As a parent, you may have heard of Maria Montessori. But even then, you might not know exactly how she actually contributed to the wide field of education. A pioneer in early childhood learning, she found that learning through experience was of the utmost importance. As such, her legacy still plays a large role not just in Montessori schools, but high-quality toddler care around the world.
At the Maria Montessori International Academy, your child will get to experience the educational childcare method that she created. We give your child the tools they need to learn holistically, allowing them to focus on learning through their own discovery. This self-focused learning, with the guidance of a teacher, is what makes the Montessori method a leader in high-quality educare around the world today.
Children are able to learn at their own pace, in an environment designed to be both peaceful and calm but also stimulating for their minds. This environment will encourage a love of learning that will last their entire life. And all of it was possible because Dr. Maria Montessori followed her passion, both for learning and for children. Learning about her journey allows us to better understand the origins of the Montessori model and its leadership in educare today.
The History of Maria Montessori
Born in Italy, Maria Montessori was breaking barriers and changing the way we think about learning even from a young age. She was born into a family that provided her with educational opportunities and made the most of it by pursuing knowledge far beyond the bare minimum for women of her time. In 1896, she became one of the first female physicians in Italy.
During her studies to become a physician, Maria became particularly interested in psychiatry. Eventually, this love of psychiatry turned into a significant interest in the way that children learn.
As a result, she began to question the effectiveness of the learning environments of her time. Based on her background, she had begun to realize that all children learn at different times, and in different ways.
The Roots of Individualized Education
That realization, however, did not reflect what she was seeing around her. Some of the children who were sitting around and listening to a teacher simply didn’t receive the tools they needed to learn at the same pace as their peers. In 1900, that feeling intensified when Maria experimented with children who experienced both intellectual and developmental disabilities and began to make a difference in their lives.
So, instead of trying to fit all children into the same box of education, she realized that there was a better way to engage them in the learning experience. The lessons she learned in working with children with disabilities turned out to be universally applicable to children of all backgrounds and ages. The roots of modern high-quality educare were established.
The Connections Between Learning and Play
In 1907, Maria Montessori opened a childcare facility in Rome for poor inner-city children. While there, she began to saw their love of puzzles, preparing meals, and working with materials that required math. Instead of distractions, she began to see these activities as learning opportunities.
In fact, they were fostering the children’s’ natural curiosity, engaging their ability to learn. These little ones used their surroundings to learn in a more natural way, a realization that would spawn a revolution of how we view child care and education now. To this day, Maria Montessori International Academy embraces the same learn-play principles that were discovered in early 20th century Rome.
For Dr. Maria Montessori, it was more important for children to learn through their own experience than simply listening to words. In this new way of learning, teachers act as guides, helping when needed but mainly focusing on providing children the tools they need to make the discovery for themselves.
This is how babies learn, and it is also is how children learn naturally. Maria simply decided that fostering this natural way of learning was inherently more beneficial for the child than sitting in a classroom for long periods of time.
Impact On Your Child
Dr. Montessori’s contribution to education has allowed children over the decades to learn in a way that is more natural to them. Through discovery, investigation, collaboration, and independent work, children at Maria Montessori International Academy and other, similar schools learn at their own pace. In fact, we believe that the work of Dr. Montessori has revolutionized the way that children learn, in the most positive way.
Here, we strive to provide your children with the tools they need to learn in a way that comes natural. A calm and soothing environment allows your child to use their senses, working together through a variety of ages to educate themselves.
Most parents want to know that their children succeed using this method. That’s why you may be happy to learn that at Maria Montessori International Academy, 100 percent of children can read before they even turn five. The same, in fact, has been true for the past 10 years.
We provide children with a healthy and supportive environment so you can rest assured knowing that the money you spend on childcare is helping your child to achieve their learning goals. Learning begins at birth and continues throughout your life. At Maria Montessori International Academy, your child’s success is our success. That’s why we strive to fan the flames of passion your child has for learning and will continue to follow in Dr. Maria Montessori’s footsteps.