Marie Montessori pioneered educational approaches that benefit all children regardless of attributes such as gender, socioeconomic status, disability, or age. Her methods focus on allowing children natural freedom to learn through hands-on materials and exploration. Montessori believed all children can learn and thrive given the proper environment. Her techniques are now implemented worldwide and have helped both typical students and those with special needs. Montessori's philosophy embraces learning through fun, independent processes tailored to children's natural development stages.

1. Gina Par
EDEC 303
3/23/2015
Marie Montessori institutions of learning are excellent examples of teaching children the
necessary skills to prepare them for life. Montessori believes that all children should be able to
learn no matter what gender, socioeconomically status, disability, or age. Her materials work for
all students and abilities are found worldwide. They are also implemented in therapy session at
variety of places that aide children with special needs at Easter Seals, Shriner’s for Children, and
Early Intervention Programs. Her approaches to learning are mainstreamed found in all corners
of the world. The educational environment plays a factor in the child’s learning. She is a force to
be recognized with because of her awesome ideas in education.
Montessori propelled the education of all students with her idealistic theories and her
history. Being the first woman doctor in Italy, Marie Montessori exceeds the expectations in the
field of education. She observed a poverty boy in street beginning education exploration with a
paper having the potential to learn. Some societies look down on people who do not have money
or individuals who are not perfect putting them in a box. People with disabilities have
experienced at how people perspective of them as uneducated, but they can learn and be
acclimated into society just like Montessori taught the children. Given the necessary tools to
optimize the learning process children with disability can become successful in life. Children do
not live in seclusion and isolation because they do not measure up to standards in societies. They
can excel in education. Instead of having institutions putting labels on children, she believes,
“All children can… ‘Explode into learning’.” It does not matter what body you are in
modification can improve the learning environment. The ancient India’s caste system is a perfect
example of labels on outcaste are pariahs not able to learn destitute for a life with limits. China
does the similar practices where they do not allow children with disadvantages to be educated.

2. Pioneer of education who impacted the lives of these individuals was Mother Teresa giving the
students who are orphanages labelled as outcaste the opportunity to learn by educating them. She
started the Casa De Bambino in a poverty district educating the students.
According to the Montessori website, her philosophy embraces learning should be fun,
process not results, children are natural learners, children need freedom, children absorb their
culture, children move through sensitive periods, and thrive on order and structure (Montessori
Media Centre, 2015). The philosophy focuses on children natural development. Teacher guide
rather than control the children activities. Fight to preserve the rights of each child. If a child is
always fear mode can cut them off from joy of learning forever. During my education journey
through public schools that embraced active learner, I was able to have fun while learning even
in high school math rolling dice and flipping a coin learning complex concept of probability in a
group comprised of 4 team members supportive peer learning. The traditional method of math
where students rely on the book only and individual work. Students strengthened each other
allowing for team building effort and learned from each other. The problem of the week would
be related to sports for instance football relevant to students’ lives.
The learning environment plays a huge role in children’s lives. Montessori schools are
careful preparation, think child-sized, life skills, sensorial materials, mathematics, language,
cultural studies, and imagination. For preschoolers having the curiosity factor with Montessori
approach to learning is essential that children are given the opportunity to learn real life skills
essential for independence. For example, during meal time the students learn how to wash their
hands, set the placemat, pour their water or milk into their cup, and wash dishes after meal. I
remember reading in a book from Montessori about how students learn how to take care of shoes
for actually shoe polish in preschool. Teachers provide learning opportunities rather than teach.

3. Children with disability benefit with Montessori approaches to learning because she
actually went to an European Asylum based her research on these individuals providing them
with tools necessary to educate them to pass the Italy education test. The Water is Wide movie a
teacher actually took the time to teach the children who were considered labeled as slow or retard
to accommodate and modify the classroom to meet their individual needs (Harrison, 2006).
Those students were able to learn and succeed despite the society’s view on their bodies but their
minds are still malleable. Montessori made educational materials that are durable for all children
out of wood revolutionized the industry are still used now. Autism spectrum children benefit
from the Montessori approach to learning by allowing children to explore centers independent
choices. According to an article in the Autism Awareness, A mother of an autism child said, “My
son has few meltdowns. He blossoms at the school” (J, 2013). This school will work for children
who experience sensory sensitivity because the schools are low-key not noisy.
Parental and community involvement is essential to Montessori schools. At my nephews’
schools, they have community service events which involves the students. They have a Facebook
page dedicated to what is going on at the school which incorporates technology to communicate.
The families come together to plant spring time teaching children to garden by involving
families.
Marie Montessori institutions of learning are excellent examples of teaching children the
necessary skills to prepare them for life. Montessori believes that all children should be able to
learn no matter what gender, socioeconomically status, disability, or age. Her materials work for
all students and abilities are found worldwide. All children can explode in learning. She has a
profound impact in education of all students.

4. References
Harrison, J. K. (Director). (2006). The Water is Wide [Motion Picture].
J, E. (2013, April 18). Autism awareness: a parent's take on why Montessori works for autism-spectrum
kids. Retrieved from Age of Montessori: http://ageofmontessori.org/autism-awareness/
Montessori Media Centre. (2015, March 21). Montessori philosophy. Retrieved from Montessori St
Nicholas: http://www.montessori.org.uk/what_is_montessori/the_philosophy