What is Montessori and how did it begin?
Montessori is an approach to education with the fundamental belief that a child learns best within a social environment which supports and respects each individual’s unique development. Dr. Maria Montessori, the creator of the “The Montessori Method of Education”, based this approach on her scientific observations of young children’s behavior. As one of the first female physicians to graduate from the University of Rome, Montessori became involved with education as a doctor treating children labeled as mentally handicapped. Then in 1907, she was invited to open a child care center for the children of desperately poor families in the slums of Rome. She called it “Casa dei Bambine” and based the program on her observations that young children learn best in a homelike setting, filled with developmentally appropriate materials that provide experiences contributing to the growth of self-motivated, independent learners. She carried her message throughout the world, including the United State
