The Absorbent Mind

Maria Montessori

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In response to the crisis in American education, more than five thousand public and private schools across the nation have adopted the timeless Montessori Method of teaching, of which this book is the cornerstone. Written by the woman whose name is synonymous worldwide with child development theory, The Absorbent Mind takes its title from the phrase that the inspired Italian doctor coined to characterize the child's most crucial developmental stage, the first six years.

A new forward by John Chattin-McNichols, Ph.D., former President of the American Montessori Society, contextualizes this classic book in an intelligent discussion of contemporary thinking in child education.


Reviews

"Written with conviction—even passion . . . the appeal to teachers to preserve at all costs a living imagination is appropriate here and now."

—Saturday Review

"Startling insights . . . she is an inspiring teacher . . . educators of all persuasions will find her book alive with ideas."

—Library Journal

• "The child is endowed with unknown powers, which can guide us to a radiant future.ation." Pg. 4 Reader from Crosshaven, Cork, Ireland

Maria Montessori, born in Italy in 1870, dedicated her life to learning how best to educate children—particularly the poorest, most challenged children—during their vulnerable beginnings. Today her legacy is evident worldwide. She died in the Netherlands in 1952. John Chattin-McNichols, Ph.D., was a President of the American Montessori Society and Professor of Education at Seattle University. He is the author and editor of several books on Montessori education.

	Translator's Note	v
	Foreword to the Owl Book Edition	xi
1	The Child's Part in World Reconstruction	3
2	Education for Life	10
3	The Periods of Growth	18
4	The New Path	29
5	The Miracle of Creation	34
6	Embryology and Behavior	47
7	The Spiritual Embryo	60
8	The Child's Conquest of Independence	83
9	The First Days of Life	97
10	Some Thoughts on Language	108
11	How Language Calls to the Child	116
12	The Effect of Obstacles on Development	127
13	The Importance of Movement in General Development	136
14	Intelligence and the Hand	148
15	Development and Imitation	158
16	From Unconscious Creator to Conscious Worker	165
17	Further Elaboration Through Culture and Imagination	171
18	Character and Its Defects in Childhood	192
19	The Child's Contribution to Society—Normalization	201
20	Character Building Is the Child's Own Achievement	208
21	Children's Possessiveness and Its Transformations	216
22	Social Development	222
23	Cohesion in the Social Unit	232
24	Mistakes and Their Correction	244
25	The Three Levels of Obedience	252
26	Discipline and the Teacher	263
27	The Teacher's Preparation	276
28	Love and Its Source—the Child	287
	Index	297

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