The Montessori Method
The Montessori Method is an educational approach developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, one of the first female physicians in Italy. Based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood, Montessori education is a child-centered approach that values the human spirit and the development of the whole child — physical, social, emotional, and cognitive.
At Meadows Montessori School, we faithfully follow Dr. Montessori's philosophy, creating an environment where children are free to explore, discover, and learn at their own pace through hands-on experiences with specially designed materials.
History
Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy. She would go on to become one of the first female physicians in Italy, graduating from the University of Rome in 1896.
Dr. Montessori began her educational work at the Orthophrenic School in Rome, where she worked with children with intellectual disabilities. She developed specialized teaching materials and methods, achieving remarkable results — her students passed standard educational tests alongside typically developing children.
On January 6, 1907, Dr. Montessori opened the first "Casa dei Bambini" (Children's House) in the San Lorenzo district of Rome. Working with 50-60 children from working-class families, she applied her educational methods to typically developing children for the first time, with extraordinary results that attracted worldwide attention.
Dr. Montessori founded the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) in 1929 to carry on her work. Today, Montessori education is practiced in thousands of schools around the world, serving children from birth through adolescence.
Meadows Montessori School opened its doors in Oakland, New Jersey, bringing authentic Montessori education to the local community. Under the leadership of Director Ingrid Sherwood, the school continues Dr. Montessori's legacy of nurturing each child's natural desire to learn.
Core Principles
Every child is treated as a unique individual with their own timeline for growth, interests, and learning style.
Children from birth to age 6 have an extraordinary ability to absorb information from their surroundings effortlessly and naturally.
Children pass through specific windows of opportunity for learning particular skills, from language to order to social development.
The classroom is carefully designed to be orderly, beautiful, and child-sized, encouraging independence and exploration.
Comparison
Daily Life
"The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.'"
— Dr. Maria Montessori
