Montessori Education |
Traditional Education |
| Three-year age span |
All one age |
| Motivated by self-development |
Teacher motivated |
| Self-correcting materials |
Teacher corrects errors |
| Hands on learning manipulating objects |
Teacher lectures |
| Individual learning |
Group learning |
| Teacher is observer & directress |
Teacher is focal point & dominant influence |
| Cycles of activity completed within child's time |
Activity cycles determined by set time |
| Few interruptions |
Frequent interruptions |
| Freedom to move & work |
Assigned specific class periods |
| Materials used in sequence with presentations |
Materials used with no prior instructions |
| Work for joy and sense of discovery |
Work because you have to complete tasks |
| Environment provides discipline |
Teacher provides discipline |
| Encouraged to help each other |
Seek help from teacher |
| Child chooses materials |
Teacher sets curriculum |
| Child sets own pace |
Teacher sets pace |
| Emphasis on concrete |
Emphasis on abstract |
| Reality oriented |
Much role-playing and fantasy |
| Recognition of individual sensitive periods |
All children treated alike |
| Child free to discover alone |
Teacher continuously guides child |
| Carefully organized environment |
Materials placed at random |
| Multisensory materials to develop specific skills |
Play materials for non-specific skills |
| Self education through self correcting materials |
Use of reward and punishment in motivation |
| Respect of child foremost |
Community needs take precedence |