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What is Montessori Education?

"Education is a natural process acquired not by listening to words, but by experiences in the environment." -Maria Montessori

When I visualize an ideal Montessori classroom in my mind's eye, I see children making choices independently, moving peacefully from one activity to the next, working alone or in a group, watching a lesson from a teacher. I see children doing "purposeful work", that is, something with meaning, sorting into like groups, returning something to a shelf, asking for help, imitating something, solving a problem, watching something happen. The teacher is watching how and with what the children work, what they repeat, what they need help with. The teacher is watching to see which issues will be resolved on their own, which another child will resolve, or the group. The teacher is watching for "aha!" moments, when the child has gained an insight- what fun!

Maria Montessori was the first woman medical doctor in Italy, graduating in 1896. She was put in charge of children with a variety of mental and physical problems, and used the scientific method (observation) to see how best to care for these children. She found that, with hand-on learning materials, these children could and wished to learn, and wondered how well they would work with able children. Fortunately, she was given that opportunity in Italy, and many other countries. Her method, including, particularly, a great respect and faith in childrens' intrinsic abilities and desire to learn, has spread, through the international Montessori Society, to countries all over the world, on six continents. There are over 3000 Montessori-based schools in the United States, and it is the fastest growing alternative curriculum in the public schools in the US.