| Montessori |
Traditional |
| Emphasis on cognitive structures and social development. |
Emphasis on rote knowledge and social development. |
| Teacher has unobtrusive role in
classroom activity; child is an active participant in learning. |
Teacher has dominant, active role
in classroom activity; Child is a passive participant in
learning. |
| Environment and method encourage
internal self-discipline. |
Teacher acts as primary enforcer of external
discipline. |
| Instruction, both individual and group,
adapt to each student's learning style. |
Instruction of both individual and group
conforms to the adult's teaching style. |
| Mixed age grouping. |
Same age grouping. |
| Children are encouraged to teach,
collaborate and help each other. |
Teacher does most of the teaching and
collaboration is discouraged. |
| Child chooses own work from
self-teaching materials. |
Curriculum structured for child with little
regard for child's interest. |
| Child works as long as he/she wishes on
chosen projects. |
Teacher guides child to concepts. |
| Child sets own learning pace to
internalize information. |
Child generally given specific time limit for
work. |
| Child spots own errors through feedback
from material. |
Instruction pace usually set by group norm or
teacher. |
| Learning is reinforced internally
through the child's own repetition of an activity and internal
feeling of success. |
Learning is reinforced externally by rote
repetition and rewards/discouragements. |
| Multi-sensory materials for physical
exploration. |
Fewer materials for sensory development and
concrete manipulation. |
| Organized program for learning care of
self and environment. (Polishing shoes, cleaning the sink,
etc..) |
Less emphasis on self-care instruction and
classroom maintenance. |
| Child can work where she/he is
comfortable, moves around and talks at will, (yet does not
disturb work of others); group work is voluntary or negotiable. |
Child usually assigned own chair; encouraged
to sit still and listen during group discussion. |
| Organized program for parents to
understand the Montessori philosophy and participate in the
learning process. |
Voluntary parent involvement, often only as
fundraisers. Not participants in understanding the learning
process. |
MARIA MONTESSORI, MD
(1870-1952) |
