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FORWARD.
A NEW DIRECTION
IN EDUCATION
School of Education
WASHINGTON
MONTESSORI
INSTITUTE
AT
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MARYLAND
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Association Montessori Internationale Diploma
and Master of Education in Montessori Education
MINDS
ABSORB &
EXPLORE
T
he path of a falling snowake. The rippling light on a rivers surface.
A crickets steady chirp. The smallest, simplest momentsthe tiny things
so many adults never noticeare beacons for children, who embrace
these unique opportunities to explore and understand the world around them.
This natural path to discovery lies at the heart of the Montessori approach to
education. At the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University Maryland,
we ofer aspiring educators the preparation they need to embrace this philosophy.
THEROOTSOFTHE
MONTESSORIMETHOD
Maria Montessori, one of the rst Italian women to be granted
a medical degree, developed the Montessori method in the
early 20th century. Dr. Montessori believed that all children
are born with inherent gifts and abilities that guide their
development. She designed learning environments to ofer
children the most natural and life-afrming experiences
possible, responding to the physical, mental,
emotional, and spiritual development of
each child. Her earliest work served a house
of 50 children from Romes poorest
communities, and from the beginning,
the Montessori method has endeavored to
provide the ideal conditions for learning for
all childrenregardless of socioeconomic
status or cultural background. In 1929
Dr. Montessori founded the Association
Montessori Internationale (AMI), an
organization that aims to uphold and further
this approach to child development, as well as advocate
for childrens rights worldwide. AMI also serves as an
accrediting body for Montessori schools and training
facilities throughout the world.
Today, the Montessori method has been adopted on six
continents. In North America alone, there are more than
5,000 private schools and 200 public and charter schools
following the Montessori philosophy. Demand for qualied
Montessori teachers has never been higher, and there is
no better place to begin a career in Montessori education
than at the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola
University Maryland.
WASHINGTONMONTESSORI
INSTITUTE
North Americas oldest AMI-accredited training center,
the Washington Montessori Institute was the rst in the
country to ofer the AMI Montessori diploma combined with
a Master of Education degree in either Primary or Elementary
Montessori Education, thanks to its partnership with
Loyola University Maryland.
PREPARINGTHETEACHER
The Washington Montessori Institute program integrates
child development theory, methodology, eld observations,
and practice teaching.
In unique model classrooms, graduate students receive
hands-on experience with Montessori materials appropriate
for primary- or elementary-age children.
Students also compose their own illustrated reference
manuals reecting the content of the course. They learn how
to design and maintain appropriate learning environments,
including the preparation of classroom materials.
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FACULTY GRADUATE STUDENTS
GRADUATE STUDENTS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
This approach to education welcomes the participation of
graduate students of all backgrounds. Recent WMI graduates
have come to the program from a variety of undergraduate
and professional disciplines as diverse as business, health,
theater, and science. While the reasons for their interest
are as unique as the individuals themselves, Montessori
teachers share a desire to engage in work that is efective
and makes a diference.
GRADUATE STUDENTS TEACHERS
The Primary Montessori program prepares educators to
follow the Montessori philosophy in working with children
between the ages of 3 and 6. Montessori theories of human
development provide a foundation for an understanding
of the specic needs and abilities of children at this level.
These include the exploration of activities for practical
life, renement of the senses, language, and mathematics.
Students learn how to present geography, history, and life
sciences as well as how to blend movement, music, and art
into daily class activities.
Students learn the importance of and how to encourage
the development of control of movement, sequencing, and
concentration through inviting and meaningful activity, and
how to guide children in ordering, classifying, and describing
sensory experience. Language development for the primary
child includes oral language enrichment, written expression,
reading, elements of grammar, and literature. Mathematics
activity makes use of manipulative materials to help the child
gain an understanding of the concepts of number, symbol,
sequence, operations, and memorization of basic facts.
PRIMARY
The Elementary Montessori program prepares educators
to respond to the needs of children between the ages of
6 and 12. In addition to the study of Montessori theory
regarding human development, the program encompasses
art, biology, geography, history, language, mathematics
(arithmetic, geometry, algebra), music, and physical
education. The program is rooted in storytelling with
ever-broadening lessons conveying a wealth of knowledge
about the universe, world, country, and community.
The programs approach to language includes a study of
grammar as an underpinning for interpretive reading, clear
writing, and logical speaking. Mathematics studies include
conceptual development, interpretation, and the development
of skills necessary for accurate problem-solving. Music and
art are approached from the childs fundamental desire for
self expression. Science studies direct the child to observe,
form hypotheses, experiment, and draw conclusions. History
is a centralizing study, containing all that human beings have
pondered, studied, and passed down to their descendants.
Physical tness is a vehicle through which the child is led
to realize the importance of a healthy body in empowering
the mind to ourish.
Because the Elementary program builds so much upon the
foundations addressed in the Primary program, students
who do not hold an AMI Primary diploma must complete
a three-credit prerequisite foundation course.
ELEMENTARY
GRADUATE STUDENTS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
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PROGRAMSTRUCTURE
Washington Montessori Institute/Loyola University Maryland
masters programs in Montessori education include 36
graduate credits plus comprehensive examinations. Coursework
is divided into two parts: nine months of Montessori training
(27 credit hours), followed by nine credit hours (three courses)
of core education classes designed to enhance students
broad knowledge of research and trends across the eld
of education. Students are eligible for the AMI diploma
after completing the Montessori training, and for a masters
degree in primary or elementary Montessori education after
nishing the nine core education credits. Students attend
Montessori training full-time, ve days a week, while the
core education component is usually taken in an intensive
summer session. Students also have the option to take the
education core during the subsequent academic year.
Those who already hold an M.Ed. may obtain a Certicate
of Advanced Study in either Primary or Montessori
Education by completing the Montessori training component
of the Washington Montessori Institute/Loyola University
Maryland program in addition to completing a three-credit
research project.
GRADUATE STUDENTS TEACHERS
TEACHERS STUDENTS
FACILITIES
The Montessori programs are housed at the Loyola
University Maryland Graduate Center Columbia
Campus, located in a suburban community mid-way
between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md. Facilities
include state-of-the-art technology, comfortable student
lounges, 24-hour access to a computer lab, and
University library services. Restaurants, cafs, and other
conveniences are within easy walking distance.
FACULTY
Janet McDonell

Janet McDonell, AMI primary
director at WMI, is a primary teacher trainer of the Montessori
Internationale. She holds AMI Primary, Elementary,
and Special Education diplomas, as well as a B.A. in
Comparative Literature from the University of Wisconsin and
an M.Ed. from Loyola University Maryland. She has 20 years
of teaching and administrative experience in Montessori
schools serving children of widely varying backgrounds.
McDonell is an examiner and member of the Training Group
for AMI and a consultant and board member for AMI/USA.
Carol Hicks

Carol Hicks, AMI elementary director
at WMI, is an elementary teacher trainer of the Associa-
tion Montessori Internationale. She holds AMi Primary and
Elementary diplomas, a B.A. in History from Marquette
University Wisconsin and an M.Ed. from Loyola University
Maryland. She is an AMI Elementary School Consultant and
Examiner and has 14 years of experience in teaching and
administrating at the elementary level in both public and
private Montessori schools. She recently directed an AMI
elementary training course at the Kansas City campus and
the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee.
Sharon Dubble

Sharon Dubble, Ph.D., is director
and chair of the Center for Montessori Education at Loyola
University Maryland. She holds AMI Primary and Elementary
diplomas, a B.A. in Social Work from the University of Michigan,
and a Ph.D. in Education from Walden University. She had 22
years of Montessori teaching and administrative experience
prior to focusing full-time on higher education. She is
co-author of The Whole-School Montessori Handbook and
is active in professional development and consultation for
Montessori administrators.
Jennifer Shields

Jennifer Shields is an AMI primary
teacher trainer. She holds the AMI Primary diploma from
the Ohio Montessori Training Institute. She earned a B.A.
in English Literature from Georgetown University and an
M.Ed. from Cleveland State University. She has worked in
Montessori schools as a teacher, assistant, and administrator.
She is an examiner for AMI and a presenter at workshops
for Montessori teachers and assistants.
Angela Gerstein

Angela Gerstein is an AMI el-
ementary instructor. She holds AMI primary and Elemen-
tary diplomas, a B.A. in Psychology from the University
of Northern Iowa, and an M.Ed. from Loyola University
Maryland. She has served on various pedagogical com-
mittees and as an outreach educator. In addition to school
administration, she has over 15 years teaching experience
in both private and public schools.
APPLY
YOUR
HEART
MIND
SPIRIT
APPLY
YOURSELF
APPLYONLINE
graduate.loyola.edu/graduate/application
APPLICATIONINFORMATION
Loyolas Montessori programs accept candidates who hold
bachelors degrees in any major. Applications are accepted
on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of May 1. The priority
deadline signies that a candidate is guaranteed acceptance
if all requirements are met. The program continues to accept
applications after May 1 and will accept students who meet
requirements as space permits.
REQUIREMENTS
The applicant must present satisfactory evidence of the ability
to pursue graduate work. Students are expected to possess
sound personal qualications and educational backgrounds.
The following items must be submitted:
Transcripts documenting a bachelors degree with a minimum
GPA of 3.0 from an accredited undergraduate or graduate
institution. Provisional admission may be granted to those
with GPAs between 2.75 and 3.0
Three letters of recommendation that attest to the candidates
professional or academic qualications
Completed application, including a personal essay and rsum
Application fee of $50
CONTACTINFORMATION
JanetMcDonell
Director,WashingtonMontessoriInstitute
jmcdonell@loyola.edu
WashingtonMontessoriInstitute
8890 McGaw Road, Suite 201
Columbia, Md. 21045
410-617-7777
Toll Free: 800-221-9107
Fax: 410-617-7769
OfceofGraduateAdmission
2034 Greenspring Drive
Timonium, Md. 21093
410-617-5020
graduate@loyola.edu
www.loyola.edu/graduate
4501 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, Md. 21210

www.loyola.edu/forward

FORWARD.
A NEW DIRECTION
IN EDUCATION
School of Education

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