I am looking for the best books to help me better understand the montessori method of parent teaching?

Question

Do you have any experience with the following books?

Secret of Childhood

Discovery of the Child

Montessori Method

Montessori Handbook

All of these books are by Maria Montessori but I cannot purchase them all at this time. I would like to know which of these you think is best to start out with.

There is also another book called "Understood Betsy" by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, if you know anything you can tell me about this book I would be grateful

Answer 1

hey i`m a montessori directress and have done my montessori course for children 3-6.in my opinion "the secret of childhood" would be the right one to start out with.although there is another book called "the absorbent mind" also by dr.montessori, which i`d suggest to be read after this one since it takes you further into how and on what dr.maria montessori bases her work and how we can help the child.

i am a very strong believer of the montessori principles and am not yet a mum but i think doing the montessori course is the best thing i will ever do for my kids:)

happy reading!

Answer 2

I think "Discovery of the Child" out of those choices.  But for parent teaching.... I would look at "Montessori in the Home" by Elizabeth Hainstock.  I have the preschool one and it offers some immediate ideas.  Also "Montessori Play and Learn" has been highly recommended by some of my co-workers. (I work in a Montessori school.)

Another great one to get you started is "Montessori: A Modern Approach" by Linda Polk Lillard.  It gives a great overview and is great for one just getting started.  Maria Montessori's books are a little harder to get through, but this book is a quicker read that really gets you excited about Montessori.

Answer 3

secret of childhood

Maria Montessori describes the child with warmth and the exactness of a scientist. She also discusses the array of materials and techniques needed to release his learning potential.

**I thought this book was great, I'm only 16 and I am really interested in Montessori pre-school and psychology, I read this book in about 3 days it was so good it blew me away

Answer 4

Just another Montessori teacher here agreeing with what was said.

There is a book I ran across a while ago that gave a lot of practical advice.  I believe it was "Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years" by Elizabeth G. Hainstock and Lee Davis.  

Whatever it was, I saw it at Borders and have seen it there a few times.  So I wonder if it's a regular book they keep in stock.  Worth going and looking through it to see if it is something else you would be interested in.  But I would start with Montessori's writings first.  Learning the materials without learning the philosophy is not a good approach.

Matt