Educator and Innovator
Maria Montessori was born on 31st of August 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy. In 1890 Montessori enrolled at the University of Rome to study physics, mathematics, and natural sciences. She received her diploma two years later. Montessori was a determined and dedicated student, and on 10 July 1896 became one of the first female doctors in Italy.
Dr. Montessori spent two years working at the Orthophrenic School, a school she opened along with a colleague for children with developmental challenges. There she began experimenting with and refining the materials devised by Psychiatrists Itard and Séguin, bringing a scientific, analytical attitude to the work; teaching and observing the children.
Casa dei Bambini
In 1907 Dr. Montessori established her first Casa dei Bambini or ‘Children’s House’ in San Lorenzom a very poor section of Italy with children that were viewed as a burden to society. At Casa dei Bambini, the children were given daily tasks, together with rules and life lessons on proper hygiene, cooking, cleaning, sewing, carpentry, and gardening. The children began to feel a purpose and became engaged in their work. They started to socialize and take care of their environment. The children’s sense of order and care of self was giving them confidence and a sense of belonging.
Maria brought the materials she developed at the Orthophrenic School and observed the way the children interacted with the sensorial materials. The children began to work with the materials and each other very peacefully. The older children helped teach the younger children and worked patiently with them as natural mentors. They were fully engaged with the lessons and had tremendous concentration. Maria soon developed many more materials for the children and began to train teachers in the Montessori Method. She opened more schools as her success with the program grew. There are over 15,000 Montessori schools worldwide.
Read more about the innovative work and life of Dr. Maria Montessori here at the AMS website
Books by Maria Montessori
