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