This set of proceedings from the Association Montessori International (AMI/USA) 1996 conference contains the conference schedule and 20 presentations. The conference presentations are: (1) "The Dawning of Wisdom" (Montessori); (2) "The Support of Montessori Education to Human Potential" (Montanaro); (3) "Healthy Environment: Healthy Children: Healthy Culture" (Orion); (4) "Cosmic Education vs. the Public School Curriculum--Are the Two at Variance?" (Stephenson); (5) "The Atrium: Silence, Simplicity, Movement, Symbol and Joy" (Kaiel); (6) "Family Star--A Montessori Grassroots Early Headstart Initiative" (Urioste); (7) "Beyond the Basic Needs: Nurturing the Full Potential of the Upper Elementary Child" (Denton); (8) "Building the Elementary Program and Transitional Program Strategies" (Davidson); (9) "Practical Applications of Montessori in the Home" (Helfrich); (10) "An Approach to the Resolution of Conflicts in a Positive Way" (Dubovoy); (11) "Talking with Parents: Conferences and Communications" (Caudill); (12) "Dr. Maria Montessori--A Contemporary Educator?" (Stephenson); (13) "The Relevance of the 'Erdkinder' Vision" (Davis); (14) "Maria Montessori Envisioned Physics as Part of the Environment" (Gebhardt-Seele); (15) "Montessori Research: Recent Trends" (Boehnlein); (16) "Children at Risk" (Richardson); (17) "The Child in the Family" (Fernando); (18) "Working with Your Assistant" (Helfrich); (19) "Montessori in the 21st Century" (Lillard); and (20) "Classroom Management--The Path to Normalization" (Pritzker). (EV)