What is Montessori Education?

Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian scientist and the first woman doctor in Italy pioneered and developed this educational approach based on her understanding of children’s natural inquisitive and absorbent minds as they unfold in “prepared environments.”

It is a comprehensive educational approach applied to children from birth to adulthood and based on observations of the unique needs of children. We share and implement this holistic vision in our school.

The Montessori environment contains specially designed “materials of development” that invite children into learning activities of their own choice and into completing learning exercises at their own pace. The role of the teacher is not to be the focal point but the facilitator of a curriculum where each child has a unique and a central role. Montessori’s advice was to always “follow the child.” Under the guidance of the teacher, children learn by making discoveries with the materials, develop concentration, motivation, self-discipline, self-reliance, independence, and above all, a great love for learning and discovery. Older children spontaneously share their knowledge with the younger ones in this pre-school environment.

The Montessori goal is for the child to grow into a responsible, secure, and balanced adult who has discovered the joys of thinking and learning.

Now, nearly a century after Maria Montessori first set up Casa de Bambini (Children’s House) in Rome, the Montessori system of education has proven to be highly successful and has been established all over the world; this has provided the guiding foundation for our One World Montessori School, Edmonton.