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Montessori Method |
Traditional Method |
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1. Emphasis is on cognitive and social development |
1. Emphasis is on social development |
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2. Teacher has unobtrusive role in the classroom |
2. Teacher is center of classroom as 'controller' |
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3. Environment and method encourage self-discipline |
3. Teacher is primary enforcer of discipline |
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4. Primarily individual instruction |
4. Group and individual instruction |
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5. Mixed age group |
5. Same-age grouping |
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6. Multi-age grouping encourages children to teach and help each other |
6. Most teaching is done by the teacher |
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7. Child chooses own work |
7. Curriculum is structured for the child |
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8. Child discovers own concepts from self-teaching materials |
8. Child is guided to concepts by the teacher |
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9. Child works as long as he wishes on chosen project |
9. Child is generally allotted specific time for work |
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10. Child sets own learning pace |
10. Instruction pace is usually set by group norm |
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11. Child spots own errors from feedback of material |
11. If work is corrected, errors usually are pointed out by the teacher |
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12. Child reinforces own learning by repetition of work and internal feelings of success |
12. Learning is reinforced externally by repetition and rewards |
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13. Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration |
13. Fewer materials for sensory development |
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14. Organized program for learning care of self and environment |
14. Less emphasis of self-care instruction |
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15. Child can work where he chooses, move around and talk at will (yet not disturb the work of others); group work is voluntary |
15. Child usually assigned own chair, encouraged to participate, sit still and listen during group sessions |
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16. Organized program for parents to understand the Montessori philosophy and participate in the learning process |
16. Voluntary parent involvemen |
