What is Montessori?

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What is Montessori? How can it help my child?

What Is Montessori?

Montessori (pronounced MON-tuh-SORE-ee) is a comprehensive educational approach from birth to adulthood based on the observation of children's needs in a variety of cultures all around the world.

Beginning her work almost a century ago, Dr. Maria Montessori developed this educational approach based on her understanding of children's natural learning tendencies as they unfold in "prepared environments" for multi-age groups (0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, and 12-14).

The Montessori environment contains specially designed, manipulative "materials for development" that invite children to engage in learning activities of their own individual choice. Under the guidance of a trained teacher, children in a Montessori classroom learn by making discoveries with the materials, cultivating concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning.

Today, Montessori schools are found worldwide, serving children from birth through adolescence. In the United States, there are more than 3,000 private Montessori schools and close to 200 public schools with Montessori-styled programs. The Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), founded by Maria Montessori in 1929, maintains Montessori educational principles and disseminates Montessori education throughout the world.

For more information, see Common Misconceptions about Montessori Education and Montessori: Creating a Paradigm Shift in Education.

Here are some other links about Maria Montessori and her methods:

• Maria Montessori: A Brief Biography
• The Montessori Developmental Continuum
• The "prepared environment", the Montessori Materials, and "Normalization"
• A Basic Montessori Reading List

We would like to thank NAMTA for the above information and links.

copyright (c) 1996 NAMTA. When quoting or paraphrasing, please acknowledge the North American Montessori Teachers' Association as source.