Online Workshop
Spiritual Background of Maria Montessori:
A Threat or a Possibility?
- A fully online workshopLive on Zoom or recording access
- Päivi Soikkeli
- March 31, 20265:00–7:00 pm CET
- Price: €47
Have you ever hesitated around this question?
Maria Montessori wrote extensively about spiritual life. She referred to Christianity. She spoke about spiritual preparation of the adult.
But what does that mean for us today?
- Does this dimension still matter in contemporary Montessori practice?
- Is it essential to understanding her work, or simply historical context?
- Is the spiritual background of Maria Montessori a threat to modern interpretation, or a possibility for deeper understanding?
- How, if at all, does spiritual language belong in our work with children?
This workshop offers a clear, thoughtful exploration of Maria Montessori’s spiritual background and what it may mean for Montessori education today.
Why this conversation matters?
For many years, the spiritual dimension of Maria Montessori’s work has not been widely discussed in Montessori communities.
Yet in her writings, it is present. Repeatedly.
Rather than avoiding or simplifying this dimension, we return directly to her words and examine:
- What she actually wrote about spiritual life
- How her spiritual background influenced her educational vision
- Why she considered spiritual development a basic human need
- How she described the spiritual preparation of the adult
This is not about ideology.
It is about intellectual clarity and philosophical honesty.
What We Will Explore:
- Maria Montessori’s spiritual background
- how and where she writes about spiritual life
- Spirituality as a basic human needincluding in the life of the child
- How, or whether, spiritual languagecan be applied in contemporary practice
- Her understanding of the spiritual preparation of the adult
The aim is not to prescribe.
The aim is to understand.
What You Will Gain:
- Develop a clearer understanding of Maria Montessori’s spiritual background
- Recognize how this dimension shaped her life’s work
- Deepen your awareness of spirituality as a basic human need in Montessori philosophy
- Gain language and perspective to thoughtfully reflect on its place in your own practice
Who It Is for:
- Montessori guides and assistants
- Montessori trainers and teacher educators
- School leaders and program directors
- Educators interested in Montessori philosophy at a deeper level
Especially valuable for those who want to approach Montessori with intellectual honesty and philosophical depth.
Meet your speaker
Päivi Soikkeli is AMI 3-6 Auxiliary Trainer from Finland. She has 20+ years experience of working with children in the 3-6 Montessori environments. She has a Finnish degree in early childhood education. She loves to work both with the children and the adults she is training to become Montessori practitioners.
This topic, the spiritual background of Maria Montessori is also close to her heart through her own spiritual conviction, which has led her to learn also about Godly Play, a Sunday School method based on Montessori pedagogy.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
Feel free to contact us!