You believe children learn best through active engagement, using a wide variety of carefully designed materials.
You understand that classroom environments should foster the development of independence and self-discipline. You know children have an innate need to be part of a supportive community. These are the tenets of the Montessori approach, and they are the standards by which you will train in Lander's Montessori program.
The early childhood education program includes study and practice of specialized teaching methods appropriate for young children and a broad range of content preparation. Candidates who seek early childhood certification may opt to do the additional coursework for a Montessori endorsement at either the undergraduate or graduate levels.
All teacher education programs at Lander University are guided by Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) standards, a nationally recognized model which outlines teacher competencies "to ensure that every K-12 student reaches the goal of being ready to enter college or the workforce in today's world." InTASC Standards, listed below, provide direction for programs, courses, teaching and teacher candidate assessment:
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Note: The information below provides convenient links to some of the courses required for this degree; however, it should not be used as a course registration guide. Please refer to the official Lander University Academic Catalog for the most accurate and up-to-date program requirements.
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS1 |
CREDIT |
||
| A. Core Skills |
|
||
| ENGL 101 | Writing and Inquiry I | 3 | |
| ENGL 102 | Writing and Inquiry II | 3 | |
|
Approved Mathematics |
3 | ||
|
B. Humanities and Fine Arts |
6 | ||
| C. Behavioral and Social Perspectives | |||
| HIST 101 | Western Civilization (before 1600) OR HIST 102 Western Civilization (1600-1918) OR HIST 111 U.S. History to 1877 OR HIST 112 U.S. History since 1877 OR HIST 121 World Civilizations to 1600 OR HIST 122 World Civilizations since 1600 |
3 | |
| Behavioral and Social Perspectives elective | 3 | ||
| D. Scientific and Mathematical Reasoning | |||
| Approved Science or Mathematics | 3 | ||
| Approved Lab Science | 4 | ||
| E. Founding Documents of the United States | |||
| HIST 111 |
United States History to 1877 |
3 | |
| F. World Cultures | 3 | ||
| G. LINK 101 | 1 | ||
| University Requirement | |||
| FALS 101 | 15 FALS-approved events (Temporarily suspended) |
0 |
|
| Total General Education Requirements | 35 | ||
1 For approved courses see the General Education section
| MAJOR PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS | CREDIT HOURS |
|
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 106 | Field Experience IA | 0.5 |
| EDUC 204 | Instructional Technology for Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 206 | Field Experience IC | 0.5 |
| EDUC 207 | Field Experience ID | 1 |
| EDUC 210 | Communication in Diverse Classrooms | 3 |
| EDUC 223 | General Pedagogy | 3 |
| ECED 222 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| ECED 227 | Introduction to Early Childhood | 3 |
| MATH 203 | Math for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| MONT 474 | Foundations of Reading Montessori Classroom | 3 |
| SPED 223 | Pre K-12 Student Diverse Learning Needs | 3 |
Professional Education Content Preparation These courses can be taken by students only after acceptance into the Professional Program (Candidate Status) |
||
| EDUC 300 | Content Area Reading and Writing | 3 |
| EDUC 302 | Educational Assessment | 3 |
| EDUC 306 | STEAM Instructional Design | 3 |
| EDUC 345 | Instructional Practices of Teaching Reading | 3 |
| ECED 307 | Health and Movement for Childhood | 3 |
| ECED 322 | Science Pedagogy for Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECED 323 | Math Pedagogy for Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECED 329 | Field Experience II | 2 |
Montessori Program Emphasis Requirements |
||
| MONT 470 | Montessori Methods: Practical Life | 3 |
| MONT 471 | Montessori Methods: Sensorial | 3 |
| MONT 472 | Montessori Philosophy, Educational Theory & Administration/Parent Education | 3 |
| MONT 473 | Methods of Observation & Classroom Leadership | 3 |
| MONT 475 | Montessori Methods: Mathematics | 3 |
| MONT 493 | Montessori Methods: Integrated Curriculum | 3 |
|
|
||
Fall Semester Courses: |
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| ECED 429 | Clinical Practice A | 3 |
| ECED 405 | Children and Families | 3 |
| ECED 427 | Social Studies for Early Childhood | 3 |
| SPED 321 | Assessing and Teaching Reading to Needs | 3 |
| MONT 429 | Practicum I | 3 |
Spring Semester Courses: |
||
| EDUC 461 | Clinical Practice B | 11 |
| EDUC 499 | Teacher Education Seminar | 1 |
| MONT 461 | Practicum II | 3 |
| Total Major Requirements | 99 | |
| Additional Electives | 10 | |
| TOTAL FOR BS DEGREE (MONTESSORI CERTIFICATION COURSES - 24 HOURS) |
144 | |
*Status, as defined below, is determined by factors which include, but are not limited to: PRAXIS Core scores, GPA, course completion, program assessments, and maintenance of professional dispositions.