Professional & Continuing Studies

UD Montessori Academy

Primary Program

Montessori teacher training for age 3 to 6 (preschool to kindergarten)

Starts July 2024!

This course prepares adults to guide children at the Primary (ages 3-6) level in accordance with Montessori pedagogy. Additionally, this course prepares adults to successfully create environments that support executive functions, literacy, cultural awareness, mathematical skill acquisition and social-emotional development. It has been customized to meet the on-the-ground needs of faculty, children, and families and caregivers in public Montessori programs.

This is an initial primary program for UDMTR. We will be applying for MACTE accreditation. It is expected that MACTE accreditation will be completed so that residents in Cohort A receive a certificate from a MACTE accredited program.

Primary Residents — pursue age 3-6 certification (preschool to kindergarten) by completing these four components of the program:

  • One-year residency in partnering school (paid by school)
  • Primary course instruction (600 hours)
  • Production of Montessori albums
  • Written and oral exams

The following represents the program schedule and completion timeline:

Summer 1 (2024) 

  • SCHEDULE: July 8-August 5 (4 weeks: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
  • LOCATION: In-Person (and some virtual), Ursuline Academy, 1106 Pennsylvania Ave, Wilmington, DE 19806

Academic Year 1 – (School Year 2024-25)

  • 4 Saturday workshops (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. — 10/12/2024, 1/18/2025, 2/15/2025, 4/12/2025
  • Distance Learning (online or virtual seminars) – 38 hours
  • Coaching/ Field Supervision

Summer 2 – (2025)

  • 2 weeks (Monday-Friday)
  • In Person/Virtual: Ursuline Academy, 1106 Pennsylvania Ave, Wilmington, DE 19806
  • Distance Learning – 24 hours

Fall 2025 – (School Year 2025-26)

  • Distance Learning – 24 hours
  • Exams, Rationales, Albums

For more information

For more details about this program, please contact UDMTR director Linda Zankowsky:

Linda S. Zankowsky, Ed.D., Program Director
UD Montessori Academy and UD Montessori Teacher Residency (UDMTR)
 Email: lzankow@udel.edu