Maria Montessori was an Italian physician, educator, and innovator, acclaimed for her educational methods that build on the way children learn naturally. She opened the first Montessori school—the Casa dei Bambini, or Children’s House—in 1907 in Italy. The Montessori method of education, named after her, is an approach to classroom learning that emphasizes independence and choice. This theory of teaching understands that children have an innate interest to learn and will be able to do so in a suitable environment. To help each child reach their individual potential, Montessori methods focus on developing the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. Her works are widely popular and are read across the globe in several languages and her methods are in use today in many schools globally.