Maria Montessori was a teacher, physician
and advocate for children, who believed that
giving children the freedom to learn, in an
environment that is set up for independence,
was the key to developing self-teaching
and a lifelong love for learning.
An Introduction to the Montessori Method of teaching children of pre-school age
The Montessori Method of education, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, is a child-centred educational approach. Dr. Montessori’s Method has been time tested, with over 100 years of success in diverse cultures throughout the world.
It is a view of the child as one who is naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a supportive, thoughtfully prepared learning environment. It is an approach that values the human spirit and the development of the whole child—physical, social, emotional, cognitive.
The teacher, child, and environment create a learning triangle.
The teacher prepares the environment to encourage independence, freedom within limits, and a sense of order.
The child, through individual choice, makes use of what the environment offers to develop himself, and chooses to interact with the teacher when support and/or guidance is needed.