Discusses positive psychology, which focuses on health and well-being utilizing the elements of belief, hope, self-esteem, responsibility, elation, and wisdom as the basis of psychological theory and practice. Describes efforts to change the psychology field, including identifying promising young professionals, establishing monetary prizes, and…

Describes in operational terms the benefits of Montessori's developmental perspective for children from birth to 3 years, and from 3 to 6 years. Identifies optimal outcomes for social, moral, cognitive, and emotional development to be used in educational and psychological research and for child assessment. (KB)

Applies the principles of development and integration to the maturation of Montessori schools. Suggests that evaluative inquiry be used as the basis for community inquiry and problem solving by Montessori staff so that reflection, questioning, and decision making result in the highest level of Montessori implementation. (KB)

This article focuses on Maria Montessori's pedagogy of history. Part one traces the development of Montessori's thoughts on the pedagogy of the past, and parts two and three are meditations on "cosmic history": one on creation and the creation story and the other on time and timelines. (KB)

Discusses emerging characteristics of early adolescents from a Montessorian perspective. Considers adolescents' revelations related to cosmic education, their need to serve, their need to think and to feel, and their need to know the cosmos through finding one's place in it. Discusses samples from students' cosmic autobiographies. (KB)

Describes components of Lake Country School's junior high school Montessori program in relation to the developmental characteristics of adolescents, their needs, and their noble aspirations. Maintains that healthy environments where young adults are challenged to act constructively and creatively will help develop youth who are integrated,…

Discusses cognitive scientists' and psycholinguists' theories of the origins of consciousness and linguistic expression. Suggests that the hand is key in the development of human intelligence and in the origin of language. Maintains that the mutual influence of hand and brain reveals the subtleties of cause and effect, stories, and the…

Presents excerpt from Kohn's 1990 book, asserting that parents are most important to children and need to project a positive view of life. Argues that caring, the absence of physical punishment, guiding and explaining, cooperating, and taking children seriously are required to offset the pressure and negative values that a competitive culture…

Provides a participant's commentary on a seminar discussing authentic progress in innovative educational practices such as those of Maria Montessori and Frank Lloyd Wright. Notes that there was agreement among participants regarding basic parameters around which innovation within limits was possible. Concludes that innovation is possible when…

Maintains that children find their place in the world most securely by seeing themselves as part of the continuing work of creation. Considers how human tendencies, such as exploration, orientation, order, imagination, abstract thought, precision, repetition, self-control, and communication, allow humans to use the environment to meet various…

Describes how the Absorbent Mind uses human tendencies during the first 6 years of life to construct one's own individual self. Maintains that the adult's task is to form the link between the child and the environment so that the human tendencies to explore, orient, order, work, repeat, control errors, be exact, create, invent, and communicate can…

Describes a combination day care/Montessori school in London during World War II to illustrate how Montessori principles of order, care, and respect can exist through the environment and throughout the day. Suggests a family-like situation for non- classroom time, discussing meals as social occasions, the importance of grooming, playtime, the use…

Discusses Maria Montessori's view of the elementary child's educational needs. Maintains that older children need opportunities to use their reasoning abilities to come to a state of peace, stability, and security at the second plane of development. Discusses the teacher's role in cosmic education to incite curiosity and to teach responsibility.…

Discusses the four planes of development and the periods of creation and crystallization within each plane. Identifies the type of independence that should be achieved by the end of the first two planes of development. Maintains that it is through individual work on the environment that one achieves independence. (KB)

Maintains that Montessori education of adolescents (Erdkinder) should prepare them to exercise a self-disciplined will and judgment. Notes the importance of preparing children through Cosmic Education and through community service. Maintains that the logical focus of study for the third plane is the cosmic plan and the adolescent's place in it.…