2009 AMI 3-6 Course to be offered in an extended format - you can now work and study!

SINCE our last MMEF newsletter, we have been busy looking at an alternative delivery option for the AMI 3-6 Diploma to better meet the needs of the Montessori community -- and we're delighted to announce the following!

MMEF can now offer the AMI 3-6 training course in a format which enables students to work while they study. This is what so many of you requested, and we're delighted to announce that this is now possible!

This extended format will commence on Monday June 29th 2009 until January 21st 2011. Students will attend a total of 24 weeks over 7 'contact' modules in 2009 & 2010 (see details below). These contact modules will average 4 weeks in duration, and are scheduled to include the school term breaks and a week on either side. Students will be able to return to their own schools in between contact modules to put into practice what they have learnt.

Outside the contact modules there will be 10 weeks of Observation and Teaching Practice to be
completed in classrooms designated by the Director of Training in accordance with AMI specifications. These weeks of Observation and Teaching Practice may be completed in stages between July 2009 and December 2010.

The dates of the contact modules are:

Contact Module 1 – 29th June - 24th July 2009
(4 weeks)

Contact Module 2 – 21st Sept - 16th October 2009
(4 weeks)

Contact Module 3 – 4th – 29th January 2010
(4 weeks)

Contact Module 4 – 6th – 16th April 2010
(almost 2 weeks)

Contact Module 5 – 28th June - 23rd July 2010
(4 weeks)

Contact Module 6 – 20th Sept – 15th October 2010
(4 weeks)

Contact Module 7 – 10th – 21st January 2011

(2 weeks inc. ORAL EXAMS)

This information will also be posted to all Montessori schools before the end of term.

When should I apply?
MMEF will be scheduling course interviews in February when Director of Training, Cheryl Ferreira, returns to New Zealand. Don’t miss out- send in your applications early! MMEF are requesting course applications as soon as possible and by April 1st, 2009 at the very latest!

Where will I stay?
MMEF can also assist with shared accommodation by connecting potential students who may be travelling from other areas of the country or from overseas.

How can our school help?
Here are a number of ways that your school may benefit from the new course delivery format:

• Support one or more of your staff to attend the course
• Sponsor one or more of your staff to become AMI qualified
• Employ an International student for 20 hours per week during their practical module.
• Advertise the course to parents and friends. Let’s encourage young New Zealanders to “Champion the cause for all children”.
• Ask school parents or friends if they have a rental property, spare room or granny flat that may be suitable for students on a short term lease?

It gives us enormous pleasure to be able to present you with this new course format. We genuinely believe that this will open up the possibility for many more students to study for this internationally recognised Montessori Diploma. Please share your comments with us.

For full details and up-to-date course information visit www.mmef.org.nz or www.mmefnz.blogspot.com.

And to subscribe to MMEF News – a complimentary MMEF newsletter - and for enquiries about the course, please contact mmef@ihug.co.nz

And finally, MMEF wishes you all an enjoyable Christmas holiday and many good wishes for 2009!

Best wishes,
Carol, Tia, Anna, Shirley, Lynne

Trustees, MMEF