Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-198) and index.

1. The Origin and Theory of Montessori Education -- Goal of Montessori Education -- Historical Background -- Planes of Development -- Human Tendencies of Behavior -- Activity Based on Interest -- A Plan of Education -- 2. Overview of the Primary Years -- Goal of the Primary Years -- Sensitive Periods -- Absorbent Mind -- Hand and Brain -- Education Begins at Birth -- Infant Classes -- Young Children's Community -- Parent Education -- Children's House -- Sensorial Materials -- Language and Mathematics Material -- Social Development -- Normalization -- The Child's Work -- 3. Changes at the Second Plane -- Physical Changes -- Intellectual Curiosity -- Independence from Family -- Social Exploration -- A Reasoning Mind -- Moral Development -- Powers of Imagination -- A New Plan -- 4. The Great Lessons and Key Lessons -- A Plan for the Imagination and Reason -- Keys to the Universe -- The Five Major Stories -- The First Great Lesson -- The Remaining Great Lessons -- A Sample Great Lesson -- Team Effort and Discovery -- The Key Lessons -- A Sample Key Lesson -- The Results of Cosmic Education -- 5. The Classroom Environment -- The Prepared Environment -- The Classroom as Workshop -- The Montessori Materials -- A Sample Presentation -- Prepared Children -- 6. The Elementary Teacher -- The Prepared Adult -- Moral Development -- The Teacher as Link -- Social Grouping -- Non-Interruption -- Teacher Qualifications and Training -- 7. Freedom and Responsibility -- A Classroom "Bill of Rights" -- Journal Keeping -- Individual Meetings -- Care of the Environment -- An Expanded Environment -- Community Service Program -- Why Montessori in the Elementary Years -- 8. Scenes from an Elementary Classroom -- A Morning Visit -- A Meeting with the Elementary Teacher -- The Beginning of a Classroom Day -- The End of the Classroom Day -- 9. The Planes of Adulthood -- History of the Adolescent Program -- Psychological Characteristics at the Third Plane -- Activity Based an Interest -- The Prepared Environment -- Academic Program -- Flexibility of Schedule -- Human Social Organization -- The Value of Work -- Advantages of a Residential Setting -- The Prepared Adult -- Freedom with Responsibility -- Montessori Secondary Schools Today -- Results of Montessori Middle Schools -- The Fourth Plane: The Years from Eighteen to Twenty-Four -- 10. Montessori: Present and Future -- Appendix: A Student's Reflections.