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Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp
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Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp.  All rights reserved.
about the book
The Homeschool Diner's Guide to
Montessori Homeschooling

by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006


This educational approach was developed by physician and educator
Dr. Maria Montessori in 1870.  It is based on her observation that
children learn naturally when in a "properly prepared environment" that
is designed to promote independent learning and exploration by the
child.  The method emphasizes skill-specific hands-on activities, the
extensive use of concept-specific manipulatives, and learning thru
real-world "work".  

Children are placed in small 2- to 3-year age groups beginning with
pre-school and continuing thru high school.  Students often work on
activities of their own choosing and are allowed to work at their own
pace.  The Montessori method fosters self-discipline and co-operative
learning, with older children helping out younger children, and younger
children learning from example.  

Maria Montessori's philosophy and methods are presented in "
The Clio
Montessori Series",  a collection of lectures and essays written by
Maria Montessori and published by ABC-Clio, Ltd..  These books
address the Montessori approach to education from birth thru
adolescence.  The text of the English translation of "
The Montessori
Method" by Maria Montessori is available free online.


The Montessori Method was developed for use in small private schools,  
but has been adapted for use in homeschooling.  Here are several  
websites that support Montessori Homeschooling:


Montessori Homeschooling - information, advice, and support groups

Montessori Educational Products - Montessori guidance from birth
to age 12

Montessori Concepts - affordable Montessori products for
homeschooling

Islamic Montessori - an online support group
"To-day we hold the pupils in school, restricted by those instruments so
degrading to body and spirit -- the desk, material prizes, punishments. Our
aim in all this is to reduce them to the discipline of immobility and silence,–to
lead them,where? Far too often toward no definite end." -- Maria Montessori

"Often the education of children consists in pouring into their intelligence the
intellectual content of school programmes. And often these programmes
have been compiled in the official department of education, and their use is
imposed by law upon the teacher and the child."  --Maria Montessori