Search-engine major Google, on Friday, celebrated the 142nd birth anniversary of Maria Montessori – popularly known to be founder of the Montessori system of education.
The Google doodle is a representation of the various tools and playthings that form an integral part of Montessori education methods.
Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator. Her educational methods are in use today in public and private schools throughout the world.
Born on August 31, 1870, at Chiaravalle in Italy, Maria Montessori along with her family later moved to Rome in 1875. It was in Rome that she enrolled in a public elementary school when she was 6.
She graduated from the technical school Regia Scuola Tecnica Michelangelo Buonarroti at the age of 20 and later decided to study medicine.
In 1897 - a year after completing her graduation -Maria Montessori was accepted as a voluntary assistant at the University's psychiatric clinic. As part of her work, she visited asylums in Rome where she observed children with mental disabilities.
Her observations formed the fundamental to her future educational work.
These observations translated into what are now known as the essential values of Montessori education around the globe. Some of her observations include mixed age classrooms, student choice of activity from within a prescribed range of options or some "discovery" model, where students learn concepts from working with materials.
She died of a cerebral haemorrhage in the Netherlands, at the age of 81.
Keywords: Maria Montessori, Montessori education system, Google, Google doodle, Montessori education
Comments:
My first reaction was, 'Aaaaaawwww', while remembering that the founders
of Google went to a Montessori school. It makes me happy that she is
being honored by them. I have been a Montessori teacher for 20 years,
and was getting on Google to search for a video to show my children
today. Happy Birthday Maria!
I just wanted to point out that large parts of this article, if not all of it, were taken
from another source.
Of course, to collect, arrange, and synthesize information is great, that is how
knowledge spreads. But in this case, entire phrases and sentences have been lifted
from the Wikipedia page concerning this topic. That is unacceptable.
I never realized until today that those drawings meant something! This morning I decided to click on one of the drawings on the Google home page and behold, I read some interesting material about the anniversary of the birth of Maria Montessorri.
Well I did not realize that there was a method to your madness! Thanks for the information. From now on I will click on to see what's up for the day.
Sincerely
I was thrilled to see Montessori sensorial materials along with Google!
I´ve had an honor of studing Montessori method in the AMI School founded
by Maria Montessori herself in London. Maria Montessori had a special
ability of sensing children´s needs. It´s sad adults today have become
blind and indifferent about children. Thank you for reminding the world
of a person who gave her life to the well-being of children.
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