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Dr Josh Thompson

Josh_Thompson@TAMU-Commerce.edu

903-468-8627

 

"The teacher, when she begins work in our schools, must have a kind of faith that the child will reveal himself through work. She must free herself from all preconceived ideas concerning the levels at which the children may be."

Maria Montessori - The Absorbent Mind :: Dell Publishing, 1984 :: p. 270

 

A Montessori Primer

Two Guiding Principles of Montessori Education, from my first Montessori trainer, Sr. Monica Marie (Sally Hibberd), 1981:

  1. Highly organized sets of self-help material

  2. Spontaneous Activity

It is best to understand a thing by looking straight at it - so it is best to look at Montessori by looking straight at her own words. Dozens of books, training manuals, and speeches on many continents show us her thoughts, alongside hundreds of didactic materials she invented, created, or discovered for teaching children. Here are some key quotes:

"The objects in our system are instead a help to the child himself, he chooses what he wants for his own use, and works with it according to his own needs, tendencies and special interests. In this way, the objects become a means of growth."
- Discovery of the Child :: Clio Press, 1988 (reprinted 1996 edition) :: p. 150

"Our goal is not so much the imparting of knowledge as the unveiling and developing of spiritual energy."
- The Child in the Family :: The Clio Montessori Series, 1996 :: p. 63

"We must help the child to act for himself, will for himself, think for himself; this is the art of those who aspire to serve the spirit."
- Education for a New World :: Clio Press, 1988 :: p. 69

More selected quotes: http://amshq.org/montessori_quotes.htm

My favorite single text is her summative work The Absorbent Mind (1949, reprint 1995) Owl Books.

Words about the Montessori Method have been written over the decades. The best recent text about Montessori is Angeline Lillard's (2005) Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. Oxford University Press. Publisher's website: www.montessori-science.org. Dr. Lillard also has published a research article recently: http://www.montessori-science.org/montessori_science_journal.htm. Lillard has identified eight principles: Montessori Education.pps

And her comments have raised discussions on implementation of Montessori in broader applications:

Cossentino (Jan 31, 2007) Evaluating Montessori. Education Week, Vol. 26, Issue 21, pp. 31-32.  

Morrison (Spring 2007) Montessori Now - and for the next 100 years Public School Montessorian, Issue 75. www.jola-montessori.com/psm/75/articles/morrison75.html 

Visual Cues to help you better understand Montessori -

http://breeze.tamu-commerce.edu/montessori/ This 16:53 breeze presentation features Stephen Garretson, Coordinator TAMU-C in Midlothian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM1Gu9KXVkk This ten minute YouTube video is produced by the American Montessori Society.

Next after reading her writing, the best introduction to Montessori is to enter into the classroom. Here is a sampling of programs:

Montessori DFW - NE Texas Contacts

Dallas (east)

Dallas Montessori Teacher Education Program

East Dallas Community School (214) 824-8950

Lindsley Park Community School 214-321-9155

Montessori Children's House - Dallas .org

Saint Alcuin .org

White Rock Montessori

Dallas (Oak Cliff) 

Mt. St. Michael Catholic School (formerly Prince of Peace Community School)

Dallas Public School

Harry Stone

 

Arlington Montessori Academy .org
DeSoto Ashbury Academy .net 

Garland

North Garland Montessori School 

Longview Oak Forest Montessori School 903-297-0634
McKinney Daffodils Preschool (972) 548-2322

Good Shepherd Montessori .com 

Paris

Episcopal Day School (903) 737-9800

Plano Montessori School of North Dallas .com 

Quinlan

Lakeland Montessori Children's House (972)

Sherman

Montessori Academy of North Texas 

Montessori Organizations

The Montessori Foundation North America Montessori Teacher Association American Montessori Society Association Montessori Internationale
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Montessori Accreditation Council Montessori Connections Christian Montessori Fellowship

 

Montessori Materials Providers

Bruins Montessori Materials (Oak Cliff) Juliana Group LORD Equipment Michael Olaf
  Montessori Services Nienhuis  

Methods and Materials Worksheet .doc

Maitril Lesson Plans .pdf

Video: An Introduction to Montessori Philosophy & Materials VHS5387

© 2007 Josh Thompson PhD
eddress: Josh_Thompson@TAMU-Commerce.edu
office: Ed South 221
office address: P.O. Box 3011 Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
office: 903-468-8627
mobile: 214-663-6102

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