Maria Montessori was born in Italy in 1870.  Despite the times, Maria studied engineering and then medicine becoming the first woman to graduate as a Doctor from the University of Rome.  Maria's work bought her into contact with mentally retarded children and it was here that she developed her techniques and equipment that would spread around the world in years to come.

Maria Montessori was convinced that the key to education in all children lay in the realization of their individual potential.  Realizing that children have an innate desire to learn, Maria developed teaching aids and established an environment which promoted self-motivated learning. 

With her first school built in 1907 and first teachers training course in 1909, the Montessori Method spread throughout Europe and the U.S.A.   Despite World Wars and political opposition, Maria Montessori carried her ideas and methods around the world.  Finally settling in Holland, Maria was nominated three times for the Noble Peace Prize and traveled extensively promoting the benefits of Montessori.  Maria Montessori died at the age of 82, having seen her Method acclaimed and used throughout the world.

The Montessori Method is based more on the learning of skills (concentration, orderly work habits) and development of qualities ( independence, self-confidence and self-discipline) rather than mastery of subject areas.  The environment in which a child learns is also very important in the Montessori Method.  This prepared environment is an environment physically and psychologically designed to meet the learning needs of the child.  Everything from the materials, other children and adults within the Montessori classroom all contribute to the environment in which the child will learn.

The period of 0 - 6 years of age was always of special interest to Maria Montessori.  She called their mind at this stage in their lives the 'Absorbent Mind', meaning that the child will soak up their environment (whether good or bad) despite conscious will and memory not being fully established.  The period 3 - 6 years was of particular importance as the child's need for order, movement, social interaction, sensori-motor and language experiences are established.  This is where the Montessori Pre-School Classroom comes into its own.  The four main areas within this classroom environment are Practical Life, Sensorial, Language and Mathematics.