Marion O’Donnell is a Montessori World Education Institute (Australia) Tutor, Workshop Lecturer and Examiner. She has worked as a teacher in Scotland, Canada and Australia. She has also lectured at the University of Technology, Queensland, Australia and has been a researcher at the University of Queensland, Australia.

• Series Editor's PrefaceForewordPart I: Intellectual Biography 1. Montessori and the Origins of Montessori Education2. The Case dei Bambini (or Children's Houses)3. Special Features of Montessori Education4. The 'Explosion' into Writing and Reading5. Montessori's System of Teacher TrainingPart II: Critical Exposition of Montessori's Work 6. Infancy, the Absorbent Mind, and Sensitive Periods7. Early Childhood, Childhood, Adolescence/Youth8. The Montessori Learning Environment adn Didactic Materials9. The Three-period Lesson10. The Active Learner and Normalization11. Beginning Writing, Composing, Reading, Mathematics12. Fantasy, Imagination, and Creativity13. Abstract Thought and Curriculum14. The Directress15. Multi-age GroupingPart III: The Reception and Influence of Montessori's Work 16. Europe17. United States of America18. The British Isles19. India20. Australia21. New Zealand22. The Second Phase in AustralasiaPart IV: The Relevance of Montessori Education Today 23. The Place of Freedom24. Observation of Free Children25. Child Development26. The Environment27. Multiple Literacies28. Beginning Writing29. Beginning Reading30. Should Children be Normalized?31. Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum 32. The Directress33. ConclusionBibliography Definitions of Some Montessori TermsIndex