Montessori vs Traditional
Montessori vs Traditional
Parents often wonder how the Montessori method differs from traditional schools. Below, we provide a comparison for parents considering our school.
Montessori Method | Traditional Teaching |
---|---|
Emphasis is on cognitive, social and emotional development | Emphasis is on cognitive development |
Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration | Few materials for sensory development |
Environment and method encourage self-discipline | Teacher is primary enforcer of discipline |
Mixed age grouping | Same age grouping |
Grouping encourages children to teach and help each other | Most teaching is done by the teacher Working together is discouraged |
Teacher has a facilitator role in classroom | Teacher is focus of classroom |
Mainly individual instruction | Mainly group instruction |
Child chooses own work, with input from teacher | Set curriculum is structured for the child |
Child can work where he chooses, move around and talk at will without disturbing the work of others | Child usually assigned own chair |
Child discovers own concepts from self teaching materials | Child is guided to concepts by the teacher |
Child may work at own learning pace | Instruction pace is usually set by group norm |
Child works as long as he needs on a chosen project | Child is generally allotted specific time for work on a specific project or assignment Projects usually chosen by the teacher |
Child reinforces own learning by repetition of work with internal feelings of success. Learning is its own reward | Learning is reinforced externally by repetition and rewards |
Materials are self correcting Child spots own errors from feedback of material | If work is corrected, errors usually are pointed out by the teacher |
Organized program for learning care of self and environment in order to develop independence | Less Emphasis on self-care instruction |
Organized program for parents to understand the Montessori philosophy and participate in the learning process | Voluntary parent involvement |