Foundations of the Montessori Method
Books in this strand
Use these core texts as anchors for the Foundations strand. Each one has its own micro field guide with the three rings: child · adults · culture.
Who was Maria Montessori?
Maria Montessori was a physician who chose to sit on the floor with children. She watched more than she spoke. She touched materials before she wrote about them. What she saw was simple and radical at the same time: children were not empty, they were already building themselves.
In your home or classroom today, you do not need to copy every material to live this spirit. You only need three things:
- a decision to observe before you correct,
- a prepared environment that fits the child’s size and rhythm,
- a deep respect for the child’s story, identity, and dignity.
The absorbent mind & sensitive periods
Montessori spoke about the “absorbent mind” to describe how young children take in their world without effort. Every tone of voice, every routine, every unspoken rule about who is welcome and who is not becomes part of the child’s map.
She also described “sensitive periods” – windows where a child is especially drawn to certain kinds of learning: order, movement, language, small details, social connection, and more.
When we match our invitations to these periods, behaviour often softens and concentration grows. When we work against them, we start to see power struggles, not because the child is “bad”, but because we are out of rhythm.
Identity is already in the room
From the very beginning, the child is noticing: whose language is “normal” here, which adults are trusted, whose hair or skin or clothing is praised, joked about, or ignored. Montessori spoke of education for peace; this begins with the child’s sense of inner worth and outer belonging.
A Montessori-aligned foundation in 2025 therefore includes:
- Anti-bias awareness for adults. We keep learning about our own blind spots so children do not have to carry them alone.
- Inclusive materials & language. We show many families, many bodies, many cultures in simple, concrete ways.
- Gentle honesty. We do not pretend the world is perfect, but we keep the child’s sense of safety at the centre.
How to use this hub
Think of this hub as a friend who sits next to you, not above you. You can:
- read one short section at a time,
- try one concrete adjustment in your environment,
- notice what changes for the child – and for you.
Then you come back, reflect, and move one layer deeper. This iterative, kind approach to your own growth mirrors what we wish for the child.