Description
The AMI Diploma course is intended to prepare adults to understand and to support optimal development for children ages 6–12 through deep engagement with Montessori developmental theory and through purposeful exploration of developmentally appropriate educational activities and materials.
Minimum Requirements for Award of the AMI 6–12 Diploma
Student Engagement
Required Attendance 90%
• Preparation of the Adult
• Course Content: Integration of First Plane Components and Second Plane Theory and Practice
• Demonstration and Exploration of Second Plane Activities and Materials
• Readings and Discussions based in Required and Recommended Course Readings
• Additional Hours of Student Engagement as organised by the Director of Training
Supervised/Guided Practice
Required Attendance:100%
A minimum of 140 Hours of Supervised/Guided Practice to include
• A minimum of 120 hours of Supervised/Guided Practice to be completed In Person / Onsite in the Training Centre Environment for ages 6–12
• Remaining Hours of Guided Practice may be completed In Person / Onsite in the Training Centre Environment for ages 6–12 (Face to Face Diploma Course); or through Online Sessions (Blended Diploma Course) as organised by the Director of Training
• Additional Hours of Supervised/Guided Practice as organized by the Director of Training
Observation of Montessori Environments for Ages 6–12
Required Attendance: 100%
A minimum of 99 Hours of Observation, to include
• A minimum of 90 Hours of Observation to be completed In Person / Onsite, in environments for children ages 6–9, 9–12, or 6–12, directed by a Person Holding an AMI 6–12 Diploma and prepared according to AMI standards
• A minimum of 9 Hours of Observation to be completed In Person / Onsite, in environments for children ages 3-6, directed by a person holding an AMI 3-6 Diploma and prepared according to AMI standards
• When necessary, up to 50% of Observation Hours can be completed in a student’s own Montessori Environment for ages 6–9, 9–12, or 6–12, or in a Montessori Environment for ages 6–9, 9–12, or 6–12 not directed by an AMI Diploma holder, with appropriate assignments as organised by the Director of Training
• Additional Hours of Observation as organised by the Director of Training
Teaching Practice in Montessori Environments for Ages 6–12
Required Attendance: 100%
A minimum of 120 Hours of Teaching Practice, to include
• A minimum of 120 Hours of Teaching Practice to be completed In Person / Onsite, in environments for children ages 6-9, 9-12, or 6–12, directed by a Person Holding an AMI 6–12 Diploma and prepared according to AMI standards.
Teaching Practice should be a cumulative experience, and days organised consecutively. This means time must be allocated for students to be present in schools for periods of minimum of one week at a time.
• When necessary, up to 50% of Teaching Practice Hours can be completed in a student’s own Montessori Environment for ages 6 to 12, with appropriate assignments as organized by the Director of Training.
• Additional Hours of Teaching Practice as organised by the Director of Training
Compilation of Reference Albums
• Theory • Language • Mathematics • Geometry • Geography • Biology • History • Music • Art • First Plane Components
Material Making
As organised by the Director of Training
Written Examinations
Minimum Passing Score: 50% for Paper A and 50% for Papers B1 and B2 Combined
Written Examinations for the 6–12 Diploma Course consist of
- Paper A Theory – 3 Hours
- Paper B 1 Applied Theory/Practical Topics – 2.5 Hours
(Language, Mathematics, and Geometry)
- Paper B 2 Applied Theory/Practical Topics – 2.5 Hours
(Geography, History, and Biology)
Oral Examinations
Minimum Passing Score: 12.5 out of 25 for Each Area
Oral Examinations for the 6–12 Diploma Course consist of
• Geometry • Mathematics • Language • Geography • Biology • History
Student Engagement (Core Elements)
Preparation of the Adult
• The Role and Worldview of the Montessori Adult at each plane of development, including Reflective
• Practice to Identify and Transform Inherent Prejudice and Bias
• The Role of the Adult in the Second Plane
• The Role of Observation
• Learning to Observe (10 hours)
- Course Content: Montessori Child Psychology and Child Development Theory
- Course Content: Montessori Child Psychology and Child Development Theory – First Plane
- Course Content: Montessori Educational Theory and Practice – First Plane
- Course Content: Montessori Child Psychology and Child Development – Second Plane
- Course Content: Montessori Educational Theory and Practice – Second Plane
- The Development of Language
- The Development of Mathematics (including Geometry)
- Cosmic Exploration
- Demonstration and Exploration of Second Plane Activities and Materials Practical Implementation of Second Plane Activities and Materials
- Course Content: Integration
Email and Internet Access
Students will need access to Email and the internet as information will be sent to them regularly by email. Some assignments will need to be submitted electronically.
Language
All lectures will be in English. Course work will need to be presented in English both orally and in writing. It will be necessary for students to take comprehensive lecture notes and write original essays and prepare assignments based on course information. Students will also be required to explain theoretical principles during the Oral examination.
Attendance
Students must have 90% attendance for each aspect of the course including time taken off due to illness. Attendance records will be meticulously maintained throughout the course. In case of absence, students should notify the Director of Training in writing, at least one day in advance. In case of illness the student should inform the training center by phone or email immediately.
Examination
The students’ eligibility for appearing for the Examination will depend on the following:
• 90% attendance for each aspect of the course
• Punctual completion and submission of all assignments called for in the course of the year
• Full payment of the fees
• Completion of required hours of School Teaching Practice
• Completion of required hours of School Observations
• Completion of required hours of Supervised Practice
An external examiner will be appointed by AMI to conduct the examinations. The diploma is awarded by the Association Montessori Internationale after a successful written and oral examination and completion of all requirements for certification. The decision of the board of examiners will be final and binding. No appeals will be entertained after results are released.
Registered students who for valid reasons fail to appear for the examinations on the scheduled dates at the appointed time may be given the opportunity to appear at the examinations held the following year thereafter. They will have to apply for this opportunity in writing with a full and acceptable explanation. In case of medical grounds, a registered practitioner must attest the medical certificate. They will be charged an additional Fees for the re-examination as informed by the Institute.
Students appearing for re-examination in any of the parts can do so ONLY the following year. They will be required to attend additional classes for which they will be charged a fee. They will also be charged the Examination Fee for the re-examination as informed by the Institute. Students who fail in the examination or re-examination and still wish to attain an AMI diploma will have to undergo another full course of training for which they will be charged the full Course fees including Examination Fee.
Eligibility
Candidates fulfilling the following requirements will be considered eligible for admission into the course. The candidate should have:
• Completed 20 years of age
• A Bachelor’s degree
• A sound knowledge of English
• Basic computer skills and email access
• Successful completion of the Interview process
We welcome candidates from all walks of life and different professions.
Application
To be considered for admission you need to submit the following:
• Application Form duly filled in and signed by the applicant with one photo affixed
• Two additional photos identical to the one affixed on the application form
• Attested OR Certified Copies of all educational documents
• Letters of reference from current or previous employers
• Application Fee
• HANDWRITTEN essay (about 500 words) on An Overview of My Life
Application fees
Application fee is Rs.3,250 (for Indian nationals/ NRI/ OCI card holders) and USD80 (for all Foreign nationals) to be paid alongwith Application form.
Admission Procedure
Admissions are on a first come first served basis.
Applications must be submitted with all enclosures. The Admissions Review Committee will process all completed applications and invite the applicants on a scheduled date and time for the Interview. Only successful candidates will be informed about the due date for making the payment towards the course fees. The decision of the committee will be final and binding.
Early bird fee is available for the Diploma course. To avail this offer, all registration formalities including payment of the course fee needs to be completed on or before 30th September, 2023. Post this date regular fees will be applicable.
Interview
An online zoom interview will be arranged after the applications are received. The interviews will be conducted on a scheduled date and time which will be informed in advance. Applicants are requested to make themselves available during their allotted date & time. Students may be required to take an English check.
Admission Confirmation
Selected candidates will receive a letter of acceptance with a last date for the payment of fees. Once the fee is paid the candidate will receive an acknowledgement of the payment.
Course Dates and Timing
The course runs in 4 modules. The course schedule will be as follows:
Students will be asked to be extremely punctual. Latecomers will be marked absent for half the session.
Course Fees
Registrations are open and you could register now to avail the Early bird offer.
- Early bird fee is available for application reaching us till 15th September, 2023. To avail this offer, all registration formalities of the early bird applicants including payment of the course fee needs to be completed on or before 30th September, 2023. Post this date regular fees will be applicable.
- Regular fee will be applicable on applications reaching us on or after 16th September, 2023 and till seats are available.
Early bird fee structure for applications reaching us on or before 15th Sept., 2023
Regular Fee structure for applications reaching us on or after 16th September, 2023
| Fees | Indian Nationals (INR) | NRI and OCI card holders (INR) | Asian and African Nationals (US$) | Foreign Nationals (US$) | Due |
| Tuition | 212,076 | 312,851 | 4,582 | 6,122 | |
| Examination | 30,297 | 44,693 | 655 | 875 | As mentioned |
| Special Fee | 33,051 | 48,756 | 714 | 954 | on the Letter |
| CGST @ 9% | 24,788 | NA | NA | NA | of Acceptance |
| SGST @ 9 % | 24,788 | NA | NA | NA | after the zoom |
| Total | 325,000 | 406,300 | 5,950 | 7,950 | interview |
The last date to submit an application for all nationals is 30th Nov., 2023.
Indian Nationals, OCI card holders and NRI’s may pay the fees by means of Bank Transfer in Indian Currency in favor of Montessori Institute of Bangalore. Foreign Nationals, Asians and African Nationals must pay the fees in US Dollars by means of Bank Transfer (or preferably through TransferWise in INR equivalent to US dollars) in favor of Montessori Institute of Bangalore payable in Bangalore.
Diploma
The AMI diploma is awarded by the Association Montessori Internationale. It qualifies the holder to work with children in a Montessori environment between 6 to 12 years of age. Diploma holders have great opportunities to find employment in India and abroad. The diploma is recognised throughout the world. Many diploma holders have started their own schools.
Refund Policy
The fee is non-refundable. Once paid it cannot be refunded for any reason either prior to the commencement of or during the course on withdrawal of a student. Students will be required to submit a Refund Policy Acceptance letter at the time of payment of fee.
Foreign Nationals must pay the fees in US Dollars by means of Bank Transfer (preferably through TransferWise in INR equivalent to US dollars) in favour of “Montessori Institute of Bangalore” payable in Bangalore.
MIB Bank Details for bank transfer :
Account Name: Montessori Institute of Bangalore
Bank: Bank of Baroda, Branch: Gandhi Bazaar
Current Account Number: 89490200000692
IFSC code: BARB0VJGABZ (there is a zero in between)
SWIFT Code: BARBINBBBGL (for international payments)
MICR 560012115
Faculty:
Elementary Director of Training: Ms. Alison Awes
Alison Awes has been the Director of 6-12 Training at the Montessori Center of Minnesota since 2010, serves as an adjunct faculty member for Saint Catherine University, St.Paul, and is the Director of 6-12 Training for the Montessori Institute of Bangalore and Maria Montessori Institute, London. She holds Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Diplomas for Primary (ages three to six) and Elementary (ages six to twelve) levels, a B.A. in art history from Smith College, an M.A. in Latin-American studies from Tulane University, and an M.Ed. in Montessori education from Loyola University Maryland. She has taught in Montessori classrooms for ages six to nine and ages nine to twelve. Ms. Awes is an AMI examiner and consultant, and has served on the boards of private and charter (public) Montessori schools. A former board member of the AMI Elementary Alumni Association, she served as a pedagogical advisor for six years and now works on the AMI Scientific Pedagogy Group.
As an international lecturer and keynote speaker, she has given numerous workshops and short courses on a wide variety of topics, including dyslexia, art and the work of the hand, the psychological and physical prepared environment, and moral development in the digital age. She has worked on the faculty at international AMI teacher training centers, including those in Australia, India, South Africa, and Thailand, and has also directed courses in England and Switzerland. Ms. Awes has worked to advance the philosophy, spirit, and practice of Montessori through regularly mentoring teachers in Montessori classrooms worldwide. An advocate for children with reading challenges, she also holds Level I Orton Gillingham training. Ms. Awes attended Montessori school until the age of twelve.
AMI Associate Trainer
Prabha Karthik is an AMI Associate Trainer for the 6 to 12 age group. She completed the AMI 6 to 12 training course in 2009 and the 3 to 6 course in 2016 at the Navadisha Montessori Foundation, Chennai, India. She has worked as part of the training team in Navadisha, under Ann Dunne, first as a course assistant and later as a trainer-in-training from 2012 to 2021. She has conducted many orientation courses as well as one of the first Assistant’s Adjunct courses in the elementary. She has also been a National Examiner on AMI Elementary courses. She does observation and consulting with schools and supports them through specially designed workshops for teachers. Prabha holds a Master’s degree in Econometrics from Madras University, Diploma in Special Education from V-Excel Educational Trust, and Diploma in Elementary Education from the National Institute of Open Schooling, Government of India.
Prabha has been involved with a Gandhian organization Shanti Ashram for over 14 years. Through a partnership with Shanti Ashram, Arigatou International, UNICEF and Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), she has facilitated ethics education workshops for children, young people and parents both in rural and urban communities, within India and outside. She has also been part of an international working group as a Montessori specialist to help create and implement ethics education programmes for children under 12 years of age.
AMI Auxiliary Trainer
Kamini Kapur is an AMI Auxiliary Trainer at the elementary age level. She brings over eighteen years of rich experience working with children in diverse formal and informal environments. Over the last four years, she has worked with Navadisha Montessori Foundation, Chennai, India, as a lecturer and presenter under the guidance of Trainer Ann Dunne. Her professional experience includes serving as a National Examiner on AMI Elementary courses in the UK and India. She holds an AMI Diploma for Elementary and Primary age levels, a Master’s degree in Sociology and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce.
Kamini is a passionate advocate for nature. She aims at instilling an appreciation and responsibility towards the environment among children and adults through hands-on engagement and sustainable living practices.
Shalini Thilak holds AMI diplomas for both the Primary and Elementary levels. She has an MA in English from Bangalore University. She has taught in both three to six and six to twelve classrooms.
Her interest has always been in spreading the awareness of the Montessori philosophy to the wider society. This has led to mentoring schools in the rural sector both in Chennai and Bangalore. Shalini also founded a Montessori School in Bangalore. She currently serves as a consultant in the language immersion program in The Montessori School (TMS) and Kriyasthala.
Our trainers have also qualified through the AMI Training of Trainers Programme requiring at least a further 3 years of intensive study.
Books and Stationery Budget
It is advisable for students to acquire the Montessori books in the Required Reading list. The students will also have to acquire stationery for the course, for course submissions. Students using computers must budget additionally for printing costs. The cost will vary depending on the choices made. We would like to emphasize that this is a budget and that it is only an approximate guide. The training course neither recommends nor endorses particular stationery products. Students are advised to budget for books and materials for the duration of the course as follows.
| Items | Budget (approx.) | Likely to be spent |
| Montessori Books | Rs. 4,500 | Before the course commences |
| Stationery | Rs. 2000 | For the duration of the course |
| Materials | Rs. 2000 | For the duration of the course |
| Printing | Rs. 2000 | For the duration of the course |
Required and Recommended Readings
The following books are required and will have compulsory readings. Please be sure you have these books on hand throughout the course:
Required Reading By Dr Maria Montessori
- Citizen of the World: Key Montessori Readings Maria Montessori
- To Educate the Human Potential Maria Montessori
- From Childhood to Adolescence Maria Montessori
- The Advanced Montessori Method Vol. I Maria Montessori
- The Advanced Montessori Method Vol. II Maria Montessori
- Education and Peace Maria Montessori
- The 1946 London Lectures Maria Montessori
Recommended Reading By Dr Maria Montessori
-
- Psychogeometry Maria Montessori
- Psychoarthmetic Maria Montessori
- The Absorbent Mind Maria Montessori
- The Montessori Approach to Music Maria Montessori
- Creative Development of the Child Vol. I Maria Montessori
- Creative Development of the Child Vol. II Maria Montessori
- The Discovery of the Child Maria Montessori
- The Child in the Family Maria Montessori
- The Formation of Man Maria Montessori
- The Child, Society and the World Maria Montessori
- The Secret of Childhood Maria Montessori
- Education for a New World Maria Montessori
- Human Tendencies and Montessori Education Mario Montessori, Sr
These books may be ordered from the Montessori Pierson Publishing Company or secured from another source. Please note that Montessori’s books have been published and reprinted by various publishers, and therefore, some of the texts will have slight variations. We do not require specific editions or publishers.
Montessori-Pierson Publishing Company
Website: https://montessori-pierson.com/
Email: info@montessori-pierson.com
Some of the books are now available as digital books from Amazon for Kindle and Montessori Pierson Publishing Company. You can view those items here: https://montessori-pierson.com/e-books.html
The students will read from the Montessori literature for Related Group Discussions, as Sources for Written Work, and to Support Theoretical and Practical Understanding of Activities and Materials in the 6– 12 Environment