Book 2, Part Two : Chapter 1, The Explorer, Development & Summary and Analysis

There is one famous characteristic of every properly run Montessori School during open class times: the children in them are both content and busy doing their work. This quality is actually the one that most interests those who visit Montessori Schools. Disbelief, the author explains, has frequently occurred with the observation made by first time visitors.

This involves the discovery that young children will "work" at learning oriented tasks that are also of interest to them. E.M. Standing explains to readers that this is vital to understanding the Montessori system. Options for learning are presented to children. Maria Montessori liked mixed age classrooms so that the younger and the older might better help one another. This also means that learning opportunities range significantly within the environment and that...