Montessori Bookclub Podcast

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A podcast where we read selected passages from Montessori's texts on selected topics (including mistakes, practical life, observation, outdoor learning, a society by cohesion, and so much more!) then discuss them. Perfect for your ride to work, a short wa

Jana Morgan Herman


    • Feb 26, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 38 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Montessori Bookclub Podcast

    Ep 37 Ch 17 The Mathematical Mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 12:01


    This episode is a reading from a subsection of Ch 17 in The Absorbent Mind. It is from the 1949 Kalakshetra edition, and it looks a little different than some newer editions of this text. In this section, Dr. Montessori discusses the mathematical mind and its importance for children.

    Ep. 36 Introduction to Mathematics

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 6:49


    In this episode, I read from the Introduction to Mathematics from the 1946 India Lectures, Course No. 7. This is a transcription I made of the handwritten manuals of Lakshmi Kripalani’s training manuals housed at the AMS Archives. My transcription of Practical Life: Book One is out and available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRSWJ3QK. The Math Manual … Continue reading Ep. 36 Introduction to Mathematics

    Ep. 35 Freedom and Discipline CDv2, Ch 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 13:32


    In this episode, Montessori discusses the relationship between freedom and discipline, the levels of obedience, and the true meaning of respect.

    Ep 34 Work and Play 1946 LL L.21

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2023 17:56


    In lecture 21 Work and Play from the 1946 London Lecture, Montessori discusses how children’s “play” is active and given natural conditions, follows the activity of adults. Concentration requires the work on the hands, and purposeful, concentrated activity creates the unity of the personality.

    Ep 33 “The Transition from the Mechanical to the Intellectual Development of Language” Ch 1. The Advanced Montessori Method

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2023 17:40


    In this chapter, Montessori describes why learning grammar is suited to the 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 or 8-year-old child.

    Ep 32 The Method Ch. 20 The Secret of Childhood

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2022 14:24


    In this chapter, Montessori describes what the “conversion” of the children of Messina taught her about the importance of a beautiful environment, a humble teacher, and free work with the materials in children’s development.

    Ep 31 Pt 2 ‘On Discipline- Reflections and Advice

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2022 11:03


    Pt 2, Montessori describes what the final outcome of normalizing activity and development of the will.

    Ep 30 “On Discipline – Reflections and Advice”

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2022 21:09


    In this article, from The Call of Education V1, no. 3 & 4, 1924, Dr. Montessori describes some of the frustrations teachers face early in the year and how to redirect the child to purposeful engagement. Pt 2 (Ep 31) is the second and final part of this article. It’s perfect for this time of … Continue reading Ep 30 “On Discipline – Reflections and Advice”

    Ep 29 CD v2, Ch4, Development through Activity

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 15:35


    Montessori describes the teacher’s role in deciding when to intervene and when to observe if a child is making a mistake, interrupting another, or using the lesson in a way not intended. Very helpful this time of year!

    Ep 28 The Age of Miracles, Ch 17 “Correction of Anomalies”

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 16:44


    In this chapter Montessori reminds us that *we* cannot make the child different by making laws, not by punishment, nor prize, nor preaching. It is only through connecting the child to activity in their environment- not merely occupation but through interest does the child begin to change.

    BONUS Montessori’s Birthday Wish

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 3:32


    This 3 minute recording is a reading from Maria Montessori Writes to her Grandchildren: Letters from India 1939-1946, p.144, where Dr. Montessori requests to see her son on her birthday. Out of respect for Dr. Montessori, Mario was released and they were indeed reunited on her birthday in 1940!

    Ep 27 Creative Development v.2 Role of the Adult

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 25:46


    Role of the Adult. In this chapter, Montessori describes the role of the adult and how the adult’s development impacts the development of the child.

    Ep 26 The White Cross from 1917 San Diego Lecture

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 16:23


    In this episode, I read from The AMI Journal 2013 double theme issue on peace through education. The selection is called “The White Cross.” In this piece, Dr. Montessori describes “mental wounds” (which we now call trauma or PTSD) and says that children will find relief in the Montessori method of education, and that she … Continue reading Ep 26 The White Cross from 1917 San Diego Lecture

    Ep 25 The 1946 London Lectures Ch 32 The New Teacher

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2022 15:46


    In this chapter, Montessori says the teacher must create an environment for normalized, concentrated activity, but she must act as sheepdog and policemen before the child can concentrate and shows signs of normalization, by redirecting the child with a walk in the garden, songs, collective games, or any activity that captures attention and draws them … Continue reading Ep 25 The 1946 London Lectures Ch 32 The New Teacher

    Ep 24 The New Teacher, Ch 10 from The Child in the Family

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2022 12:13


    In this chapter, Montessori describes the importance of respecting concentration and redirecting chaos.

    Ep 23 Ch 2: To Teachers from The Child, Society and the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 19:50


    In this episode, Montessori describes the role of the teacher and how to discern when to intervene, correct mistakes, or stop misuse of materials.

    Ep 22 Education and Peace Ch 3 “Educate for Peace”

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 13:45


    This chapter includes this famous quote, “The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.” (p. 31)

    Ep 21. Education and Peace ch 2 “For Peace”

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 9:30


    This chapter has the famous quote “Preventing conflict is the work of politics; establishing peace is the work of education.” (p 24).

    20. Education and Peace Ch 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 10:13


    I read a selection from Education and Peace, Ch 1 “Peace”

    19. Education and Peace (Preface_

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 9:42


    In this episode, I read the Preface to Education and Peace.

    Ep 18 Ch 10, The Teacher, The Discovery of the Child

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2022 10:07


    In this chapter, Montessori describes the role of the Montessori guide and what the guide’s main responsibilities are in relation to the children.

    Ep 17 Walking the Line Creative Development in the Child V.2 ch 11

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2022 7:07


    In this chapter, Montessori describes the sequence for lessons on walking the line.

    Ep 16 Truth and Fairy Tales Ch 26 1946 London Lectures

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 14:03


    In this chapter, Montessori discusses why story telling is an important part of education and how we can adapt the concepts that are appealing in fairy tales to the education of young children.

    Ep 15 The Construction of the Imagination Ch 24, The 1946 London Lectures

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 21:00


    In this chapter, Montessori says that imagination and intelligence are intertwined, that imagination is a sensitive period that does not fade, but lasts throughout life!

    Ep 14 Unlocking the Intelligence (Sensorial Lessons) Vh 10, 1946 London Lectures

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 25:31


    In this chapter, Montessori describes the first Sensorial materials, including the Knobbed Cylinders, Long Rods, Brown Prisms, and Pink Cubes. She give instructions on how to present them- which may be the only place she describes this in such detail! I love this chapter, and after these lectures were published, a LOT of teacher training … Continue reading Ep 14 Unlocking the Intelligence (Sensorial Lessons) Vh 10, 1946 London Lectures

    Ep 13 Movement and Education, 1946 London Lectures

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 16:08


    Montessori talks about why natural movement and the activities of Practical Life are better for humans than using a gym.

    Ep 12 Nature in Education pt 2 DOC

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 8:21


    Part two of Ch 4, “Nature in Education” from Discovery of the Child

    Ep 11 Nature in Education, Discovery of the Child

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 11:09


    In this episode, I read a section from Discovery Of the Child, ch. 4 “Nature in Education” “Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water; and, when the grass of the meadow is damp with dew, … Continue reading Ep 11 Nature in Education, Discovery of the Child

    Ep 10 The House of Children Pt 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 20:42


    In this episode, we finish The House of Children, from Montessori’s 1944 lectures in India. Montessori describes in detail ideal outdoor school environments.

    Ep 9 The House of Children 1944 India Lecture Pt 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2021 10:03


    This is probably my all time favorite lecture on the physical environment! In this lecture, Dr. Montessori describes the ideal children’s environment. I think you’ll be surprised at what you hear!

    Ep. 8 Mistakes and their Correction

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 16:34


    This reading is from The Absorbent Mind, Ch 24. Montessori explains why we do not correct mistakes children make.

    Ep. 7 The Periods of Growth

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 24:51


    This reading is from The Absorbent Mind, Ch 3. Montessori describes the planes of development and the importance of language and movement.

    Ep. 6 Education and Peace

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 12:49


    Montessori’s birthday is August 31! Happy Birthday, Dr. Montessori! Chapter 3 from Education and Peace seems a fitting read for our time and place.

    Ep 5 The Technique of the Lessons

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021 12:57


    This reading is from Ch 11 in Discovery of the Child. It describes how to give the three period lesson and why we should not correct the child.

    Ep. 4 Preliminary Activities of Practical Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021 15:47


    This is reading is from Creative Development, chapter 9, on practical life and preliminary activities.

    Ep 3 Observation from 1921 London Lectures

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2021 12:08


    This week, I read from Montessori’s 1921 London Lectures on Observation

    Ep. 2 Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook: The Children’s House

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 21:28


    In this episode, I read from Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook, her description of the Children’s House

    Montessori Bookclub Intro

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 1:03


    In this episode Jana Morgan Herman gives an intro about podcast

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