Workshops
From time to time we host workshops on various topics of interest to parents, teachers, Montessori guides and young adults wanting a career in teaching. Workshops cover various topics like literacy, numeracy, child development, discipline, first aid, nutrition, art, special needs (Autism, ADHD, etc.). Add your name to our database to stay updated on all upcoming workshops and apparatus training sessions: Contact Us
Numeracy for the young child (Grade R-2)
SACE ACCREDITED (SACE Accreditation Number: NG000000987)
Description:
This course will teach participants how to introduce mathematics and numeration concepts using developmentally appropriate activities in an engaging, concrete way. This includes recognising, identifying, and reading number symbols and ordering and comparing numbers. Place values and problem-solving techniques will also be covered.
Duration:
This 15 hours course consists of 5 sessions of 2-3 hours per session and will cover the following:
Session 1: Pre-Numeracy Activities (Songs and Games; Geometry shape activities;)
Session 2: Material Making
Session 3: 1-10 Activities
Session 4: Intro to Decimal System
Session 5: Teens, Tens and Hundred Board
Outcomes:
You will learn how to introduce some of the following Mathematical concepts using different techniques and:
1. Understand how children learn and use this knowledge to facilitate the learning of Mathematics skills with young children.
2. Develop The requisite knowledge and skills in the following areas will be developed:
a. Theory of How Children Learn and domains of development
b. Relevant and appropriate terminology concerning Numeracy
c. Monitoring and recording the progress of the children
d. Developing/ designing activities suitable for children ages 0-6 years
NOTE: Participants can attend the classes in person or online. (some sessions will require access to the Montessori didactic apparatus)
Assessment:
Participants must engage in discussions, practice during designated sessions, and work in teams. Assessment tasks include reading, completing online assessments, and creating didactic materials. Each session will include both a theory and a practical component. Additionally, each lesson plan will include the appropriate age for the activity, the materials needed, the developmental outcomes, how to facilitate the lesson, and the language used
CPDT CREDITS: 15
SACE ACCREDITED (SACE Accreditation Number: NG000000987)
Description:
This course will teach participants how to introduce mathematics and numeration concepts using developmentally appropriate activities in an engaging, concrete way. This includes recognising, identifying, and reading number symbols and ordering and comparing numbers. Place values and problem-solving techniques will also be covered.
Duration:
This 15 hours course consists of 5 sessions of 2-3 hours per session and will cover the following:
Session 1: Pre-Numeracy Activities (Songs and Games; Geometry shape activities;)
Session 2: Material Making
Session 3: 1-10 Activities
Session 4: Intro to Decimal System
Session 5: Teens, Tens and Hundred Board
Outcomes:
You will learn how to introduce some of the following Mathematical concepts using different techniques and:
1. Understand how children learn and use this knowledge to facilitate the learning of Mathematics skills with young children.
2. Develop The requisite knowledge and skills in the following areas will be developed:
a. Theory of How Children Learn and domains of development
b. Relevant and appropriate terminology concerning Numeracy
c. Monitoring and recording the progress of the children
d. Developing/ designing activities suitable for children ages 0-6 years
NOTE: Participants can attend the classes in person or online. (some sessions will require access to the Montessori didactic apparatus)
Assessment:
Participants must engage in discussions, practice during designated sessions, and work in teams. Assessment tasks include reading, completing online assessments, and creating didactic materials. Each session will include both a theory and a practical component. Additionally, each lesson plan will include the appropriate age for the activity, the materials needed, the developmental outcomes, how to facilitate the lesson, and the language used
CPDT CREDITS: 15
Approaches to Effective Discipline
Description:
Listening and guiding, without resorting to corporal punishment (which is not permitted as a form of discipline today, according to the Child's Act), is a challenge faced by both parents and educators. Each child comes from a different background, and parents or caregivers may apply various disciplinary approaches. Therefore, the same response may not work in the same situation with different children, particularly in a classroom setting.
A positive approach to discipline usually requires a complete paradigm shift for adults. This entails looking at the child differently, understanding the child, and, most importantly, making changes within ourselves.
Duration
This 12 hours course consists of 5-6 sessions of 1-2 hours per session and will cover the following:
(Participants can select to join the classes in-person or online)
The workshops will take the participants through the following key themes:
1. Understanding the philosophy of the approach, how we see discipline; why we do things a certain way – e.g. why not use rewards, praise or punishments? Boundaries & ground rules
2. Learning how to be ‘the adult’ in the situation; Making choices in line with our philosophy, Getting into the ‘right’ space, modelling appropriate behaviour for conflict resolutions, dealing with emotions, and controlling our responses and appropriate reactions
3. Understanding how children think and process information; Recognising their feelings and ‘behaviour codes’, decoding these and taking time to “train” them
4. Strategies & Responses; learning specific strategies, listening, problem-solving, and encouragement
5. The choices and consequences children have/experience as a result of their behaviours or choices or strategies for specific scenarios (E.g. Biting/fighting others; Telling lies; sharing/sibling rivalry, etc)
OUTCOMES
You will learn how to introduce some of the following approaches using different techniques
Assessment:
Participants will be expected to contribute to discussions, work in small groups to role-play scenarios and participate in discussion sessions during designated times.
CPDT CREDITS: 15
Description:
Listening and guiding, without resorting to corporal punishment (which is not permitted as a form of discipline today, according to the Child's Act), is a challenge faced by both parents and educators. Each child comes from a different background, and parents or caregivers may apply various disciplinary approaches. Therefore, the same response may not work in the same situation with different children, particularly in a classroom setting.
A positive approach to discipline usually requires a complete paradigm shift for adults. This entails looking at the child differently, understanding the child, and, most importantly, making changes within ourselves.
Duration
This 12 hours course consists of 5-6 sessions of 1-2 hours per session and will cover the following:
(Participants can select to join the classes in-person or online)
The workshops will take the participants through the following key themes:
1. Understanding the philosophy of the approach, how we see discipline; why we do things a certain way – e.g. why not use rewards, praise or punishments? Boundaries & ground rules
2. Learning how to be ‘the adult’ in the situation; Making choices in line with our philosophy, Getting into the ‘right’ space, modelling appropriate behaviour for conflict resolutions, dealing with emotions, and controlling our responses and appropriate reactions
3. Understanding how children think and process information; Recognising their feelings and ‘behaviour codes’, decoding these and taking time to “train” them
4. Strategies & Responses; learning specific strategies, listening, problem-solving, and encouragement
5. The choices and consequences children have/experience as a result of their behaviours or choices or strategies for specific scenarios (E.g. Biting/fighting others; Telling lies; sharing/sibling rivalry, etc)
OUTCOMES
You will learn how to introduce some of the following approaches using different techniques
- An Overall Approach to Discipline and talking to the child
- An understanding of how children process information and think
- Personal control Management (Controlling Ourselves & Our Responses)
- Choices & Consequences (These are the choices and consequences children have/experience as a result of their behaviours or choices or strategies for certain scenarios)
- Specific Scenarios (E.g. Biting/fighting others, Telling lies, Sexually Acting Out behaviours
Assessment:
Participants will be expected to contribute to discussions, work in small groups to role-play scenarios and participate in discussion sessions during designated times.
CPDT CREDITS: 15
SPECIAL NEEDS AND BARRIERS TO LEARNING
Description:
This programme aims to introduce teachers and ECD practitioners to methods for understanding, identifying, and supporting young children (ages 0-9) with barriers to learning. The approach involves using case studies, theory, and discussions. Through this program, teachers and ECD practitioners will learn how to identify a barrier and engage with the child meaningfully to provide support.
Duration
This 15 hours course consists of 5 sessions of 2-3 hours per session and will cover the following:
(Participants may select to join the classes in-person or online)
The workshops will take the participants through the following key themes:
Participants will be expected to contribute to discussions, work in small groups to role-play scenarios, and participate in discussion sessions during designated times.
CPDT CREDITS: 15
Description:
This programme aims to introduce teachers and ECD practitioners to methods for understanding, identifying, and supporting young children (ages 0-9) with barriers to learning. The approach involves using case studies, theory, and discussions. Through this program, teachers and ECD practitioners will learn how to identify a barrier and engage with the child meaningfully to provide support.
Duration
This 15 hours course consists of 5 sessions of 2-3 hours per session and will cover the following:
(Participants may select to join the classes in-person or online)
The workshops will take the participants through the following key themes:
- Inclusion in the SA context.
- Bronfenbrenner ecological model. A practical activity will follow this to identify human developmental norms in the young child.
- Session three will focus on case studies about barriers to learning. It will be more practical and require participants to extract and discuss the case studies about a particular barrier, with strategies to support the child.
- Sessions four and Five will look at the identification criteria of Autism and ADHD as well as referral processes.
- Neurodivergence and neurodivergent will be explained with strategies to support the child.
Participants will be expected to contribute to discussions, work in small groups to role-play scenarios, and participate in discussion sessions during designated times.
CPDT CREDITS: 15
Literacy: Teaching Reading and Writing to the Grade R-2 Child
Description:
The purpose of this training is to introduce teachers and ECD practitioners methods for introducing literacy concepts to children from Grade R to Grade 2. The approach involves using concrete didactic materials and supporting the various learning styles of learners in this age group. Teachers and ECD practitioners will learn how to engage children who do not yet know how to read and write by introducing literacy in a hands-on and interactive way.
Duration
This 12 hours course consists of 5 sessions of 2-3 hours per session and will cover the following:
Participants may choose to attend in person or online.
OUTCOMES
You will learn how to introduce some of the following Literacy concepts using different techniques and:
1. Understand how children learn and use this knowledge to facilitate the learning of Literacy skills with young children.
2. Develop The requisite knowledge and skills in the following areas will be developed:
a. Theory of How Children Learn and domains of development
b. Relevant and appropriate terminology concerning Literacy
c. Identification of developmental milestones of Language (listening, speaking, writing, reading) in children (0-6 years)
d. Monitoring and recording the progress of the children
e. Developing/ designing activities suitable for children ages 0-6 years
Assessment:
Assessment tasks will include reading, completing online assessments, and creating didactic materials.
Each session will include both theoretical and practical components. Each lesson plan will include the appropriate age for the activity, the materials needed, the developmental outcomes of the lesson, how to facilitate the lesson and potential variations for the lesson.
CPDT CREDITS: 25
Description:
The purpose of this training is to introduce teachers and ECD practitioners methods for introducing literacy concepts to children from Grade R to Grade 2. The approach involves using concrete didactic materials and supporting the various learning styles of learners in this age group. Teachers and ECD practitioners will learn how to engage children who do not yet know how to read and write by introducing literacy in a hands-on and interactive way.
Duration
This 12 hours course consists of 5 sessions of 2-3 hours per session and will cover the following:
Participants may choose to attend in person or online.
OUTCOMES
You will learn how to introduce some of the following Literacy concepts using different techniques and:
1. Understand how children learn and use this knowledge to facilitate the learning of Literacy skills with young children.
2. Develop The requisite knowledge and skills in the following areas will be developed:
a. Theory of How Children Learn and domains of development
b. Relevant and appropriate terminology concerning Literacy
c. Identification of developmental milestones of Language (listening, speaking, writing, reading) in children (0-6 years)
d. Monitoring and recording the progress of the children
e. Developing/ designing activities suitable for children ages 0-6 years
Assessment:
Assessment tasks will include reading, completing online assessments, and creating didactic materials.
Each session will include both theoretical and practical components. Each lesson plan will include the appropriate age for the activity, the materials needed, the developmental outcomes of the lesson, how to facilitate the lesson and potential variations for the lesson.
CPDT CREDITS: 25
The Nanny Certificate Course
Description:
The nanny course is designed for anyone who wants to work with babies and toddlers up to the age of one and a half years.
Duration
The course will take place over 30-40 hours, The days will be determined by the number of participants, with an option of 3-4 full days over a week or once a week for 6-8 weeks. Participants may attend classes in person or online.
OUTCOMES
1. Understand how humans develop and grow from conception to 3 years.
2. Learn how children learn through play and interaction with the environment.
3 The requisite knowledge and skills in the following areas will be developed:
c. Meal planning and Nutrition
d. Health and safety of the young child
e. Caregiving: Bathing and dressing
f. Preparing yourself as a caregiver (physical, spiritual and communication)
Assessment:
Assessment tasks will include reading, completing online assessments, and creating didactic materials. Each session will include both theoretical and practical components. Each lesson plan will include the appropriate age for the activity, the materials needed, the developmental outcomes of the lesson, how to facilitate the lesson and potential variations for the lesson.
Description:
The nanny course is designed for anyone who wants to work with babies and toddlers up to the age of one and a half years.
Duration
The course will take place over 30-40 hours, The days will be determined by the number of participants, with an option of 3-4 full days over a week or once a week for 6-8 weeks. Participants may attend classes in person or online.
OUTCOMES
1. Understand how humans develop and grow from conception to 3 years.
2. Learn how children learn through play and interaction with the environment.
3 The requisite knowledge and skills in the following areas will be developed:
- Identification of developmental milestones of Language, Movement and Social skills
c. Meal planning and Nutrition
d. Health and safety of the young child
e. Caregiving: Bathing and dressing
f. Preparing yourself as a caregiver (physical, spiritual and communication)
Assessment:
Assessment tasks will include reading, completing online assessments, and creating didactic materials. Each session will include both theoretical and practical components. Each lesson plan will include the appropriate age for the activity, the materials needed, the developmental outcomes of the lesson, how to facilitate the lesson and potential variations for the lesson.