Great Books on Montessori, teaching, and life:

Montessori Madness! by Trevor Eissler [saw him at a conference; great advocate!]

Math Works by Michael Duffy [explains why the math curriculum is so cool.]

Montessori Today by Paula Polk Lillard [parent-friendly explanation of the pedagogy and curricluum]

for the hard core:  The Science Behind the Genius by Dr. Angeline Lillard (scientific proof for the success of Montessori education; backed by peer-reviewed journal article in Science magazine)

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle (shows how we construct ourselves through behavior; supports Montessori education)

Spark by Dr. John Ratey (the importance of exercise for brain development)

Links to my favorite websites!

Montessori information:

American Montessori Society

The main association of Montessori professionals in the United States.  The majority of Montessori schools are affiliated with this organization.  Among Montessorians, the AMS believes in using Dr. Maria Montessori’s pedagogy and materials as the basis for the authentic classroom, but also in adding scientifically-based new materials and lessons to the original curriculum to keep with the times.  As with any pedagogy, Montessori schools vary even within these limits.  So, I advise doing your homework when selecting a school for your child.

Association Montessori Internationale

The original international organization started by Dr. Montessori herself to regulate materials, pedagogy, training, and so forth.  AMI schools tend to stay with just the original materials and lessons that Dr. Montessori, her son, and colleagues in Italy, India, and the Netherlands developed.  But, again, that is the opinion of Montessorians and there are shades within that community of teachers as well.

North American Montessori Teacher’s Association

Another organization of Montessori teachers within the United States.  This community tends to follow AMI principles of teaching.

My opinion on all of this:

I am trained by American Montessori Society teacher trainers.  My credentials are through that organization.  However, I have also attended NAMTA conferences.  And my trainers received their training in Bergamo, Italy through AMI.

With all that said, I thoroughly believe there is no one correct way to run a Montessori school.  I do believe in use of the original materials to teach children from infancy through middle school.  These materials have stood the test of time in educating children through the senses successfully for over a hundred years.  However, at heart, I am also a scientist like Dr. Montessori.  She would always tinker with her classroom to make sure the materials were getting used and remove those that gathered dust.  I think if she were alive today, she would be developing and changing her curriculum to meet the changing times.