montessori method

The Montessori Method is an educational approach developed by Italian physician and educator Dr. Maria Montessori and is practised in schools worldwide serving children from birth to 18 years of age.It is an educational approach based on the child's education being guided by his inner needs and interests.

Montessori observed 4 distinct periods, or "planes" in human development extending

She saw different characteristics, learning modes and developmental imperatives active in each of these planes, and called for a prepared environment for the child specific to each period. The method caters to the differing needs of different age groups 3-6, 6-12 and 12-18

Montessori In India

On the invitation of the President of the Theosophical Society, Dr. Maria Montessori arrived in Adyar in 1939 with her son Mario Montessori Sr. The first international Montessori course in Madras was held in the Theosophical Society in Adyar in a thatched hut with students from all over India. This was the beginning of Montessori in India. Since then her training course travelled to different cities in the country and finally settled in Bangalore.

Today there are training centres in Mumbai and Chennai as well as Montessori schools throughout the country largely focussing on the 3-6 age group.

Having developed her theory and practice in the early to mid 20th century, she came to believe that education had a role to play in the development of world peace. Montessori felt that children allowed to develop, according to their inner laws of development would give rise to a more peaceful and enduring civilization. From the 1930's to the end of her life, she gave a number of lectures and addresses on the subject saying "Preventing conflicts is the work of politics, establishing peace is the work of education".

Abacus makes extensive use of the learning methodology of the Montessori system.