Maria Montessori was born in 1870 in Italy. She was the first woman in Italy to receive a medical degree. As part of her training, she visited an orphanage and began to develop her method of education among the children. Her interest in their learning eventually lead her to receive a degree in education. Dr. Montessori later developed materials and equipment for teaching, making sure each item contributed to the development of the child. Dr. Montessori saw the success of the materials and her teaching ideas and was encouraged to train others to use the materials and methods.
A Montessori school to train Montessori educators was developed in Rome, Italy. Eventually many schools were started across Italy and other countries of Europe. Anne Frank was pictured in a National Geographic learning in a Montessori classroom in Germany before the start of World War II. Schools were developed in Asian countries as well. By the early 1950's, Dr. Montessori was invited to visit the United States and share her ideas of the Montessori method of teaching. Now there are approximately 10,000 Montessori schools across the United States as well as many Montessori training institutes for teachers. Most are preschool programs but some schools graduate children through the 12th grade. Public schools have integrated the method into the magnet school programs.
Dr. Montessori felt that the goal of childhood education should not be to fill the child with facts but rather cultivate his own natural desires to learn. This desire to learn would best be created within the prepared environment. This is Dr. Montessori's philosophy of education for teaching all children through out the educational years.
What is a Montessori School? The Montessori method of education is basically a unique approach to learning. Unlike preschools which "teach" the child concepts, the Montessori preschool allows each child to learn as they work independently with the many materials in the classroom. The Montessori teacher guides the classroom activity and carefully plans the environment in the interests of the children. The teachers are trained to deal with each child individually, allowing each one to choose from many activities within their range of ability This prepared environment encourages children to proceed at their own pace from simple activities to more complex ones. As the children grow by satisfying their natural curiosity, they develop pride in their "work", gain confidence, self-direction, respect for others and develop self discipline. These attributes are invaluable as they enter other educational systems later in life.
Although individualized learning is important, socialization is very much a part of Montessori education. Children interact continuously, often choosing to work on projects together. Group activities and outside play are part of each day's schedule.
