About Montessori

Overview

The Montessori method was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori. She never actually wanted the method to be named after her. She wanted it to be called a scientific pedagogy because that's what it is. The method was discovered by Dr. Montessori but it persists because it is not a guru model. It is rooted in science and it adapts based on new discoveries and understandings.

Today, we have technology that allows us to see inside the human brain at all stages of life, even while it is doing specific tasks. This data along with research from psychology, education, and other fields, shows us that the discoveries Dr. Montessori made in the late 1800s and early 1900s still hold true today. 

One of the great discoveries made by Dr. Montessori was that humans are naturally, biologically driven to learn. But, this natural drive is often obscured by factors that prevent children from behaving as their development demands. All humans have certain tendencies or behavior patterns. No matter where we live, no matter our culture or ethnicity, we all follow the same natural laws that lead us to act or react in a specific manner. (Read more about the Human Tendencies.) When we obstruct these patterns, for example by preventing children from moving or communicating, we can cause deviations in development. However, when we approach education from the perspective of meeting these fundamental human drives, we nurture optimal development. This serves both students and teachers because it brings joy, inspiration, discovery, and capacity to education.

Great Montessori Links

You can read more about Dr. Montessori and the Montessori method by exploring the links below.

• Montessoriguide.org
• MariaMontessori.com
• PDF Files from the Centenary Committee of the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)

• • What is Montessori Education?
  • Clinical Research on Outcomes of Montessori vs. Traditional Education
  • A timeline of Dr. Montessori's life
  • Differences: Montessori v. mainstream education
  • A Brief Biography of Dr. Maria Montessori
• Books by or about Maria Montessori and the Montessori method
• Angelina Stoll Lillard, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius.
  • Lillard, A.S. (2006). Students Prosper with Montessori. Scientific American.

Teacher Training

If you are considering becoming a Montessori educator/guide, please do not compromise on the type of training you give yourself. AMI training fully prepares adults to guide the child. AMI Trainers go through a rigorous, multi-year preparation process before they earn the title of "trainer." Well-controlled scientific research has only found clear benefit to the Montessori method when it is implemented according to the pedagogy taught by AMI (the organization Dr. Montessori founded).  Other organizations may have individual trainers who are superb but overall, their training centers are inconsistent in preparing the adult. If you are considering becoming a Montessori guide, please seek out an AMI training option. If you feel your training was incomplete, contact Us for mentoring or professional development support. 

More info on all available Teacher Training options can be found at Teach Montessori!

Timeline of Maria Montessori's Life

A Normalized Classroom (AMI Montessori School, West London)

Stanislaus Dehaene: Montessori & Cursive are Good for the Brain

This is an excerpt from a longer talk on reading and the brain (watch it... fascinating).

 

 Montessori & Literacy

 

Social Life & Independence

Control of Error

Montessori materials have a built-in control of error: this means children can discover and fix their own errors without the need of adult intervention. Think about yourself. When you learn something, is it because someone else found your mistake and fixed it or because you found your own mistake and figured out how to fix it yourself?

Concentration

From the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS)

Executive Functions

From the Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University

Practical Life Overview

 

From LePort Schools

 

Sensorial Overview

From LePort Schools

 

Mathematics Overview

 

From LePort Schools

 

Montessori for Aging & Dementia

Examples of the positive change that have happened upon introducing the Montessori approach to assisted living homes.

Learn more about how the Montessori method can be applied to empower those living with Dementia. From Brush Development, an AMI approved course.

Awesome Child Development Videos from Susan Stephenson

AMI trained from birth through adolescence, sat in on the A to I Training of the Trainers course, world traveler bringing Montessori to everyone, and my amazingly patient mentor and friend.

 

Cosmic Education

Read this article, written by Susan Stephenson, about the child's discovery of a global vision.

Aid to Life.org

Awesome, practical advice for parents of young children. No more tantrums!!!

 

Montessori in the Home

Guidance from Jeanne-Marie Paynel

One parent's experience

 

Edison's Day Video

If you are going to invest in a video to learn more about implementing Montessori in your own home or to help people in your community or school learn about it, this is the one to buy (then donate it to your library or school when you've worn it out). I have met Edison and his wonderful family many times over the years and their family just warms my heart each time. It is possible to have a truly happy home that encourages the optimal development of each member of the family. Here is an example to help guide anyone with small children.

A Parent's Perspective

If you haven't met Trevor Eissler, find a way to do so. He is a guy's guy who wouldn't go in for any touchy-feely kumbaya stuff...and his whole life changed when he brought his children to Montessori school.

AMI School Directory

Use this to find an AMI school near you. You can also search for other Montessori schools and then ask if their teachers are AMI trained.