“The greatest sign of success for a teacher…is to be able to say, ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.” – Maria Montessori
Montessori vs Traditional Education
A Montessori School
Emphasis: academic, emotional and social development
Child is the center of the classroom
Environment and method encourage self discipline
Mainly Individual Instruction
Mixed Age Grouping
Mixed age grouping encourages children to teach and help each other
Child chooses own work
Child works as long as he wishes on chosen project
Child sets own learning pace
Child reinforces own learning by repetition of work and internal feelings of success
Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration
Organized program for learning care of self and environment (tying shoes, washing dishes)
A Traditional School
Emphasis: social development
Teacher is the center of the classroom
Teacher disciplines
Mainly Group Instruction
Same Age Grouping
Most teaching lead by teacher
Curriculum structured for child
Child generally allotted specific time for work
Instruction pace usually set by group norm
Learning is reinforced externally by repetition and rewards
Fewer materials for sensory development
Less emphasis on self-care instruction