| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| 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 |