THE MONTESSORI METHOD
Based on the observation of the child, supported by current research, and aligned with children’s developmental needs, the Montessori method is a hands-on, multisensory, highly integrated and individualized approach to learning. In Montessori classrooms, children learn with the support of highly trained teacher-guides in carefully prepared classroom environments that promote independence, self-discipline, and lifelong learning.
Developed over 100 years ago by Dr. Maria Montessori, the approach has at its core a deep respect for the child and a firm belief in every child’s capacity for peace. Dr. Montessori opened her first Children’s House in the low-income community of San Lorenzo, Italy, serving approximately 50 children as part of an urban renewal project. Today, there are over 20,000 Montessori schools around the globe, including about 5,000 here in the US; approximately 475 of these operate in the public sector.
- The Essential Montessori: An Introduction to the Woman, the Writings, the Method, and the Movement by Elizabeth G. Hainstock
- How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin
- Montessori Today: A Comprehensive Approach to Education from Birth to Adulthood by Paula Polk Lillard
- Montessori: A Modern Approach by Paula Polk Lillard and Maria M. Montessori
- Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Stoll Lillard
Maria Montessori, born in 1870, was an Italian physician and educator.