Flossmoor Montessori School

08/31/2025

"It is not true that I invented what is called the Montessori Method. I have studied the child, I have taken what the child has given me and expressed it, and that is what is called the Montessori Method." - Dr. Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870, in Chiaravalle, Italy. She would go on to become one of the first Italian women ever to be granted a medical degree.

Through in-depth research, observation and analysis, she would later develop the Montessori method of education, which emphasized a child-centered approach to learning.
She believed all children are born with inherent gifts and abilities that guide healthy development and sought to provide learning environments that enable children to grow holistically and in ways consistent with their natural development.

Montessori was a firm advocate of education for peace, believing in the power of education to bring about social reform and positive change.

Today, we celebrate and remember her legacy and impact on this world.

08/31/2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. MONTESSORI! (Born August 31, 1870)

Thank you for your amazing contributions to the nurturing and education of children around the world!

If you'd like some inspiration in Dr. Montessori's words, you'll find lots of it in this post at my Bits of Positivity blog along with many Montessori word art freebies: http://bitsofpositivity.com/best-maria-montessori-quotes/

08/31/2025

Celebrating Dr. Montessori’s Timeless Legacy on her birthday, August 31.

Maria Montessori celebrated more than 80 birthdays, but surely one of the best birthday gifts must have been a speech from a student on her 45th birthday, which happened on the closing day of a training course.

"I have gained a deeper respect for the child than ever before. I must also express something beyond simple appreciation—an admiration for the utter dedication of Dr. Montessori and the vision guiding her work. Without flattery, it is a revelation of genius joined to unremitting devotion to an idea. This is a lesson we can all learn. I feel I have learned it myself, and to me one of the greatest strengths of the Montessori System is that it opens the path of genius to the child."

12/22/2023

08/31/2023

Happy Birthday To Dr. Maria Montessori!

Today the Montessori community celebrates Maria Montessori's birthday! On 31 August 1915, on her 45th birthday, Maria Montessori was working in America, addressing her students in a graduation speech as they were about to receive their diplomas from the training course. She shared the following thoughts with that cohort: “I feel that the course has ended to start something definite for the good of this work. You must work with great courage, without timidity.”

We are grateful that the Montessori community is continuing this mission with unequalled energy and passion 💙

A Maria Montessori full of smiles, surrounded by flowers. It well could have been a birthday photo, but taken where and when? Can you help us source this photograph? It may be England, it may be the 1920s, but we could be wrong. Please write to us at [email protected] to share any details and suggestions.

02/13/2023

We hope all of our current families and alumni families are experiencing the joy of sharing the proud histories and accomplishments of black Americans this month.
"The desire to reach the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise and most possible." Maya Angelou

02/07/2023

From "Education and Peace" by Maria Montessori (p. 30)

02/07/2023

Angeline Lillard refers to in her book, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius, that supports Montessori's authentic practices in education. The research in child development and traditional education demonstrates exactly why conventional teaching methods are failing to reach the results we hope for with children. Montessori addresses the need for child-centered educational practices!

Tech geniuses, nation builders and famous artists have praised the benefits of a Montessori education – but does it hold up to scientific scrutiny?

11/23/2022

We have much to be
thankful for...

Here's why grateful kids deal better with challenges-including ones from the past few years.

10/14/2022

Thank you Flossmoor Fire Department for coming to FMS for fire safety education and fun exploration of the Fire Truck for our children!

09/21/2022

Today, 21 September, the is observed around the world. This day was established by the United Nations in 1981. Education for Peace is a recurring theme in Montessori’s pedagogy: Maria Montessori often spoke passionately on this subject in public lectures, congresses, and teacher training courses. Growing up in a Europe that had a long history of conflicts, wars, and fragile peace treaties, Montessori’s later years were marked by the atrocities of two World Wars. She realized that, while governments can negotiate treaties and decide on non-aggression pacts, the true seeds of peace are sown in education – from the day we are born.

In the late 1940s, she penned down some thoughts on how society might become more peaceful and outlined that “We need to encourage the science of education that helps people build up a robust intelligence - with a strong character: who think for themselves and give a conscious guidance to their lives - and are capable of understanding and defending human freedom.” The words from Montessori are an inspiration for what society still has to accomplish – committing and contributing to building a Culture of Peace.