Dr. Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator who developed an influential method of education centered on the child. She believed that children should be free to explore their environment and learn through their senses. Montessori observed that children progress through sensitive periods of development from infancy through adolescence where they are naturally drawn to different types of learning activities. According to Montessori, the role of the teacher is to prepare an environment to support each child's development and act as a guide, allowing children to learn independently as much as possible.

1. Dr. María Montessori 1870 - 1952 Her idea was to prepare the most natural and life supporting environment for the child to observe the child living freely in this environment and continually adapt it in order that the child may fulfill his greatest potential (physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually). “ Casa dei Bambini”

2. "Never interfere when a child is working by himself. Don't be preoccupied about whether he is making mistakes, you must not correct him at this moment. The important thing is not that the child should handle the material well, but that this material has attracted the attention of the child."

3. Infancy The first three years of life are the most fundamental in the development of human beings and their potential. The environment that we provide for infants and the stimuli with which we encourage them to interact with this environment are fundamental for their full development. Early-Childhood Chidren are “sensorial explorers”, contructing their intellects by absorbing every aspect of their environment, their language and their culture. They posses an “absorbent mind”. This is considered to be a period of self-construction.

4. Childhood Adolescence From 6 to 12, children become “conceptual explorers”. They develop their powers of abstraction and imagination, and they apply their knowledge to discover and expand their worlds further. The years between 12 and 18 see the child become “humanistic explorers”, seeking to understand their place in society and their opportunity to contribute to it.

5. The Teacher according to Montessori The Teacher is an observer whose ultimate goal is to intervene less and less as the child develops. The Teacher creates an atmosphere of calm , order and joy . Knowing how to observe , when , how much to intervene , is one of the most important talents of Montessori Teacher.

6. ‘ Be careful, a child’s sould is like a bright mirror on which any breath can cast a shadow’ Maria Montessori

7. Resources By Pamela Mesquida Mraidan http://www.montessori-ami.org/ http://www. amshq .org/ montessori . htm http://www. montessori . edu / http://www. montessori - namta .org/NAMTA/ geninfo / whatismont .html http://en. wikipedia .org/ wiki / http://www. google .com (key words: Maria Montessori; kids; teachers – in images)