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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where did Montessori and her parents move so she could go to a better school?

2. What does Standing state that small children often accept?

3. What groups of people were often placed in mental institutions during the time Montessori began working?

4. What great philosopher felt that thinking about why a day is a day would be a waste of a day?

5. How does Standing state a Montessori teacher should attend to the children?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the first stage of development called the Absorbent Mind?

2. What was the result of Montessori's work with the children in Rome?

3. In "Development," Standing notes a crossroads in Montessori's life. What was this crossroad and the result?

4. What is the significance of children being allowed to work spontaneously on those thing they are interested in?

5. How did Montessori, initially misread children's apparent rebellion of authority?

6. According to Montessori, why are the different types of metamorphosis important in education?

7. According to Montessori, children have an interesting concept of time; how is this concept different from that of an adult?

8. How does Standing discuss the importance of order in children?

9. What type of qualities was Montessori able to nourish in the children based on her teaching methods?

10. What type of challenges did Montessori face during her education and early career?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a strong emphasis on freedom throughout this book. Why do you think the author places so much emphasis on this topic? What to you think about the author's suggestion about the lack of freedom in the traditional classroom as compared to the Montessori classroom?

Essay Topic 2

Montessori preferred to work with children and she even recognized the vast differences between children and adults. According to Standing, why does she then spend time lecturing intentionally? What is her aim at these lectures and do you think based on the reading in the book and the current popularity of this method that she was successful?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the discovery that occurs in children during learning and the effects this discovery has on their development. Consider factors discussed in the book such as how they made the discovery, on their own or with help, how long it took to make the discovery, and a child's interest in making the discovery.

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