Customer Reviews

Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook (Dover Books on Biology, Psychology, and Medicine)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This short book is like an Army basic training manual. Montessori teaching methods are described in detail, like recipes in a cookbook. An interesting section on food for children recommends large amounts of fat and sugar foods and therefore seems outdated. The systematic order achieved by the method is described as desirable while too much variety and child/teacher interaction is regarded as undesirable. The book warns that over-stimulating a child's imagination could cause him or her to miss the purpose of the lessons (tell that to Barney). The author's works have a ring of truth throughout and are valuable because of the spirit they convey even today.

This book is great for explaining the very basics of the montessori manipulatives and their primary function. it's good for background and knowledge into Montessori's methods and thinking (for primary aged children). It is NOT, however, a how to or instruction guide for Montessori. you won't gleen much about how to use things (other than one or maybe two basic functions) from this book. for that you need montessori albums, which will cost you a considerable amount of money.

i think this book is useful to people wanting to know more about Montessori and how she came up with the manips themselves or saw the children react to them but if you're trying to emulate the montessori method in your home and need more information, your money would be better spent elsewhere. for that i would recommend: Teaching Montessori in the Home by Elizabeth Hainstock.

I have purchased this book to get as close as possible to Dr Montessori's thoughts and get a big picture of what Montessori really is - straight from the author. This book is great at that, but I was very disappointed to find that the thin brochure has very poor layout - like a printed word document bound into paperback. And no figures are included at all, although they are mentioned in text. A list of Montessori tools is also useless without figures and illustrations, because one can not visualise what the text is describing. So, all in all, this does not help a parent in actually working the Montessori way - this is more or less just a chain of thoughts that are behind the method. For a practical demonstration some other book must be selected.

This is my favorite Maria Montessori book, I love her pictures of the kids using the materials. It is great to see what a Montessori classroom looked like in her day, it helps to realize that materials were not all perfect they were well used with chips off the paint, etc. But most of all I love reading her experiences with children, she is absolutely amazing! Plus this book is much easier to read than "Absorbent mind". Definitely recommend this book.

This book was so intersting it made me want to read more of Dr Montessori's work. It really helps knowing what her system is all about. I love it!

I am so delighted and very much impressed that the book you sent me. thank you for a wonderful service :))

The book came from the supplier -- great shape, very quickly and wrapped so well it could have made the trip to China!