Images: A Montessori Journey

Images: A Montessori Journey commemorates the Montessori centenary with a portrayal in pictures of Montessori past and present. Part of the work of the AMI Centenary Committee was to compile both historical and contemporary photos from all over the world for a Montessori exhibition of the same title: A Montessori Journey. From the more than 5000 images collected, nearly 600 were researched and displayed in the exhibit. This commemorative video highlights a small portion of the exhibit photo collection. The first part shows historical pictures going back to the earliest days of Montessori education and arranged by continent; the second part shows contemporary pictures arranged by plane of education. (2007, 12 minutes)

Maria Montessori: Her Life and Legacy

For nearly a century, children across the world have worked with three-dimensional materials to become self-motivated learners under the guidance of adults trained in the Montessori approach to education. Combining archival footage with appealing views of current classrooms, this new addition to the acclaimed NAMTA audio-visual collection discusses the essential elements of the Montessori philosophy and how Dr. Montessori developed the ideas that have had such a profound effect on early education. Annette M. Haines, Ed.D., Director of the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis, narrates with clarity and enthusiasm for Dr. Montessori’s contributions to the understanding of human development.

This professional video from Davidson Films is a balanced and comprehensive view of Montessori’s life and work. It is excellent for new parents and community events as a first introduction to Montessori education. (2004; 35 minutes)

Reminiscences of a Montessori Life
narrated by Margot Waltuch

In an inspirational and loving tribute to the child, Margot Waltuch narrates Reminiscences of a Montessori Life, a video that captures the essence of the Children’s House as depicted in Margot Waltuch’s original A Montessori Album, published in 1986 and still available from NAMTA. Additional archival photographs of La Maison des Enfants, Paris, France, 1933, and the Montessori Training and Research Center, Laren, Holland, 1938, make this Montessori heritage video a unique partner piece to the already exquisite portrayal of Montessori practice found in the original publication. This seventeen-minute visual presentation puts forward the highest values of Montessori education as experienced through this real collaboration between Maria Montessori and Margot Waltuch, as well as other first-generation Montessorians. It is a gentle reminder of a century of Montessori gone by, and an inspiration to all those Montessorians who follow the child.

Reminiscences of a Montessori Life is a visual montage of love of work, concentration, spontaneous discipline, and normalization of the three- to six-year-old child. It is a tribute to the universal child and to Margot Waltuch, who, until her passing in 2003, continued to work with Montessori children at The Montessori School, Wilton, Connecticut. With special emphasis on practical life and sensorial, the video demonstrates to teachers the dignity and continuity of an authentic Montessori approach, and shows parents the deep roots of the Montessori method. Most of all, it inspires "all-day" Montessori as a natural community lifestyle. (2002; 17 minutes)

Maria and Mario Montessori: A Partnership for the Child

A 15-minute video spanning the origins of Montessori and the India experience, including a small glimpse of Mario Montessori's later life, in which he talks about adolescents. The video serves to help parents and teachers understand better the century-old tradition of Montessori. (1998; 15 minutes)