Maria Montessori

The Orthophrenic School is a model school for training the teachers of children with developmental disabilities. Here I was able to experiment with many materials I felt would stimulate senses and support learning. With these experiments I was able to foster the level of learning in some children that were on the same level as typical developing school children shown on the state exams.

I held lectures in both Anthropology and Biology in the School of Education. During this time I was able to incorporate my clinical observations I had done at the various elementary schools around Rome. Many of these lectures provided me the basis of my second book, "Pedagogical Anthropology".

I held lectures on hygiene and anthropology for the women training to become teachers.

From the years of 1908 to 1913 I spent my time in varied ways. I was able to write and publish my second book: L’Antropologia pedagogica (Pedagogical Anthropology) as well as begin my training courses on my methods. There were many more schools opened during this time as well.

I began to hold international training courses in Montessori Education in 1913 in my apartment in Rome. People traveled from all over the world to attend my trainings. Because of this, I to traveled the world to train Montessori educators. My final training sessions were in 1933 in London, Dublin and Barcelona. In 1929 my son, Mario and I built the training center in Rome which holds a model Montessori School.

Now being held every four years all over the world to allow for as many people as possible to benefit from being together, the first one was held in 1929 in Helsingør, Denmark. I would lecture and support in educating the world in the Montessori educational methods. It is also a place for Montessori professionals to connect with each other. The last Congress I attended was in 1938 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Initially intended to be a three month course with the Montessori teachers in Madras, India; I needed to extend my stay until the culmination of World War II. I spent much of my time observing students at the current schools and giving lectures as well as courses to teachers. It was during my time in India where much of the foundational work was done on Cosmic Education which, in the end has become the cornerstone of the Montessori Philosophy.