=ulton Book

n erstanding theMontessori Approach

Understanding the Montessori Approach is a much needed source of infor-mation for those wishing to extend and consolidate their understandingof the Montessori approach and how it is used in the teaching andlearning of young children. It will enable the reader to analyse the essen-tial elements of this approach to early childhood and its relationship toquality early years practice.

Exploring all areas of the curriculum including the organisation ofMontessori schools, the environment, learning and teaching and the out-comes for children, this book:

• focuses on the key principles of the Montessori approach;• explores ideas for working with parents and communities around the

world;• includes a chapter on the benefits and challenges of the Montessori

approach to children's lives;• highlights the key ideas that practitioners should consider when

reviewing and reflecting on their own practice;• can be used as the basis for continuing professional development and

action research.

Written to support the work of all those in the field of early yearseducation and childcare, this is a vital text for students, early years andchildcare practitioners, teachers, early years professionals, children'scentre professionals, lecturers, advisory teachers, head teachers and set-ting managers.

Barbara Isaacs is Academic Director at Montessori Centre International.- -111111111111111111 111111111111111111

8802988776

Understanding the ... ApproachSeries Editors: Pat Brunton and Linda Thornton

This new series provides a much-needed source of information for those wishingto extend and consolidate their understanding of international approaches toearly years education and childcare. The books will enable the reader to analysethe essential elements of each approach and its relationship to quality early yearspractice.

Each book:

• describes the key principles of the approach to early childhood with practicalexamples and case studies;

• provides students and practitioners with the relevant information about a keypedagogical influence on high quality early years practice;

• highlights the key ideas that practitioners should consider when reviewingand reflecting on their own practice;

• can be used as the basis for continuing professional development and actionresearch.

Written to support the work of all those in the field of early years education andchildcare, these will be invaluable texts for students, early years and childcarepractitioners, teachers, early years professionals, children's centre professionals,lecturers, advisory teachers, head teachers and setting managers.

Titles in this series:Understanding the Reggio Approach (second edition)(978-0-415-48247-9 )Linda Thomton and Pat Brunton

Understanding the Montessori Approach(978-0-415-58503-3)Barbara Isaacs

Understanding the Danish Forest School Approach(978-0-415-58113-4)Jane Williams-Siegfredsen

Understanding the HighScope Approach(978-0-415-58358-9 )Monica Wiltshire

Understanding the Te Whtiriki Approach(978-0-415-61713-0)Wendy Lee, Linda Mitchell, Brenda Soutar and Margaret Carr

Understanding the Steiner Waldorf Approach(978-0-415-59716-6 )Janni Nicol and Jill Taplin

Understanding theMontessori Approach

Early years education in practice

Barbara Isaacs

I~~~o~~~~n~~:upLONDON AND NEW YORK

First published 2012by Routledge2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, axon OX14 4RNSimultaneously published in the USA and Canadaby Routledge711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

© 2012 Barbara IsaacsThe right of Barbara Isaacs to be identified as author of this work has beenasserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,Designs and Patents Act 1988.All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproducedor utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission inwriting from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks orregistered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanationwithout intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication DataA catalogue record for this book is available from the British LibraryLibrary of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataIsaacs, Barbara, 1949-Understanding the montessori approach: early years education inpractice / Barbara Isaacs. - 1st ed.p.em.1. Montessori method of education. I. Title.LB1029.M75I852012371.39'2-dc232011037312

ISBN: 978-0-415-58502-6 (hbk)ISBN: 978-0-415-58503-3 (pbk)ISBN: 978-0-203-12480-2 (ebk)

Typeset in Palatino and Futureby Keystroke, Station Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton

- - JUN 701?

IJFSC---

MIXPaper from

responsible sources

FSce C004839 Printed and bound in Great Britain by the MPG Books Group

Contents

Acknowledgements ix

Introduction 1

1 Historical context 5

2 Montessori's views of children's development 18

3 Organisation of Montessori schools 31

4 Learning and teaching 46

5 The favourable environment 69

6 The benefits and challenges of the Montessori approach tochildren's lives and communities of today 97

Appendix 1: Montessori education for twelve- to eighteen-year-olds 104

Appendix 2: Glossary 109

Appendix 3: Key Montessori texts 114

Appendix 4: Leading UK and international Montessoriorganisations 119

Bibliography 121Index 125

Acknowledgements

, ould like to thank the Routledge team for commissioning this bookand helping in making it ready for publication. My thanks go to all of my_Iontessori and early years colleagues, Montessori students and the chil-dren in Montessori and other settings where I have taught and which I

ave visited, for allowing me the opportunity to learn from them. Special~ anks go to Jenny Paramonov for her editorial support and patient help

ith the many drafts of this book.My thanks and admiration go to Tina Bruce, for allowing me to benefit

- om her generosity of spirit and her continued support for nurturingunderstanding of the pioneers of early childhood education.

Introduction

Ne do not see him ... as the helpless little creature lying with folded arms and

outstretched body, in his weakness. We see the figure of the child who stands

oefore us with his arms open, beckoning humanity to follow.

(Montessori 1992: 1 19)

_Iaria Montessori was one of the pioneers of early childhood education,and has made a significant contribution to our understanding of children.Her aim was to unfold the potential of each individual child. Her ped-avogy recognises that young children are active learners, needing choiceand independence, whilst being guided by a sensitive teacher who facil-. ates their learning by preparing an environment favourable to their

evelopment. The children who benefit from these experiences grow intoonfident adults, keen to continue to learn and curious about life and all

. has to offer, whilst being respectful and considerate. In Montessori'siew, they become the heralds of social change.

This book is one in a series that focuses on a specific approach to early_·ears education. Each volume highlights the ethos and values whichunderpin the pedagogy.

Some of the titles relate to specific and recent curricula and approachessuch as the New Zealand Te Whariki or the Forest Schools, whilst othershave contributed to our understanding of early years care and educationover a longer period of time beyond the early years, such as Steiner

aldorf and Montessori education. Like Steiner Waldorf's, Montessori'sown view of education and pedagogy (Kramer 1976,Standing 1984)wasinfluenced by the work of Rousseau, Pestallozi, Itard and Sequin. In turn,her work had an impact on her twentieth-century contemporaries sucha Anna Freud, Susan Isaacs and the Macmillan sisters, who were alsodeeply engaged with children. An awareness of Montessori's writing