| Montessori Method |
Traditional Teaching |
| Emphasis is on cognitive, social and emotional development |
Emphasis is on cognitive development |
| Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration |
Fewer materials for sensory development |
| Environment and method encourage self-discipline and problem solving strategies |
Teacher is primary enforcer of discipline mostly through forms of punishment |
| Mixed age grouping provides the child with a sense of community where children work to help and teach each other |
Same age grouping |
| Children are able to work together cooperatively |
Cooperative grouping is minimal |
| Teacher (directress) is a facilitator |
Teacher is in control |
| Mainly individual and small group instruction |
Mainly group instruction |
| Child chooses own work, with encouragement from teacher |
Set curriculum is structured for the child |
| Child can work where he chooses, move around, eat snack, and talk when he desires, as long as he is not disturbing the work of others. |
Child must usually sit in chair, not talk to friends, eat only at lunchtime, and work on set work |
| Child discovers own concepts from self-teaching (didactic) 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 intrinsic feelings of success. Learning is its own reward
|
Learning is reinforced extrinsically by repetition and rewards. Teachers work to motivate the child to learn
|
| 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. Washing hands, sweeping floor, polishing shoes |
Less Emphasis on self-care instruction |
| Organized program for parents to understand the Montessori philosophy and participate in the learning process |
Voluntary parent involvement |
