Basic Montessori

by David Gettman

Book Overview

For the first time, Basic Montessori opens the celebrated philosophy and method to a more general public. David Gettman has devised a clear and modern explanation of Montessori's revolutionary ideas... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312018649
• Release Date: May 1988
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.6" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

My go to for Montessori

I'm here now looking for Montessori books for 5+ and realized I needed to leave a rating for this excellent book. I bought several home-how-to books, but this is the one I use day in and day out. Yes, others are easier to read (tiny print for my aging eyes), look better and have more pictures/a nicer layout/etc. But after reading them all, this is the one that I can pick out 1-2 activities per day, do a quick skim and then be able to do the activities with my daughter. I am doing Montessori at home to supplement preschool and have relied completely on books for training. I recommend getting a few different books, and this is definitely one to include. btw, he also includes how to's re: making the toys at home yourself (and also tips when it's just easier to buy it instead). Very helpful. I just hope that he wrote something for 5+, too.

The most accessible book on Montessori ever

'Basic Montessori' is one of the most popular renditions of Maria Montessori's philosophy and method, and it has been for nearly 20 years. This is because the author, David Gettman -- who attended the official AMI Montessori course, has a honours degree in philosophy, and is also an accomplished author and publisher in his own right -- has done the education world and parents a great favor by rendering Maria's early-1900s pedagogical language (similar in style, for example, to Henri Bergson) in modern, accessible, common-sense terms. This accessibility disturbs narrow-minded obsessives like A C Crook (see review below) who wish to keep Maria Montessori's actual thinking closeted away from the general public, so that only a chosen few are 'qualified' to dispense it. But the many thousands of educators and parents who over the years have read 'Basic Montessori' have deeply appreciated being given this access and insight, so that they too can benefit from Maria's wonderful approach to early childhood education. Long may Montessori's ideas be open and available to all! Signed, Montessori nursery teacher in London

No Montessori home should be without it!

This book has been the clearest and most concise version of the Montessori method I have found yet. The introduction is excellent and seems to cover all the history of Maria Montessori and her philosophy without confusing issues or making it over complex. It gave me a real feeling of being able to implement her ideas in my home without having to hugely change the way my daughters lived. I found the descriptions of the materials and how to present them excellent; simple, as the presentations should be, ordered, so I knew what I should tackle next and with lots of varieties, so I could make good use of the materials I made or bought. I found a lot of confidence from this book - partly in my parenting techniques and partly in my ability to take to the do-it-yourself stores and make my own materials using his descriptions! If you are going to have one Montessori book - have this one!

Recommended Montessori Reading

This book gives a nice overview of the Montessori method and how it is used to teach small children. I am a Montessori teacher and parent, so I have looked at the book from both perspectives. I find the information very useful and current.

A complete guide, vital reading for parents and educators

Maria Montessori had a huge influence on primary education throughout the world. Unfortunately, a cult-like mystique surrounds the Montessori method, which has prevented it being taken seriously by many educators and parents. Basic Montessori opens the celebrated philosophy and method to a more general public for the first time. It clearly explains her ideas and provides a step-by-step guide to the Montessori learning activities most commonly used with under-fives - and even shows how to work with a child at home. No parent or educator should miss out on her marvellous insights into how young children learn