Montessori

Montessori is an educational approach developed by Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. It centers on child-led learning within a prepared environment, where students select and pursue tasks that interest them. Key principles include the absorbent mind, sensitive periods for acquiring certain skills, and autodidactic learning through hands-on experiences. In Montessori classrooms, children work with specially designed materials that isolate concepts and promote concentration, independence, and self-correction.

A defining feature is the prepared environment and mixed-age grouping. Classrooms typically mix ages across a three-year span, enabling younger students to learn from older peers and fostering social cooperation. The teacher acts as a guide or facilitator, observing each child and introducing activities that match developmental needs rather than delivering direct instruction on a fixed timetable. Freedom within limits is balanced with structure to support concentration and self-discipline.

Curriculum areas in Montessori education usually include practical life, sensorial materials, mathematics, language, and cultural studies. Instruction relies on multisensory, sequential materials that progress from concrete to abstract. Emphasis is placed on daily routines, responsibility, and independent work habits, with assessment often based on observation and portfolio documentation rather than traditional testing.

History and adoption: The first Montessori school, Casa dei Bambini, opened in Rome in 1907. The method spread internationally in the ensuing decades, leading to organizations such as the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and national associations that certify teacher training. Today, Montessori programs exist for early childhood through elementary levels and are used in both private and public settings, with ongoing research on outcomes and cultural adaptation.