The Montessori Infant & Toddler program offered by EMTA is designed to comprehensively prepare adult learners who aspire to work with children from birth to age three, implementing Montessori principles and materials. This early period in a child’s life is foundational, as children are driven to explore, move, and communicate within a carefully prepared environment. The program emphasizes creating a nurturing space where freedom within structure allows young children to develop trust, autonomy, and independence at their own pace, fostering secure relationships and confidence as they begin to explore the world around them.
EMTA’s Infant & Toddler Level is seeking American Montessori Society (AMS) affiliation and accreditation through Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) at this time, and references to AMS or MACTE throughout this document and website are solely to indicate that those standards and requirements are being followed.
Program Cycle
| Type of Contact | Hours |
|---|---|
| Online Learning Contact Hours | 144 |
| In-Residence Contact Hours | 183 |
| Practicum Attendance Hours | 540 |
| Documented Observation Hours | 12 |
| Total | 879 |
Our Infant & Toddler program takes eighteen months to complete and consists of three distinct phases:
- Online Learning
- In-Residence Training
- Practicum Experience
Your program starts with six months of online learning, followed by an intensive 4½-week residency at Montessori Academy in Eagle, Idaho. After completing the residency, you’ll enter a nine-month student teaching practicum under a qualified supervising teacher or as a self-directed practicum if you qualify. During the practicum, you’ll also attend two online courses that conclude in mid-October, allowing the rest of the year to apply the skills and strategies you’ve learned. Upon successful completion of all coursework and your practicum, you’ll earn either an AMS Infant & Toddler Credential or an Associate credential, qualifying you to be a lead teacher.
Prospective adult learners will receive an orientation prior to the start of the course cycle to develop an understanding of the policies, procedures, and requirements of the EMTA program as designated in the Adult Learner Handbook. Adult learners are given time to evaluate the commitment and time that the program will require and are provided opportunities to ask questions prior to signing the agreement for enrollment.
Online Learning
Online learning will be delivered through Schoology and Zoom. Dates and times vary.
In-Residence Orientation
Before beginning the in-residence academic phase, the new cohort of adult learners will meet with the faculty of EMTA. Adult learners will familiarize themselves with the faculty, the school site, and with each other. The agenda will go over the following:
- Cohort introduction
- Review the in-residence schedule and courses.
- Distribute and discuss course syllabi for in-residence courses
- Orientation to the school site (tour the campus)
In-Residence Orientation
Eagle Montessori Teaching Academy utilizes the campus of Montessori Academy Eagle (1400 Park Lane, Eagle Idaho) as its main site. In-residence learning is required to be attended in person with no online options available. The school has a large multipurpose room used for Lectures and provides many fully prepared Montessori classrooms for adult learners to receive presentations and practice using the materials. A full kitchen including a refrigerator, microwave, and stove are available for adult learner’s use. Within 5 miles of the site, there are gas stations, coffee shops, grocery stores, and many restaurants.
In-residence sessions are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM MST, with a one-hour lunch break. The schedule of the day alternates between lectures, presentation of materials, practice with materials, video aids, adult learner role-playing, and adult learner presentations.
Courses Offered
| Course | Instructor | Class Type | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Development: Theories | Stephanie McReynolds | Online | 30 |
| Child Development: Obstetrics | Ana Rivas | Online | 15 |
| Child, Family, & Community | Ivette De Haro | Online/In-Residence | 23 |
| Environmental Design: Nido | Jodie Bato | In-Residence | 40 |
| Environmental Design: Toddler | Ana Rivas/Kayley Olson | In-Residence | 80 |
| Montessori Philosophy | Ana Rivas | Online | 30 |
| Observation | Ivette De Haro | In-Residence | 16 |
| Pedagogy | Ana Rivas | Online/In-Residence | 28 |
| Personal Growth & Development | Lisa Aguilera/Kayley Olson | In-Residence | 17 |
| Practicum Introduction | Ana Rivas | In-Residence | 1.5 |
| Program Leadership | Kayley Olson | Online | 15 |
| Year-Long Project | Ana Rivas | Online/In-Residence | 7.5 |
