Who is Maria Montessori?

"And so we discovered that education is not something which the teacher does but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being." 
- Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori was the first ever female physician in Italy, but the road to earning that title was riddled with obstacles. Because she was a woman, she was not allowed to practice in the same room as the men, forcing her to study through the night to complete her work. It didn't stop her. Not even when she was assigned a rotation working with the most challenged children of all- those who had been cast out of their families and even society, and institutionalized. The work no one wanted to do. Except Maria Montessori did something extraordinary. She observed these children, taking pages and pages of notes. Seeing her role as a scientist, a medical doctor, a psychologist, a teacher, she created materials for the children to use and manipulate and learn from. No one thought she would succeed and no one had any hope that these children could ever join society. But slowly, and miraculously, the children began to learn and develop and heal. The more Montessori observed, the more she knew what they needed, and she gave them the materials. And with short lessons and presentations, and then given repeated opportunities to practice, where the hand and mind could work together, the children flourished.

Please link to more on the American Montessori Society (AMS) Website below...
https://amshq.org/About-Montessori/History-of-Montessori/Who-Was-Maria-Montessori

Introduction

"Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write, and count. Childhood is a small window of time to learn and develop at the pace which is right for each individual child." - Maria Montessori

Hello and thank you for visiting!

My goal in creating this blog is to help others understand and appreciate the Montessori Method. It is designed to share educational philosophy spoken and written by Maria Montessori, while connecting it to the materials we see today. These unique and incredible materials were invented by her specifically to meet the needs of and serve the children she directly worked with. 

I hold an MAT in Elementary Education and spent over a decade teaching in traditional settings before earning my Elementary l-ll Montessori Teaching certification though the American Montessori Society (AMS). I currently teach Lower Elementary (grades 1-3) at a public Montessori School in Northern Virginia. And I am the proud mother of three, wonderful children. I am passionate about sharing how and why the Montessori Method works in the classroom- and at home. Each post will give you a window into the brilliant pedagogy of a pioneer woman. And something to marvel at for sure...