Montessori and Cognitive Science with Dr. Laura Saylor

Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning equips educators with research-backed strategies derived from over 100 years of cognitive science research and a 15-year scientist-teacher collaboration. The book focuses on four essential teaching strategies—retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving, and feedback-driven metacognition—that can be implemented easily and effectively in classrooms without extra preparation or resources. It provides step-by-step guidance and real-world examples to help teachers raise student achievement, support diverse learners, and promote higher-order thinking and knowledge transfer beyond the classroom.

In "The Absorbent Mind," Maria Montessori elucidates her revolutionary perspective on childhood development, emphasizing the period from birth to age six as a crucial phase of "unconscious creation," where children effortlessly absorb knowledge from their environment. Montessori underscores the importance of providing a prepared environment that caters to the child's innate curiosity and fosters independence. She contrasts traditional educational methods, which often rely on rote memorization, with her approach that encourages self-directed learning through sensorial experiences. The book highlights the child's capacity to construct their own understanding of the world when given the freedom to explore and manipulate their surroundings. Montessori's insights challenge conventional notions of education, advocating for a nurturing and stimulating environment that respects the child's natural inclination towards learning.