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Maria Montessori

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Maria Montessori the Leading Lady
Brandi Sims
ECED 218
Stacie Hensley
January 27, 2014

Maria Montessori the Leading Lady

Through the age of time Maria Montessori has become a prominent figure in the education. Maria was the first female physician in Italy around 1896. She made observations on how children learn and she came to realize that they build up what they learn from what they find in their environment. Maria eventually gave up her university chair and her medical practice just to follow her passion in working with children and this is when she founded the first Casa dei Bambini or “Children’s House.” Maria Montessori has characteristics that make her a great leader and sets her apart from others. (Pendleton, 2004)
Maria had a strong moral foundation that provided her with the strength and persistence to continue so that she could find her purpose. (Kandi, 2009) Maria had five basic principles that she believed in. Maria first principle was respect for the children. This was held true because as a teacher the way to show respect to a child was to help them do things and learn for themselves. Maria’s second principle was to have an absorbent mind. To have an absorbent mind is to learn from the environment. Maria’s third principle was about sensitive periods. Sensitive periods are when a special sensibility that a creature acquires in its infantile state. The fourth principle is prepared environment. A prepared environment is a place in which children can do things for themselves. The last principle is auto education. Auto education is known as self-education because the children exercise freedom of choice that they educate themselves. These are the five principles of an effective learning that Maria used to lead those who would go on to establish more Montessori schools. (Morrison, 2010)
Maria’s characteristics showed in her everyday life. She had

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