How Maria Montessori Changed Education

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Maria Montessori was an Italian doctor and educator. She believed that children learn naturally in a prepared environment. This idea became the base of her teaching method. Her work started when she opened a school for poor children in a district of Rome. The school was called the Children’s House. In this place, children aged three to six could move freely and choose their own activities.

Montessori did not teach by lectures. Instead, she prepared special objects, such as wooden blocks, bells, and cloth pieces. Children used these objects to learn sizes, sounds, and colors. They also did everyday tasks, like washing and dressing. Through these tasks, they became more independent. A teacher acted as a guide, not a boss. He or she showed the child how to do something, then let him or her practice alone.

Montessori observed that children could focus for a long time when they were interested. Their confidence and discipline grew from working with their hands. Her method was very successful. Later, similar schools opened in many countries. Today, Montessori’s principles are still used in preschools to respect each child’s unique pace of growth.