What is a Montessori Education?
Montessori education is an educational approach developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori.
Montessori education is characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological development, as well as technological advancements in society.
Montessori education is practiced in an estimated 20,000 schools worldwide, serving children from birth to eighteen years old.
Dr. Maria Montessori
Dr. Maria Montessori, (1870-1952), was an Italian physician and educator. After becoming Italy's first woman doctor, she turned her focus to the education of children and began her life's work of studying child development. Her own educational method evolved over fifty years of work with children around the world, where during that time she combined her study in child development and educational theory with her practice of medicine. Dr. Montessori was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to education and advocacy of the rights of the child. Dr. Montessori believed that a truly educated individual continues learning long after the years spent in the classroom because of the inner motivation, a natural curiosity, and a love of learning.
Montessori education was introduced in 1912 when Alexander Graham Bell established one of the first schools in his own home. Americans enthusiastically welcomed Dr. Maria Montessori in 1915 to establish classroom for the World Exhibition in San Francisco, California. Today Montessori schools thrive throughout the United States and the World.
Benefits of a Montessori Education
Montessorians, "Follow the Child" the child sets his own pace: the child is neither held back nor pushed forward.
The goal of Montessori education is not accelerated learning, but such learning is often the result.
We prepare an environment that is educationally diverse, stimulating, interesting, and safe.
Children are given the freedom to explore and learn at their own pace, but this freedom is not at the expense of order and self discipline.
We observe, analyze, and provide materials and activities appropriate for each individual child's "sensitive periods of learning" and "window of opportunity."
Because each child is allowed to fully develop his own capabilities, many are often surprised with what they can accomplish.
Montessori children do not accelerate because we force them, they accelerate because they have the opportunity.
One of the biggest benefits of a Montessori education is that it teaches children how to learn instead of just what to learn.
