Montessori Resources including: Where to find Info? What is Montessori? What to look for

[ExuberantDaffodil]

Can any of you mamas help find good info on Montessori learning? I am very interested in researching more about it, but need good information from a variety of reputable places. I am not sure where to begin. . . I do have some time to thoroughly research, as my DS is only 14 months old.

Thanks!

[mysweetfiona]

Google! That is where I researched the actual Montessori schools, missions and values. There are MANY Montessori certifications via internet that have valuable information. And of course you could find some experiences here at MDC.

This could take you a LONG time to read it all. I love it though, it's fun.
Lori

[lauren]

I'd love to make this thread a Sticky if we have enough members come forth with resources. I just went through the subforum and realized we've never really collated resources the way they have on the Waldorf subforum.

So let's collect them, and if we get a few I'll stick the thread so others can find it easily.

[flyingspaghettimama]

Official Resources:

Official American Montessori Society (AMS) website :
http://www.amshq.org/

Official Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) website:
http://www.montessori-ami.org/

North American Montessori Teachers Association
http://www.montessori-namta.org/NAMTA/index.html

Information on Montessori:

International Montessori Index FAQ on Montessori:
http://www.montessori.edu/FAQ.html#QUESTIONS

A Beginner's Guide to a Montessori Classroom
http://www.montessorimagazine.com/magazinebody10.html

Comparing Montessori and Traditional Education
http://www.montessori-namta.org/NAMT...fo/compar.html

Common Misconceptions
http://www.montessori-namta.org/NAMT...fo/miscon.html

Lessons/Homeschooling -

Montessori World Institute: http://www.montessoriworld.org/

Shu-Chen Jenny Yen's Montessori Albums:
http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfsjy/mts/_link.htm

Montessori Homeschooling Questions and Answers
http://www.montessori.edu/homeschooling.html

Montessori Information for Homeschoolers
http://www.montessori-namta.org/NAMT...o/homesch.html

Materials and Where to Buy Them -

Michael Olaf Montessori Materials (excellent for home use, less expensive):
http://www.michaelolaf.com/

Nienhuis Materials (what most schools use, expensive):
http://www.nienhuis.com/index2.html

Making your Own (only some materials available):
http://www.jmjpublishing.com/montess...MM%20MATERIALS

Also see Shu-Chen Jenny Yen's page for more material ideas.

[lauren]

That's great! Do you think that covers it or will others have additional ideas?

[montessorimama]

Other suggestions:

It depends on what you want to do with the information. If you want to find a montessori school, the websites are really all you need. If you want to TEACH your child montessori ed, then you need books, I'd just use amazon.

The Montessori Method
The Absorbent Mind
Montessori from the Start (infants, toddlers)
Maria Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius (new, describes montessori ed in contrast to trad ed)
A Parent's Guide to the Montessori Classroom
Rita Kramer's biography of Dr. Montessori

Anything written by Aline Wolfe for "spiritual and artistic guidance"
For materials: Montessori Services (look at the pictures, go to restaurant supply stores, the dollar store, and walmart and make your own scrubbing work! Go to michaels and make your own alphabets and math materials)

Furniture, especially for babies, toddlers, preschoolers: Environments, community playthings, hellowood (expensive, but when you compare it to the expensive useless toys people give you, not so expensive, tell the grandparents), ikea for less expensive but less sturdy stuff.

[flyingspaghettimama]

Originally Posted by montessorimama

Other suggestions:

It depends on what you want to do with the information. If you want to find a montessori school, the websites are really all you need. If you want to TEACH your child montessori ed, then you need books, I'd just use amazon.

I used Jenny's page a lot when first starting Montessori at home, along with MWI's page. I also used these two books:
*Montessori Read and Write : A Parent's Guide to Literacy for Children by Lynne Lawrence
*Montessori Play And Learn : A Parent's Guide to Purposeful Play from Two to Six by Lesley Britton

But I did come from a Montessori background myself, so I understood the three-part lesson, etc before starting. Lawrence and Britton's books do a great job of explaining this as well, and it's aimed specificially for at-home use.

For answering those pesky questions about Montessori, I found this book super-helpful:The Montessori Controversy by John Chattin-McNichols

The latter is a textbook, but local libraries should have it available.

[flyingspaghettimama]

I found another great website with Montessori Lessons, lots of really fun ideas for at-home learning!

http://www.moteaco.com/albums.html

Here is math:http://www.moteaco.com/albums/casa/casamath.html
Here is culture: http://www.moteaco.com/albums/casa/casaculture.html

[healthymantra]

I would argue that while it is wonderful to apply Montessori principles in the home (child -sized furniture, independent activity, freedom of movement). It is not possible to offer a truly Montessori classroom environment in the home. Not without a lot of other children there too.
The fact is that the peer group and the three-year age range are vital to the independent work of the child. Montessori educators are not there to 'teach', rather to guide each child's independent learning. The child needs to observe others at work, repeating activities at will. They should, when they are older, have the opportunity to help and teach younger children (the Kindergarten child becomes the mentor to the younger students, thereby building his own self-esteem). All activity should be initiated by the child, who's interests and behavior should be observed by a well-trained Montessori guide. This guide can then offer presentations as unobtrusively as possible.
Therefore, any time the adult might say 'today we're going to learn...', or 'why don't you chose...', then it is the adult who is directing the activity, not the free will of the child.

[flyingspaghettimama]

Montessori Elementary At Home

Here are some more links (can you tell what we will probably be doing next year?)

Elementary Scope and Sequence (curriculum for ages 6-9)
http://www.moteaco.com/albums/sequence/69scope.html

Elementary Albums are also available on the above site.

Materials To Print at Home (free)
http://www.montessorimaterials.org/

Montessori Materials (pay)
http://stores.ebay.com/Montessori-for-Everyone

Montessori Materials (pay)
http://stores.ebay.com/Learning-Collection-Montessori

Montessori Games Online (Math, Geometry, and Culture)
http://www.our-montessori.com/home.html

I am sure an AMI teacher's head will explode upon seeing the online games; but hey, when you're poor, you're desperate.

[Lillianna]

I depend on the AMI and NAMTA websites for their publications and resources.
I would add that everyone should read The Secret to Childhood and The Discovery of the Child by Maria Montessori.

[Lillianna]

Another recently discovered site.

http://www.our-montessori.com/materials.html

[Lillianna]

Parent Child Press, Inc.

I just found an old copy of this catalog, also available online: http://parentchildpress.com/
Excellent books for the new reader: the Cosmic Wonder Series, the Thoughtful Living Series and the Sense of Wonder Series are seriously beautiful. The "Pledge to the Earth" inspired our class to say it each day as a blessing at lunch. Also books for Peace Advocacy, for Parent Guidance and a Wonderful Art Appreciation series.

[Lillianna]

3 more links to add:
1) a very comprehensive list of books written by and about Montessori, plus a thorough list of international organizations:
http://www.shelton.org/montessori/reference.html
2) articles, ideas and online support montessorimom.com especially http://www.montessorimom.com/?Approa...ntessori_Links
3) Gandhi's speech at a Montessori Training Center 1931
http://www.peace.ca/montessoriandgandhi.htm

[darkskye]

Infant Toddler Articles

greetings...
I have a link to some articles on infants/toddlers from my website. You are free to reproduce them and hand them out to members of your play group, etc. http://www.littleredrobin.com/pages/...f_articles.asp

A good book of activities that you can do at home with toddlers is Awakening Your Toddler's Love of Learning by Jan Katzen-Lucenta. I think you can get it on Amazon, but she has a website you can order from directly, but I forget what it is!

I know Montessori From the Start was suggested, and I second that as a great book to get the whole philosophy.

Thanks.

[Lillianna]

Hi darksky!
Jan Katzen-Luchenta also has a new book out about nutrition and the child (Montessori style!) http://www.thetoddlertutor.com/home.html
Thanks for your link.

[mehndi mama]

Are there any magazines in publication for Montessori families?

[Lillianna]

There is a magazine put out by The M Foundation called "Tomorrow's Child" that has articles that cover the basics and are somewhat general:
[url]http://www.montessori.org/section.php?sectionname=Tomorrow's%20Child%20Magaz ine

I found this: "The Magazine for Montessori Families" with Maya Angelou on the cover! I'm gonna check it out, too.
http://www.amazon.com/M-Magazine-Mon.../dp/B000FBFXCE

The "Communications" and AMI bulletin (you will receive if you are a member) are more lengthy 'scholarly' articles but they do send out "Montessori talks to Parents" once or twice a year. Select "Publications" at http://montessori-ami.org/ This site also has a few articles by Dr. M online.

The NAMTA journal is excellent, too! http://montessori-namta.org/NAMTA/NAMServs/journal.html You can view it online at http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal search for NAMTA journal.

[SexyMama]

I just read "Montessori, The science behind the Genius." It does a great job explaining how the kids actually learn.

[guestmama9911]

Teaching Montessori In The Home: The Preschool years by Eliabeth G Hainstock is a great litte introduction and includes directions on how to make materials yourself on the cheap. While it is short and therefore does not cover the philosophy in depth, it is still a great little resource and one I intend to own (I got my copy from the library).