The Montessori Method

Maria Montessori

Courier Corporation, Aug 14, 2002 - Education - 377 pages

This is, quite simply, one of the landmark books in the history of education. Written by influential Italian educator Maria Montessori (1870–1952), it describes a new system for educating young children based on materials and methods she originally developed to teach retarded students. The techniques proved highly effective with normal children as well. Her system, based on a radical conception of liberty for the pupil and a highly formal training of separate sensory, motor, and mental capacities, led to rapid and substantial mastery of reading, writing, and arithmetic. In The Montessori Method (1912), her first book, Dr. Montessori outlines her techniques in discussions of such topics as scientific pedagogy; discipline; diet; gymnastics; manual labor; education of the senses; methods for teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic; and many other topics. The Dover edition is the least expensive edition available, making this seminal classic widely accessible to teachers, principals, parents — anyone interested in the education of young children.

Contents

• INTRODUCTION: xiii
• A Critical Consideration of the New Pedagogy in its Relation to Modern Science: 1
• History of Methods: 28
• Inaugural Address Delivered on the Occasion of the ppening of one of the childrens houses: 48
• Pedagogical Methods used in the Childrens Houses: 72
• Discipline: 86
• How the Lessons Should be Given: 107
• Exercises of Practical Life: 119
• Reflection The Childs Diet: 125
• Muscular Education Gymnastics: 137
• Nature in Education Agricultural Labour Culture of Plants and Animals: 149
• Manual Labour The Potters Art and Building: 162
• Education of the Senses: 167
• Education of the Senses and Illustrations of the Didactic Material General Sensibility the Tactile Thermic Baric and Stereognostic Senses: 185
• General Notes on the Education of the Senses: 215
• Intellectual Education: 224
• Methods for the Teaching of Reading and Writing: 246
• Description of the Method and Didactic Material Used: 271
• Language in Childhood: 310
• Teaching of Numeration Introduction to Arithmetic: 326
• Sequence of Exercises: 338
• General Review of Discipline: 346
• Conclusions and Impeessions: 371

About the author

Maria Montessori, an Italian educator who was the first woman doctor granted a degree in Italy, has been well known in the field of childhood education since the early 1900s. Dissatisfied with the educational methods of her time, she developed her own theories in systematic fashion. The Montessori Method, as it became known, allows each child to develop at his or her own pace through the manipulation of materials. The teacher's role is to provide the materials and then act as a supervisor and a guide. This and other concepts of hers have had considerable influence on modern education. Montessori first worked with retarded children, then classified as "untrainable," most of whom she succeeded in teaching to read and write. She established a number of Houses of Children in Italy devoted to providing new opportunities for underprivileged children. Recent U.S. efforts in this direction have led to a strong revival of interest in her work, and Montessori's methods also have been expanded to children beyond the preschool years.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Montessori Method; Dover Value Editions Series; Economy Editions
• Author: Maria Montessori
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Courier Corporation, 2002
• ISBN: 0486421627, 9780486421629
• Length: 377 pages
• Subjects: Education / Early Childhood (incl. Preschool & Kindergarten); Education / Experimental Methods; Education / Teaching / Methods & Strategies; Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / General; Social Science / General