Did Montessori start with a focus on its own curriculum

It’s interesting how Montessori education has evolved since Maria Montessori first introduced it. She initially focused on child development and observation rather than a specific curriculum map. Any thoughts on how this foundational philosophy has shaped modern curriculum design in Montessori schools?

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It drives me nuts when people say Montessori is all about a rigid curriculum. Maria Montessori really emphasized child-led observation, which I think should still be our foundation today. Sure, we’ve developed structured approaches, but we should never lose sight of the individual child’s needs.

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But the flexibility in Montessori’s approach is really like giving kids a buffet instead of just one dish — they get to choose what they’re hungry for! This focus on self-discovery definitely still shapes curriculum choices today. What do you think about the balance between freedom and structure in those decisions, @lucasb92?

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