Aid to Life, Montessori Beyond the Classroom

By Susan Mayclin Stephenson

Book Overview

In this book the author shares stories based on fifty years of Montessori work in thirty countries, first as a teacher of children from 2-13 in Montessori schools, then discovering new ways to use Montessori principles in a variety of situations-all aimed at inspiring, and providing practical ideas, to parents and teachers today. Here are some examples of her stories: preparing a group of elementary students in the Virgin Islands to run the class on their own; learning how to teach Montessori with no Montessori materials in a private girls school in Peru; applying Montessori in everyday situations by means of a Q and A newspaper column (twenty topics including self-esteem, preparing the home for a newborn, multiple intelligences, teenage troubles, homeschooling, and more); helping poor village children in a boarding school in Kathmandu, and blind children in Tibet; meeting with five other Montessori teachers, doctors, philosophers, educators, scientists, and the Dalai Lama in Sikkim to solve the country's educational problems; visiting a school where Montessori helps severely disabled children and young adults in Russia; initiating a "first Year Montessori project" in an orphanage, helping village schools, and lecturing on the first Montessori 3-6 training course in Morocco. Susan shares two stories from a meeting of Educateurs sans Fronti res in Thailand: Montessori help for mothers of babies born in prison, and for elders living with dementia.Enjoy the chapter describing the author and her husband reliving the book "Eloise in Paris." dictated by a four-year-old (used in the language area of some Montessori teacher training courses), and a detailed observation of a day in an authentic Montessori 3-6 class that is sure to inspire many teachers.Near the end of the book the author shares some of the solutions based on consultations with schools, and conversations with parents today, due to the unique situation of remote learning due to the pandemic. Age 0-6: Rather then recommending setting up mini-Montessori areas in the home which can cause even more stress for families, she gives suggestions on handling frustration and limited setting, welcoming the child into the daily work and activities of the family, understanding the value of protecting concentration, providing opportunities for children to be helpful and feel needed, and how to share the family ethics, morals, and even religions, in age-appropriate ways. Age 6-18: She explains the Montessori concepts of cosmic education and beginning the search for one's cosmic task, so important at this age. She discusses homeschooling, the reasons and variety of methods, and her own experience of guiding her son's self-chosen twelve years of homeschooling without materials or grades, but following interests.The last chapter, Stages of Development, the author explains how a Montessori education is completely different for birth-3, 3-6, 6-12, and 12-18. Rather then beginning with a desired standard academic curriculum, the learning is based on the needs and tendencies of human beings at different ages and planes, or stages, of development. As a result education becomes a joy. There are practical examples for parents and teachers.In the "Resources and Books" section, there are links to many of the projects described in the book, such as the school for the poor in Nepal. There are links to Montessori initiatives such as Educateurs sans Fronti res she experienced in Thailand, Montessori for Dementia, the Montessori course for teaching adolescents, Montessori sports. There are also details about the author's seven previous books, each one presenting Montessori in very practical examples from a unique perspective.Following Montessori principles can help anyone to dig deep and discover their inborn gifts, to gain the experience and confidence to push boundaries, to develop creative problem solving abilities, resilience, and compassion.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1879264293
• ISBN13: 9781879264298
• Release Date: March 2021
• Publisher: Michael Olaf Montessori Company
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.0"