Born in 1870, she was an Italian physician and educator and was the first woman to receive a medical degree in Italy. She developed her method of education early in this century for children from 2 years of age through high school. At the time of her death in 1952 she was working on a college curriculum.

It is an approach to education which takes in to consideration the entire potential of a child; socially, mentally, physically and emotionally - utilizing unique didactic teaching tools under the guidance of trained Montessori teachers. It's a highly individualized system of education utilizing sensory training.

The absorbent mind refers to the child's tremendous, innate ability to absorb ideas, concepts and knowledge from the environment. Maria Montessori entitled her textbook, "The Absorbent Mind."

These are periods of unusual sensitivity to learning - which every child passes through on his way to adulthood. Dr. Montessori noted these periods of intense interest in learning specific skills and referred to them as periods of specific maturation aptness. She observed that the sensitive period for reading and writing occurs between 3 and 5 years of age.

The Montessori discipline is an "inner discipline." The child develops control over his own behavior through his work with the Montessori materials. Dr. Montessori noted that so many so called discipline problems occur when children were really frustrated by lack of proper, constructive and intellectual stimulation. When a child's intellectual and creative energies are utilized in a constructive manner there is no energy left over for deviate behavior.