History
How Montessori Started
Maria Montessori opened the first Casa dei Bambini in 1907 in a low-income district of Rome, Italy. Her unique philosophy sparked the movement of Montessori schools throughout the world.
Montessori books and articles have been published in nearly every language. Dr. Maria Montessori described her approach in Il Metodo della Pedagogia Scientifica applicato all’educazione infantile nelle Case dei Bambini, published in 1909. The book’s English-language version, The Montessori Method, was a huge success.
The Spread of the Montessori Program Goes International
In 1929, Dr. Maria Montessori established the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) to support the growth of Montessori schools, teacher education programs, and national organizations around the world.
In the United States, Montessori caught on quickly. By the 1920’s, the movement had failed. Forty years later, Montessori schools would return in considerable numbers.
To learn more about Montessori, visit the American Montessori Society website.