Partnering to Create Strong Montessori School Communities

We are excited to share the University of Delaware Montessori Teacher Residency (UDMTR), offered in partnership with the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS) through UD’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies. UDMTR exists to support a strong regional Montessori community with well-prepared Montessori teachers. Our approach to Montessori teacher preparation is grounded in research-based practices for teacher preparation and our understanding of the many issues facing contemporary Montessori schools in the independent sector. 

Building a high-quality Montessori learning community for children and the adults who work with them begins with the preparation of the Montessori teacher. This challenge is further addressed through a school culture that supports all teachers in a child-centered community that seeks answers to the many questions of contemporary schools, including issues of trauma, special education, English language learners, literacy, family engagement, and creating classrooms based on mutual respect. 

UD Montessori Teacher Residency (UDMR) program highlights

Montessori Instructional Practices – UDMTR provides instruction on the Montessori curriculum and classroom preparation with summer and academic year programming. 

Elementary I/II – Multi-year study of Montessori education leading to MACTE certification for 6-12-year-olds, providing much-needed flexibility for you as a school leader with teachers trained across the full Montessori elementary continuum. Our first cohort launches with a blended learning model in summer 2020.

Primary – One-year residency program leading to MACTE certification.  Our first cohort is planned to launch in the summer of 2021. 

Residency – UDMTR partners with you to create “wrap around” structures to support the development of new teachers.  In fact, these structures can support the continual growth of your entire school community. 

• Coaching – For various reasons, independent schools may not be able to have a teacher complete an internship under the guidance of a trained Montessori teacher. The UDMTR residency provides for a teacher to receive 30 coaching sessions in each year of their residency from a UDMTR coach or an in-house residency coach who participates in NCMPS coach training. UDMTR will also work with you to provide coaching to Montessori teachers who are seeking to improve their practice. 
• Lesson Study – UDMTR residents will participate in 30 lesson studies in each year of their residency. This Lesson Study Protocol designed by NCMPS provides opportunities for teachers to refine presentations and follow-on activities providing a structured protocol of sharing, observation, feedback, and reflection.   
• Child Study – UDMTR residents will participate in 15 Child Study meetings using the NCMPS Child Study Protocol assisting in the development of an action plan for children who have difficulties thriving in a Montessori-prepared environment. The focus of this child study is on a “what is happening with this child?” philosophy as compared to a “what is wrong with this child?” approach.

Surround Course Work – Based on the NCMPS (National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector) model, the UDMTR embeds learning experiences into the residency supporting the resident to manage a respectful Montessori classroom, meet the needs of children with identified and unidentified special needs, support English language learners, ensure strong literacy development, create sincere and authentic ways for families to engage, and deal with children and families in trauma.

Teacher pipeline – The University of Delaware has an impeccable reputation for the high-quality teachers graduating from our Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education programs. These young teachers are eager to teach in child-centered classrooms. In partnership with your school, we are uniquely positioned to help you market positions to our teacher candidates. Once you have determined that you would like to hire them, they will complete their Montessori preparation in the UDMTR.  UDMTR also receives inquiries from other prospective Montessori teachers.  As a UDMTR partner school, we can connect you with these teachers. 

Professional Development Support – Often Montessori schools struggle to find professional development that meets their unique needs as a child-centered community. UDMTR will partner with you to create professional growth opportunities for your schools’ specific needs drawing on the expertise of the UD faculty as well as Montessorians in the region. Possibilities include literacy in the Montessori classroom, cultural diversity, family partnerships, and navigating regulations such as licensing, QRIS systems, and accreditation processes. 

We look forward to working with to increase the opportunities for your schools to provide high quality Montessori education by supporting you with teachers well prepared for the contemporary Montessori school.  
 

For more information — join our mailing list

For more information about this program, or to join our mailing list, please contact UDMTR director Linda Zankowsky via the following webform: