The greatest sign of success for a teacher...is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist." Maria Montessori More Quotes by Maria Montessori More Quotes From Maria Montessori Do not tell them how to do it. Show them how to do it and do not say a word. If you tell them, they will watch your lips move. If you show them, they will want to do it themselves. Maria Montessori leadership watches moving The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child's own natural desire to learn. Maria Montessori childhood goal children The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life. Maria Montessori doe children school Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water; and when the grass of the meadows is wet with dew, let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet; let them rest peacefully when a tree invites them to sleep beneath its shade; let them shout and laugh when the sun wakes them in the morning. Maria Montessori running morning children There is a great sense of community within the Montessori classroom, where children of differing ages work together in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competitiveness. There is respect for the environment and for the individuals within it, which comes through experience of freedom within the community. Maria Montessori atmosphere community children To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely. Maria Montessori montessori environment children The child who has felt a strong love for his surroundings and for all living creatures, who has discovered joy and enthusiasm in work, gives us reason to hope that humanity can develop in a new direction. Maria Montessori strong giving children The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. Maria Montessori childhood important children The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one’s self. Adults work to finish a task, but the child works in order to grow, and is working to create the adult, the person that is to be. Such experience is not just play... it is work he must do in order to grow up. Maria Montessori growing-up self children What the hand does the mind remembers. Maria Montessori mind doe hands We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity. Maria Montessori generosity unity together Peace is what every human being is craving for, and it can be brought about by humanity through the child. Maria Montessori craving humanity children Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world. Maria Montessori parenting education children Our aim is not merely to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his innermost core. Maria Montessori force imagination children Whoever touches the life of the child touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs toward the infinite future. Maria Montessori learning education children The child has a mind able to absorb knowledge. He has the power to teach himself. Maria Montessori able mind children Joy, feeling one’s own value, being appreciated and loved by others, feeling useful and capable of production are all factors of enormous value for the human soul. Maria Montessori soul feelings joy Joy is the evidence of inner growth. Maria Montessori evidence growth joy The adult works to improve his environment while the child works to improve himself. Maria Montessori environment adults children The first duty of the educator, whether he is involved with the newborn infant or the older child, is to recognize the human personality of the young being and respect it. Maria Montessori personality children firsts