Abstract/Notes: Characterizes the Montessori work serving the first 3 years by recounting its genesis; describes early Montessori toddler programs, and the emergence of infant communities internationally in the early 1970s. Highlights ways parents can be supportive of the "spiritual embryo" in cooperation with the school. Suggests how parent education invites parents to participate and observe their child's developmental turning points. (Author/KB)

Language: English

ISSN: 1522-9734

Language: English

DOI: 10.1080/00467600110064717

ISSN: 0046-760X, 1464-5130

Language: English

DOI: 10.1007/BF01419908

ISSN: 1573-0638, 0020-8566

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: This chapter discusses the first book of Maria Montessori’s writings, The Montessori Method, which received international recognition. Montessori published revised editions of the text five times: 1909, 1913, 1926, 1935, and 1950. The publications trace the development of her thinking over nearly four decades as she modified the text each time. In this chapter, the most significant variations in each edition are noted and the main features of the evolution of Montessori’s thought are examined. In the final edition, published two years before her death, Montessori changed the title from The Montessori Method to The Discovery of the Child because she was dissatisfied with her pedagogy being seen simply as a method. This chapter contains Montessori’s thoughts on subjects such as the adult-child relationship, politics, religion, and, above all, her view of the child, which she spent years trying to make the world understand.

Language: English

Published: New York, New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-350-27561-4 978-1-350-27560-7 978-1-350-27562-1

Series: Bloomsbury Handbooks

Abstract/Notes: This chapter discusses three of Maria Montessori’s writings about the education of young children, The Child in the Family (1936), The Secret of Childhood (1936), and The Absorbent Mind (1949). These chapters reflect her belief that education should begin at birth and that children should be encouraged to learn autonomously with respect for their own interests and timelines. The first book is a collection of texts from Montessori’s 1923 conferences in Brussels which provide the conceptual foundations and emerging practices of her innovative pedagogical vision focusing on the child from birth in a new way. In the second book, Montessori outlines her philosophy and pedagogy for a child’s education until age six, presenting a deeper look into the educational method developed for preschool-aged children. The third book focuses primarily on a child’s psychological development and is Montessori’s final work on the first six years of life.

Language: English

Published: New York, New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-350-27561-4 978-1-350-27560-7 978-1-350-27562-1

Series: Bloomsbury Handbooks

Language: English

ISSN: 1522-9734

Abstract/Notes: Contextualizes the mathematical intelligence as revealed in the human tendencies, as supported by the extended family, and facilitated by choice within a responsive environment. Reviews the function of Montessori materials, including mathematical materials, and emphasizes that the personal intelligences are integral to all activities simply because the Montessori classroom is a community of children.

Language: English

ISSN: 1522-9734

Language: English

Archive: Seattle University, Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons, Special Collections

Abstract/Notes: With the passing of NCLB in 2001, pedagogy in the kindergarten classroom has changed exponentially. The requirement for a rigorous academic curriculum has replaced the play-based learning that used to be synonymous with the kindergarten classroom. Since the beginning of kindergarten, researchers have worked to prove the importance of play in the classroom and the role of the educator in these play-based learning scenarios. Many studies have found a correlation between play and child development, but this has not been enough to change the minds of educators and school districts across the United States. This qualitative case study explored teachers’ perceptions and classroom interactions during play through a triangulation of data including video recordings, interviews, and observations to explore the effect play might have on the social, emotional, and oral language development of kindergarten students in a district that is already implementing free play centers in the classroom. Varying beliefs among the educators and multiple scenarios of social, emotional, and oral language development skills being used by students during these free play sessions were explored. Key themes that emerged from the data included a range of understanding amongst the teachers, the need for regular professional development on how to implement play in the classroom, and the importance dramatic play has on social, emotional, and oral language development for kindergarten students.

Language: English

Published: Springfield, Missouri, 2022