The Montessori Manual Of Cultural Subjects A Guide For Teachers

A practical guide to the application of Montessori principles to the presentation of cultural materials to nursery school and kindergarten age children.

I acknowledge a deep debt of gratitude to my coeditors: my wife Irene, and my friend and colleague Tom Draper. They have worked with diligence and insight to bring this work to completion. They have delegated the task of writing the Preface to me. As the scientific study of human development matures it is not only natural, but it is necessary to reach beyond understanding the ways humans develop capacities, to study the ways emerging capacities fit into the larger sphere of human undertakings. Music is one of the most significant of those endeavors. As I attend the several piano competitions that are on my agenda each year, and see children seated at the keyboard drawing forth the magnificent sounds of Bach, Chopin, and Ravel, I am always a little awed. Surely, it seems to me, the piano* is among the best of man's creations; the creative energies of great composers are among mankind's greatest expressions; and encouraging children to associate themselves seriously with both instrument and composer can be one of the great blessings to their young lives and, by association, to the larger society. Music touches the entire range of our lifespan on a daily basis. Involving chil dren with music and music training has high market, and common sense, validity. Parents understand intuitively that children will benefit, and their lives will be enriched, if they are influenced by music and music training.

Early childhood education across the world has been influenced by the pioneering work of Maria Montessori, and this book provides a complete overview of Montessori pedagogy and practice. It considers the Montessori approach within the context of early childhood education and care, and examines it in the light of new insights from the fields of neuroscience and child development. By helping the reader understand the influence of Montessori on contemporary early years policy and practice, the book outlines ideas relevant to all early years settings, and suggests ways for all early childhood educators to apply these ideas in practice. The book looks in detail at: - the Montessori story - the child as worker and the adult as observer - developing independence and concentration - using the senses to build the foundations for learning - early communication and language - early mathematics - cultural knowledge and understanding - Maria Montessori, and other early childhood pioneers Within each chapter are definitions of the key concepts of the Montessori approach, questions for reflection and discussion, activities and suggestions for further reading. This book focuses on the 3 to 6 age range. Susan Feez is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of New England, Armidale, Australia.

A cumulative list of works represented by Library of Congress printed cards.

One of the truly great books on early childhood development, Maria Montessori's illustrated guide was written nearly a century ago in response to thousands of requests from American parents and teachers. In it, the noted educator provided copious information on how to use familiar, simple, easy-to-obtain classroom materials to make any home an effective learning environment. It was to be a "children's house," where youngsters would be their own masters, and free to learn at their own pace. Sound cylinders, sandpaper letters, and numerical rods became features of the typical Montessori classroom. Designed to hone the child’s visual, auditory, and tactile perceptions, tools such as these enabled the child to experiment and learn through the powers of observation, recognition, judgment, and classification. An essential teaching aid for parents and educators, this handbook features sections on teaching music, arithmetic and language, and developing sensory and motor skills.