Albums (Montessori)

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In the Montessori educational framework, albums are essentially the teacher's guide for a specific subject. They contain detailed instructions for presenting lessons or activities to children, often including pictures of the materials, the scope and sequence of lessons, suggested ages for the presentations, and sometimes printable resources for the materials. Albums are traditionally created by individuals undergoing Montessori teacher training and are commonly used as a reference in the classroom[1].

While Montessori albums are similar to traditional textbooks in their instructive function, they differ in that Montessori learning primarily arises from interaction with materials, not from reading texts. The instructions in the albums are for the teachers to use when presenting the materials to the children. However, albums usually do not include the theory and philosophy behind the Montessori method, which is a crucial part of Montessori teacher training[2].

Montessori Quotes on Albums

"The teachers...are not the fountain-head from which the knowledge flows; they are there to offer help and guidance... This is the basis of our method."

— Maria Montessori, "Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook"

Research and Critiques

Pro

  • Montessori albums provide detailed instructions for presenting lessons, which helps ensure consistency in teaching methods across different Montessori classrooms[3].
  • The detailed nature of the albums also allows for personal adaptation, giving teachers the flexibility to modify lessons according to the specific needs and interests of their students[4].

Cons

  • Some critics argue that the exclusive use of albums might limit the scope of learning by discouraging the inclusion of other teaching materials and strategies[5].
  • There's a concern that people without proper Montessori training might misuse the albums, as understanding the philosophy and pedagogical principles behind the Montessori method is crucial for correctly implementing the lessons[6].

Comparison to Other Methods

  • While both traditional textbooks and Montessori albums provide step-by-step instructions for teaching, their applications differ significantly. In traditional education, textbooks often serve as the primary source of information for students. In contrast, Montessori albums guide teachers in presenting materials and lessons to students, but the main source of learning is the student's direct interaction with the materials[7].

Resources: Free Albums

Info Montessori provides written descriptions and videos of Montessori lessons. It also offers background information on the Montessori Method and showcases various Montessori materials and shelf arrangements.

Kidling Kids Montessori has several Montessori albums from Cultivating Dharma. They were generously provided free of charge on the website, www.freemontessori.org for years, but currently, as I’ve been directing followers over to the site, we sadly discovered that the site is unavailable.

Montessori Album is a user-friendly site that contains color photos, clear visual formats, and step-by-step breakdowns of Montessori lessons, making it a valuable quick-reference tool.

Montessori Commons aims to distribute a comprehensive set of Montessori albums. The site provides categorized math lessons for children aged 2.5 to 6, such as "Numbers 1-10," with detailed descriptions and supporting images.

Montessori Teachers Collective provides links to various elementary Montessori albums, including a Geometry album, for ages 6-9. The site also features a curriculum scope and sequence page for children aged 3-12.

Montessori World Educational Institute offers videos of historical Montessori training workshops led by Margaret Homfray, a disciple of Dr. Montessori. The site also provides home-study diploma programs that use albums written by Homfray.

PDFCoffee is a resource for downloadable and printable Montessori albums, including a Lower Elementary Math PDF album for ages 6-9. This site is particularly useful for those wanting offline references.

Shu-Chen Jenny Yen's On-Line Montessori Albums Dr. Shu-Chen “Jenny" Yen (Ph.D., Early Childhood Development, University of Missouri-Columbia) is a Professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Studies at California State University. She teaches courses focused on infant/toddler and early childhood development, temperament and development, and practicum.[8]

Wikisori is a collaborative wiki page created by Montessori guides for their peers. It contains Montessori math albums for various age groups, as well as teaching resources, printables, and do-it-yourself materials guides.

Glossary of Montessori Terms

The Glossary of Montessori Terms is a collection of specific terms and vocabulary that are related to the Montessori method of education, primarily focusing on the theory and practice for children aged 3 to 6. The jargon used by Montessori educators offers a unique insight into child development as discussed by Maria Montessori. The 'Montepedia Glossary of Montessori Terms' originated from a glossary that was compiled by the late Annette Haines from the Montessori Training Centre of St. Louis, at the request of Molly O'Shaughnessy from the Montessori Centre of Minnesota. The reason behind the creation of this glossary was to supplement O'Shaughnessy's lecture at the Joint Annual Refresher Course that took place in Tampa, Florida, in February 2001.[9] The glossary has since been expanded and updated with additional 'Montessori Terms'.

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References

  1. ↑ Lillard, A. (2005). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. Oxford University Press.
  2. ↑ Montessori, M. (1989). The Absorbent Mind. New York: Holt Paperbacks.
  3. ↑ Lillard, A. (2005). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. Oxford University Press.
  4. ↑ Montessori, M. (1995). The Advanced Montessori Method. Oxford, England: Clio Press.
  5. ↑ Lopata, C., Wallace, N. V., & Finn, K. V. (2005). Comparison of academic achievement between Montessori and traditional education programs. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 20(1), 5-13.
  6. ↑ Murray, A. (2011). Montessori elementary philosophy reflects current motivation theories. Montessori Life, 23(1), 22-33.
  7. ↑ Lillard, A. (2005). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. Oxford University Press.
  8. ↑ Shu Chen (Jenny) Yen, Ph.D. is Professor at the California State University Fullerton, College of Health and Human Development, Child and Adolescent Studies Department
  9. ↑ Haines, A. (2001). Glossary of Montessori Terms. Montessori Training Centre of St. Louis.
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