Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori was an Italian doctor and educator. She was born in Chiaravalle, Italy, in 1870. She developed the Montessori method of education. Her approach to teaching children is used in schools around the world.

Early Life

Montessori was one of the first women to attend medical school in Italy. She graduated as a doctor in 1896. She began working with children who had learning difficulties. She developed new ways of teaching them that were very successful.

A photograph of teacher Maria Montessori around 1880.
A photograph of teacher Maria Montessori around 1880. (Unknown authorUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Achievements

Montessori opened her first school, the Casa dei Bambini, in 1907. She discovered that children learn best when they can explore and choose their activities. Her method focuses on hands-on learning and independence. Today, there are over 20,000 Montessori schools worldwide.

Fun Facts

  • Montessori was one of Italy's first female doctors.
  • There are over 20,000 Montessori schools around the world.
  • She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times.

Did You Know?

Many successful people attended Montessori schools, including Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales. They all credit Montessori education with teaching them to think independently.