"If, like some, you regret that Montessori too rarely in her writings appreciated the humanity of teachers-their creativity, their curiosity, their doubts-this book stands as the perfect complement."-Jola-Montessori.com Evocative and unique, The Tao of Montessori offers a quiet balance to the noisy demands of teaching and parenting through a special blend of encouraging verse. Award-winning Montessori teacher Catherine McTamaney revisits the eighty-one verses of Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching and relates them to the life and work of teachers, parents, and children. Originally meant to remind rather than direct and to show the way toward natural harmony in the world around and within us, Lao-tzu's verses find a new meaning through McTamaney's skillful mixture of spirituality and education. Take a moment to read a single stanza, then put it aside and muse upon its meaning. By revisiting one verse each day, you can relate its images to your life as a teacher, parent, or child. Whether you are familiar with the writings of Lao-tzu or are simply ready to explore a refreshingly contemplative perspective on children and teachers, The Tao of Montessori is a profound work of intellectual stimulation.

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Putting good ideas into practice is one of the greatest challenges facing any educator. Eminent thinkers—John Dewey, Jane Addams, and others—dedicated their lives to producing ways of thinking about education and human welfare that have influenced many persons’ lives. At the same time, these renowned thinkers were also trying to solve problems that every classroom teacher faces, namely, how to help children grow and learn as global citizens in a complex world. This pathbreaking book edited by David T. Hansen provides readers with a collection of insights drawn from a diverse array of thinkers that proves there is nothing quite as practical as a good educational philosophy. It will challenge readers to articulate their own working vision of how to integrate the “big ideas” about education into daily practice. “Fascinating and readable accounts of great educational philosophies from all over the world. It is a major contribution to both philosophy of education and global education.” —Nel Noddings, Lee L. Jacks Professor of Child Education Emerita, Stanford University “Provides a moral counterweight to the forces of standardization, commercialization, and politicization that increasingly threaten our schools. This book should be read, and read again, by everyone who takes education seriously.” —Larry Hickman, Director of The Center for Dewey Studies, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale “A dynamic, moving exploration of educational philosophy. This is the kind of book, a kind of approach to philosophy, that the field of education in general and the field of philosophy of education in particular needs. The book truly sparkles.” —Dale T. Snauwaert, Director, Center for Nonviolence and Democratic Education, Judith Herb College of Education, University of Toledo “An inspiring intellectual companion for concerned educators who are committed to transforming powerful educational ideas into socially responsive pedagogical actions.” —Huey-li Li, Professor of Education, Department Educational Foundations and Leadership, University of Akron

This book shares the experiences and insight of a Montessori educator over the course of her 40 years as a Montessori teacher, administrator, school owner, and Montessori teacher trainer. It addresses the need for parents and educators to better understand the Montessori philosophy and to embrace it as a means to solve the problems inherent in the traditional structure of education in the United States. Despite the fact that Dr. Maria Montessori created this method over 100 years ago, most of her discoveries about how children learn and the effect of their environment on their developing brains have only recently been validated by current technology and specialists in brain development. These recent discoveries and the real-world success of numerous high-profile Montessori-educated entrepreneurs have helped the popularity of this educational philosophy. Turning Education Inside-Out: Confessions of a Montessori Principal shows the impact that the Montessori experience has on the developing child, clears up misconceptions about exactly what Montessori is, and helps prospective parents determine if Montessori is right for their child. Montessori educators will also find the author's insights into the challenges of successfully implementing the Montessori philosophy into the classroom and school to be helpful in their own journey.

Can we measure what we treasure? Can we build and sustain truly excellent schools focused on the ambitious goal of human flourishing? And can we hold ourselves accountable to the children and families we serve in ways that harness data to advance that goal? The National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector says “yes”! The Montessori Assessment Playbook shows us how to do it. Organized around 33 discrete tools, the Playbook provides a clear and actionable scaffold for building an assessment protocol that captures compelling student outcomes, such as perseverance, compassion, and creativity, and that links those outcomes to the investments we make to classrooms and schools. Emphasizing both coherence and precision, the Montessori Assessment Playbook shows us how to develop and implement a comprehensive assessment framework focused on human flourishing and, just as important, why such a framework is urgently needed.

Joyce S. Pickering and Sylvia O. Richardson interpret Dr. Maria Montessori's language and development theories using a modern, clinical, neurodevelopmental perspective. With decades of experience, Joyce and Sylvia share strategies about how teachers in Montessori environments can include children with speech-language delays, dyslexia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity, and intellectual disabilities. They also describe Montessori strategies that special educators can use in their classrooms to offer effective remediation to children who learn differently.