A potted history of Maria Montessori

Born in 1870, Maria Montessori eschewed the traditional path expected of women at the time.  She studied medicine at The University of Rome, graduating with honours.  In so doing, she became the first ever female doctor in Italy and was also on the 1000 lire note.

 Montessori specialized in pediatrics and psychiatry. She underpinned her scientific background and all the work she did with children, with extensive and detailed observations of child development.  This was initially of children with varying mental and physical disabilities. With the basic tenet of respect, Montessori observed dramatic changes and improvements in these children.  In 1907 she was put in charge of the first Children’s House (Casa dei Bambini) with 60 children from the slums of Rome.

 The Prepared Environment was implemented and in the years that followed Montessori laid down the primary principles of her system of education.  In brief, the guiding principles are:-

 ~ Respect - for the uniqueness of every child which, combined with the right environment, allows a child’s true potential to be realized 

 ~ The Prepared Environment - which allows children independence to choose their own self-directed activity, with hands on learning.  Montessori developed a range of didactic, multi sensorial equipment and resources to provide and enhance the learning needs of children

 ~ Understanding the absorbent minds of children 0-5 and the Sensitive Periods every child goes through

 ~ A holistic approach to learning

 ~ The directress as an enabler - there to assist with each child’s learning rather than be a “teacher” at the front of a class

 Maria Montessori was the first educator to understand the importance for a child to feel in control of their environment.  She produced child sized tables and chairs and built shelves and cupboards at child height - ideas that are now mainstream and taken for granted.  The huge database of observation analysis that she built up, together with the equipment that she produced alongside the observations, marks her system of education out from any other.  It provides proof of the child’s innate desire to teach themselves.  “Help me do it myself” is truly a Montessori maxim. 

 Photo credit pinterest.com