Become a Learning Companion

This syllabus is the map for a year of becoming the teacher your heart already knows you can be: grounded, confident, and deeply alive with children.

We will weave together:

• clear, practical tools you can use right away -

• a coherent framework for your classroom environments or learning space

• and space for your own personal journey as an educator

So that you don’t just learn a model, you slowly transform the way you see children, learning, and yourself.

This training is designed to accompany you step by step: from your own school memories and beliefs, through a deep understanding of natural child development, into the concrete reality of daily rhythm, environments, materials, and community.

The children in your life are ready. This syllabus is how we walk toward them, together.

MODULE 1 — The New Learning Culture Approach

• The New Learning Culture school model, an overview

• Photo journey of the flow-based Montessori and Rebeca Wild-inspired schools in Europe and worldwide

• Foundational principles of the New Learning Culture approach

MODULE 2 — Natural Child Development

• Child-guided learning at each stage: flow state, the four different kinds of play

• The development of multiple intelligences, including practical, highly sensitive, empathic, visionary intelligence, and the intelligence of absurdity

• The self-chosen challenge, flow learning, the sacred yes, and the inner home

• Natural development as a journey of embodiment from infancy to adulthood

MODULE 3 — Inspiration from Alternative Education

• Overview of alternative education approaches and origins of the NLC model

• Philosophy and tools for flow learning developed by Maria Montessori, Rebeca Wild, the Reggio Emilia approach, Friedrich Froebel, Célestin Freinet, the Waldorf approach, non-directive play therapy, the forest kindergarten, and democratic education

• The specific teaching techniques you can draw from each approach

• The hands-on materials and tools each tradition contributes

MODULE 4 — The Educator Within

• How your own learning history shapes your practice

• What beliefs about children and learning did you absorb growing up?

• Recognizing and working with your own patterns in the classroom

• From unconscious reaction to conscious companionship

• The educator's own need for self-care, flow, joy, and meaning

• Writing your personal mission statement for yourself or your learning place

MODULE 5 — Fulfilling Genuine Needs: Physical and Emotional

• Feeling safe and bonding with people and nature

• Identifying children's genuine needs

• Creating a field of agreement for learning

• The adult's role in creating emotional safety

MODULE 6 — Imagination, Flow and Pretend Play

• The self-healing and self-educating powers of free play

• Empathy through role play

• Accompanying imaginative play: inspiration from non-directive play therapy

• Pretend violence and weapon play

• How to be present without interfering

MODULE 7 — Fulfilling Genuine Needs: Intellectual and Spiritual

• Learning through trial and error, timelessness, relaxation, and trust

• Helping children recognize and fulfill their own genuine needs

• Authentic needs and replacement needs

• When genuine needs are not fulfilled

• The spiritual dimension of learning

MODULE 8 — Setting Healthy Boundaries in Practice

• Boundaries in active learning environments

• Children's egocentric perspective

• Helping children set their own boundaries

• Practical tools for everyday boundary situations

• Mediating conflicts

• Peace education

MODULE 9 — Being a Learning Companion

• Observing with loving attention

• Non-invasive teaching

• Maria Montessori's three-period lesson

• Being a companion to children as well as co-teachers and parents

MODULE 10 — Creating Self-Directed Learning Environments

• Preparing diverse indoor and outdoor environments: Montessori math lab, language lab, science lab, kitchen, pretend play areas, sand tray, explorative play areas, makerspaces, interactive library, woodshop, entrance welcome space, indoor and outdoor movement spaces

• Designing spaces for workflow, distinguishing and pairing activities that feed one another

• Introducing children to the active learning environments

• Fulfilling genuine needs through the environment

• Checklists for child-friendly environments

MODULE 11 — Hands-On Learning Materials

• Overview of movement, practical, sensorial, and academic hands-on materials by Hengstenberg, Montessori, Froebel, and other educators

• Introduction to Montessori math materials

• Unstructured and structured hands-on learning materials

• Crafting, purchasing, and inventing materials

• Introducing hands-on learning materials to children

MODULE 12 — The NLC School in Practice

• Daily rhythm and structure, weekly council meetings

• Exploration teams and apprenticeships

• Progress assessment: the checklist curriculum

• Parent involvement

• First steps to co-creating NLC-based learning communities

• How your learning place can become a community hub: open houses, art galleries, weekly market booths, monthly café days, exchange boards, seasonal celebrations, and more

The live sessions are where the NLC model becomes your own. We'll explore your questions, your students, your real-life challenges together. Between sessions, PDF guides help you apply what you're learning directly in your environment.

MODULE 13 — Personal 1:1 Session with Carmen
At the end of the program, each participant submits a short Personal Learning Companion Statement — their takeaways and mission as an educator. Carmen reads it before your session, and together you integrate what you've learned and answer remaining questions to complete your certification.

By the end of this training, you'll walk away with:
A complete, hands-on learning environment built around the children you serve — and a Certificate of Completion as a Learning Companion in the New Learning Culture Model.