What is Montessori?

What is Montessori? The Montessori movement takes its name from its founder, Dr Maria Montessori, who began the first Casa dei Bambini or Children’s House in Rome in 1907. Today, Montessori is the single largest educational philosophy in the world, with 22,000 Montessori schools in more than 170 countries on six continents. Montessori early learning…

Montessori in Aotearoa New Zealand

Montessori in Aotearoa New Zealand There are currently nearly 200 Montessori early learning centres, 14 state or state-integrated schools with Montessori primary classes, 4 private Montessori primary schools and 3 Montessori high schools in New Zealand. How can a school or early learning centre call itself ‘Montessori’ if it is not a member of Montessori…

100 Years of Montessori in New Zealand

100 Years of Montessori in New Zealand In 2012 the Montessori community celebrated 100 years of Montessori in New Zealand. MANZ marked the New Zealand centenary at the 2012 Conference in Auckland. We invited our community to help build a timeline at the conference; many photos of early classes, people, events, teacher meetings, and workshops…

Education for the Future

Montessori, an education for the future 2007 was the centenary of the international Montessori movement. In New Zealand, Montessori educators shared their views of why Montessori is the education for the future. Montessori, a source of sanity and balance Montessori education in Aotearoa, New Zealand, will emerge as a source of sanity and balance at…

A Brief History

A Brief History of Montessori How has Montessori spread around the world since the opening of the first Montessori class in 1907. Growth in Europe and Spread to the Rest of the World In the first Montessori Casa dei Bambini or Children’s House in San Lorenzo, Rome, Italy 1907, Dr Montessori trialled many materials and activities…

Dr Maria Montessori

Dr Maria Montessori Dr Maria Montessori (1870-1952) has been described as an educator, scientist, physician, innovator, philosopher, feminist and humanitarian and was the first early childhood educator to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr Montessori felt strongly that radical education reform was essential if there was hope for peace in our time. She intended…

Montessori 0 – 3 years

Montessori for 0 to 3 year olds The first three years of life are the most fundamental in the development of human beings and their potential. The infant’s physical development is phenomenal and apparent, inspiring our care and attention. Yet a profound and less obvious development is taking place within the child. The child’s intelligence…

Montessori 3 – 6 years

Montessori for 3 to 6 year olds At the core of the Montessori approach to education is the curriculum developed by Dr Montessori for the 3 to 6 year old child. The Montessori 3-6 programme is attended by the largest number of children and is the starting place and mainstay of Montessori education in New…

Montessori 6 – 12 years

Montessori for 6 to 12 year olds The primary-aged student develops powers of reason, abstraction, and imagination and begins to think and wonder about ideas and concepts beyond her own personal experience. Lessons, in the form of stories and materials, inspire children in independent research and group projects. The curriculum includes the physical nature of…

Montessori 12 – 18 years

Montessori for 12 to 18 years olds The Montessori program for students aged 12 to 18 is based on recognising the special characteristics of adolescence. Adolescence is an age of great social development, an age of critical thinking and re-evaluation, and a period of self-concern and self-assessment. It is a transition from childhood to adulthood…

Montessori Quotes

Montessori Quotes How is Montessori relevant today? Montessori professionals choose a quote from Dr Montessori’s writings and place it in today’s context. “Times have changed, and science has made great progress, and so has our work… “Times have changed, and science has made great progress, and so has our work; but our principles have only…