The Absorbent Mind was Maria Montessori's most in-depth work on her educational theory, based on decades of scientific observation of children. Her view on children and their absorbent minds was a landmark departure from the educational model at the time. This book helped start a revolution in education. Since this book first appeared there have been both cognitive and neurological studies that have confirmed what Maria Montessori knew decades ago.
A fresh, comprehensive biography of the pioneering educator and activist who changed the way we look at children’s minds, from the author of Oriana Fallaci. Born in 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy, Maria Montessori would grow up to embody almost every trait men of her era detested in the fairer sex. She was self-confident, strong-willed, and had a fiery temper at a time when women were supposed to be soft and pliable. She studied until she became a doctor at a time when female graduates in Italy provoked outright scandal. She never wanted to marry or have children—the accepted destiny for all women of her milieu in late nineteenth-century bourgeois Rome—and when she became pregnant by a colleague of hers, she gave up her son to continue pursuing her career. At around age thirty, Montessori was struck by the condition of children in the slums of Rome’s San Lorenzo neighborhood, and realized what she wanted to do with her life: change the school, and therefore the world, through a new approach to the child’s mind. In spite of the resistance she faced from all sides—scientists accused her of being too mystical, and the clergy of being too scientific, traditionalists of giving children too much freedom, and anarchists of giving them too much structure—she would garner acclaim and establish the influential Montessori method, which is now practiced throughout the world. A thorough, nuanced portrait of this often controversial woman, The Child Is the Teacher is the first biographical work on Maria Montessori written by an author who is not a member of the Montessori movement, but who has been granted access to original letters, diaries, notes, and texts written by Montessori herself, including an array of previously unpublished material.
Based on Dr. Maria Montessori's philosophies for nurturing babies and toddlers, this practical and useful guide is brimming with instructions, anecdotes, and encouragement for raising calm, competent, and confident children—from designing the baby’s bedroom to encouraging life skills such as dressing themselves and working both independently and collaboratively. What can parents do to help their youngest children in their task of self-formation? How does the Montessori method of hands-on learning and self-discovery relate to newborns, infants, and toddlers? This authoritative and accessible book answers these and many other questions. Its comprehensive exploration of the first three years incorporates the furnishings and tools Dr. Montessori created for the care and comfort of babies. From the design of the baby's bedroom to the child-sized kitchen table, from food preparation to clothing and movement, the authors provide guidance for the establishment of a beautiful and serviceable environment for babies and very young children. They also introduce concepts and tasks, taking into account children’s ''sensitive periods'' for learning such skills as toilet training. Written in a clear, engaging style, Montessori from the Start is a must-have for every new parent.
Anxiety is the number one mental health problem facing young people today. Childhood should be a happy and carefree time, yet more and more children today are exhibiting symptoms of anxiety, from bedwetting and clinginess to frequent stomach aches, nightmares, and even refusing to go to school. Parents everywhere want to know: All children have fears, but how much is normal? How can you know when a stress has crossed over into a full-blown anxiety disorder? Most parents don’t know how to recognize when there is a real problem and how to deal with it when there is. In Freeing Your Child From Anxiety, a childhood anxiety disorder specialist examines all manifestations of childhood fears, including social anxiety, Tourette’s Syndrome, hair-pulling, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and guides you through a proven program to help your child back to emotional safety. No child is immune from the effects of stress in today’s media-saturated society. Fortunately, anxiety disorders are treatable. By following these simple solutions, parents can prevent their children from needlessly suffering today—and tomorrow. www.broadwaybooks.com From the Trade Paperback edition.
Now in its third edition, this classic text remains the seminal resource for in-depth information about major concepts and principles of the cultural-historical theory developed by Lev Vygotsky, his students, and colleagues, as well as three generations of neo-Vygotskian scholars in Russia and the West. Featuring two new chapters on brain development and scaffolding in the zone of proximal development, as well as additional content on technology, dual language learners, and students with disabilities, this new edition provides the latest research evidence supporting the basics of the cultural-historical approach alongside Vygotskian-based practical implications. With concrete explanations and strategies on how to scaffold young children’s learning and development, this book is essential reading for students of early childhood theory and development.
Angeline Stoll Lillard here shows that science has finally caught up with Maria Montessori. Lillard presents the research behind eight principles that provide the foundation for Montessori education and describes how each principle is applied in the Montessori classroom.
This parenting book shows you how to make magical Montessori memories — every day. This beautiful, modern Montessori book for parents outlines the key principles of this parenting approach and shows you how you can easily apply this at home. It provides a valuable starting point for parents to help them create a family life inspired by the ethos of Montessori. This practical parenting guide makes Montessori accessible to every parent and child, regardless of time pressures and resources. It includes: • Outlines of the Montessori principles clearly and succinctly: respect, freedom, curiosity, creativity, responsibility and independence. • Examples on how to apply these principles to everyday life – with sections on breakfast time, school/daycare drop off, school/daycare pick up, playtime, meal times, homework time, bath time and bedtime. • Demonstrations of how to apply Montessori techniques to an older child new to Montessori and how to flex and build on the techniques as your child grows up. Montessori is a unique educational philosophy created by Maria Montessori that fosters the growth of the whole child. From enjoying nature together to free time and weekends, every aspect of family life is an opportunity for meaningful engagement with your child. Montessori For Every Family offers you pragmatic, real-life advice, suitable for children of all ages, showing you how easy and natural it is to create a nourishing and empowering environment at home for everyone. Even if your child won’t go to a Montessori school, a Montessori home can still be an invaluable bridge to reinforcing your child’s natural curiosity and setting the foundation for lifelong learning. This is the only Montessori book that recognizes that most parents don’t have the time and resources to overhaul their lives to fully embrace a parenting philosophy, but instead need practical, immediate guidance that is effective. "You will want to refer to this book again and again." Paul Epstein, PhD, Designs of Lifelong Learning
In this book the author shares wisdom gained in almost fifty years of Montessori experience. It contains a compilation of stories from the author's own teaching experience, and information shared as a Montessori school consultant, guest lecturer on teacher-training courses, and at conferences and workshops in such places as New Zealand, Thailand, Morocco, Mongolia, Peru, Colombia, Albania, and the USA. Although the majority of the information is intended for the Montessori teacher of children from 2.5 to six years, there is also information of value to those working with infants, older children, and adults, and a detailed glossary of Montessori terms. The words "Cosmic Education" refer to the Montessori practice of introducing the whole world-science, arts, history, and geography-to young children through age-appropriate practical life lessons, sensorial experiences, experiments, and language. With this preparation at an early and impressionable age, children learn to love the world in all its aspects, and as they grow up will have the tools to make sense of the world and the cosmos and to find a place in it as valuable contributing members.
The author, with more than 30 years of Montessori education experience, shares classroom-tested activities to help foster the love light in every child. This book provides practical and imaginative ways to help children recognize and experience their love lights and become responsible global citizens. The peace-education activities help to nurture skills such as effective communication, conflict resolution, self-confidence, cultural awareness, and more.
