In 1907 Maria Montessori opened her first school, Casa die Bambini, in a slum area of Rome. Nicholas Montessori Teachers Association started on May 10th 1970. Maria Montessori described the child's mind between the time of birth and six years of age as the "absorbent mind". It is during this stage that a child has a tremendous ability to learn and assimilate from the world around him, without cons
cious effort. And so, everything in a Montessori classroom has a specific use or purpose. There is nothing in the prepared environment that the child cannot see or touch. All of the furniture and equipment is scaled down to the child's size and is within easy reach. In a Montessori classroom every child is treated with respect, given freedom within the limits of the carefully structured environment, and allowed to develop naturally at their own pace. My purpose in the classroom is to stimulate the child's enthusiasm for learning and to guide it, without interfering with the child's natural desire to teach himself and become independent. My aim is to nurture his love for learning both in the classroom and out in the garden.
