INTRODUCTION
"The Montessori Teacher Training Centre" is located at the Ardee school, New Delhi. It is a professionally managed institute committed to imparting quality Montessori education. The Centre is a pioneer in Montessori Method of Education in Delhi. It offers a Diploma in Early Education based on an internationally standardized curriculum.
The Centre is headed by Ms. Chanda Raisinghani, President – Ardee schools and Teacher Training Centre. Ms Kumud Bisht is the Principal and has a team of qualified faculty. It has distinguished professionals as part of visiting faculty for specialized subjects.
The Ardee Schools, also have an on-going, in-house teacher training programme for Montessori Elementary Education. The teachers undergo modules of innovative and practical training related to the academic subjects.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Our roots and history
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Every mission has an end, every journey has a beginning.
A seed sown, in 1999
By Mrs C.L. Raisinghani
With 12 students, our first Montessori Teacher Training Course
This seed now, is a Tree
The Montessori Teacher Training Centre
Touching many lives, nurturing many individuals
Learning while imparting learnings
The journey has been truly incredible and goes on. - Ethos
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Vision
Our vision is to hone the teaching gene in our students through the Montessori principles and techniques of child understanding and development, leading to a generation of dynamic and energetic Early Education professionals who enable effective development and genuine happiness among children and thus the future generations.
Philosophy
At the Ardee Teacher Training Centre, we believe that deep inside every one of us lies a 'teaching gene' and when this inherent instinct is properly channelized, it becomes a powerful enabler in imparting life skills to young individuals. We also believe that life is learning across ages and honing our teaching instincts correctly not just ensures future generations of 'complete', 'self developed' individuals but also makes us more self aware and better developed to handle the current changes we see our world go through. We believe that more often than not, being better parents, better children, better friends and better humans is intrinsically linked to the Montessori philosophy of self development where individuals are directed to their potential and not enforced upon by volumes of theoretical literature. We believe thereby that what we do and more importantly, what we can do, would result in better developed, self aware individuals equipped with superior 'life skills' and complete in their preparation and handling of life’s challenges of change.
Pledge
"We, the students and faculty, at the Montessori Teacher Training Centre, jointly pledge to make the journey of self discovery as an Early Education professional as complete as possible. We pledge that we shall through this experience, thirst for knowledge, contribute positively and continuously look for avenues to evolve ourselves. We pledge to learn and share with all, and in the process re-look at our own development and how we play life's roles. We pledge to be dynamic in our thinking, enthusiastic in all learning processes and honest to our cause, always. We pledge to honour our pledge above."
Mission- Provide skillful training of the Montessori principles and life skills.
- Customize a quality learning experience for our students to make them capable Early Education professionals.
- Create an in depth knowledge of child needs and psychology to enable facilitating child development among our students.
- To provide a unique experience of self-development for every individual.
- To continuously evolve ourselves along with the latest theories and technologies in early education.
- To promote a culture of positivity, self-confidence and excellence in the course.
- Course objectives & structure
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Course Objectives
A Montessori Teacher (Directress) teaches by teaching and not by correcting.
The Course primarily aims at developing a high level of professional competence in students who aspire to become teachers of the Montessori Method for children from 2.5 to 6 years of age. This involves the following:- To educate the students about the Montessori Method.
- To enable students to construct a coherent set of Educational values alongside detailed study of the Montessori philosophy and approach.
- To enable students to extend their teaching proficiency by applying their Montessori knowledge and concepts in a nursery environment.
- To provide extensive classroom experience with classroom experience with children aged 2.5 to 6 years through a one-month Teaching Practice.
- To prepare students thoroughly for the Course leading to the Diploma in Montessori teaching.
The Centre has qualified Faculty, who is always ready to help and assist the students. We have distinguished Professionals as part of our Visiting Faculty for specialized subjects.
Course Structure
The Course is spread across 9 months. Students are required to be present at the Teacher Training Centre for 4 days a week (Monday to Thursday). The Institute works on Friday and Saturday, in case some day(s) of a particular week happen to be a school holiday(s)/public holiday(s).
The Course timings are as follows:
- Summer timings: 2 to 5 p.m.
- Winter timings: 1.30 to 4.30 p.m.
A major portion of the course requires students to spend their time in the classroom attending Theoretical and Practical classes conducted by qualified Faculty.
Course Curriculum
I Core subjects
- Biography of Dr. Maria Montessori
- Montessori Philosophy
- Child Development and Child Psychology
- Nutrition
II In accordance with Dr. Montessori's philosophy, special emphasis is given to 4 Practical Areas:
- Exercises of Practical Life
- Sensorial Activities
- Mathematics
- Language
III Special Areas of Teaching
- Environmental Studies
- Culture Subjects include Botany, Zoology, Geography and History
- Music in Education
- Art and Craft activities
- Educational Visits for Children
- Children’s Literature
IV All teaching is with the use of Specialized Equipment and care is taken that each student gets enough time to access all the equipment individually.
V Teaching Practice
Increasing employers expect prospective employers to have had some degree of experience in the Classroom. It is also imperative for students to test their theoretical findings through Hands-on practice.
VI Preparation of a Teacher
A Montessori teacher needs to prepare herself. As part of the Preparation, students are required to wear “Formal Clothes” during the duration of the Course.
VII Examination and Certification
At the end of the academic year, students will need to appear for 3 Examinations, one Practical and two Theory. Montessori Training Centre awards students who successfully complete the Course, the Diploma in Montessori Teaching. The Diploma is a qualification for work in Montessori and Nursery Schools and the Training Centre supports placements in teaching jobs. - Faculty
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Chanda Raisinghani
President & TrusteeChanda ma'am as she is lovingly called began a wonderful and beautiful journey in the felid of education when she started her career in Kolkata as a nursery teacher in the year 1974. Later, she taught the pre-primary and secondary sections too.
She went on to not only obtain her B.Ed. but also most importantly, graduate from the London Montessori Center in 1990. She then joined the Indian Montessori Center in Kolkata where she was subsequently appointed the Vice-principal of the Montessori Teacher's Training.
She moved to New Delhi in the year 1997 and started the groundwork on the Teacher's Training Center. In 1999, a seed was sown and the rest as they say is history. More than a decade later, the Teacher Training Center that she started with just 12 students has grown in leaps and bounds.
During her search for an idealist Montessorian world her path crossed that of Shefali Varma, who after leading a successful career as a businesswoman had then become a mother and was in search of a perfect environment for her son.
Mrs. Raisinghani and Shefali met at the Montessori Teacher Training Center, which was packed with interns working with didactic Montessori method, Shefali finally knew she had found what she had been searching for. Thus, the realization of a passionate search culminated very smoothly into the natural birth of the “Ardee Montessori House of Children” in the year 2003.
Mrs. Raisinghani was appointed the "Member of the National Council of Teacher Education," Government of India in 2006. Taking this dream forward Mrs. Raisinghani and Shefali Varma started The Ardee School, Gurugram in 2008. Mrs. Raisinghani is also the Director Education at The Ardee School, Gurugram.
Mrs. Raisinghani is actively involved in spreading the Montessori Education to the underprivileged children at MANZIL, by conducting educative programs. She integrates the underprivileged children of MANZIL, The Ardee Montessori School and The Teacher Training Center by running a Saturday school and by carrying out voluntary workshops and classes.
Mrs. Raisinghani also frequently conducts parent workshops not only in India but also around the world in countries like Slovenia, Singapore and the Philippines. Mrs. Raisinghani has also been involved in community social services in Kolkata.. Once she moved to Delhi, She became member of the All Indian Women’s Education Fund Association at lady Irwin College. One of the successful projects conducted by her was the "Legal Awareness", funded by Ford Foundation for Women in Farooqnagar and Nooh districts in Gurugram.
Kumud Bisht
Principal - New DelhiKumud Bisht is a Graduate with honours in commerce from Delhi University. She worked in the corporate world for a few years. She did her Montessori training in the year 2000, under Ms. Raisinghaini. That was a life-changing experience for her, it gave her both the methodology and the mission she had been seeking.
She has been training teachers in Montessori for the last 18 years. She heads the Montessori Teacher Training Centre, Delhi. Passionate about Montessori education, she conducts workshops for teachers in various schools. She has helped set up Montessori environments in many schools in New Delhi.
She aims to make a difference in the early education sector by providing holistic training to teachers/ students to be good role models for our future generations.
Lubna Ahmed
FacultyLubna is a Graduate with honours in history (Delhi University). Her journey with the Ardee school began in 2017 when she did the Montessori and Nursery Foundation Course @ Ardee Teacher Training Centre. After which she worked as a pre primary directress for a year at Ardee in 2018. Now is a part of the Montessori Teacher Training Centre, working as assistant teacher trainer.
Passionate about making a contribution towards a positive change in the world, which she believes can begin with children who are the future. Her favourite quote by Dr. Montessori is “Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future”. - Certification
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Students who successfully complete the Course, the Diploma in Montessori Teaching. The Diploma is a qualification for work in Montessori and Nursery Schools and the Training Centre supports placements in teaching jobs.
- Testimonials
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TTC Batch of 2018-19 - 20 Aug 2019Dearest Chanda ma’am, Kumud ma’am and the TTC batch of 2019-20
It’s been a fabulous year for us but like all good things this too has come to an end. On behalf of the entire batch of 2018-19 we thank you all for putting up this wonderful ceremony for us. It all started last year July with EPL and how we fell in love with how Kumud ma’am used to present the EPL activities in the most graceful way possible. We could just look at her for hours and during the practice sessions. Our go to person was Vandana ma’am, ever so smiling and never taking a step back when it came to helping someone. And, not to forget Chanda ma’am and her philosophy sessions with examples that were given in the beginning of the year and were still quoted after nine months during our exams , they were simply engraved in our hearts. We can say this much that when the course started, all of us thought how would we even do one module of this complicated course and not to forget that when Kumud ma’am use to say that this is not a hobby course and we truly realize it now.
But by the end of it because of the numerous practicals, tests that we did, it made sure that everything just came to us naturally. For the current batch, all this might feel that why so much ,how will I manage my family, my social life etc etc with these tests, just go with it because at the end we are being trained professionally and when you start working and you notice a situation then there will be small voice in your head of these Mentors who are training you with all their heart and soul and the situation will be solved. This course is life changing and trains you for whatever is coming your way. It has made us all better people if not anything. When we use to see how Kumud ma’am and mentors taking so many pains and how they use to feel hurt when people dropped out it shows the true Montessori spirit and their love for all their students. We ill truly miss all those days.
Now, coming to the Diploma Awarding Ceremony from entering and being welcomed so beautifully with the chandan tikka to picking up a random card and writing someone about that person so that the person can cherish it, was just too heartfelt. Next, came the beautiful badges and the stereogonostic game was indeed lovely. Kumud ma’am’s heartfelt speech with the most intricate details made us all nostalgic. The PPT got back so many memories and made us emotional. The dance was so well prepared and the song pretty woman just got a big smile on our faces. A special mention that we really felt a part of the preparations because you all truly included us in the flash mob and we enjoyed every bit of it. Now came the fun Hasya Ras Kavita which made us laugh to bits. The tags were something we were really looking forward to and with each tag so many memories just flew back. Next came the Strain Your Brain games, we really thought we will get philosophy questions and got scared but it was indeed a very fun session. Last but not the least came the meaningful and inspiring words of Chanda ma’am ,whenever she says even one line there is something to take back in that line. It was such a lovely end to the whole ceremony. We loved the chocolate with the graduation hat and the Maria Montessori diary we are going to save these memento’s and cherish them forever. The décor was inspiring and the Graduation photo booth was loved by all! It all ended with catching up time over coffee and amazing snacks at the café.
We thank you all for making us feel so special and we will miss those times our entire lives. “The greatest sign of success of a teacher, is to be able to say, the children are now working as if I did not exist” Dr Maria Montessori
Thank you, thank you & thank you!BHAVNA BAWEJA - Batch 2018-19I did my teacher training program from The Ardee school in the year 2018-19 from the Gurugram Centre under the guidance of Ms. Kumud Bisht and Ms.Tavishi Gupta. For me it was a great learning experience and provided me the opportunity to look at a child's learning and development in a holistic way. After working with children in a day care, I wanted to enhance my expertise and this was the right course for me. The training program is a comprehensive program as it gives an excellent understanding of the Montessori Method. I would highly recommend this program if you are looking forward to becoming a Montessori Teacher.
ADITI KUMAR - Batch 2017-18One of the most fulfilling experiences of my life was to get trained as a Montessori Mentor at the best place in town- The Ardee School. I couldn’t have asked for more having Ms Kumud Bisht as my mentor was cherry on cake. She taught us all, right from being graceful, patient, hard working, meeting deadlines and made us fall in love with the Montessori material by her flawless presentations. Without being introduced to this course I would have never known how beautifully a child absorbs all information at the age of 3-5 yrs. It is primarily our responsibility to give our children the liberty to explore, every opportunity to express and hands on experience of every material around them. We as Montessori mentors should pledge to make our schools the most ‘Favourite place’ and learning a ‘Fun experience’ for our children. I am so grateful to be a part of the TTC program (2017-18) at the Ardee School and had the most exhilarating time of my life. I am Indebted to Ardee School, Ms Bisht, Ms Vandana and my Batch mates for giving me such beautiful memories to cherish for lifetime.
SUNPREET KAUR - BATCH 2016-17The Teacher Training Centre at Ardee has given me an astonishing platform for overall growth and development. I will fall short of words when it comes to thanking and expressing my gratitude for Ms. Raisinghani, Ms. Kumud and Ms Vandana for enriching us with the Montessori Philosophy, practical knowledge and the relevant theoretical knowledge. The ever supporting faculty and the collaborative work projects helped me understand and child and the adult.
PREETI NAHATA - BATCH 2015-16Being a Montessori mentor is a different experience in education system and that is what Ardee Teacher Training Centre has given me. The kind of environment the TTC provides is unique and special. They inspired and motivated me to be focussed, confident and positive in life. The virtues learnt in TTC have h significantly improved my physical and emotional well being as a teacher. Their guidance and support has made me well equipped to teach young children with love, patience, integrity and excellence.
VERNICA AHLAWAT - Batch 2010-2011An MBA in finance, a well paying job at a leading bank; there was still a void as I felt my life was becoming very mechanical. It all changed when I became a mother and started seeking a new meaning to my life. It is then that I came across the Ardee Teacher Training Course and till date, I feel, doing the course has been one of the best decisions of my life. It opened up the world of the Montessori methodology in which I became completely absorbed. Not only did my own children benefit from this, it has also helped in shaping the person I am today- confident and independent with a love for children; and another love which I never thought possible in this lifetime- a love for maths!
SAKSHI SETHI ARORA - Batch 2010-2011I always had a dynamic enthusiasm and passion for teaching. Enrolling myself for the Montessori Teacher Training Course at Ardee opened the world of exploration for me. I have been working at Ardee from the past 9 years and the experience of Montessori at Ardee has been enriching and beneficial to me in numerous ways. It encourages learning in a practical manner and also emphasizes personal responsibility, which I have carried with me throughout my journey. I am able to form bonds with young children that make the learning environment safe, comfortable, and productive.
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