AMI Workshop: 3-6 Montessori Approach to Language

This 6 hour on-site workshop is aimed at helping educators and parents examine our

approach to language. By understanding the components of a language, and the needs of

the children of the particular plane of development, it is possible to create environments

where the child’s relationship with language is strengthened, and exploring in the language

becomes spontaneous and joyous. This workshop will specifically focus on the 3-6 child’s

needs and interest in language.

Course objectives

• Help participants reinforce their understanding of the developmental needs of their children, particularly the 3-6 year old child.

• Explore the Montessori approach to language for this age group.

• Understand the essential principles of creating a prepared environment that fosters love and joy for exploring and learning the language.

• Make a plan depending our own unique circumstances, to create a path forward for how we need to support children in their connection with a language.

Course Components

• A brief re-cap of the 3-6 child’s needs and abilities and essential aspects of the Prepared Environment (30 mins)

• The Montessori Approach to language (2 hours)

  • spoken, writing, reading

  • relationship between spoken language and writing

  • relationship oral language language, writing and reading

  • practical aspects of creating an environment that fosters spontaneous interest and joy

• A look at the English language and how it is offered - including presentations from spoken language, writing and reading activities (2.5 hours)

  • The art of conversation with a 3 year old, story telling as a skill, news period, oral question game

  • Use of the Movable Alphabet

  • Moving a child from mechanical reading to total reading

• Discussion around how the Indonesian language can be offered (1 hour)

About the Trainer

Pavithra Rajagopalan has worked with children since 2001 in formal, non-formal and

informal settings. She is a 3-6 Trainer as certified by Association Montessori Internationale

(AMI). After gaining her AMI Primary diploma In 2005, she worked in Montessori schools in

India, the US and New Zealand. She has also worked to understand other systems and

schools of thought in relation to child development. Since becoming a trainer in 2020,

Pavithra has trained in India, China and Singapore. She is the Director of Training for the

3-6 AMI Diploma at IMC, and is also part of the training team for courses in Tanzania,

Africa.