Montessori Compared to Traditional Education
The goal of Montessori and most traditional education is generally the same: to provide learning experiences for the child. However, a difference in emphasis and method makes this learning experience quite different in a Montessori classroom.
Montessori
- Emphasis on whole-child development
- Teacher is guide; children learn primarily from
- self-correcting materials
- Mainly individual instruction
- Child moves at own pace
- Curriculum adjusts to child's interests and needs
- Child has large role in determining his work
- Child moves and speaks at will
- Child allowed to follow interests
- Environment and methods encourage self-discipline
- Child reinforces learning through repetition of work and internal feelings of success
- Calm, orderly, beautiful work space
- Clear expectations and teaching related to
- character development
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Traditional
- Emphasis on what a child can produce
- Teacher is source of most information
- Mainly group instruction
- Pace is set by group norm
- Child must adjust to curriculum
- Child has little or no role in determining curriculum
- Child's movement and expression are usually restricted and controlled by adult
- Child generally allotted time per project
- Teacher is source of discipline
- Learning reinforced externally by rewards and critical feedback
- High-stimulus, often chaotic, disorganized environment
- Little emphasis on practical skills for proper behavior
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