Thankful for Maria Montessori
November 2024
When I was recently visiting Italy with my husband, I had the great pleasure and opportunity to visit the birthplace and first home of Maria Montessori. It is located in the town of Chiaravalle, Italy on the east coast of the country.
Being a long time Montessorian of 42 years, it was such a meaningful and touching moment for me that I literally burst into tears when I first entered the building. The home has been remodeled into a museum, and I was fortunate to be alone with Anna, the proctor, for two hours while she showed me every photograph and artifact and explained them in great detail. The museum had just been remodeled and opened to the public three years ago. Since that time, Montessori teachers from all over the world have visited the home to pay tribute to this great teacher.
Anna told me that the young Maria was an only child and had only lived in this home for three years before her family moved to Rome. She showed me where Maria's small bedroom had been and her parents’ room and their living quarters. Although it was quite small and has been significantly remodeled, they have the original windows that she looked out of as a young child to the Piazza below. The proctor emphasized that it was through these windows that the young child, during her first three years while she was in the unconscious absorbent mind years, first saw and adapted to the world. Understanding the importance of these formative years, I pondered the impact that such a beautiful little town had on her during these pivotal foundational years.
The museum displayed many beautiful pictures of Maria Montessori from her childhood, as a young woman and with her son Mario. One of the important photos was with Maria Montessori and the mayor of the town when she returned to her birthplace on her 80th birthday. There was a plaque on the wall stating how important it was to her to return to her homeland before she died.
Montessori teachers had also carefully and with great understanding of the sequence of the materials, mounted all of the early childhood materials that Dr. Montessori had developed on one of the walls. It was very impressive to see the extent of the materials all mounted in one space. I also enjoyed seeing one of her beautiful robes and a sari she was given as a gift when she was in India.
I left with a feeling of great delight and deep connection with this amazing, brilliant and dedicated teacher who changed the world through her discoveries of the child.
Nancy McNabb is a dedicated Montessori educator and consultant with extensive experience as a teacher and school administrator. She holds a B.Sc. in Psychology and an M.A. in Counseling from Florida State University. Trained by Dr. Elizabeth Caspari and Mary Ellen Maunz, Nancy earned her Montessori Early Childhood certification in 1983 and later completed her Montessori Infant/Toddler certification in 1994. She founded her first school in the Twin Cities and has taught and administered successful Montessori schools in Montana for over 39 years. Nancy played a key role in developing the Montessori Infant/Toddler Teacher Course for AIM, where she serves as the main instructor and mentor.