The Montessori Method (Economy Editions) [Paperback]

Maria Montessori (Author)

Book Description

Series: Economy Editions | Publication Date: August 14, 2002

One of the landmark books in the history of education, this volume describes a new system for educating youngsters. Based on a radical concept of liberty for the pupil and highly formal training of separate sensory, motor, and mental capacities, the system enabled youngsters to master reading, writing, and arithmetic rapidly and substantially.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

From the Inside Flap

This book is Montessori's own exposition of the theory behind her innovative educational techniques. She shows parents, teachers and administrators how to "free a child to learn through his own efforts". --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; 5th edition edition (August 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486421627
• ISBN-13: 978-0486421629
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,630,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

98 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A useful classic, but very dated, November 16, 2003

By 

Nicholas Dujmovic (Vienna, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Montessori Method (Economy Editions) (Paperback)

While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"--it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory--and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this paperback version!, July 12, 2008

By 

K. Wang "bookworm" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Montessori Method (Paperback)

This paperback version published by www.bnpublishing.com (ISBN 9562915824) excludes most of the original illustrations/pictures/photos without indication in the product description, which, I think, has largely lowered the quality and damaged contents of this book. So, this book is not what it was supposed to be. Reading experience of it is terrible! My zero start for it.

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a classic work on child pedagogy, July 17, 2002

By 

Vladimir Kornea (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Montessori Method (Paperback)

Here, Maria Montessori introduces a scientific approach to pedagogy. The Montessori schools which she established and developed are intended for children three to seven years of age. The children are allowed as much freedom as possible and are provided with "didactic materials" which are various artifacts which they can use to educate themselves. They are supervised by a single directress whose primary task is to observe the children and direct their efforts by explaining to them how various didactic materials are used (it's very simple, but nothing is obvious to a young child). This book offers some valuable concete advice, but its primary use to me was as an introduction to the approach of scientific pedagogy. The basic premises as I understand them are that (1) children have a natural desire to learn and (2) one can learn how to live in freedom only by being free. These premises are fully supported and fleshed out in the book. The Montessori method achieved startling results, with four year old children (on average) learning to be masters of themselves, disciplined, benevolent, self-confident, and capable of reading and writing. Every educator should be familiar with Maria Montessori's work.