Laboratory: Population Biology

“We cannot know the consequences of suppressing a child's spontaneity when he is just beginning to be active. We may even suffocate life itself. That humanity which is revealed in all its intellectual splendor during the sweet and tender age of childhood should be respected with a kind of religious veneration. It is like the sun which appears at dawn or a flower just beginning to bloom. Education cannot be effective unless it helps a child to open up himself to life.” -- Maria Montessori

The Montessori methods have been my favorite approach to early childhood education. It is a well known and a widely used method of teaching in many schools across the United States and other parts of the world. In this essay my goal is to share what the Montessori Method is about and how I can implement the methods into my future classes. The Montessori Method is a fun and creative way to encourage natural and spontaneous learning. Maria Montessori is the founder of the Montessori methods and was born in Italy in 1870. She was one of the first women doctors in Italy and one of the first women to graduate from the University of Rome La Sapienza. Maria Montessori was a distinguished woman first pursuing an education in engineering than taking up medicine against her father’s will. She dedicated herself to teaching children with disabilities and was recognized for successfully teaching a group of eight year old children who were presumed UN teachable or unmoral. These children passed tests and this gave Maria the chance she needed to open up her own school focusing on the disabled learners. Maria Montessori opened a school for children called the Casa de Bambini. Maria Montessori dedicated her life to study child development and held lectures and established training programs to help children develop and reach their highest potential. One of the great things about the Montessori program is how it enables teachers and parents to observe their child discover