"The child is truly a miraculous being, and this should be felt deeply by the educator."
- Maria Montessori: 'The Absorbent Mind'
I am a teacher and I have taught in mainstream, Montessori and at a gifted kids one day programme. I am currently teaching in a mainstream class of year 5-6 children (9-11 year olds) and applying many Montessori aspects. I am doing papers on Montessori education through AUT and am on my final two papers. This has been an incredible journey and I hope others will look past the preconceived judgements people have of Montessori and her method and take a much closer look. If you go in with an open mind and the best interests of children at heart then it will change the way you think. On that note, I would encourage every educator to read as many of her books as possible and I recommend "The Spark - nurturing genius" by Kristin Barnett. She may not know it but her approach was based on a natural Montessori tenet. If we 'follow the child' then they really can reach their true potential.