The Montessori Approach
The Montessori Approach was developed by Maria Montessori. Maria Montessori was,
in many ways, ahead of her time. Born in the town of Chiaravalle, in the province
of Ancona, Italy, in 1870, she became the first female physician in Italy upon her
graduation from medical school in 1896. Shortly afterwards, she was chosen to represent
Italy at two different women`s conferences, in Berlin in 1896 and in London in 1900.
In her medical practice, her clinical observations led her to analyze how children
learn, and she concluded that they build themselves from what they find in their
environment.
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What ultimately became the Montessori method of education developed there, based
upon Montessori`s scientific observations of these children`s almost effortless
ability to absorb knowledge from their surroundings, as well as their tireless interest
in manipulating materials. Every piece of equipment, every exercise, every method
Montessori developed was based on what she observed children to do "naturally,"
by themselves, unassisted by adults.
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