Inclusive Classroom

Ginger Kelley McKenzie, EdD, is professor emeritus, Montessori Institute, Xavier University, a past member the Board of Directors of the American Montessori Society (2010-2016, and the former executive director at Amarillo Montessori Academy, Amarillo, Texas, where she also taught 3-6, 6-9, 9-12. Ginger has 39 journal publications and 56 professional presentations in the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, and Canada.Victoria S. Zascavage, PhD, is associate professor and director of special education programs in the School of Education, Xavier University. With a focus on issues of transition, equity, and educational best practices for students, she has published in journals such as International Journal of Special Education, Teacher Education Quarterly, the Middle School Journal, Higher Education Research and Development, and the International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Vanessa M. Rigaud, EdD, is an assistant professor at the Montessori Institute, Xavier University, in Cincinnati, OH, and a former teacher and administrator in both public and private Montessori schools. She holds Montessori credentials in Early Childhood and Elementary I-II.Crystal Dahlmeier, MEd., is a Montessori consultant, teaches at two Montessori teacher training centers, and holds a Montessori credential in Early Childhood. She has taught in Montessori classrooms in the United States, U.K., Australia, and South Korea for over 40 years. She has presented at conferences both nationally and internationally.My Le N. Vo, MEd, is the principal and middle school teacher at the Montessori Learning Institute and executive director and instructor at the Montessori Teacher Education Institute, Houston, Texas. She holds a Montessori credential in Early Childhood and Elementary. She is the author of various educational materials and teacher training manuals.

• AcknowledgmentsForewordby Laura Saylor PhDPrefaceChapter 1 - Introductionby Ginger Kelley McKenzie and Victoria S. ZascavageChapter 2 - Practical Lifeby My Le N. VoChapter 3 - Montessori Sensorial Lessonsby Crystal DahlmeierChapter 4 - Montessori Early Childhood Math and Geometryby Ginger Kelley McKenzie and Victoria S. ZascavageChapter 5 - Montessori Early Childhood Language Practices Meet the Needs of All Learnersby Vanessa M. RigaudChapter 6 - Conclusionby Ginger Kelley McKenzie and Victoria S. ZascavageAppendixAbout the Authors

The Inclusive Classroom: Creating a Cherished Experience through Montessori demonstrates theeffectiveness of a dynamic pedagogy whose curriculum and facility for differentiated instruction puts the child at the center while encouraging engagement, connection-making and concept mastery according to the child’s needs. All early childhood practitioners can benefit from the conscious links of Montessori curricula and methodology to the NAEYC standards and the Universal Learning Design framework in this clearly written guide to meeting the needs of young learners in an inclusive early childhood classroom community. The reference to specific curriculum lessons enhanced by case study examples makes this a suitable handbook for teacher education students as well as new and experienced early childhood practitioners.