Who was Maria Montessori?
Maria Montessori became the first woman Doctor of Medicine in Italy. She graduated from the University of Rome in 1896.
In 1908, Montessori started the first “Casa de Bambini” (House of Children) in the slum area of San Lorenzo in Rome. She was innovative and soon word spread around the world of her work and the amazing children in her school.
Montessori wrote 25 books on the various aspects of her theory including her views on education for peace. Below are a few links to more information on Maria Montessori:
What is Montessori Education?
A Montessori classroom is a happy and joyful place for a child to be. Each child develops and learns at his/her own pace. The children are respected and in turn they learn to respect themselves, their peers, and their environment.
Academics are introduced to young children by means of concrete, hands on materials. As the children progress, the materials lead into the abstract.
Though academic achievement is usually very high among Montessori children, the true value lies in the development of self-discipline, self-mastery, and love of learning. Because unique and fascinating academic materials are available, most children begin to read and calculate at an early age.
Music, art, drama, and cultural studies are an integral part in the Montessori curriculum. They are carefully interwoven into the daily activities and projects essential to the ongoing development of the “whole child.”
The teachers prepare an environment that is appropriate for each age group. Materials are attractive and well kept. Art prints, animals, and plants, surrounded the child in a place where it becomes a joy to learn.
For more information on the Montessori method, follow the links below:
Association Montessori Internationale
North American Montessori Teachers’ Association
International Montessori Index
Suggested Reading:
Montessori Today by Paula Polk Lillard
Montessori, A Modern Approach by Paula Polk Lillard
The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori
The Montessori Approach by Maria Montessori