Maria MONTESSORI

 

Born in Rome (1870-1952), Maria Montessori was the first woman to graduate at the Italian faculty of medicine in 1896.

 

Dr. Montessori began her career working in a psychiatric hospital for mentally disabled children. Strongly dissatisfied by the way these children were being treated, she set to work studying all the existing theories and methods regarding education.

 

During her research, Maria Montessori met Jean Itard and Edouard Seguin, both of whom had concentrated their studies around ‘l’enfant sauvage’ (‘the wild child’) and teaching methods for mentally disabled children. She spent two years experimenting and creating didactic material specifically for children with mental disorders. Following the success of her experimental work, Maria Montessori decided to make her method and material available to all children, and so began analysing in detail the child’s natural development.

 

In 1907, Maria Montessori opened the first ‘Casa dei Bambini’. She observed at length the children’s behaviour whilst they worked with the new material in this specially created environment. Dr. Montessori then perfected her material based on the results of her observations.

Maria Montessori


 

 

Her observations

 

Based on her research, Maria Montessori came to the conclusion that from birth to the age of 6, children have a much higher level of sensitivity. In an adapted, favourable environment, this enables them to absorb and learn new things sensorially, through their body and mind.

 

The fundamental principle of the Montessori teaching method is to provide the child with the appropriate environment in which he/she will best be able to learn at his/her own pace.

 

According to Maria Montessori’s findings, children from the ages of 0 to 6 go through different ‘sensitive periods’ – also known as ‘the law of natural development’. These are periods of time during which a child is able to assimilate new information in an almost effortless way.

 

 



 

 

Her observations

 

Based on her research, Maria Montessori came to the conclusion that from birth to the age of 6, children have a much higher level of sensitivity. In an adapted, favourable environment, this enables them to absorb and learn new things sensorially, through their body and mind.

 

The fundamental principle of the Montessori teaching method is to provide the child with the appropriate environment in which he/she will best be able to learn at his/her own pace.

 

According to Maria Montessori’s findings, children from the ages of 0 to 6 go through different ‘sensitive periods’ – also known as ‘the law of natural development’. These are periods of time during which a child is able to assimilate new information in an almost effortless way.

 

 




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