“The Mother of all Pedagogies”
Dr. Maria Montessori was a visionary ahead of her time with respect to early childhood education. She developed materials and methods founded on her belief that every child, young or old, possesses an innate desire for learning. She believed when given the proper materials and environment, children thrive. She recognized children as having an absorbent mind, where they are able to simply absorb, through activity, but without effort, certain complete and precise abilities and skills, with a completeness and preciseness that an adult cannot even conceive of. She responded to the inner needs of children at certain developmental learning stages of their lives called sensitive periods. These needs were met by the use of a series of self-correcting materials, established and tested by Maria Montessori on children all over the world.
The Montessori educational system has withstood the test of time. Children who have attended a Montessori school are more confident in their abilities and more motivated to achieve new levels of knowledge.
“Our aim is not merely to make children understand, and still less to force them to memorize, but so to touch their imaginations as to enthuse them to their innermost core.”
Dr. Maria Montessori