Methods: Montessori

Who was Maria Montessori?

Maria Montessori (1870 - 1952) was a Catholic pioneer in the area of early childhood education. Her methods have met with unprecedented success and were highly praised by several Popes. Many of her ideas, although designed for a specialized classroom setting, will be useful to Catholic homeschooling parents today. Her ideas of the "three period lesson", "practical life exercises" and "sensitive periods" are particularly helpful. Her philosophies about how children learn and "the prepared environment" are very applicable to the homeschool setting. The following books are written by or about Maria Montessori and her educational ideas.

Natural Structure

Book cover: 'Natural Structure: A Montessori Approach to Classical Education at Home'
Author(s): 
Edward and Nancy Walsh

Dr. and Mrs. Walsh who are Catholic homeschool parents of three children and Third Order Carmelites (and have many years of teaching experience between them) have outlined a Catholic homeschool curriculum using Maria Montessori's philosophies to guide the teaching methods and Dorothy Sayers' essay "The Lost Tools of Learning" to direct the content (subjects covered, materials used, etc.).

Montessori on a Limited Budget

Author(s): 
Elvira Farrow
Carol Hill

This is a more advanced and thorough version of Teaching Montessori in the Home. The book contains a very good introduction to the Montessori philosophy of education, but from a secular point of view. It includes much more detailed descriptions of the different activities. It also includes instructions for making nicer materials, but more skill, time and money is required than the materials outlined in Teaching Montessori in the Home.

Teaching Montessori in the Home

Author(s): 
Elizabeth G. Hainstock

This book is filled with simple Montessori learning activities and techniques for young children (2 - 5 yrs. or so). Included are instructions for making the materials very simply and inexpensively. For example we made some very nice picture cards by cutting photographs out of magazines, catalogs, etc. I attached them to index cards with contact paper.