Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori (1870–1952)
Key Contribution / Core Idea
• Developed the Montessori Method — a child-centred approach where children learn through exploration, independence, and hands-on experience.
Background / Context
• Italian doctor and educator — one of the first women in Italy to qualify as a physician.
• Worked with children with additional needs, then extended her methods to all learners.
• Believed that education should nurture the “whole child” — physical, emotional, and intellectual.
Main Theories / Methods
• Learning should be self-directed, with teachers acting as guides rather than lecturers.
• Emphasised carefully prepared environments with materials that encourage discovery.
• Stressed mixed-age classrooms, independence, and respect for each child’s pace of learning.
• Believed children pass through sensitive periods — key stages when they learn particular skills most easily.
Relevance to Modern KS3/4 Teaching
• Encourages active learning, curiosity, and self-motivation — all vital for secondary education.
• Supports project-based and experiential learning now common in modern classrooms.
• Influences approaches to differentiation, classroom layout, and student independence.
How Her Ideas Link to Others
• Shares with Piaget and Vygotsky an emphasis on development and social learning.
• Echoes Dewey’s focus on experience-based learning.
• Her learner-centred philosophy aligns with modern progressive education.
Strengths and Appeal
• Deep respect for the child as an individual learner.
• Encourages confidence, independence, and creativity.
• Proven success in early years and adaptable for older students.
Criticisms and Limitations
• Some see the approach as difficult to apply in larger or more traditional classrooms.
• Can lack structure for students who need more guidance.
• Focus on freedom may not suit all learners or national curricula.
Legacy / Lasting Influence
• Inspired thousands of Montessori schools worldwide.
• Strong influence on early years education and modern child-centred teaching.
• Continues to shape ideas about autonomy, curiosity, and intrinsic motivation in learning.
Further Reading
• Montessori, The Montessori Method (1912).