Montessori Material - Page 10

Roots of Montessori Material in Italy

GAM can define itself as the History of Montessori materials, not just because it started, grew and established itself in Maria Montessori’s country, but because it was in collaboration with our firm (then known as “Ernesto Bassoli e Figli” and afterwards “Società Anonima per il Materiale Montessori”) that Maria Montessori produced the first materials. Gonzagarredi is one of only three companies in the world that produce Montessori educational material with the supervision and certification of Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) , headquartered in Amsterdam.

It’s been over a hundred years since the first Montessori materials were created, but the same principles still govern and drive GAM in the development of new products. The objecting is to offer children the quality furniture and materials consistent with Maria Montessori’s guidelines. Maria Montessori’s interest in space and furnishings dates from 1907, right at the start of her educational experiences with children aged two and a half to six at number 58 of Via dei Marsi in Rome.

Already in her first book, ‘The Method of Scientific Pedagogy’ of 1909, there were drawings illustrating the first tables she proposed to replace old and traditional banks of desks. Her proposal was based on the principle that the environment be predisposed to give a voice to things, offering each child tools to effectuate individual choices and actions, at his or her own pace.