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CandaceC
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Hi ladies! Since reading these boards and a lot of your blogs...I have become interested in learning more about montessori. Mostly I would just like to know the basics...if there are websites or books that I could glance through that would give me a basic idea, that would be lovely! I have read a lot of your posts, but am pretty clueless on the nuts and bolts behind the montessory approach.
Also, is this book any good? Teaching Montessori in the Home by Elizabeth Hainstock?? I picked it up at a used bookstore because it was cheap...so I'm curious if any of you find this book useful.
Thanks!!
Candace
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
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marianne
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Yes, that's a really good book. I also really liked Montessori in the Classroom, and Montessori Today by Paula Polk Lillard. Those books gave me a good feel for what a traditional Montessori classroom situation is like - of course, we can't do it exactly the same way at home, but it gave me concepts to work with.
There are a lot of links on the sidebars of most people's blogs here - sidebars called "Montessori Links" or something like that.
Also, if you can get Meredith's talk on Montessori homeschooling from the 4Real conference, you should! I think you can get it on either her blog or Elizabeth's.
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SuzanneG
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Candace~
Yes, Hainstock's book is great! And, I second Marianne's recommendation of the Polk-Lillard books.
Here are a few past threads about Montessori Basics and people's recommendations:
Where to start
hesitant Montessori inquirer
Tons o' questions (and answers)
Montessori Basics for Beginners
Montessori Books
You can get Meredith's talk from the conference "Montessori and Real Learning" from the conference website
And, keep asking questions! 
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lapazfarm
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The way I learned the most was from various blogs and Montessori posts here, as well as other internet resources and Montessori catalogs like Neinhuis and Michael Olaf.
I think the two books I found most helpful when I was first starting to learn about Montessori were the Gettman book (Basic Montessori) and "Maria Montessori's Own Handbook." It does help to read it in Maria's own words. The most inspiring for me right now is the Lillard book (Montessori in the Classroom), which gives a practical, day-to-day look at how children learn with this method.
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Mackfam
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lapazfarm wrote:
| The way I learned the most was from various blogs and Montessori posts here, as well as other internet resources and Montessori catalogs like Neinhuis and Michael Olaf. |
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Me too. There is a real learning curve to bringing this philosophy into the home, not that it can't be done. Just take it really slow, and don't rush into major purchases. This is really the best place to use as a sounding board - there are so many different experiences with each family here using Montessori, and it's helpful to compare ages of children, learning disabilities, as well as other factors. Really, there is such a diverse and wise base of women here doing this to varying degrees, Suzanne's advice to keep asking questions is the best!
I have really enjoyed both of Hainstock's books on Montessori very much! The others mentioned here have also been valuable. I have to say that I'm reading for the second time Paula Polk Lillard's Montessori in the Classroom. It is such an easy read, and the information really does relate to the homeschool setting in that the author is brutally honest about the good and the bad and the ugly! I really love the realistic view - helps my expectations anyway. Good luck! Can't wait to hear more from you! 
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Jen Mackintosh
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CandaceC
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Thanks so much ladies! I'm going to be looking over all those links you gave me! And checking our library for more titles.
Is there "in a nutshell" a reason behind WHY things are done the way they are in montessori? This Hainstock book is mostly how to do the different exercises and presentations...now I'm curious about why they do things the way they do them. I will also check out the links you gave! :) And I will check the library for books by Maria herself.
THANKS!!!
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
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Mackfam
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Candace,
I think "in a nutshell" Maria's vision was for the child's environment to be set up in a beautiful, attractive way. The materials used were designed with a specific purpose in mind, and they were/are by nature attractive to the child. These materials are meant to foster learning connections within certain sensitive periods for the child.
Anyhoo, nutshell...it's all about the connection really. The child chooses his *work* - there is a certain freedom within limits. A child is surrounded by beauty and order in the environment (well, hopefully - ask me how often the environment has been more than a little disordered in a homeschool setting  ) And the child through the material connects - whether it be a connection with fine motor skill development, addition facts, counting by 5's, what 1000 actually looks like, patterns with numbers, and on and on.
Caveat*** Montessori in the homeschooling environment looks and behaves very differently than it does in a school setting. So...there's that part of the nutshell that just has to be hashed out and translated in your own home.
Is this as clear as mud? I posted about our experiences here and it's sort of an ongoing discussion about the subject of Montessori in general as requested by a couple of commentors on my blog. If nothing else, it should provide you with more links than you could ever need to get started.  HTH!
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montessori_lori
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Here's a short "in a nutshell" article:
What is Montessori?
And a longer "in a nutshell" article:
Why Our World Needs Montessori
And a series of helpful blog posts:
Montessori Basics
Hope that helps!
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lapazfarm
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Lori, I am so glad you chimed in! I was just coming back here to add links to your Montessori Basics posts! You saved me a bit of work!LOL!
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Theresa
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Maryan
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I second the recommendation of Lori's posts!! I've been reading them for the last two weeks since Philip has been born and thought this is a great recommendation for Candace!! I was going to post them here too!
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Maryan
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montessori_lori
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Congrats on your new little one, Maryan! I'm super impressed that you're already blogging again. Wow! So glad you like my blog.
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CandaceC
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Thanks again ladies! Gosh, I'm going to be up late tonight reading all this good stuff you have for me!
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
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CandaceC
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I'm so excited, ladies! I have 6 books on hold from my library from the ones you suggested! I didn't think they would have that many! Yipee!
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
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lapazfarm
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I don't know about others, but I found the learning curve for Montessori to be pretty steep. I found myself getting overwhelmed with all of the new methodology, vocabulary, materials, methods...
My advice: take it a step at a time, take time to digest, and then move on. And come here if you get stumped. We carried each other through it and we can support you, too!
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Theresa
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Maryan
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Theresa -- Another set of great advice!  I always need a good reminder too!
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Maryan
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Mackfam
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lapazfarm wrote:
I don't know about others, but I found the learning curve for Montessori to be pretty steep. I found myself getting overwhelmed with all of the new methodology, vocabulary, materials, methods...
My advice: take it a step at a time, take time to digest, and then move on. And come here if you get stumped. We carried each other through it and we can support you, too! |
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Yes! Slow and steady! And come here lots! Happy reading Candace!
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Jen Mackintosh
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Montessori 101??
