Digital Object NAMTA Journal 41/3 24 Observation and Development: From Dr. Montessori's 1946 London Training Course This article exhorts the observer to take notice of the unconscious and conscious levels of the young child's absorbent mind (infant stare). Montessori notes the social awareness of young children and suggests that their amazing awareness of people, not…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 41/3 23 Lecture 11: Some More Suggestions and Remarks This lecture discusses how the careful preparation of the observer, control of conditions, and precise use of materials will allow the child to "be free to manifest the phenomena which we wish to observe." This lecture was delivered at the International…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 41/3 22 Lecture 3: Some Suggestions and Remarks upon Observing Children These next two lectures succinctly discuss the necessary preparation and methods for observation. Using the naturalist Fabre as an example of scientific training of the faculties for sharp observation, Montessori compares the observer to a researcher and…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 41/3 21 Lecture 4: April 11, 1927 Using examples from the animal world, Montessori speaks of the natural laws of life and the phases of childhood that are different than that of the adult. The child develops independently of the adult. Montessori says, "The child is the period when man is…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 41/3 20 Lecture 19: May 17, 1921 Montessori discusses the importance of the calm inner life (the soul) of the very young child. She stresses the importance of the soul's self-management, the child knowing what he needs to do, and of course, being allowed to do what he needs to do. The child…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 41/3 19 Attention "The Advanced Montessori Method, Volume 1" was published in 1918 in English and is considered a seminal work along with "The Montessori Method." In the foreword to this book, Mario Montessori writes: "...the refulgent figure of the child, Dr. Montessori…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 41/3 18 Methods Evolved by Observation Montessori's idea of the child's nature and the teacher's perceptiveness begins with amazing simplicity, and when she speaks of "methods evolved," she is unveiling a methodological system for observation. She begins with the early childhood explosion into…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 41/3 17 Some Observations of a Father on the Development of His Daughter This father gives some brief observations of his daughter beginning at the time of her entrance into a Montessori school at the age of three years through the age of six. Through his observations and interactions with his daughter, he gains an awareness of…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 41/3 16 Observations on Sara's First Eight Months by Her Mother Grazia Honegger Fresco gives us direct observations of her daughter from birth to eight months, grouping her observations by age even further into birth to fourth month, fifth and sixth months, and seventh and eighth months. Within each age range, she focuses…
Digital Object NAMTA Journal 41/3 15 A Guide to Parent Observation in the Primary Class Just as the classroom guide must prepare for observation in the classroom, so too should parents prepare themselves for classroom observation. What is the purpose of their observation? What is the procedure? What should they note? What points of awareness…