"The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life." -Maria Montessori
A special anniversary to note this week! On January 6, 1907, Maria Montessori seized the opportunity to open the doors to her first "Casa dei Bambini", or Children's House. She was invited to start a childcare center in San Lorenzo, a poor, inner-city district of Rome, serving the most difficult of children. Those children were left home during the day, unschooled, and considered some of the area's most disadvantaged.
Dr. Montessori, you remember, was a scientist, a doctor and a teacher all at once. She dove right in and began observing the behaviors of these children. Montessori observed their actions to be undisciplined at first, but before too long, she noticed a change. The children were calm and peaceful and able to concentrate for stretches of time. In their new, prepared surroundings the children wanted to work and genuinely cared for their space. The children began to absorb knowledge from this environment and to teach themselves new skills, and even one another. As Montessori observed, she created more materials for the children to work with. These unique learning tools encouraged the children's natural desire to learn. (More on this intrinsic motivation in a future blog!) These unique materials are the ones we still see and use today in Montessori classrooms around the world. Stop and think about that...it's truly remarkable.
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