From Childhood To Adolescence - Kalakshetra
The book that follows the child from seven through adolescence, which is the part of the method least often read and the part most schools stop at. Kalakshetra printing, 151 pages, hard cover, 1973. Her account of an adolescent's need for independence in thought and action reads as current, and so does what she says about the state of education. The MPPC edition runs to 100 pages in soft cover, and a Spanish edition is in the catalogue as well.
“The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge.”
From Childhood To Adolescence illuminates Dr. Montessori's observations of the fundamental transformation occurring around age six, when children shift from sensorial explorers to reasoning beings. This Kalakshetra publication examines how the six-to-twelve-year-old develops an insatiable curiosity about the universe, society, and moral questions. The book reveals why children in this second plane require expansive knowledge rather than isolated facts, seeking to understand the interconnectedness of all things. From Childhood To Adolescence details the emergence of the reasoning mind that hungers for the 'why' behind phenomena, not merely the 'what.' Dr. Montessori's text demonstrates how this age group develops through collaborative work and peer relationships, moving beyond the individual focus of early childhood.
- Understanding the psychological characteristics of the second plane of development
- Recognizing the shift from concrete to abstract thinking in elementary-aged children
- Identifying the social and moral developmental needs of 6-12 year olds
- Comprehending the rationale behind cosmic education curriculum
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The book's insights into the child's moral development explain the strong sense of justice characteristic of this age. From Childhood To Adolescence provides the theoretical foundation for understanding why elementary children need cosmic education, a curriculum that presents the universe as an interconnected whole.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Create a quiet reading space with notebook and pen. Plan to read one chapter at a time with reflection periods between sections.
- 1
Begin with the introduction to understand Dr. Montessori's framework for developmental planes
Take notes on key differences between first and second plane characteristics - 2
Read chapters on intellectual development, noting specific examples of the reasoning mind
Mark passages that relate to children you know or observe - 3
Study sections on moral development and the child's sense of justice
Reflect on how this manifests in classroom or home situations - 4
Examine chapters on social development and the importance of peer collaboration
Consider how this differs from the parallel play of younger children - 5
Review cosmic education principles and their connection to the child's developmental needs
List ways these principles could be implemented practically
Every Child Is a Little Creator
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