Maria Montessori was an Italian physician, educator, and innovator, acclaimed for her educational method that builds on the way children naturally learn.
She opened the first Montessori school—the Casa dei Bambini, or Children’s House—in Rome on January 6, 1907. Subsequently, she traveled the world and wrote extensively about her approach to education, attracting many devotees. There are now more than 22,000 Montessori schools in at least 110 countries worldwide.
The education and philosophy of Maria Montessori is known all over the world for its highly efficient and organized classes that are different than those in other traditional educational settings.
The educational philosophy is centered on the idea of respect for the child. Children have the ability to pick up knowledge effortlessly, spontaneously and happily.
The Montessori system encourages each child to develop into an independent, autonomous individual who is confidant and ready to succeed.
Maria Montessori designed learning materials that are hands on and lead the child towards the ability to work in abstractions in numbers, letters and ideas. As the child grows, these materials are no longer relied upon and the child is able to understand abstractions thoroughly.
The teacher serves as an enthusiastic guide in the child’s progress from simple to complex concepts and ideas. The teachers provide a learning experience for the child by preparing an environment that the child is eager to discover.