Born 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy, Dr. Maria Montessori, Italy's first female physician, developed a unique educational approach that for nearly 100 years has been successfully applied to millions of children worldwide, starting with children with learning difficulties and extending today to children of all intellectual and socio-economic levels.
The Montessori method considers children to be intelligent and highly capable of learning when placed in an environment and with materials that provide them with respect and privacy. It includes three key elements:
Motor education Sensory education Language
The Montessori/ShillerLearning Combination
...helps children learn math and language arts and to become productive members of society throughout their lives
For more information on the Montessori approach, you may visit these informative sites:
The International Montessori Council
The International Montessori Index
Montessori Unlimited
An excellent book on the Montessori method is Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Pre-School Years by Elizabeth G. Hainstock. This is one of many books written for parents about Montessori that are available online or at your local library or book store.