15 MONTESSORI BOOKS:
I recommend all of your books, quote you, and have your books with me when training. I read parts with the students, hoping this will inspire them. —Julia Hilson, International AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) trainer, 0-3, 3-6, 6-12 dip
You say the same things as Dr. Montessori but in modern language. —Judi Orion, Director of Pedagogy at AMI
Aid to Life, Montessori Beyond the Classroom
An experience of teaching “Montessori” in a private girls’ school in Peru with no Montessori materials; a newspaper column; homeschooling experiences for age 6-19; Montessori help in Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim, Russia, Morocco: EsF (Educateurs sans Frontieres) Thailand: ideas for the home for ages 0-18; a grandparenting literary experience; observation of a typical day in a Montessori primary class (age 2.5-6.5) in London. Click: more
Beginnings, Montessori Birth to Three Comparison with Traditions in Bhutan
Welcomed by new parents-to-be who are overwhelmed by parenting advice because here they can compare two well-tested parenting methods and decide what aligns with their own hopes. NEW!l
Child of the World: Montessori, Global Education for Age 3-12+
A brief overview of theory and practice in the Montessori primary, age 2.5-6.5 classroom. The same for the elementary class for ages 6-12. Other chapters: stages of development; the young adult; the adult; preparing the environment; parenting and teaching. Click: more
Glimpses of Aged Care through a Montessori Lens
Created by Anne Kelly, head of the AMI Montessori for Dementia, Disability, and Aging training program, and Susan Mayclin Stephenson. They share their unique and complimentary experiences and attitudes toward the last stage of life. This book is enlightening and helpful in cultures where discussions of old age and death are avoided and, as a result, there is little or no preparation. Click: more
Joy and Purpose, the Infant-Toddler Years
(book #1 of the Montessori for Family and Community series, titles for 3-6, 6-12, and 12-18, to be published in 2026)
Human beings enter the world with inborn instincts as to their physical, mental, spiritual purpose. When their attempts to fulfill these are observed, understood, and supported, the result is Joy. This short book contains QR codes leading to the short videos used by the author to illustrate several of these accomplishments. Click: more
Montessori and Mindfulness (new edition out in February 2026)
By Susan Mayclin Stephenson with Dr. Angeline Stoll Lillard.
When practiced authentically, Montessori students spend most of the day being mindful and in the moment. External mindful practices, valuable in other situations, would get in the way. Chapters include: support and impediments of mindfulness; flow; mindful work, walking, music, exploration; born to be good, and a chapter on mindfulness contributed by the psychologist Dr. Angeline Lillard. Click: more
Montessori Cosmic Education, The Child’s Discovery of a Global Vision and a Cosmic Task
A brief introduction to a main Montessori education purpose, which is learning about the world and the interconnectedness of all life, and the search for, and discovery of, one’s unique contribution to the world. Ideas for birth through 6-12 years of age are presented. Click: more
Montessori for Family and Community
Ideas for using tested practices to support the optimum development of children and young adults from birth through the high school or secondary years in such a way that they will get in touch with their own authentic self, learn in enjoyable, and become adults that will contribute to a better world.
Information for parents of children who will never be able to attend a Montessori school, for those who are preparing their children to attend one, and to support at home what children are doing in a Montessori school. QR codes, especially at 0-3 level, lead to short video clips on YouTube to understand the child’s potential. Click: more
Montessori Homeschooling, One Family’s Story
This documentation of a homeschool experiment through elementary, middle, and high school is an inspiration to parents and teachers with only traditional education experience who hope for something more practical, enjoyable, and successful for their children and students. Click: more
No Checkmate, Montessori Chess lessons for Age 3-90+
A Montessori way of teaching chess is just one example of how to follow a child’s interest and stage of development when teaching any skill. Examples are grace and courtesy of handling the chess pieces; social aspect of the game; practical life— polishing/dusting the pieces, setting up the environment; language, using the three-period-lesson to learn the names of the pieces; mastering the game by building up one difficulty at a time. It is based on the author’s years of teaching chess to young children. Click: more
Please Help Me Do It Myself, Observation and Recordkeeping for the Primary and Elementary Class
Montessori practice requires a scientist’s ability to observe carefully, record observations, think, make an individual plan for each child, and act on this plan—and then continue to observe and adapt depending on the child’s choices and mastery. At the 6-12 level the author shares how her students themselves mastered record keeping, planning, learning to make and meet goals (including local state/country requirements) and manage time. Additional primary class chapters: general knowledge book of the teacher; formal language book; beginning a new class; first six weeks in a continuing class; moving to a new environment; parent communication; human needs and tendencies; becoming a young adult. Click: more
The Joyful Child: Montessori, Global Wisdom for Birth to Three
Five chapters with information and support for development in the first years of life; ten chapters on the development in the second two years. Also, preparing the environment; parenting and teaching; the Montessori approach to weaning; the Montessori 0-3 or Assistants to Infancy parent/teacher training. This is the most translated book of this series and has brought Montessori to parents in many places. Click: more
The Music Environment for All Ages, Montessori Foundations for the Creative Personality
Part of the “Brief Montessori Introductions” series, a version of this title was published by AMI (Association Montessori Internationale and NAMTA (North American Montessori Teachers Association) in the AMI Journal 2014-2015 issue: The Montessori Foundations for the Creative Personality. It gives parents and other educators an overview of the value and practice of music in the different stages of life: 0-3, 3-6, 6-12, 12-18, and even for the elderly. Click: more
The Red Corolla, Montessori Cosmic Education (for age 3-6+)
Chapters include cosmic education; the work of the adult; the work of the child; culture from birth to age twelve; the music environment; and a Montessori glossary. There are universally tested cultural activities for this age: physics, botany, zoology, history, geography, art, music. In each area there is specific practical life work, sensorial exploration, lessons, sometimes artwork, and always the language that follows the experiences. All this information is based on lectures delivered in an AMI primary diploma course by the author. Here are the lectures delivered in an AMI primary diploma course by the author. Click: more
The Universal Child, Guided by Nature
(Part 1) Natural, inborn, human tendencies on which Montessori at all ages is based: movement, work, maximum effort, perfection, concentration, self-control, belonging, communication, and joy. (Part 2) Sharing Montessori in a variety of cultures. (Part 3) and the needs of adults whether they have, or have not, been met in the early formative years. (Part 4) How closeness to nature aids human development. Click: more
Since 1971, I have been sharing my own teaching experience (children and young adults, ages 2-18), what I have learned as a consultant and speaker in 30 countries, and when working as an examiner for AMI teachers’ courses. The books are available from many sources, schools, training centers, or:
Amazon, CLICK: Books on Amazon,
The publisher, CLICK: Michael Olaf Publishing,
Nienhuis Montessori, CLICK: Nienhuis
Home page, CLICK: Susan
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