The Montessori Method

Written by Maria Montessori

Narrated by Sam Marseille

Maria Montessori (1870 -1952), the physician and educator, was the first woman to graduate from the University of Rome Medical School. Her classic of educational philosophy is still relevant today. The author explains to parents and teachers how to free a child through its own efforts. First published in English in 1912, these tried and trusted methods have proved their worth for over a hundred years. Emphasizing the individuality of the child in order to nurture the joy of learning, Montessori avoids rote memorization and drilling, encouraging abstract thinking with the aim of fulfilling a child's emotional, physical and intellectual potential.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Woodkeep Audio
• Release date: May 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662193323

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was an Italian educator and physician. Born in Chiaravalle, she came from a prominent, well-educated family of scientists and government officials. Raised in Florence and Rome, Montessori excelled in school from a young age, graduating from technical school in 1886. In 1890, she completed her degree in physics and mathematics, yet decided to pursue medicine rather than a career in engineering. At the University of Rome, she overcame prejudice from the predominately male faculty and student body, winning academic prizes and focusing her studies on pediatric medicine and psychiatry. She graduated in 1896 as a doctor in medicine and began working with mentally disabled children, for whom she also became a prominent public advocate. In 1901, she left her private practice to reenroll at the University of Rome for a degree in philosophy, dedicating herself to the study of scientific pedagogy and lecturing on the topic from 1904 to 1908. In 1906, she opened her Casa dei Bambini, a school for children from low-income families. As word of her endeavor spread, schools using the Montessori educational method began opening around the world. In the United States, the publication of The Montessori Method (1912) in English and her 1913 lecture tour fostered a rapid increase of Montessori schools in the country. For her groundbreaking status as one of Italy’s first female public intellectuals and her role in developing a more individualized, psychologically informed approach to education, Maria Montessori continues to be recognized as one of the twentieth century’s most influential figures.