase totals 1,080 hours of supervised, hands-on teaching experience in a Montessori Elementary (6–12) environment.

This balanced structure ensures that adult learners are well-prepared with a solid theoretical foundation and meaningful practical experience before entering the classroom as Montessori educators.

THE PRACTICUM PHASE

The intern-teaching phase must take place in a Montessori classroom serving children ages 6 to 12 years. In certain cases, alternative age groupings may be permitted at the discretion of the Program Director, provided they align with program guidelines.

To ensure a high-quality practicum experience, the following conditions must be met:

The classroom must be fully equipped with Montessori materials and prepared in accordance with Montessori principles appropriate for the Elementary level.
The Supervising Teacher must be a certified, experienced Montessori educator who meets all criteria for supervision.
Montessori best practices must be consistently implemented throughout the practicum period.

The ideal practicum setting allows the adult learner to serve as an assistant teacher/intern, working under the guidance of the Supervising Teacher to support the holistic development of children ages 6 to 12. This structure provides meaningful, hands-on experience in an authentic Montessori environment.

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