Dr. Maria Montessori (1870 - 1952) was an educator who spent more than 50 years carefully observing children, discovering how children learn best, and developing methods and materials for teaching. Her approach is child-centered. The Montessori teacher is known as a “guide.” One Montessori educator described her perspective this way:
It is the task of each child to develop himself into as complete a human being as possible. All around us children are going about this task, sincerely and energetically, every day. Nature has endowed these young children with wonderfully absorbent minds and acute sensitivities, allowing them to acquire certain kinds of knowledge and abilities more completely and easily before age six than at any time later in their lives. How successfully each child accomplishes this task in these early years has a bearing not only on the amount of knowledge and skill he will have at his command in later years, but, more importantly, the attitudes toward himself, his world, and learning that he embraces. Montessori education is based on a heart-felt respect for this task of the child, and on a careful observation of the process by which it is accomplished. What we offer is a thoughtful response to this natural unfolding so that, in each case, it can be as successful and complete as possible. Our goal for the child is the development of an attitude toward himself of confidence and esteem; toward the world, of care and respect; and toward learning, of joy and enthusiasm.
from "An Education for Life" courtesy of Peter Davidson, Montessori School of Beaverton
The Montessori classroom and guide are carefully equipped to let children develop the full range of academic, social, and personal skills they need for success in life.
Montessori methods are becoming increasingly recognized, respected, and adopted in public schools across the United States.
Montessori supporters include many famous and successful people:
People who were Montessori school students:
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People who chose Montessori for their children:
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Larry Page and Sergey Brin Google co-founders
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Bill Clinton former President
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Jeff Bezos financial analyst, Amazon.com founder
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Hillary Clinton Senator, Secretary of State
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Katherine Graham owner/editor WashingtonPost
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John Bradshaw psychologist and author
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Prince Williamand Prince Harry English royal family
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Willie Nelson musician – built a Montessori school on his ranch
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Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis,
editor, former first lady (John F. Kennedy)
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Stephen J. Cannell prolific TV writer-
producer-director (Rockford Files and more)
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Julia Child, chef, author, media personality
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Susan St. James actress, activist
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Anne Frank, child diarist of World War II
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Patty Duke Academy Award actress,Screen Actors Guild president
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Gabriel Garcia Marquez Nobel Prize - Literature
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Michael Douglas Best Actor Award, Best Picture producer
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T. Berry Brazelton, pediatrician, author
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Yul Brynner Best Actor, musician, author
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Friedensreich Hundertwasser painter and architect
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Shari Lewis puppeteer, author – numerous Emmy, Peabody awards
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George Clooney Academy Award actor
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Yo Yo Ma accomplished cellist
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Melissa Gilbert actress, writer, producer
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David Blaine street magician, promoter
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Joshua Bell American Stradivarius violinist
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Dick Ebersol television executive
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Sean “P. Diddy” Combs musician/promoter
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People with ties to Montessori education:
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Alexander Graham Bell inventor, provided financial
support to Dr. Montessori. Helped establish the first
Montessori class in Canada and one of the first in U.S.
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President Wilson’s daughter Margaret
trained Montessori teacher –there was a Montessori
classroom in the White House during his presidency
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Thomas Edison scientist, inventor – helped to found
a Montessori school
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Bruno Bettelheim psychologist/author –
married to a Montessori teacher
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Erik Erikson anthropologist/author –
earned a Montessori teaching certificate
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Jean Piaget Swiss psychologist – made his first child
observations in a Montessori school
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Mister Rogers children's TV personality –
strong advocate of Montessori education
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Alice Waters restaurateur, writer Montessori teacher
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A “Montessori” school is much more than a name on a sign. Parents should be aware that Maria Montessori’s name is in the public domain. Any school can call itself a “Montessori” school. The best gauge of a good Montessori school is broad use of recognized Association Montessori International (AMI) practices and materials.
For further information about Montessori you may visit the following websites:
Suggested Reading:
- Books by Dr. Maria Montessori
- The Child in the Family
- The Absorbent Mind
- Other Recommended Reading
- Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Lillard
- Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn
Video: NAMTA video excerpt (4 minutes) Maria Montessori: Her Life and Legacy