As one of the first women in Italy to obtain a medical degree, Dr. Maria Montessori was a trailblazer whose philosophy and activism is still as relevant today as it was when she began her work for social justice more than 100 years ago. Despite her successes in the fields of science and medicine, however, […]
Author Archives: Macleay Martinez
Valentine’s Day… the St. Paul’s Way!
The origin of Valentine’s Day seems to have begun as a feast day for Saint Valentine, though its connection to love and romance is somewhat unclear. It could have been that Saint Valentine performed weddings for those forbidden to marry, or because of the “lovebirds” who were courting at the start of the spring season. […]
The Secret of Childhood
Montessori Infants and Toddlers: Maximum Effort “The child does not follow the law of the least effort, but a law directly contrary. They use an immense amount of energy over an unsubstantial end, and they spend, not only driving energy, but intensive energy in the exact execution of every detail.” Maria Montessor, The Secret of […]
The Extension of Freedom and Responsibility in a Montessori Elementary Environment
In addition to the points discussed in my previous post about Freedom and Responsibility in the Montessori environment, the child in the Second Plane of development (Elementary) has some characteristics that are very different from those of a child in the First Plane. While the child in the First Plane is a “sensorial” learner who […]
A Foundation of Freedom and Responsibility in a Montessori Environment
In Montessori theory, freedom and self-discipline are two sides of the same coin. The person who is self-disciplined is able to be responsible in their actions. The person who is free to act must be self-disciplined in order to use that freedom responsibly. The long-term goal in regards to freedom is a self-disciplined adult who […]