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

Montessori Organizations

Montessori Materials Providers

Methods and Materials Worksheet .doc

Maitril Lesson Plans .pdf

Video: An Introduction to Montessori Philosophy & Materials VHS5387

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