My Favorite Montessori Books

I'm sharing the Montessori books I read and has been using at home.  These books will give you a better understanding of the Montessori philosophies and will give you ideas on the activities that you can do with your child at home.

1. Basic Montessori.  If you wanted to homeschool and wants to have a better understanding of how to use the materials, then this book is recommended for you.  This book has been really helpful when I started to introduce the materials to the boys.  It also suggests extension activities beyond the traditional materials.

2.  Secret of Childhood.  I’ve read this a long time ago, and I have yet to finish this.  What I love about this book is that it summarizes what Montessori and her philosophies are all about.

3.  Child of the World.  This is just a small book but a really really good one and is intended for kids ages 3-12.  I love how it defines when you should start introducing academics to your child, how his/her environment affects him/her especially on the second plane.  I love that the book begins with discussions on the importance of sensorial activities and how it becomes the foundation of all the aspects of learning.

4. Montessori Read and Write.  I discovered this book at the library when I was pregnant with Vito and at that time, Mavi was already a reader but I borrowed it anyway.  This is a MUST HAVE book for those intending to teach their child how to read and write at home the Montessori way.  Of course, we can rely on blogs and some write-ups and experience by homeschooling mothers, but I found this book very helpful in understanding why sound activities come first, and that there is more than just memorizing and writing letters.  This is my “bible” for Vito when it comes to reading and writing.  You can confidently teach your child Montessori language once you read this book!

5.  How to Raise an Amazing Child.  This is already a new version, but I encountered this book years back from the library as well.  This is the true blue Montessori at home.  Mothers would always ask, “how do I start Montessori?”.   If you are asking yourself this question then this book is for you!  It offers A LOT OF ACTIVITIES at home, practical life activities that can be done in the four corners of your house without the need for toys and materials.  And best of all, it has lots of pictures too!  My kids love looking at the photos here and do what the kids were doing here too.

Note though, that these books are all guides, you really don’t need to follow them word by word.  Just take what you need and leave the rest if you think that some don’t fit your traditions, lifestyle and faith.

What about you? Do you have your own favorites as well? I would love to learn about them too!