Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook

By Maria Montessori

The Montessori method revolutionized how children were educated. In Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook, Maria Montessori explains the basics of her system, how it works and why it works. There are dozens of figures to help illustrate her points. "My method is scientific, both in its substance and in its aim. It makes for the attainment of a more advanced stage of progress, in directions no longer only material and physiological."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wilder Publications
• Release date: Aug 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781633843080

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was an Italian educator and physician. Born in Chiaravalle, she came from a prominent, well-educated family of scientists and government officials. Raised in Florence and Rome, Montessori excelled in school from a young age, graduating from technical school in 1886. In 1890, she completed her degree in physics and mathematics, yet decided to pursue medicine rather than a career in engineering. At the University of Rome, she overcame prejudice from the predominately male faculty and student body, winning academic prizes and focusing her studies on pediatric medicine and psychiatry. She graduated in 1896 as a doctor in medicine and began working with mentally disabled children, for whom she also became a prominent public advocate. In 1901, she left her private practice to reenroll at the University of Rome for a degree in philosophy, dedicating herself to the study of scientific pedagogy and lecturing on the topic from 1904 to 1908. In 1906, she opened her Casa dei Bambini, a school for children from low-income families. As word of her endeavor spread, schools using the Montessori educational method began opening around the world. In the United States, the publication of The Montessori Method (1912) in English and her 1913 lecture tour fostered a rapid increase of Montessori schools in the country. For her groundbreaking status as one of Italy’s first female public intellectuals and her role in developing a more individualized, psychologically informed approach to education, Maria Montessori continues to be recognized as one of the twentieth century’s most influential figures.

Reviews for Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook

[jasonli_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Dr. Montessori's own handbook" is what it sets out to be – a concise, practical guide to the Montessori system of educating Kindergarteners. The book is filled with photos and examples of activities, with theory and justification taking a backseat. It is written to guide someone who wants to set up their own Montessori classroom.The text and photos clearly capture a specific moment in time in Montessori's career. As a rising-star educator, she writes with fervor and conviction. Within the handbook are tips that advocate the "organization of work" and "freedom" of early childhood education, ideas that probably resonated with the times. The photos also speak a thousand words, in that they show the early version of Montessori equipment; in fact, my second-hand copy of the book has had a few ripped out of its spine!