The Real Difference Between Montessori vs. Traditional Schools
Montessori
Traditional
Teacher has guiding role
Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline
Emphasis on cognitive and social development
Instruction, both individual and group, adapts to each student’s learning style
Mixed age grouping
Children are encouraged to teach, collaborate, and help each other
Child chooses own work from interests and abilities
Child works as long as he/she wishes on chosen projects
Child sets own learning pace to internalize information
Our classrooms maintain a low teacher to student ratio policy which ensures optimum learning and individualized academic instruction
Child spots own errors through feedback from material
Learning is reinforced internally through the child’s own repetition of an activity and internal feelings of success
Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration
Organized program for learning care of self and the environment
Child can work where he/she is comfortable, moves around and talks at will (yet disturbs not the work of others) group work is voluntary and negotiable
Emphasis on cognitive structures and social development
All teachers are CPR and First-Aid trained
Teacher controls classroom
Teacher acts as primary enforcer of discipline
Emphasis on rote learning and social behavior
Instruction, both individual and group, conforms to the Adult’s teaching style
Same age grouping
Most teaching is done by teacher ad collaboration is discouraged
Curriculum structures for child with little regard for child’s interests
Child generally given specific time limit for work
Instruction pace is usually set by group norm or teacher
Generally, follows the state mandated policies
If work is corrected, errors usually pointed out by teacher
Learning is reinforced externally by rote repetition and rewards/ discouragement
Fewer materials for sensory development and concrete manipulation
Less emphasis on self-care instruction and classroom maintenance
Child usually assigned own chair: encouraged to sit still and listen during group session
Emphasis on rote knowledge and social development
Only one person on campus is required to be CPR and First-Aid trained
