Bernadette Phillips

Trauma-Informed Practice in Montessori Classrooms provides important historical and contemporary evidence of the potential for Montessori schools to act as “healing” environments for children and young people. Drawing upon fascinating archival evidence and contemporary trauma theory, it shows how authentic Montessori schools already have the infrastructure to promote and embed trauma-informed practice (TIP) in their classrooms. The book provides cutting-edge, interdisciplinary knowledge on trauma and highlights its potential to negatively impact the emotional, social, and cognitive functioning of children and young people. It explains clearly and precisely the principles of TIP and how historically, these were woven into the fabric of the early Montessori schools, resulting in their reputation as “Case della Salute” or “Health Homes.” The book shows how this almost forgotten “healing” element of Montessori schools can be revived, harnessed, and promoted in ways that would benefit the overall health and well-being of children and young people. This timely book is highly informative, hugely practical, and reader-friendly. It includes features such as boxed chapter objectives, learner outcomes, vignettes, chapter summaries, and questions for group discussion. It provides an invaluable guide for Montessori teachers and students, for home educators using the Montessori approach, and for non-Montessori educators and parents.

Trauma-Informed Practice in Montessori Classrooms provides important historical and contemporary evidence of the potential for Montessori schools to act as “healing” environments for children and young people. Drawing upon fascinating archival evidence and contemporary trauma theory, it shows how authentic Montessori schools already have the infrastructure to promote and embed trauma-informed practice (TIP) in their classrooms. The book provides cutting-edge, interdisciplinary knowledge on trauma and highlights its potential to negatively impact the emotional, social, and cognitive functioning of children and young people. It explains clearly and precisely the principles of TIP and how historically, these were woven into the fabric of the early Montessori schools, resulting in their reputation as “Case della Salute” or “Health Homes.” The book shows how this almost forgotten “healing” element of Montessori schools can be revived, harnessed, and promoted in ways that would benefit the overall health and well-being of children and young people. This timely book is highly informative, hugely practical, and reader-friendly. It includes features such as boxed chapter objectives, learner outcomes, vignettes, chapter summaries, and questions for group discussion. It provides an invaluable guide for Montessori teachers and students, for home educators using the Montessori approach, and for non-Montessori educators and parents.

Many years ago, Dr. Maria Montessori began to suspect that traumatic experiences in childhood could damage the very structure and physiology of the developing brain, causing serious cognitive, emotional and social dysfunction in children. Although she did not have the medical technology to prove this, as present day neurologists have, her meticulous observations showed her that trauma causes "defects" in the child which "may be permanent". As a result, she devoted her life to the creation of "prepared environments" designed to safeguard children from, and heal children of, the destructive effects of adverse childhood experiences. Her "Children's Houses" were frequently referred to as "Healing Schools" by distinguished members of the medical profession. The message of our book is this: Trauma disorganises the brain, but the Montessori Method can help to re-organise it. This book shows the reader how "authentic" Montessori environments still have the capacity to heal children suffering from the insidious effects of early childhood trauma caused by adverse childhood experiences.

The World Alzheimer's Report 2014 states: "By 2050, 135 million people around the world will live with dementia". That same report states: "Given this epidemic scale and with no known cure, it is crucial that we look at what we can do .......to manage the quality of life of those living with it and their relatives". This book, which is based on a series of lectures delivered by the authors at the University of York, UK in 2011/2012, aims to do just that. The book shows how "work", i.e meaningful activity can improve the quality of life of, not just the persons living with dementia, but their families and friends as well. This book presents Montessori-Based Activities for people living with dementia. It explains: - What Montessori-Based Activities are: - Why Montessori-Based Activities are uniquely suited to helping people living with dementia. The book is filled with practical activities which can be carried out daily by people living with dementia. It has now been proven that Montessori-Based Activities bring about a more positive mind-set in people living with dementia. This in turn results in less "responsive behaviours", less anxiety and less depression. For this reason, Montessori-Based Activity for people living with dementia is presently being seen as a "game-changer" in the field of dementia care.

Is there a "Blueprint" for the building of normal, sane, healthy, happy, intelligent, creative, decent, kind, successful, human beings? This book, written by two Montessori educators with over thirty years experience, claims there is. The book reveals, clearly and comprehensively, the "Blueprint", uncovered by Dr. Maria Montessori for the unfolding of human life. Filled with anecdotes and heartfelt true stories, this book takes the reader on a journey from birth to adulthood. It covers in great detail, the Early Years, Late Childhood and Cosmic Education, Adolescence and The Teenage Brain, Early Adulthood and the Function of the University, the Later Years and Montessori-Based Programmes for people living with dementia. It also looks to the future and discusses Montessori for a new generation. While this book is highly authoritative and informative, it is written in a conversational and engaging style. This book is essential reading for anyone genuinely interested in learning "how to build a human being".