Montessori
Maria Montessori (1870–1952), Italy's first female medical doctor, embarked on a career dedicated to working with children excluded from the educational system. Through her observations and studies, she developed an educational method that is now used worldwide with children of all abilities, from birth to eighteen years old.
Dr. Montessori believed passionately that world peace could be achieved through the work done in classrooms. She aimed to help children become tolerant, self-confident citizens guided by moral values, fostering their growth into strong, curious, socially, and intellectually capable adults. The Montessori method transcends cultures, faiths, linguistic traditions, and political systems.
“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and the greater possibilities of their future”
–Dr. Maria Montessori
Why Montessori
Montessori education is characterized by self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative play. In a Montessori environment, children have the freedom to make creative choices in their learning, while the teacher and the environment provide age-appropriate activities to support their development. Children engage in both group and individual activities to discover and explore knowledge of the world, thus unlocking their maximum potential.
Key aspects of a Montessori environment include:
>> Fostering child development by creating a match between natural interests and available activities.
>> Allowing children to learn through their own experiences and at their own pace.
>> Encouraging children to respond spontaneously to their innate curiosities.
>> Building a solid foundation for lifelong learning.
Above all, Montessori environments, at all levels, nurture each child's individual strengths and interests. Montessori education inspires children to explore their world, fostering understanding and respect for the various life forms, systems, and forces that comprise it.
