The Montessori Education

Dr. Maria Montessori was a graduate engineer who then became the first woman in Italy to receive a medical degree. At the turn of the century in Rome, Italy she began a process that would have worldwide implications. Dr. Montessori discarded old prejudices regarding children and set out to establish a scientific approach to education—one based on careful observations. In addition, Dr. Montessori established a philosophy that sought to integrate the social and academic experiences of a child, therefore leading them toward unified growth and independence.

It is this philosophy that is based on the specific needs of children at each successive level of their development. Dr. Montessori was a pioneer in the psychology on child education and her careful observations of children helped her to realize three strategic principles:

The first principle recognizes that as children grow, they move through predictable and explicit Sensitive Periods or phases. During each of these periods, the children have strong sensibilities and interests that enable them to acquire particular academic and social skills.
The second principle is that young children, birth through six, possess a special ability to absorb or learn an amazing amount of information with very little effort. Montessori called this unique attribute the Absorbent Mind.
The third principle is that of the Prepared Environment which is arranged and planned specifically to meet the needs observed in children at each stage of development.

Finally, Dr Maria Montessori's years of experience with children from around the world proved that children can learn to read, write and calculate by age six as easily and naturally as they can learn to walk and talk.

More about Maria Montessori

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