Early Childhood (3-6 Diploma)

Schedule

Our next available Early Childhood (3-6 Diploma) Evening course will start August 5, 2025. Daytime course schedule coming soon. We’re to continue to offer both course options in a blended-online format with evening or daytime class hours for online sessions.

Ann Velasco Bio — Click learn more about your Evening Trainer, Ann Velasco

Primary Evening Course

Course begins August 5, 2025 with Graduation set for June 25, 2026!

Schedule:

Tues-Wed-Thurs via Zoom

4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Arizona time (please note Arizona time never changes)

Students will be required to attend in person sessions in Mesa:

August 18-29, 2025

October 9 – 17, 2025

March 5 – 13, 2026

June 1 – 25, 2026 (includes oral exams and graduation)

Click here to view the full/detailed schedule!

Primary Day Course

Schedule TBD!

Tiffany Liddell Bio — Click learn more about your Day Trainer, Tiffany Liddell

*Students enrolled in the Loyola University Maryland graduate program will participate in coursework from September 3rd – December 18th, 2025, and January 2nd through May 4th, 2026.*

A Day in the Life of a SIMS Student

The course will be delivered in a blended distance learning format. This will include online live group sessions via Zoom*; hands-on practice with materials either at the SIMS training center or at a school in the students vicinity; online distance learning modules; observation of children in public settings and Montessori settings. Three times during the year, students are required to attend in person classes in Phoenix. See the above schedule for more information.

Online Schedule:

Students are expected to attend online Zoom sessions during scheduled lecture weeks.

EVENING – 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Arizona time – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

DAYTIME – 9a-12p Arizona Time (August-October & April-May), 10a-1pm Arizona Time (November-March)

(Please note Arizona time never changes)

Online lectures are presented at the SIMS training center in Mesa, Arizona. Students are welcome to attend these lectures in person, but can be accessed via Zoom from wherever you are in the world.

Hands-on Practice with Materials:

An important aspect of Montessori teacher preparation is to become well acquainted with the specially designed Montessori materials that are used in classrooms. The opportunity for hands-on practice with the exercises is a critical part of the teacher preparation experience. For learners residing in the Phoenix area, the SIMS training center is available during hours convenient to trainee’s individual schedules. For those learners residing outside Phoenix, SIMS staff will work with them to establish arrangements with schools in their vicinity to have access to practice with Montessori materials.

CURRICULUM

So How Does It Work?

Your training will prepare you to lead a Montessori Primary classroom, called a “Children’s House.” The course includes 850 hours of rigorous teacher preparation. Upon completion of the course, you’ll have a diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), which is the only internationally-recognized Montessori diploma, and the gold standard in Montessori teacher education.

What You’ll Learn

Areas of study include:

Child development and psychology
The philosophy of the Montessori approach
The Exercises of Practical Life and the child’s acquisition of skills which lead to functional independence
Sensorial development
The development of spoken and written language
Strategies for classroom management
Geography, history, art, biology & music
Mathematics

How You’ll Learn

Coursework includes:

Lectures on Montessori philosophy and pedagogy
Demonstrations of the use of scientifically-designed and practical life Montessori materials
Extensive hands-on practice with the materials
3 weeks of classroom observation in Montessori schools
4 weeks of student teaching under the supervision of an AMI-certified teacher
Material making and classroom curriculum development
Based on coursework, you will write teaching reference books, referred to as “albums,”* which will serve you throughout your career. Compiling your albums deepens and solidifies your knowledge, preparing you for future work with children. Albums are a source of great pride for every Montessori Guide!

What You’ll Get

Upon completion, you’ll have:

An AMI Montessori diploma, certifying you to educate children aged 2½ to 6 using the Montessori pedagogy
An internationally-recognized and highly in-demand credential
The confidence and expertise you need to successfully direct your own classroom

NOTE: SPANISH OPTION AVAILABLE!†
For students enrolled in our evening Early Childhood (3-6 Diploma) course, our SIMS trainer is fluent in Spanish. Typically the course is delivered in English, but students can ask questions, complete course work (including albums), and complete written examinations in Spanish.

* A basic level of computer literacy is helpful in composing albums.

† Translation may be arranged if a large cohort of Spanish-speakers are registered for the course.

Philosophy of Indigenous Education Course

SIMS is proud to work with the Keres Children’s Learning Center (KCLC) to and the Indigenous Montessori Institute to transform education. Through their Philosophy of Indigenous Education program you will:

Explore the Montessori educational method through the lens of an Indigenous worldview
Explore Indigenous knowledge systems, intergenerational learning, language immersion practices, culturally sustaining pedagogies and more.
Participate in Anti-Bias/Anti-Racist training

For a full schedule and pricing, click here to visit the IMI website.

The Indigenous Montessori Institute has an incredible full-tuition scholarship opportunity available to members of Native American tribes in the United States. Qualified students enrolled in the Montessori training and the Philosophy of Indigenous Education will be considered for this scholarship. For further information, please contact Eileen Mitchell at povi@kclcmontessori.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my AMI diploma be accepted in other countries?

Yes! Your AMI diploma is the gold standard in Montessori education, and is the only internationally-recognized Montessori teacher training available. Schools around the world seek out and hire AMI-trained Montessori teachers.

Is a bachelor’s degree required to enroll in the training?

No. Our goal is that every person who starts our course will complete it successfully. If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, we’ll interview you to ensure that you are prepared to be successful in the course before you are accepted. If you have questions about this before your interview, please talk with us in person and we can advise you on your specific situation.

Can you guarantee a job placement upon completion of the course?

A job placement is not guaranteed upon completion of the course, but all graduates of our previous courses have found a position in a Montessori in the September following their graduation. We arrange job fairs, schedule your observations and practice teaching at schools that may be a good fit (when possible), and receive job postings from schools all year long, which are shared with our students. Since AMI-trained Montessori teachers are in high demand, our students typically end up in jobs they love!

Are there scholarships available?

Yes! Several scholarships are available through SIMS, and others are available externally. We encourage you to apply for these, and to look into other scholarships as well. Follow this link to see more about the scholarships we are aware of.

Is there such a thing as a Master’s degree in Montessori?

Yes! SIMS partners with Loyola University Maryland to offer a joint AMI Early Childhood (3-6 Diploma) and Master’s degree program. Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree before enrolling in this program. A student loan program that can support tuition at both SIMS and Loyola is available through Loyola. To find out more, attend one of our information sessions or follow this link.

What is the average income of an AMI-trained Montessori teacher?

Income varies by area, experience, school size, and education level. This AMI Salary inventory will give you insight into the variables that apply to you.

What is the typical career path of a Montessori teacher?

A career in Montessori can follow many different pathways. Whether you are a student just completing college, a teacher feeling disillusioned with traditional education, a mom who has been inspired by your child’s Montessori experience, an assistant in a Montessori classroom ready to make the leap, or someone who has just discovered Montessori and knows it’s for you, there is a place for you in this rapidly-growing field. Montessori teachers may start their own schools, take positions in public, private, or charter Montessori schools, start a day home or small school in their own home, or use their knowledge of Montessori to support them as counsellors, occupational therapists, or school administrators. Where you take your Montessori diploma is up to you!