I was lucky to have the opportunity to review the teaching manuals created by Jennifer at Montessori Print Shop.
Disclosure: I received a Montessori Print Shop Primary Teaching Manuals Bundle in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and any opinions expressed are my own.
You’re probably already aware of Montessori Print Shop’s free printables, inexpensive printables U.S., inexpensive printables Canada, and information and resources.
Review of Montessori Print Shop Primary Teaching Manuals Bundle
The Primary Teaching Manuals Bundle includes 4 Montessori Teaching Manuals – Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, and Math. The manuals are based on AMI principles from Jennifer’s AMI training through the Foundation of Montessori Education (Toronto, ON). The courses were taught and guided by Renilde Montessoriin 1993/94.
The presentations and lessons included are for children who are approximately 2½ to 6 years of age. This, of course, depends on the individual child, and many activities also work well for 7- and 8 year olds. (Note: In Montessori education, primary is generally ages 2½-6 or 3-6 with elementary at ages 6-12.)
Each lesson includes:
- materials list
- material photo(s)
- detailed step-by-step instructions
- notes to the teacher
- purpose of activity
- points of interest
- control of error
- suggested age for presentation
Over the years, I’ve accumulated a number of Montessori teaching albums from my training course as well as from other training programs. My first experience in Montessori was through an AMI-trained teacher who let me photocopy her albums and gave me guidance in creating a Montessori environment and activities for a day care center. Later on, I completed Montessori training and worked with Montessori teachers from different types of Montessori training programs. Here are my thoughts on the Montessori Print Shop AMI-based albums:
- AMI albums always feel like I’m coming home. There’s so much available online, which I thoroughly appreciate. Yet it can be very overwhelming, especially for parents or teachers who haven’t had the opportunity to take a Montessori training course. The Montessori Print Shop albums are wonderful for both parents and teachers new to Montessori and for parents and teachers wanting to keep a firm foundation in Montessori principles and techniques.
- I love the clarity and simplicity of the Montessori Print Shop albums. AMI training courses stay the truest to Maria Montessori’s original ideas. You’ll find photos of the traditional Montessori materials in each of the manuals except the practical life manual, where they aren’t essential. There are a number of hand-drawn illustrations for the practical life activities that need illustrations.
- I love that the presentations follow the original Montessori guidelines. Montessori presentations are not all the same. It’s surprising how many presentations there can be for one activity when you look at different Montessori manuals. In general, I like to stay with an AMI presentation when there’s more than one way to present an activity. It’s well-thought-out and focuses on the essentials. When I created DIY Montessori materials in the past, I preferred to use traditional Montessori colors and designs whenever possible. There can be variations. You can count on AMI information if you’d like to stay with the original Montessori colors, designs, and presentations.
- I also love that you’ll find links to Montessori Print Shop materials within the lessons. Montessori Print Shop has so many wonderful free and inexpensive extensions for Montessori lessons as well as printables that are essential parts of many lessons. Having the links within the teaching manuals simplifies the preparation process.
If you go to each teaching manual page at Montessori Print Shop, click on the photos in each page’s left sidebar for a detailed Table of Contents and sample lesson.
Practical Life Teaching Manual Sensorial Teaching Manual Language Teaching Manual Math Teaching ManualUnless you’re already an AMI-trained teacher and have your own AMI-based albums, I think these are the ideal teaching manuals to have along with any other Montessori materials you already own. It’s easiest to add ideas and personalize your own unique way of teaching Montessori when you have a solid foundation to return to whenever needed.
And don’t miss the free eBook Montessori Primary Education – Understanding the Theory.
See all my reviews of Montessori Print Shop materials here.
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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Sarah says
This looks like a fantastic bundle, I’d love to use it with my two children who are home educated.
Anne-Marie says
I feel a bit cheeky because I’ve already purchased two of the albums, but I’d love the complete set for my daughters. Thank-you for a great give-away.
Cherise de Kock says
These manuals look wonderful and I would love to use them with my children. I know they would inspire me and greatly benefit them 🙂
Lauren Jones says
this is such a great resource and would get so much use in our home!
sarah says
I love all these ideas and resources! I teach at a small private school with limited resources and would love to incorporate these into my classroom!!
Meri Fox says
I’ve been using Montessori Print materials for years in the classroom. I love how easy they are to assemble. I would love to have this set of albums! Even though I have been teaching for 17 years I am always looking for different/better presentations of the materials.
PM says
Thank you for your generosity
silver says
I love how affordable Montessori Print Shop makes it to use Montessori methods at home with my children. Thank you for the great giveaway!
Amy Fields says
I would love to win these. I am always on the look out for other ideas and presentations!
silver says
I would love to learn more about the Farm Game that the ‘Farm Game Labels” are for. It sounds like a fun way to learn grammar!
SC says
Thanks for the great giveaway!
I would love to have them for my 4.5 and 2.5 year olds.
Marifrances says
Montessori print shop has wonderful, affordable materials. I look forward to new additions. As for the manuals, these would be a great way to enhance the lessons.presentaions in my classroom.
SC says
I would love to know more about the stamp game for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division etc from the MPS albums.
Stephanie Conrad says
I would be interested in winning the albums because I feel Montessori Print Shop offers quality materials and it would be interesting to see the lessons from an AMI perspective
Susan says
These manuals would be so helpful to me. I am an assistant teacher in a Montessori preschool/kg classroom. I have taken paraprofessional training but there is still so much that I have to learn. I would love to head back to the classroom in the Fall armed with greater understanding of our materials.
Angela says
Always looking for more Montessori resources as we are homeschooling our 3 1/2 yr old triplets! I love the intentional, whole-hearted, simplicity of Montessori!
Jenna says
I would love to win because I am just getting into montessori and this would help me get started!
Brenda says
I love Living Montessori Now and Montessori Print Shop! I spend a lot of time on your sites searching for new ideas/materials.
I would love to win these manuals! I have purchased many things and made lessons to enchance learning! This would be an excellent asset offering more versatility!
Thank you!
My Barefoot Angel says
I have been looking for teaching manuals to help in our homeschooling and these would be a tremendous resource for us.
samina says
we have used materials from MPS and have found them very helpful. Would love to try other materials as well.
samina