Montessori | Traditional |
3-year vertical mixed age group classes | All one age group per class |
Motivated by self development | Teacher motivated |
Self-correcting material | Teacher corrects errors |
Children learn by handling objects and exploring | Teacher lectures |
Individual and group learning | Group learning only |
Teacher is observer and director | Teacher is focal point and dominant influence |
Child completes 'cycles of activity' | Activity cycles determined by set times |
Fewer interruptions | Frequent interruptions |
Freedom to move and walk within classroom | Assigned seats and specific class periods |
Quiet by choice and regard for others | Quiet enforced |
Materials used for specific purpose and with sequence of steps | Materials used in many ways without previous instructions |
Work for joy of work and sense of discovery | Work because they are told to |
Environment provides discipline | Teacher provides discipline |
Encouraged to help one another | Seek help from teacher |
Child chooses material | Teacher sets cirriculum |
Child sets pace | Teacher sets pace |
Child free to discover on own | Teacher guides child |
Emphasis on concrete | Emphasis on abstract |
Reality orientated | Much role playing and fantasy |
Specific places for materials, sense of order | Random placement, not necessary to return to specific place |
Child provides own stimulus to learning | Teacher provides stimulus to learning |
Child-centred learning environment | Teacher-centred learning environment |
Self-eduction through self correcting materials | Use of reward and punishment in motivation |
Recognition of sensitive periods | All children treated alike |
Multi-sensory materials to develop
specific skills | Play materials for non specific skills
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