Montessori method

American  

noun

1. a system for teaching young children, in which the fundamental aim is self-motivated education by the children themselves, as they are encouraged to move freely through individualized instruction and physical exercises, accompanied by special emphasis on the training of the senses and the early development of reading and writing skills.

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Montessori method British  

noun

1. a method of nursery education in which children are provided with generous facilities for practical play and allowed to develop at their own pace

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Other Word Forms

• Montessorian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Montessori method

First recorded in 1910–15; named after M. Montessori

Example Sentences

I’m a former teacher, and I love the Montessori method and really wanted my daughter to foster a love of inquiry and learning before going off to what will likely be an academics-focused public school.

From Slate • Apr. 29, 2021

Maybe the school uses some Montessori-style methodologies, but it may not be a member of the American Montessori Society or adhere fully to the practices of the Montessori method.

From Slate • Jan. 21, 2021

Montessori is not a trademarked name, which means it is a label often given to thousands of day cares and preschools across the country—whether or not they follow the Montessori method.

From Slate • Dec. 18, 2018

Some 37,000 teachers have attended six-day crash training courses at 118 colleges to prepare for their classes, which usually resemble kindergartens with a touch of the Montessori method.

From Time Magazine Archive

She was studying Italian, the Montessori method, cooking.

From The Trail of the Hawk A Comedy of the Seriousness of Life by Lewis, Sinclair